Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Software Engineering (Face-to-Face)

CS 2450-01

Course: CS 2450-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Computer Science/Cybersecurity
CRN: 30185

Course Description

This project-driven course introduces the complete software development lifecycle. Working in teams, students design and build a software system through requirements engineering, system modeling, architectural design, implementation, testing, and project management.
The course incorporates both plan-driven and agile approaches, with an emphasis on iterative development, version control, and team collaboration. Topics include requirements (functional and non-functional), UML-based modeling, software architecture, testing strategies, and project workflows. Reliability and security considerations are integrated throughout the development process.
By the end of the course, students will gain hands-on experience using modern tools and practices to develop robust and maintainable software systems.
Prerequisite(s): CS 2420 (Minimum grade C-)

Required Texts

  • Ian Sommerville, Software Engineering, 10th Edition, 2016, Pearson, 816 pp, Format Cloth, ISBN-13: 9780133943030
  • Course notes and handouts (provided by the instructor)

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  • Elicit and specify software requirements by translating client needs into clear functional and non-functional specifications (SRS). 
  • Model and design software systems using standard techniques (e.g., UML, architectural design, modular decomposition). 
  • Develop software iteratively using both plan-driven and agile approaches, including version control and collaborative workflows. 
  • Implement and test software systems, including unit and integration testing, to ensure correctness, reliability, and basic security. 
  • Collaborate effectively in teams by managing tasks, communicating progress, and contributing to a shared project outcome. 
  • Apply professional and ethical considerations in software development, including awareness of user impact, data responsibility, and team accountability.

Course Requirements

Students will complete a semester-long project that spans the full software development lifecycle, including requirements, modeling, design, implementation, testing, and final delivery. Teams are expected to apply iterative (agile-informed) workflows and use version control (Git) to manage development.
Required deliverables include a project proposal, SRS document, UML models, system design, a working prototype (with repository), testing report, and a final presentation/demo. Students must participate in team meetings, contribute consistently, and document their work.
Professional conduct is expected throughout the course, including effective collaboration, equitable task sharing, academic integrity, and respect for teammates, and users.

Office Hours

Tuesday, Thursday 15:00–16:00 ELC 418

Course Outline

Note: Schedule subject to change. Any modifications will be announced via Canvas. Additional readings or activities may be assigned as needed
9/3 | Thu | Course Introduction + Software Development Lifecycle Overview 
9/8 | Tue | Software Process Models: Waterfall vs. Agile
9/10 | Thu | Agile & Scrum Overview (lightweight) | Team Formation
9/15 | Tue | Requirements I: Functional vs. Non-Functional Requirements, Stakeholders + User Impact Awareness
9/17 | Thu | Requirements II: User Stories & Use Cases
9/22 | Tue | SRS Document Structure + Writing Workshop
9/24 | Thu | Practice Lab: Teams Draft Their SRS | Project Proposal / SRS Draft due
9/29 | Tue | System Modeling I: Use Case Diagram
10/1 | Thu | System Modeling II: Class Diagram
10/6 | Tue | System Modeling III: Sequence Diagram & Activity Diagram
10/8 | Thu | UML Workshop: Teams Finalize Their UML Models| UML Models due  
10/13 | Tue | Midterm Review
10/15 | Thu | Midterm Exam ( 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM, ELC 312)
10/22 | Thu | Architectural Patterns: Layered Architecture & MVC
10/27 | Tue | Architectural Patterns: Client-Server & Modularity
10/29 | Thu | Design Principles: Low Coupling / High Cohesion + Design Review Workshop
11/3 | Tue | Implementation I: Coding Standards + Git/GitHub Team Workflow Basics | System Design due  
11/5 | Thu | Implementation II: Branching & Pull Requests In Depth + Hands-On Merge Conflict Exercise
11/10 | Tue | Implementation III: Debugging & Error Handling (Team Context) + Secure Coding Basics
11/12 | Thu | Testing I: Test Plans & Unit Testing| Working Prototype (with repository) due  
11/17 | Tue | Testing II: Integration / System / Regression Testing
11/19 | Thu | Management: Scrum Ceremonies, Sprint Planning, Task Assignment + Bug Tracking 
12/1 | Tue | Sprint Retrospective + Risk Management + Team Communication + Professional & Ethical Considerations
12/3 | Thu | Final Project Presentation I| Testing Report due
12/8 | Tue | Final Project Presentation II
12/10 | Thu | Final Review
12/15 Final Exam (9:00 AM -10:50 AM, ELC 312)
12/18 Final Report due

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Assignments submitted within 24 hours after the deadline will incur a 10% penalty. Assignments submitted more than 24 hours but within 48 hours late incur a 20% penalty. Assignments submitted more than 48 hours late will receive a score of zero. Exceptions may be granted only for special circumstances and must be discussed with the instructor in advance

Grading Breakdown

Category   | Percentage
-------------------------------------------
  • Assignments                          30%
  • Quizzes                                 15%
  • Midterm Exam                        20%
  • Final Exam                             25%
  • Final Presentation & Report   10%
-------------------------------------------
Total                      100%

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend all class meetings and actively participate. Absences due to personal scheduling conflicts will generally not be accommodated; notify the instructor in case of illness or emergencies. During class, students are expected to stay engaged in course-related activities. Non-course-related browsing may negatively affect performance.


Use of AI Tools

Permitted uses include: 
  • Brainstorming and refining ideas 
  • Grammar and style checking 
  • Searching for information (you must verify its accuracy)
Not permitted uses include: 
  • Submitting AI-generated content such as assignments or discussion posts 
  • Using AI to write drafts, paragraphs, or entire assignments 
  • Submitting group-assigned work completed by AI 
Misuse of AI tools will result in a zero on the assignment and may lead to further academic discipline. If you are unsure about what is allowed, please ask the instructor for clarification in advance 

Course Fees

$11.00 per credit hour, for a total of $33

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.