CS5030 Fundamentals of Software Engineering

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Flexible study

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be arranged.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module Staff

Dr Dharini Balasubramaniam Module coordinator(s): Director of Postgraduate Teaching - Computer Science (dopgt-cs@st-andrews.ac.uk)

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module covers fundamental theory and practice of Software Engineering, including important overarching concepts such as the software lifecycle and ethics in software engineering. It covers important software development methodologies including Agile and DevOps, as well as activities, artefacts and notations in software engineering. It covers practical skills including version control, test and behaviour-driven development, continuous integration and build management.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

UNDERGRADUATE - BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS CS2002 AND (PASS CS2001 OR PASS CS2101)

Co-requisites

POSTGRADUATES -- YOU MUST ALSO TAKE CS5001 OR CS5002

Assessment pattern

3-hour Examination = 40%, Coursework = 60%

Re-assessment

3-hour Examination = 40%, Existing Coursework = 60%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 hr x 10 weeks lectures, 1 hr x 5 weeks tutorial/discussion.

Scheduled learning hours

25

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

125

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Identify the key concerns that are common to all software development processes.
  • Select appropriate process models, approaches, techniques and tools to manage a given software development process and justify the choices.
  • Elicit requirements for a software product, translate these into design and implement a working system using the test-driven development approach.
  • Discuss ethics and sustainability issues that affect a given software product.
  • Utilise version control and build management systems to manage a collaborative implementation process.

CS5030 Fundamentals of Software Engineering

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be arranged.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module Staff

Dr Dharini Balasubramaniam Module coordinator(s): Director of Postgraduate Teaching - Computer Science (dopgt-cs@st-andrews.ac.uk)

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module covers fundamental theory and practice of Software Engineering, including important overarching concepts such as the software lifecycle and ethics in software engineering. It covers important software development methodologies including Agile and DevOps, as well as activities, artefacts and notations in software engineering. It covers practical skills including version control, test and behaviour-driven development, continuous integration and build management.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

UNDERGRADUATE - BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS CS2002 AND (PASS CS2001 OR PASS CS2101)

Co-requisites

POSTGRADUATES -- YOU MUST ALSO TAKE CS5001 OR CS5002

Assessment pattern

3-hour Examination = 40%, Coursework = 60%

Re-assessment

3-hour Examination = 40%, Existing Coursework = 60%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 hr x 10 weeks lectures, 1 hr x 5 weeks tutorial/discussion.

Scheduled learning hours

25

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

125

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Identify the key concerns that are common to all software development processes.
  • Select appropriate process models, approaches, techniques and tools to manage a given software development process and justify the choices.
  • Elicit requirements for a software product, translate these into design and implement a working system using the test-driven development approach.
  • Discuss ethics and sustainability issues that affect a given software product.
  • Utilise version control and build management systems to manage a collaborative implementation process.

CS5030 Fundamentals of Software Engineering

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Summer after graduation

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be arranged.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module Staff

Dr Dharini Balasubramaniam Module coordinator(s): Director of Postgraduate Teaching - Computer Science (dopgt-cs@st-andrews.ac.uk)

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module covers fundamental theory and practice of Software Engineering, including important overarching concepts such as the software lifecycle and ethics in software engineering. It covers important software development methodologies including Agile and DevOps, as well as activities, artefacts and notations in software engineering. It covers practical skills including version control, test and behaviour-driven development, continuous integration and build management.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

UNDERGRADUATE - BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS CS2002 AND (PASS CS2001 OR PASS CS2101)

Co-requisites

POSTGRADUATES -- YOU MUST ALSO TAKE CS5001 OR CS5002

Assessment pattern

3-hour Examination = 40%, Coursework = 60%

Re-assessment

3-hour Examination = 40%, Existing Coursework = 60%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 hr x 10 weeks lectures, 1 hr x 5 weeks tutorial/discussion.

Scheduled learning hours

25

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

125

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Identify the key concerns that are common to all software development processes.
  • Select appropriate process models, approaches, techniques and tools to manage a given software development process and justify the choices.
  • Elicit requirements for a software product, translate these into design and implement a working system using the test-driven development approach.
  • Discuss ethics and sustainability issues that affect a given software product.
  • Utilise version control and build management systems to manage a collaborative implementation process.