Instructor: Dr. Na Meng, nm8247@cs.vt.edu

Course Information

Software Engineering (SE) focuses on the process of developing and maintaining software. The SE research proposes solutions to various problems in the requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance of software. With various approaches investigated, researchers aim to improve programmer productivity and software quality.

The goal of this course is two-fold. First, it will increase your knowledge of various research topics in SE to cultivate research interests in the area, and to recommend best practice for software development and maintenance. Second, it will provide an environment that promotes and rewards creative thinking, problem solving, idea presentation, and oral and written communication.

This course consists of three parts.

• Basic concepts: The instructor will briefly introduce all phases of the software life cycle: requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance.
• Advanced topics: Students will present and lead discussion on papers recommended by the instructor. All papers will be about important techniques and interesting research topics in the area.
• Research projects: With the instructor's help, students will work on a course project to solve a specific SE-relevant problem, and may achieve some publishable research at the end of the semester.

For each week, two students will present and lead discussion on two papers from the SE literature. Each presenter will prepare a 30-minute talk, which MUST be emailed to the instructor before class. The presenter will lead an additional 30-minute discussion. The presenter will prepare questions for an in-depth analysis of the paper and/or questions stemming from the paper. We will have a 15-minute break between presentations. For weeks you prepare a presentation, you are not responsible for a critique.

• Prepare at most 15 slides.
• Include the strengths and weaknesses of the paper.
• Prepare discussion questions.
• I will prepare an evaluation of your talk.

• 15% attendance and class participation: Attendance and class participation are mandatory. Say something about every paper we discuss! Both attendance and class participation will contribute to your final grade.
• 15% critiques
• 15% presentations
• 55% course project

Note: If any student needs special accommodations because of a disability, please contact the instructor during the first week of classes.

This webpage is created based on Dr. Kathryn S. McKinley's course website for CS395T Spring 2011. I sincerely appreciate Kathryn's great effort of designing the course and creating the website.