Special Topics: Software Quality Assurance

Course Details

Course Number: 5443  Section Number: 280

Spring 2012

Location: Bolin Hall

Classroom Number: 320

Days & Times:

T R 5:30-6:50pm

Course Attachments

Syllabus  cs5443newsyl.doc

Class Schedule  cs5443AcadCal-20120404-155256.pdf

Textbooks

Software Quality Engineering
by Jeff Tian
MSU Faculty Member
Dr. Catherine V. Stringfellow   
view Profile »

Course Objectives

Catalog Description: A study of the process of creating large software systems.  Encompasses system design, development, maintainability, testing, and documentation.  Emphasis is on concepts and practices that reduce software cost and increase reliability and modifiability. 

The course will also focus on concepts and practices that assure and measure software quality.

General Course Objectives: This course is a study of the following topics:  

  1. Quality Assurance,
  2. Defect Prevention and Removal,
  3. Testing techniques,
  4. Inspections,
  5. Formal specification and verification methods,
  6. Quality Improvement

Specific Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

  1. Understand how to detect, classify, prevent and remove defects
  2. Understand how to conduct formal inspections, record and evaluate results of inspections
  3. Know how to choose which metrics to collect and use them to make predictions
  4. Choose appropriate testing strategies and develop test cases
  5. Be able to use Z to formally specify a system and write proofs for algorithms.

Course Expectations

 

Prerequisites:  Twelve hours of graduate computer science or CMPS 5153: Advanced Software Engineering.


Grading Standards

Course Assignments and Evaluation:

Students will be asked to perform software quality assurance activities on different pieces of software. There will also be a few short assignments involving formal specifications, proof of correctness, developing test cases, applying prediction models, and other course topics.   There will also be a midterm and final.  

Final grades will be based on the following criteria:

Activity                                                                       Percentage of Grade

  Midterm                                                                                        20%

  Final                                                                                             30%

  Assignments (Homework, Quizzes, Group Work)               50%    
 

Grading Scale is as follows: 90-100% is an A, 80-89% is a B, 70-79% is a C, 60-69% is a D, and 0-59% is an F.  Late assignments will result in a lower grade.


Final Exam5/8/2012  8-10pm

Submission Format PolicyNote: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Late Paper Policy

Assignments are only accepted up to one week late and will lose 10% of the grade.


Plagiarism Policy Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception. Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters. We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student. We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed. Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

Students with Disabilities The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, 397-4140.

Safe Zones Statement The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

Contacting your Instructor All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MWSU e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

Attendance Requirements

Makeup Exams and Quizzes: There are two exams. The only acceptable reason for missing an exam is with a valid university excuse (e.g., excuse from the doctor, death in the immediate family, etc.) A makeup exam will only be to those students who have a valid excuse. If you know ahead of time that you will miss an exam, please see me to take it early


Other Policies

 

Academic Dishonesty: It is dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one’s own, work or ideas which are not entirely one’s own. The instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. As students of Midwestern State University you must accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student.  Academic dishonesty procedures and sanctions that may be imposed are spelled out in Section 4 of the Student Handbook.  Each student is responsible for understanding all the material in the Student Handbook, which may be obtained at www. students.mwsu.edu/dean.


Writing Proficiency Requirement All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed English 1113 and English 1123 and 2) earned 60 hours. You may meet this requirement by passing either the Writing Proficiency Exam or English 2113. Please keep in mind that, once you've earned over 90 hours, you lose the opportunity to take the $25 exam and have no option but to enroll in the three-credit hour course. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at http://academics.mwsu.edu/wpr, or call 397-4131.