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.

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

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.

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

Late Work: Late work may be submitted within 48 hours of due date/time, but there will be a 10% penalty. assessed.

Make Up Work/Tests/Quizzes:  Students need a valid university excuse (e.g., excuse from the doctor, death in the immediate family, etc.)  to make up work or tests. If you know ahead of time that you will miss a quiz or exam, please arrange to take it early.  Refer to College Policies and Procedures Manual.

Note: 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.

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.

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, (940) 397-4140.

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.

All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MSUTexas 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.

All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed the 6 hours of Communication Core and 2) earned 60 hours. Students may meet this requirement in one of three ways: by passing the Writing Proficiency Exam, passing two Writing Intensive Courses (only one can be in the core), or passing English 2113. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at https://msutexas.edu/academics/wpr, or call 397-4131.

Senate Bill 11 passed by the 84th Texas Legislature allows licensed handgun holders to carry concealed handguns on campus, effective August 1, 2016. Areas excluded from concealed carry are appropriately marked, in accordance with state law. For more information regarding campus carry, please refer to the University’s webpage at https://msutexas.edu/campus-carry/rules-policies.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact MSU Chief of Police Patrick Coggins at patrick.coggins@msutexas.edu.