Course Syllabus
CP317A – Software Engineering
Department of Physics and Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Waterloo Campus (In-Person)
Fall | 2025 | 12-week course
Laurier's Waterloo and Brantford campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the
Neutral, Anishnaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. Laurier's Milton campus is located on the traditional
territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and part of the Nanfan Treaty of 1701 between the British
Crown and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
Instructor Information
Name: Dr. Mustafa Daraghmeh
Office Location: N2076G
Email: mdaraghmeh@[Link]
Office Hours: Online by Appointment
Teaching Assistant Information
Name: Jaswinder Singh
Email: sing1300@[Link]
Office Hours: Online by Appointment
Course Information
Calendar Description: “Discussion of software development activities, including software process
models, analysis, design, implementation, testing, project management and advanced topics. Both
traditional and object-oriented methods are considered”.
Pre-requisites: CP213 or CP264 (or CP217).
Course location, meeting times and days: BA102, Monday & Wednesday, 2:30 PM - 3:50 PM
Course Overview and Approach
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the discipline of software engineering. Students
will learn the software development lifecycle from requirements to maintenance, exploring both plan-
driven and agile approaches. The course emphasizes object-oriented methods, modeling with UML, and
design patterns, while also addressing implementation, testing, and project management.
The teaching approach blends lectures, readings, case study discussions, and a team-based project.
Students will apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios, such as Sommerville’s case studies
(e.g., insulin pump system, digital learning platform). Emphasis is placed on team collaboration,
communication, and professional practice.
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Course Goals and Learning Outcomes
Course Goals:
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Understand and compare software processes and development methodologies, including
traditional, agile, and object-oriented approaches.
2. Apply principles of requirements analysis, system design, implementation, and testing to
develop software systems.
3. Demonstrate teamwork, project management, and communication skills in collaborative
software engineering projects.
4. Explore and evaluate emerging topics in software engineering, such as dependability, security,
and distributed systems.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
1. Explain and evaluate software process models and their trade-offs.
2. Conduct requirements engineering: elicitation, specification, validation.
3. Apply UML diagrams and system modeling techniques.
4. Design architectural and object-oriented solutions, including design patterns.
5. Implement software components while considering reuse, open source, and maintainability.
6. Apply software testing strategies, including test-driven development.
7. Collaborate effectively in a team project, demonstrating leadership, communication, and
professionalism.
8. Analyze advanced software engineering challenges such as reliability, resilience, and distributed
development.
Course Textbooks and Learning Materials
Item Required Cost Current Notes/Features
or or Most
Optional Recent
Cost*
Software Engineering (10th Optional CAD Most eTextbook (Link):
Edition). Ian Sommerville, $258.29 (print) Recent ISBN-13: 9780137503148
Pearson, © 2016. $57.99(e-text)
ISBN-13: 9780137503148 Hardcover (Link):
ISBN-13: 9780133943030 ISBN-13: 9780133943030
Students should review the
WLU Bookstore Digital Textbook
Access information and opt-out
policy (Link).
Course Strategies and Supports
• Additional readings, lecture slides, and assignments will be posted on MyLearningSpace (MyLS).
• Recommended UML modeling tool: Lucidchart (free student license).
• Success Strategy: Form study groups, keep up with readings before class, and engage actively in
group project work.
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Student Evaluation
Assessment Weighting Due Date (Firm deadline)
Group Project (divided into six parts, see below) 45% See below
Midterm (In-person) 25% Oct 22, 2:30 PM - 3:50 PM
Final Exam (In-person) 30% TBA, Scheduled by the university
Total 100%
Necessary Deliverables with Deadlines & Weighting:
Deliverable Deadline (Friday at Weighting MyLS Submission Folder Name
11:59 PM) of
Group Formulation Week 1 0% Group-ID
Group Milestone 01 Week 3 5% Group-ID-Milestone01
Group Milestone 02 Week 5 5% Group-ID-Milestone02
Group Sprint 01 Week 7 5% Group-ID-Sprint01
Group Sprint 02 Week 9 5% Group-ID-Sprint02
Group Sprint 03 Week 11 5% Group-ID-Sprint03
Final Submission of the Project Week 13 20% Group-ID-CP317A-Project
Total 45%
The passing criteria would be as follows:
Midterm and Final Exams: Students must take both the midterm and the final exam. If a student scores
below 50% on either the midterm or the final (i.e., fails either exam), I will calculate the average of the
two exam scores, the midterm and the final:
• If the average of these exams is 50% or higher, the student will pass the exam portion of the
course.
• If the average is below 50%, the student will fail the exam portion and, consequently, the
course.
Learning Activities, Assignments, Tests, Quizzes, and Examinations
The purpose of the project in this course is to connect theory with practice, ensuring that students
achieve the course goals and learning outcomes. Each component evaluates both individual mastery and
group collaboration.
Exams (25% + 30%):
• Midterm (In-person):
Covers foundational concepts, including software processes, agile development, requirements
engineering, and system modeling (Ch. 1–5, Sommerville).
• Final Exam (In-person)
Focuses on the later lifecycle stages, including design, implementation, testing, software
evolution, and project management (Ch. 6–9, 22–23, Sommerville).
Both exams are in-person, closed-book, and designed to ensure that all students demonstrate
individual accountability for the course concepts.
Note: Please note that these topics are provisional; additional topics may be included or omitted as
appropriate. Further details will be posted on MyLearningSpace and announced in class.
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Group Project (45%)
The group project is the capstone of the course, requiring teams to collaboratively design, implement,
and test a software system.
• Students will apply knowledge across the full software development lifecycle.
• Deliverables will include a requirements specification, design models, implementation, testing
report, and final presentation/demo.
• Evaluation will consider technical correctness, design quality, adherence to requirements,
documentation, functionality, and teamwork.
• The project develops teamwork, communication, and integration skills essential for
professional practice.
Important Note: Teams must adopt an Agile Scrum process to manage their project work. Each group
will organize its tasks into sprints, maintain an activity blog and a product backlog, and hold brief
stand-up meetings to coordinate progress. The use of Scrum will help you practice agile development
principles while completing project deliverables. A detailed project outline, deliverables, and evaluation
rubrics will be posted on MyLearningSpace and announced in class during the early weeks of the term.
Evaluation Rationale
• Exams measure individual comprehension of core principles.
• The project integrates nearly all learning outcomes, simulating real-world development.
Preparation and Support
• Exams: Review lecture slides, textbook readings, and worked examples.
• Project: Begin early, review the rubric, and coordinate group roles. Divide tasks early, utilize
collaborative tools (such as GitHub and shared documents), and hold regular meetings.
• Resources: Style guidelines, rubrics, and additional support materials will be posted on
MyLearningSpace.
Weekly Schedule (Tentative)
The following schedule outlines the sequence of topics, readings, and learning outcomes for the course.
It is organized to mirror the natural flow of the software development lifecycle: from processes and
requirements through design, implementation, testing, and project management.
Readings are taken from the required textbook (Sommerville, Software Engineering, 10th Edition).
Students are expected to complete the assigned readings before each class to support active
participation in discussions and exercises. Additional materials, such as lecture slides, case studies, and
project guidelines, will be posted on MyLearningSpace throughout the term.
Week & Date Topic Lesson Outcomes Book
Chapter
Week 01 Introduction to Define SE, ethics, and case studies Ch. 1
(Sep 8 – 12) Software Engineering
Project Part 00: Group Formulation
Week 02 Software Processes Compare process models: waterfall, Ch. 2
(Sep 15 – 19) incremental, spiral
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Week & Date Topic Lesson Outcomes Book
Chapter
Week 03 Agile Development Apply agile principles, Scrum, user stories, and Ch. 3
(Sep 22 -26) TDD basics
Project Part 01: Group Milestone 01
Note: Agile concepts introduced this week will
be applied in the group project through sprint
planning, backlogs, and iterative development.
Week 04 Requirements Conduct elicitation, specification, and Ch. 4
(Sep 29 – Oct 3) Engineering validation
Week 05 System Modeling with Create use case, class, sequence, and state Ch. 5
(Oct 6 – 10) UML diagrams.
Project Part 02: Group Milestone 02
Week 06 Reading Week – No — —
(Oct 13 – 17) Classes
Week 07 Architectural Design Explain architecture styles and design Ch. 6
(Oct 20 – 24) decisions
Midterm: Oct 22, 2:30
PM - 3:50 PM Project Part 03: Group Sprint 01
Week 08 Design & Apply OO design, design patterns, and Ch. 7
(Oct 27 – 31) Implementation refactoring
Week 09 Design & Apply OO design, design patterns, and Ch. 7
(Nov 3 – 7) Implementation refactoring
Project Part 04: Group Sprint 02
Week 10 Software Testing Apply unit, integration, system, and Ch. 8
(Nov 10 – 14) acceptance testing
Week 11 Software Testing Apply unit, integration, system, and Ch. 8
(Nov 17 – 21) acceptance testing
Project Part 05: Group Sprint 03
Week 12 Software Evolution Explain evolution, legacy systems, and Ch. 9
(Nov 24 – 28) maintainability
Week 13 Project Management & Apply planning, risk management, and Ch. 22–23
(Dec 1 – 5) Teamwork teamwork practices
Project Part 06: Final Submission of the
Project
University and Course Policies:
1. Academic Calendars: Students are encouraged to review the Academic Calendar for information
regarding all important dates, deadlines, and services available on campus.
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2. Accessibility: Contact Accessible Learning if you require academic accommodations because of a
disability. Review the Registration page for information about intake and documentation
requirements. Deadlines: Students are responsible for meeting posted deadlines for registering
with Accessible Learning and booking accommodated exams. Accessible Learning cannot
guarantee accommodations for requests received after posted deadlines.
3. Library Accessibility Services: The Library offers accessibility services for people with disabilities,
including alternate formats or remediation of Library collections and help accessing materials.
For information, please visit the Library Accessibility Hub or email libaccessibility@[Link].
4. Plagiarism: Wilfrid Laurier University uses software that can check for plagiarism. If requested to
do so by course instructors, students are required to submit their written work in electronic
form and have it checked for plagiarism.
5. Academic Integrity: Laurier is committed to a culture of integrity within and beyond the
classroom. This culture values trustworthiness (e.g., honesty, integrity, reliability), fairness,
caring, respect, responsibility and citizenship. Together, we have a shared responsibility to
uphold this culture in our academic and non-academic behaviour. The University has a defined
policy with respect to academic misconduct. As a Laurier student you are responsible for
familiarizing yourself with this policy and the accompanying penalty guidelines, some of which
may appear on your transcript if there is a finding of misconduct. The relevant policy can be
found at Laurier's academic integrity website along with resources to educate and support you
in upholding a culture of integrity. Ignorance is not a defense.
6. Late Assignment Policy: Assignments can be submitted up to 2 days late with a 15% penalty
per day, rounded up to the nearest day. No credit will be awarded for submissions after 2 days.
7. Final Examinations: Students are strongly urged not to make any commitments (e.g., vacation)
during the examination period. Students are required to be available for examinations during
the examination periods of all terms in which they register. Refer to the Handbook on
Undergraduate Course Management for more information.
8. Religious and Spiritual Accommodation: The University welcomes students, staff and faculty
from a wide range of backgrounds, beliefs and traditions and has a duty to provide
accommodation based on creed (religion and spirituality) under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
This obligation requires the University to work with students to provide reasonable
accommodation when a student's religious observances or spiritual beliefs creates a conflict
with their academic schedule. In order for instructors to provide proper accommodations,
students have obligations to request accommodations in a timely manner. All policies,
procedures, timelines, and request forms are found on Laurier’s Religious and Spiritual
Accommodations and Supports webpage.
9. Gender Inclusivity: This course will be held in a respectful and supportive environment for
people of all gender identities and expressions. I’ve received a class roster based on official
enrollment information. If you go by a different name, please feel free to let me know. You're
also welcome to share your pronouns, if you’d like.
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Everyone is encouraged to refer to classmates using the names and pronouns they share. If
you're comfortable, you’re welcome to let the class know how you'd like to be addressed.
The Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (CSEDI) shares information on updating
your name in systems like Zoom, MyLS, and email, along with details on other supports
available”
10. Classroom Use of Electronic Devices: Students need to make aware and responsible decisions
regarding their technology use during class and assessments. Certain devices can serve as
distractions and disrupt the learning environment for others. Using technology off-task—such as
chatting with friends or family, social media, gaming, browsing unrelated sites, reading
unrelated e-books, or playing music and videos—is prohibited during class if it causes distraction
to oneself or others.
11. Intellectual Property: The educational materials developed for this course, including, but not
limited to, lecture notes and slides, handout materials, examinations and assignments, and any
materials posted to MyLearningSpace, are the intellectual property of the course instructors.
These materials have been developed for student use only and they are not intended for wider
dissemination and/or communication outside of a given course. Posting or providing
unauthorized audio, video, or textual material of course content to third-party websites violates
instructors’ intellectual property rights, and the Canadian Copyright Act. Recording lectures in
any way is prohibited in this course unless specific permission has been granted by instructors.
Failure to follow these instructions may be in contravention of the university’s Student Non-
Academic Code of Conduct and/or Code of Academic Conduct, and will result in appropriate
penalties. Participation in this course constitutes an agreement by all parties to abide by the
relevant University Policies, and to respect the intellectual property of others during and after
their association with Wilfrid Laurier University.
12. Hawk Walk, the Wellness Centre, Student Supports and the Student Food Bank: The University
approved the inclusion of information about select wellness and safety services and supports on
campus in the course information provided to students. (Approved by Senate November 28,
2011.) Specific language (by campus) is provided below.
Multi-campus Resources (provided through Your Students’ Union): Waterloo, Brantford,
Milton, Kitchener
• Student Rights Advisory Committee (studentsrights@[Link]): The Student Rights Advisory
Committee exists to provide you with information about your rights when it comes to
landlord-tenant issues or academic appeals. While in no way legal representation, it can
help to inform you about your options to make difficult situations easier to navigate.
• Empower Me - Mental Health Resources provided by Dialogue: Empower Me is a free,
24/7 mental health and well-being service available to undergraduate students all year-
round. It offers confidential, multilingual, and inclusive support through professionals in
areas such as psychology, psychotherapy, nutrition, financial literacy, career services and
more. You can access these services by phone, video, or in-person.
• The Essentials - Legal Care Program: Essentials Legal Care gives students access to certified
legal advice for issues like housing, employment, academic disputes, and more. After
submitting the Support Form, you can expect a response from legal counsel within 48
business days.
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Multi-Campus Resources (provided by the university):
Student Wellness Centre
The Student Wellness Centre supports your physical, emotional, and mental well-being through
a wide range of services. You’ll have access to doctors, nurses, counsellors, mental health
nurses, dietitians, and sexual health support, all in a safe and welcoming environment. Taking
care of your whole self is key to your success, and we're here to help.
Dean of Students Office
If you’re dealing with complex challenges or extenuating circumstances that are impacting your
academics, the Student Care and Support team in the Dean of Students’ Office can help. They
offer coordinated support for situations like hospitalizations, personal or family emergencies, or
issues that involve multiple areas of campus. They’ll work with you to connect to resources and
create a plan for moving forward.
Accessible Learning
If you’re experiencing challenges that affect your learning, Accessible Learning can help. They
support students with permanent, temporary, suspected, or ongoing disabilities by creating
individualized accommodation plans. These plans adjust tasks, activities, or learning
environments to support your access and success. You don’t need a diagnosis or documentation
to reach out and explore what support may be available to you.
Financial Literacy & Money Management
Dollars and Sense is Laurier’s money management program designed to help students decrease
their financial stress and increase their financial wellness. They provide the necessary
information, one-on-one financial coaching, resources and tools so that students can make the
financial decisions that are right for them.
Find Your Support Resource
Laurier offers a wide range of mental health resources designed to support both your academic
success and personal well-being. We understand that knowing where to begin can feel
confusing, but help is available. Every department provides specialized support, so don’t
hesitate to contact any office. The staff are here to guide you through your options and help you
find the support that best fits your needs.
Emergency Services / After-Hours Assistance - wellness@[Link]
• If you’re in crisis or need immediate assistance, you can call 911 or Laurier’s Special
Constable Service at 519.885.3333.
• For mental health crises, call or text 988, or contact Here 24/7 at 1.844.437.3247
Kitchener/Waterloo Resources:
• Emergency Response Team | ert@[Link]: The Emergency Response Team provides medical
assistance to students on campus. ERT can be booked for on-site event support by filling out
the online booking request form on their website.
• Hawk Walk | 519.886.3668 | walkw@[Link] | Hawk Walk is a volunteer-run safe walk
service available every evening. Pairs of volunteers can escort students to and from campus
or nearby locations. Visit them on the 2nd floor of the Fred Nichols Campus Centre, next to
the Dean of Students Office.
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• Food Bank | foodbank@[Link] | Food Bank provides food parcels to cater to the
nutritional and dietary needs of students. All students are eligible to use this service,
regardless of circumstance or financial situation. Request a package at
[Link]
Brantford Resources:
• Food Bank | lbfoodbank@[Link] | Food Bank provides food parcels to cater to the
nutritional and dietary needs of students. All students are eligible to use this service,
regardless of circumstance or financial situation. Request a package at
[Link]
• Hawk Walk | 519.751.7875 | walkb@[Link] | Hawk Walk is a volunteer-run safe walk
service available every evening. Pairs of volunteers can escort students to and from campus
or nearby locations. Visit them in the basement of the Student Centre beside the Clubs &
Associations Storage Space.
Milton Resources:
• In case of Emergency, contact Special Constable Services at 519.885.3333
For more information about all the services provided through your Students' Union visit
[Link]/wellness
Frequently Encountered Problems with Assignment/Project Submissions
The following guidelines address common issues that have caused difficulties in past offerings of
this course. Please read carefully, as these rules are intended to ensure fairness and academic
integrity.
Problem 1: Some team members did not contribute to the group assignment/project
Solution:
• If a team member fails to contribute, the concerned student(s) must email the
instructor and cc all team members. Emails sent only to the instructor will not be
considered valid.
• The instructor will allow 2–3 days for the member(s) to respond.
• If no valid response is received, the non-contributing member(s) will receive a grade of
ZERO, with no remedy.
• Concerns must be raised promptly. Reports made within one week before or after the
submission deadline will not be accepted.
Problem 2: I completed my assignment, but missed the submission deadline due to Internet or
technical issues
Solution:
• Do not wait until the final hour to submit.
• Aim to submit your work at least 3 hours before the deadline.
• If your Internet fails close to the deadline, no accommodations will be made.
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Problem 3: I submitted the wrong file
Solution:
• Always download and verify your submission immediately after uploading.
• You may resubmit as many times as needed before the deadline (the latest file replaces
the previous one).
• If the correct file is uploaded after the deadline, it will be considered late and graded as
ZERO.
Problem 4: My assignment is similar to another group’s because we “worked together”
Solution:
• You are only permitted to collaborate within your own group. Sharing work with other
groups or using another group’s work is plagiarism.
• Consequences for plagiarism include:
o First offense: ZERO on the work, deduction of 10 marks from the final grade, a
permanent letter in your record, and notification of the Department Chair and
Dean.
o Subsequent offenses: More severe penalties.
• Acceptable collaboration: discussing general ideas, debugging strategies, or high-level
design.
• Unacceptable collaboration: sharing or receiving actual code/solutions, or turning in
nearly identical work.
Academic Integrity Rules for All Submissions
1. Acknowledge assistance: Any help received must be credited in your submission.
Assistance must remain at the level of general advice, not writing code or solutions for
you.
2. Do not share solutions: Never share your assignment code or solutions outside your
group, and never request them from others.
3. Do not use old solution sets: Using previous years’ solutions is both plagiarism and
academically dangerous, as assignments change each year.
4. Be prepared to explain your work: The instructor or TA may ask you to walk through
your submission to verify authorship.
5. Plagiarism detection: All submissions are archived and compared with current and
previous years using plagiarism detection tools. Any unusual similarity will be
investigated and penalized.
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