Course syllabus - Software Architecture
Scope
7.5 credits
Course code
DVA506
Valid from
Autumn semester 2024
Education level
Second cycle
Progressive Specialisation
A1N (Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements).
Main area(s)
Computer Science
School
School of Innovation, Design and Engineering
Ratified
2024-01-18
Literature lists
Course literature is preliminary up to 8 weeks before course start. Course literature can be valid over several semesters.
Objectives
A software architecture defines a software system in terms of computational components and interactions among them. In addition to specifying the topology of a software system, a software architecture often provides some rationale for the design decisions by describing the correspondences between the requirements and the elements of the system.
The objective of the course is to provide students with fundamental knowledge on software architectures, their documentation and how they can be analyzed. In addition to knowledge on software architectures and software quality attributes, the students will acquire knowledge on the latest, academic and industrial, architectural design tactics and styles.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the student shall to be able to:
1. understand the prevalent role of software architectures in the development lifecycle,
2. identify the requirements that have highest impact on the software architecture design and related quality attributes,
3. select appropriate architectural design tactics and styles based on quality attributes,
4. document software architectures,
5. assess and validate software architectures.
Course content
- Software Architecture - Structure and Dynamics
- Software Quality Attributes
- Architectural Design Tactics
- Architectural Styles
- Documenting Software Architecture
- Architecture Description Languages
- Assessing and Validating Software Architectures
Specific requirements
180 credits where at least 60 credits are in the area of computer science. The course also requires 7,5 credits within software engineering and 15 credits within programming. In addition, Swedish course B/Swedish course 3 and English course A/English course 6 are required. For courses given entirely in English exemption is made from the requirement in Swedish course B/Swedish course 3.
Examination
Laboratory work (LAB1), 3 credits, examines the learning outcomes 2-5, marks Fail (U), or pass (G)
Written examination (TEN1), 4,5 credits, examines the learning outcomes 1-5, marks Fail (U), 3, 4 or 5
A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.
Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.
Study guideGrade
Grading scale: 5, 4, 3
Interim Regulations and Other Regulations
The course completely overlaps with DVA483 Software Engineering 3: Software Architecture and Processes and DVA488 Software Architecture and also with 5 credits towards DVA422 Software Engineering 3: Software Architecture and Processes.