[comp.software-eng] Software Dsgn @ PSU

FPA@PSUVMA.BITNET (03/30/88)

     I am a senior studying CS at Penn State University, and have been
reading the various responses to the "American Programmer" article on the
net.  I have not had the privlege to read the original article, but I would
like to add my two bits worth of information concerning software design at
the undergraduate level.
     Here at PSU, an experimental course was offered in the Spring of 87
called Software Design Methods.  Highlights of this course were :

1) Group projects (4-7 people per team, one designated team leader)
2) Software design methodology included such things as:
   - SRR (System Requirements Review)
   - SDR (System      Design Review)
   - PDR (Prelimanary  esign Review)
   - CDR (Critical     "      "    )
   - Acceptance Testing
   - Product delivery
   Notes: All reviews required a class presentation, and comments/suggestions
          were presented by other groups in the course.

   In Addition, we used a certified Ada compiler (IBM/Telesoft) on an
   IBM 4381.  Besides designing and producing our semester project, we
   learned a lot about different design techniques, discussed software
   maintenance, probability of failure, upgrades, etc.  At the end of the
   semester we had developed a project with full documentation, comments,
   and user manuals.
        This course was an experience that helped me (as well as many of
   other students in the course) learn a lot more about the real world of
   Software Development (Software Engineering for those schools which allow
   such terminology in a science field like computers :*) ) and apply that
   knowledge towards our future careers as ....Software Engineers?!

     This course is going to be offered here at PSU next fall as
CMPSC 416.  I hope that this course continues to be offered at this
university so that more CStists will benefit from such an experience.


     Sincerely,
        Dan Barber FPA at PSUVMA
        131 Sowers St. Apt C-10
        State College, PA 16801

     P.S. If anyone would like info on this course, I could dig it
          up for you.  I am not an official spokesperson for the
          Computer Science Dept. of Penn State University, just
          a happy graduating senior!