UNH Computer Science Department

Graduate Certificate Program in Software Systems Engineering

Does your company rely upon the same few individuals to launch software products and shepherd them to deployment?

Who makes the tough decisions in your company concerning architecture, performance, availability, security, or safety?

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Engineers who are successful at this “big picture” work are rare, which is why we are launching a Graduate Certificate Program for Software Systems Engineering.

Companies that take advantage of this program will be well-equipped to utilize the innate talents of promising software engineers and transition them into the higher value position of software systems engineer. These invaluable senior technical leaders hold titles such as, software system engineer, software architect, chief engineer, technical director, and lead system engineer.

This is what software executives are saying about this program...

“The demand for Software and Systems Engineering expertise is increasing in terms of the requirements present in many technology-oriented companies. UNH’s provision of the graduate course program will provide the opportunity for motivated individuals to acquire the education required to be successful and to assist in ensuring the success of BAE Systems and other companies ”

Gerard Quintanar
Director, Electronic Solutions Software Engineering
BAE Systems, Nashua, NH

“Job candidates with academic experience like this will stand out from the pack, to me and my management/hiring team.”

Peter Clairmont
Senior Vice President Software Engineering
Computer Associates, Inc.,Portsmouth, NH

“The proposed Certificate Program in Software Systems Engineering offers companies like Markem-Imaje a great opportunity to provide their engineers with a solid understanding of software systems engineering which our engineers can combine with their real-world experiences to become talented Software and Systems Architects.”

Christopher Sullivan
Director, Product Platform Development
Markem-Imaje Corporation, Keene, NH

“I believe those currently in software engineering roles will benefit from this program by learning about other aspects of the full software engineering lifecycle, providing the ability to move up or laterally within the software development organization.”

David Todaro
Vice President, Principal
BID2WIN Software, Inc., Portsmouth, NH

Course Requirements

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Students are required to complete four courses to earn the Certificate in Software Systems Engineering.

Two courses and two electives are required.

Courses can later be transferred to an M.S. degree program if desired.

M.S. in Computer Science software engineering breadth area.
Proposed M.S. in Information Technology

Certificate Program courses include: (3 credits each; see course descriptions below)

Software Systems Engineering Process *
Software Systems Engineering Case Study*
Requirements Engineering
Architecture Concepts

Object Oriented Implementation
System Test/Evaluation
Performance Engineering
Software Project Management

*Required course; all other courses are electives.

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Program Starts Spring 2010!

First Course:	Software Systems Engineering Process

Schedule:	Feb. 1- May 17, 2010
Day:	Monday
Time:	5:30-8:30 p.m.
Location:	UNH Manchester 400 Commercial St. Manchester, NH

Apply now; registration opens November 23, 2009

I would like to enroll in the certificate program: click here.

To register for the first course (Course # CS 818, CRN 25736):*

-New students must register by phone, mail or fax. click here.

-Continuing UNH students may register online by logging into UNH Blackboard and clicking the "Webcat/Services" tab (if asked for a RAC # use 700001).

I am not interested in enrolling at this time but would like to be kept informed: click here.

*You may take one course prior to enrolling in the Certificate Program.

Questions?

For more information contact :

Mike Deutsch at: Michael.Deutsch@unh.edu

Phil Hatcher at: Phil.Hatcher@unh.edu.

UNH CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN SOFTWARE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Software Systems Engineering Process. To meet the formidable challenges of contemporary systems, this course addresses an interdisciplinary set of processes from concepts to deployment that balances competing parameters toward a design solution meeting stakeholder needs. This integrated discipline is referred to as “software system engineering” and is the central expertise possessed by software technical leaders and software architects. The course addresses a core set of system engineering skills: operations needs analysis; requirements analysis and engineering; software architecture; system integration and test; and system engineering management. An attendee acquires an improved ability to tackle the tough technical decisions that will make or break a project.

Software Systems Engineering Case Study. The case study is the capstone course for the Certificate. With the Instructor as mentor, students analyze the outcomes of a complex project case. The study provides a systematic in-depth assessment of lessons learned including failures and successes.

Requirements Engineering. Yes, writing down the requirements coherently and understandably is difficult. But the really big challenge is mastering the decision stream that leads up to those requirements! This course focuses on the skills required to identify, analyze, synthesize, and manage system requirements. It addresses the key requirements gathering and analysis tasks throughout the system life cycle. Participants learn about the requirements process, explore what constitutes good requirements, and understand how requirements are documented. A case study provides practice and feedback on key skills of the requirements process.

Architecture Concepts. This course examines the role of architecture to satisfy an organization’s business requirements. The hard choices that must be made by the architect to fulfill the often conflicting needs of performance, availability, security, interoperability, and modifiability are highlighted. Other topics include representations of architectures, case studies, and the role of architecture in product lines.

Object Oriented Methodology. Object orientation has emerged as the de-facto standard for visualizing, designing, and implementing software systems. This course emphasizes the Unified Modeling Language (UML) and its various views to analyze, architect, design, and implement systems. A project culminating in the programming implementation of a case study is the focus of the course.

System Test/Evaluation. The course identifies an integrated software test and evaluation process framework that emphasizes a “systems engineering” approach: The validation and viability of customer/user needs statements, verification of system design, full exercise developmental testing, system integration/test dovetailing on the prior validations, plus evaluation of system robustness attributes. Especially highlighted is system definition, development, and verification based on user scenarios (use cases) and threads.

Performance Engineering. The emphasis of this course is on avoiding the costly consequences when software products fail to meet their performance objectives when initially constructed. Model-based techniques are presented for creating responsive software including the recognition of patterns and anti-patterns. Especially highlighted are the creation of quantitative models from the ongoing architecture and design processes.

Software Project Management. This course focuses on a core set of project management essentials that can affect the bottom line of software project technical and business performance. These are termed "best practices," and those addressed are: formal risk management, agreement on interfaces, metrics based scheduling/tracking, frequent binary completion milestones, incremental development, people aware management style, and change management. Additional contemporary topics on managing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions and product line management are also presented.