645.764.83 - Software Systems Engineering

Course Structure

The Course week is structured from Tuesday through Monday, and assignments/tests are due just before midnight Eastern Time on Monday evenings.

Each week has a separate module of instructional materials, including readings, videos, and discussions.

Course Topics

• Course Introduction
  
• Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Basics
  
• SysML Introduction
  
• Understanding a Systems Model
  
• Systems and Software Architecting
  
• Agile Development
• Software Features, Scenarios, and Stories
• Software Architecture
  
• Cloud and Service Architectures
  
• Non-Functional Requirements
  
• Dependability
  
• Testing
• Code Management

Course Goals

To identify and describe the roles and responsibilities of Software Systems Engineers, and then apply that knowledge to analyze and solve software systems engineering problems, including a semester-long individual course project. MBSE Tools will be introduced for use throughout the Systems Engineering curriculum. 

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Combine software development (programming) with higher-level Systems Engineering concepts, including Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to analyze/evaluate successful development efforts.
• Identify and utilize the steps of a software engineering process to develop a software intensive system.
• Critique and optimize the software systems process and activities for engineering a software product.
• Apply abstract modeling and software concepts in the context of specific project scenarios.
• Utilize the CAMEO MBSE tool to produce consistent and comprehensive system models.
• Utilize the Python programming language tool to make small changes to software code.

Textbooks

Sommerville, Ian, Engineering Software Products, New York: Pearson, 2019.

Textbook information for this course is available online through the appropriate bookstore website: For online courses, search the MBS website at http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/jhu-ep.htm.

Required Software

Canvas

For Canvas system requirements, please go here: 

Web Browser Plugins

You will need the Adobe Flash Player plugin to view videos in this course. Go to http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/.

PDF Viewer

You will need the free Adobe PDF viewer software to view PDF files in this course. Go to http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.

Other Software

You will need access to word processing and spreadsheet applications. Microsoft Office will, of course, work—however, an open source alternative is OpenOffice.org. http://download.openoffice.org/other.html#en-US.

Zoom

You will be using Zoom, a web-based conferencing system, to participate in classes you cannot attend in person, and also to replay class recordings.

To use Zoom, please perform a connection test on your computer to make sure your software is current by going to https://zoom.us/test and selecting Connection Test. If you have any trouble connecting to a Zoom meeting, please contact the JHU EP Online Help Desk (see below).

Python Development Environment

The Python 3 programming language is used for several examples, exercises, and homework assignments. Module 0 describes the software requirements in order to participate in these activities.

Student Coursework Requirements

It is expected that the class will take approximately 7–9 hours per week: reading the assigned sections of the texts (approximately 2–3 hours per week) as well as some outside reading, listening to the audio recordings of lecture presentations (approximately 3 hours per week), and writing homework assignments (approximately 1–2 hours per week).

This course consists of five student requirements:

• Discussions - 20% of final grade
  • o Six items, due at the end of modules 1, 3, 5, 8, 11 and 13
• Technical Assignments – 40% of final grade
  • o Four items, due at the end of modules 4, 5, 11 and 13
• Project Interim deliverables – 10% of final grade
  • o Six items, due at the end of modules 2, 4, 6, 8, 11 and 13
• Project Final Report – 20% of final grade
  • o Due at the end of module 13
• Quizzes – 10% of final grade
  • o Fourteen brief self-check quizzes that cover module-by-module content

Specific grading criteria/rubrics for discussions, technical assignments, project interim deliverables, and the project final report are provided with each item in Canvas.

Grading Policy

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.