CSCI375 Spring 2025

Course Syllabus

The methods and methodologies used in analyzing and designing various types of systems. Topics include project definition, CASE tools, data gathering, structured analysis and design, human-machine interface, database design, system controls, hardware selection and system testing, implementation and operation. Students are assigned to a project team involved in a system study as part of the course. Prerequisite: Min. "C" in CSCI 162 and CSCI 265.

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Instructor

Sarah Carruthers

  • Email: sarah.carruthers at viu.ca
  • Office: 315/217
  • Office Hours: tbd

Course Website

VIU Learn

Schedules

  • Lecture Schedule:
    • tbd
    • Classes start tbd
  • Lab Schedule:
    • Labs begin week of tbd
    • Please attend your registered lab. Attendance is mandatory

Required Technology

This course will take place face to face, but teams will need to work and collaborate both during and outside lecture/lab time on various documents and tasks. Therefore students are required to have access to a minimum level of technology to successfully collaborate with classmates. This includes:

If you are lacking in access to any of the above technologies, please contact the instructor to discuss options (which may include using the Library Commons for wireless access.)

Topics

This course provides a hands-on introduction to a number of Systems Analysis and Design activities and concepts. It will include the following topics:

  • Introduction to Systems Analysis and Design
  • Systems Design Life Cycles (SDLC)
  • Project Mangagement
  • Requirements Gathering
  • Use Cases and Activity Diagrams
  • Domain Modeling
  • Data Modeling
  • Data and Dataflow Modeling
  • Database design and OO Design
  • Architectural Design
  • Deployment and Testing

Course Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Working with the client and stakeholders, select and follow a realizable system development life cycle for a project that respects the needs of the client and users.
  • Assess and adapt a project’s plan by establishing and monitoring clear and measurable metrics throughout a project lifecycle through respectful user engagement
  • Gather information about user and stakeholder needs to develop system requirements through data gathering techniques that respect the ways of knowing, domain knowledge and needs of users and their community.
  • Translate system requirements into Analysis Models that reflect their relevance to the user's needs, environment, and domain knowledge.
  • Assess and adapt a system’s design by working with the client, the system's users, and other stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
  • Translate analysis models into design models by applying software design principles to ensure the deployed system meets the user’s needs, and is also maintainable and well-structured.
  • Develop system modules and data stores by converting design models into code and other concrete implementations, respecting the impact that the system may have on users and other stakeholders.
  • Track the progress of contributions to the development process through the use of a git repo or other version control system in order to be responsible and accountable to the client and team members.

Course Schedule

This course will consist of approximately 10 modules, with each module one week in duration. The remainder of the course will be set aside for project implementation, demonstrations, and presentations.

Each module will consist of:
  • Pre-recorded video lectures and readings
  • Lecture assessment
  • In-class activities

A detailed schedule is available on VIU Learn.

Textbooks

Recommended Texts:

  • Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World. (6th or 7th Edition). Satzinger, Jackson, Burd.

This course will make use of a number of resources, including:

  • book chapters
  • online articles

Please see VIU Learn for an up-to-date list of resources for each module.

Grading

Course includes lecture (theory) and lab (practical) components. Students will receive a single final grade assessing their performance in the lab and lecture components, combined. Students must also achieve separate passing grades in the lecture and lab assessments in order to earn an overall passing grade in the course.

  • Lecture
    • Quizzes: 10%
    • Exams: 30%
  • Lab
    • Project (multiple deliverables): 50%
  • Participation: 10%

Grading Scheme

The following scale will be used. The instructor reserves the right to lower the numerical score required for a particular letter grade if that seems appropriate, but the same conversion will be applied to all persons in the class. Under no circumstances will the numerical score required for a particular letter grade be raised.

A+90-100
A85-89
A-80-84
B+76-79
B72-75
B-68-71
C+64-67
C60-63
C-55-59
D50-54
F0-49

Tests

Each week will begin with assigned readings and videos that all students are responsible for completing before class.

Readings will be assessed using online Quizzes which will be completed online individually prior to the start of the week.

There will be a final exam.

Project

Each team will, over the course of the term, work on a project that has a number of deliverables. Time will be spent in class (online) working on these deliverables and getting peer feedback. Details of each deliverable and their deadlines can be found on VIU Learn.

  • To receive full marks, all deliverables must be received before their due date and time
  • Submissions later than 2 working days late will not be accepted, and will receive a mark of 0.
  • Students must participate in all team presentations and demonstrations in order to be eligible for a portion of the team grade for that presentation or demonstration

Students who are unable to contribute to a team deliverable for a valid reason, such as illness, and who communicate this reason in a timely manner to the instructor and team will be given an option to alter how the student's participation or assessment for that deliverable is undertaken. When considering how this will be done, the instructor will take into consideration the impact on the instructor, team, and individual, and attempt to find a solution that is fair for everyone.

Course Policies And Guidelines

Late Submissions: Late project submissions will be penalized 25% for the first day, and 100% on the second day unless previously approved by the course instructor. Personal extensions will be granted only in extenuating circumstances (e.g. illness) with clear and timely communication to the instructor about the reason.

Team participation: This course will use a Team-based learning approach, and as such all students will be assigned a team with which to work. Assessment will be a mix of individual and team assessment.

Individual participation: In addition to attendance, participation during class is required.

Lab participation: Lab attendance is required. Lab time will include a scheduled team meeting with the instructor. All team members are expected to attend and engage.

Coursework Mark Appeals: All marks must be appealed within 7 days of the mark being posted.

Attendance: Students are expected to attend all labs and lectures. During this time, students will work with their teams on the term project and give and receive feedback on preliminary project components. It is entirely the students' responsibility to recover any information or announcements presented in lectures from which they were absent.

Absenteeism: If you are unable to attend a lecture or lab, you are expected to behave responsibly and in a timely manner:

  • Inform your team of the absence and ensure your tasks and responsibilities are covered
  • Inform the instructor of the reason for your absence

This is a team-based course, and the absence of a team member impacts the rest of the team. Students must be able to attend at least 75% of lectures, and must participate in all team deliverables and presentations unless a valid reason is given, such as illness or personal emergency. If the absence of a team member might cause hardship to the rest of the team, the instructor reserves the right to redistribute tasks or assign alternate assessments as needed.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: VIU values human diversity in all its dimensions and is committed to achieving and ensuring learning and working environments that are equitable, diverse and inclusive.

For this course, students are expected to treat each other with kindness and respect, and we will strive for an equitable and inclusive learning environment.

Student Supports: VIU has a number of supports available to students, and students are encouraged to make use of them if needed.

Please visit Student Support for links to supports including: Accessibility Services, Advising, Counselling, and more.

The Math department has a Math Learning Centre, and Computer Science has Help Centre staff who can help you in the lab throughout the term.

Academic Integrity: It is expected that students will know and abide by the VIU’s policy on Student Academic Code of Conduct (Policy 96.01). These guidelines concern the type of fraud where a student presents another's work as their own, or allows another to do so. They are based on VIU's Student Academic Code of Conduct.

You can learn more here: Academic Integrity

Student Code of Conduct: It is expected that students will treat one another and the instructor with respect and dignity at all times.

Please familiarize VIU's Student Code of Conduct, because students are expected to adhere to it.