Agile Software Design – Higher Diploma

Program Overview

Agile Software Design – Higher Diploma

Status

Applications Opening Soon

Location

Athlone

Duration

1 year

Fees

€7,500 EU applicants; €14,000 non-EU *Fees subject to change

Level

8

Course Type

Postgraduate

Study Mode

Full Time

Department

Computer and Software Engineering

Course Overview

This Level 8 Award is specifically designed to up-skill graduates with:

• The technical skills to build software applications that can be deployed to the cloud in an agile manner.
• Knowledge of the tools and methodologies needed to develop and deploy software applications.
• Experience of working in teams to deliver a project and preparation for the workplace.
• A predominant theme of this programme is a focus on industry standard certifications and open source tools so that graduates are prepared for the workplace.

Course Modules

Semester 1

• Object Oriented Programming 1
  • Credits: 5
  • This module introduces Java programming and provides hands-on learning regarding the fundamentals of the language.
• Agile Design and Testing 1
  • Credits: 5
  • This module will familiarise students with the area of software lifecycles and methodologies and give students the skills necessary to follow a software lifecycle model through requirements, design and testing phases with a focus on agile methods in particular.
• Team Project 1
  • Credits: 5
  • This module will provide students with an opportunity to practice object oriented design and programming skills and to follow a development methodology. Students will work in teams to design, code and test a simple object oriented system using an agile software methodology.
• Databases
  • Credits: 5
  • This module covers data modelling using Entity Relationship Diagrams, normalisation rules and database design. Students will assess transaction management and concurrency in DBMS including distributed databases. Students will assess data storage and retrieval for large data sets.

Semester 2

• Networks and Cloud Architecture
  • Credits: 5
  • This module provides the learner with a good understanding of the important aspects of network communication for software engineers within today’s Internet.
• Object Oriented Programming 2
  • Credits: 5
  • Initially, a quick review of the core concepts from OOP1 is performed. Inheritance is now covered in more detail.
• Web Technologies
  • Credits: 5
  • The module will provide a comprehensive overview of the latest client side and server side web technologies.
• Agile Design and Testing 2
  • Credits: 5
  • The primary focus of this module is to, within the agile process, provide theoretical and practical approaches to producing clean code.
• ICT Placement Preparation
  • Credits: 5
  • The purpose of this module is to increase student awareness of graduate and other job opportunities and to enable them develop the tools and skills to secure these roles.

Semester 3

• ICT Internal Placement
  • Credits: 15
  • Provide the learner with an alternative to placement in instances where it is not possible to undertake or complete a placement.
• ICT Placement
  • Credits: 15
  • Students will be required to spend a minimum of 16 weeks on placement with a software development company.

Entry Requirements

• Level 7 qualification in ICT related discipline (engineering or software)
• Or
• Level 8 qualification in a non-engineering/ICT discipline.

Career Opportunities

• Graduates of this programme who attain honours in this programme will possess the necessary background to enable progression to the existing taught Master of Science in Software Engineering or the Master of Science in Applied Software Engineering at TUS.
• These students will also be in a position to apply for admission to taught level 9 programmes at other third level providers.
• Students have the option to progress to postgraduate research programmes both at TUS and other third level providers.

Program Outline

Agile Software Design – Higher Diploma - TUS

Degree Overview:

This Level 8 Award is specifically designed to up-skill graduates with:

• Technical skills: To build software applications that can be deployed to the cloud in an agile manner.
• Knowledge: Of the tools and methodologies needed to develop and deploy software applications.
• Experience: Of working in teams to deliver a project and preparation for the workplace.
A predominant theme of this programme is a focus on industry standard certifications and open source tools so that graduates are prepared for the workplace.

• The Object Oriented Programming modules cover the Oracle Java Certified Associate syllabus and some material from the Oracle Java Certified Professional syllabus.
• The Agile Design and Testing modules include Scrum Master training material and ISTQB Foundation level material, as well as practical experience of test automation tools and version control systems.
• In the Team Project modules learners will work as part of a team in a “simulated industry environment” to develop a solution to an industry type problem.
The Team Projects are a fundamental element where the group work facilitates peer-supported learning.

Outline:

Semester 1:

• Object Oriented Programming 1 (Credits: 5): Introduces Java programming and covers fundamentals like variables, operators, selection and iteration constructs, storage mechanisms (arrays and ArrayLists), Object Oriented Programming concepts (methods, constructors, classes, objects, encapsulation, access specifiers), Inheritance, extending and overriding interfaces.
• Agile Design and Testing 1 (Credits: 5): Familiarizes students with software lifecycles and methodologies, equipping them with skills to follow a software lifecycle model through requirements, design, and testing phases with a focus on agile methods.
• Team Project 1 (Credits: 5): Provides students with an opportunity to practice object oriented design and programming skills and to follow a development methodology.
Students work in teams to design, code, and test a simple object oriented system using an agile software methodology.
• Databases (Credits: 5): Covers data modelling using Entity Relationship Diagrams, normalization rules, database design, transaction management, concurrency in DBMS including distributed databases, data storage and retrieval for large data sets.

Semester 2:

• Networks and Cloud Architecture (Credits: 5): Provides an understanding of network communication for software engineers within today’s Internet.
• Object Oriented Programming 2 (Credits: 5): Reviews core concepts from OOP1, covers Inheritance in detail (method overriding, method overloading, polymorphism, static vs. dynamic binding, static vs. dynamic types, upcasting, downcasting, instanceof operator), design features (abstract classes, interfaces), static and final keywords, immutable classes, type safety using enums, packages, javadoc, inner classes, and File I/O.
• Web Technologies (Credits: 5): Provides a comprehensive overview of the latest client side and server side web technologies.
On the server side, it focuses on using Java based technologies to develop web applications that incorporate database connectivity and can be deployed on the cloud. It enables students to develop rich internet applications with rich client interactivity using the latest technologies including HTML5.
• Agile Design and Testing 2 (Credits: 5): Focuses on providing theoretical and practical approaches to producing clean code within the agile process.
Emphasis is placed on Test Driven Development, Automation, Build and Deployment for a cloud environment. It provides insights into methods for building clean code as per industry practices. The module includes exposure to tools like Java, Groovy, Ant, Maven, Rake, Hudson, Cucumber, Git, SVN, Eclipse, and Refactoring.
• ICT Placement Preparation (Credits: 5): Increases student awareness of graduate and other job opportunities and enables them to develop the tools and skills to secure these roles.

Semester 3:

• ICT Internal Placement (Credits: 15): Provides an alternative to placement in instances where it is not possible to undertake or complete a placement.
The module allows the learner to gain experience in the structure of team work through the development and delivery of an integrated project with regular deliverables. The learner will also develop their understanding of the wider ICT landscape.
• ICT Placement (Credits: 15): Students spend a minimum of 16 weeks on placement with a software development company.
The objective is to give students exposure to a range of learning experiences in a work environment setting, relating material learned at college to real world situations, learning to perform competently in an actual work situation, and interacting with other team members and colleagues.

Careers:

Further Study:

Graduates of this programme who attain honours in this programme will possess the necessary background to enable progression to the existing taught Master of Science in Software Engineering or the Master of Science in Applied Software Engineering at TUS. These students will also be in a position to apply for admission to taught level 9 programmes at other third level providers. Students have the option to progress to postgraduate research programmes both at TUS and other third level providers.

€7,500 EU applicants; €12,500 non-EU Fees subject to change