Key facts
UNE unit code: COSC220
*You are viewing the 2026 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.
- Trimester 2 - On Campus
- Trimester 2 - Online
- UNE Sydney Campus
- Armidale Campus
- Yes
- No
- Yes
- 6
Unit information
Modern software development is highly collaborative. Teams of developers work together to take software from conception into production and continue to develop the software based on feedback from its use. This introduces a number of engineering challenges, as teams must ensure that the program works and is well designed, even while it is being modified by many people at once.
Many of the software engineering practices and tool chains that are core to a developer’s work are designed to support the collaborative nature of programming.
In this unit you will work in teams to develop different features of a class-wide development project, to learn how software engineers design, build, deploy, and modify large programs together.
Introducing you to key concepts, including distributed version control, continuous integration, deployment, and delivery practices, as well as agile development and software design, the unit will help you to hone invaluable applied skills.
Offerings
For further information about UNE's teaching periods, please go to Principal Dates.
| Teaching period | Mode/location |
|---|---|
| Trimester 2 | On Campus, Armidale Campus |
| Trimester 2 | On Campus, UNE Sydney Campus |
| Trimester 2 | Online |
*Offering is subject to availability
Intensive schools
There are no intensive schools required for this unit.
Enrolment rules
Notes
COSC220 requires a knowledge of, and programming experience with, a high level programming language. Experience with the use of the Linux/UNIX operating system is highly recommended.
To study this unit on campus at the UNE Sydney Campus you must be admitted to your course as an on campus student at the UNE Sydney Campus.
Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.
Unit coordinator(s)
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- work with other programmers and other teams of programmers on large software projects;
- apply collaborative software development practices and tool chains;
- design and develop features for a software system, from conception through to testing, deployment, and continuous improvement;
- design, model, and investigate user interaction and user experience with software;
- apply techniques for verifying the quality of software during development and explain the ethical considerations around software failure risks and their impact; and
- investigate, analyse, understand, and modify the design of program code, including code written by others.
Assessment information
Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
| Title | Must Complete | Weight | Offerings | Assessment Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 | Yes | 15% | All offerings | Online quiz and exercises. |
| Assessment 2 | Yes | 10% | All offerings | Software development task. |
| Assessment 3 - Assurance Task | Yes | 35% | All offerings | Collaborative software development project. It is mandatory to pass this component in order to pass the unit. |
| Assessment 4 | Yes | 5% | All offerings | Studio critique. |
| Final Examination - Assurance Task | Yes | 35% | All offerings | Final Exam. Some questions on this exam may relate to work undertaken in other assessments. It is mandatory to pass this component in order to pass the unit. There is a supervised exam at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled. The exam will be offered online with supervision via webcam and screen sharing technology. Coordinated by UNE Exams Unit. |
Learning resources
Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.
Note: Referenced material may be held in the University Library — purchase is optional.
Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software
ISBN: 9780201633610
Gamma, E., Helm, R., Johnson, R. and Vlissides, J., Addison-Wesley Professional 1994
Text refers to: All offerings
Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code
ISBN: 9780134757599
Fowler, M., Pearson Higher Ed 2nd ed. 2018
Text refers to: All offerings
UML Distilled: A Brief Guide to the Standard Object Modeling
ISBN: 9780321193681
Fowler, M., Addison-Wesley 3rd ed. 2003
Text refers to: All offerings
Continuous Delivery: Reliable Software Releases through Build, Test, and Deployment Automation
ISBN: 9780321601919
Humble, J. and Farley, D., Addison-Wesley 2010
Text refers to: Trimester 2 (On Campus, Armidale Campus), Trimester 2 (On Campus, UNE Sydney Campus), Trimester 2 (Online)
Extreme Programming Explained: Embrace Change
ISBN: 9780321278654
Beck, K., Addison-Wesley Professional 2nd ed. 2004
Text refers to: All offerings
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