Programs and Courses

Source: https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/course/COMP2120 Parent: https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/program/AACOM

• Code COMP2120

• Unit Value 6 units

• Offered by School of Computing

• ANU College ANU College of Systems and Society
• Course subject Computer Science

• Areas of interest Computer Science, Software Engineering, Software Development

• Academic career UGRD

• Course convener
• Dr Xiaoyu Sun
• Mode of delivery In Person
• Co-taught Course
• COMP6120
• Offered in

Second Semester 2026\

See Future Offerings - STEM Course - Graduate Attributes - Transdisciplinary

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Software Engineering (COMP2120)

• Introduction
• Learning Outcomes
• Indicative Assessment
• Workload
• Requisite and Incompatibility
• Prescribed Texts
• Preliminary Reading
• Fees
• Offerings and Dates

Real-world software development is a complex and dynamic activity involving people, technology and processes interacting within a complex environment of clients, users and other stakeholders while being observant of technological, physical, social, legal, and ethical constraints.\ This course will empower students with the ability and confidence necessary to exercise critical thinking and professional judgment to select and apply appropriate knowledge, practices and tools to the development of non-trivial software systems. This will be achieved by introducing students to important design methodologies. We will build on previous programming courses to deepen and broaden students' knowledge and understanding of the practices and tools used to build large software systems within complex environments. We will use real-world examples such as distributed, high-integrity, web-based systems where rigorous software engineering can demonstrably enhance business value.\ Students will learn how practices and tools can be adapted to suit specific project needs and contexts. Knowledge, practices and tools considered in this course will include process models, requirements engineering, design, modelling and user experience.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Describe the breadth and nature of the software engineering process, including project management activities, and distinguish various phases of the process;
2. Evaluate other people's code contributions using modern formal code inspection approaches.
3. Apply correct techniques for ensuring and assessing the quality of software.
4. Assess the issues in constructing large software systems from their components, including considerations of cyber security and user-centred design, and evaluate the nature and design of these components.
5. Employ group working skills in solving software development problems;
6. Analyse and evaluate IT-related scenarios with reference to the software engineering code of ethics and professional practice.

Indicative Assessment

1. Individual Assignment(s) (5) [LO 1,2]
2. Group Assignments & Presentation (50) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
3. Final Exam (45) [LO 1,3,6]

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

130 hours including lectures, video lectures, tutorials and self-study.

Requisite and Incompatibility

To enrol in this course you must have successfully completed or be currently studying COMP2100. Incompatible with COMP2130, COMP6120 and COMP6311.

Prescribed Texts

1. Software Engineering @ Google -(O'Reilly) available free via this link

Preliminary Reading

1. Engineering Software Products, Ian Sommerville (Pearson) is a recommended text
2. Agile! The Good, the Hype, and the Ugly, by Bertrand Meyer (by Springer)
3. Clean Architecture—A Craftsman's Guide to Software Structure and Design, by Robert C. Martin (Prentice Hall)

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Fees

Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.

Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students\ If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. 

Student Contribution Band: : 2

Unit value: : 6 units

If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) placeor international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.

Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.

Course fees

Domestic International

Domestic fee paying students

International fee paying students

Note: Please note that fee information is for current year only.

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Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

The list of offerings for future years is indicative only. \

Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.

2026

2027

Second Semester

Second Semester