Evaluating the Software Engineering Curriculum at JUST: A Comparative Analysis with IEEE Knowledge Areas

Authors

  • Moh'd A. Radaideh, Qasem Abu Al-Haija

Keywords:

Unsatisfactory, Professional, Computing Foundations, Software Requirements, Knowledge

Abstract

Contribution: This paper examines the compliance of the Software Engineering (SE) program at Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) with the fifteen Software Engineering Knowledge Areas (SEKAs) established in the IEEE-CS SWEBOK. This research is the first to determine the scope of these knowledge fields in a SE undergraduate program curriculum.

Background: Although the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) offers the SE undergraduate program at JUST, aligning it with the IEEE view of SE is essential.

Research Questions: This research aims to answer some questions, such as how much the SEKAs’ topics are included in JUST's SE undergraduate program. How to eliminate the identified coverage gap.

Methodology: Observe the coverage of the SEKAs' topics in the SE undergraduate program curriculum courses at JUST. Then, accordingly CLASSIFY theSEKAs into (a) Full-Compliance (e.g., when concerned Knowledge Area is fully covered across one or more of the SE undergraduate program curriculum' courses); (b) High-Compliance (e.g., when concerned Knowledge Area is highly covered); (c) Partial-Compliance (e.g., when concerned Knowledge Area is partially covered); or (d) Poor-Compliance (e.g., when concerned Knowledge Area is poorly covered).

Findings: This research concluded that the SE undergraduate program complies with the Software Requirements (SW-RQTs), Software Testing (SW-TS), SE Management (SW-MG), and Software Quality Knowledge Areas (SQKAs). The Software Design (SW-DS), SE Models and Methods, Computing Foundations (CFs), and Mathematical Foundations Knowledge Areas (MFKAs). c) Ensure that the software construction (SW-CN), maintenance (SW-MN), configuration management (SW-CM), and SE process knowledge areas are consistent and compliant. d) Unsatisfactory in the SE Professional Practice, SE Economics, and Engineering Foundation Knowledge Areas (EFKAs).

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References

ABET Accreditation; https://www.abet.org/accreditation/

JUST Website: www.just.edu.jo

IEEE Computer Society; https://www.computer.org/

Institute of Engineering and Technology Site – IET Accreditation. https://www.theiet.org/career/accreditation/academic-accreditation/

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Radaideh, M., "Benchmarking the SE undergraduate program curriculum at Jordan University of Science and Technology with the IEEE SE body of knowledge: (SEKAs #11-15)". The 2021 International Conference on Computational Science and Computational Intelligence (CSCI'21: December 15-17, 2021; Las Vegas, USA) https://www.american-cse.org/csci2021/. Published by the IEEE CPS - Benchmarking the SE undergraduate program curriculum at Jordan University of Science and Technology with the IEEE SE body of knowledge: (SEKAs #11-15) | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore.

Radaideh, M., "Shifting the Paradigms from Teaching Project Management to Teaching Software Project Management at the Jordan University of Science and Technology According to the IEEE SW-MGKnowledge Area". The 2021 International Conference on Computational Science and Computational Intelligence (CSCI'21: December 15-17, 2021; Las Vegas, USA) https://www.american-cse.org/csci2021/. Published by the IEEE CPS - Shifting the paradigms from teaching project management to teaching software project management at Jordan University of Science and Technology based on the IEEE SW-MGknowledge area | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE Xplore.

Radaideh, M., "Benchmarking the SE Undergraduate Program Curriculum at Jordan University of Science and Technology with the IEEE SE Body of Knowledge (SEKAs #1–5)". Published in the SPRINGER NATURE Research Book Series: Advances in Software Engineering, Education, and e-Learning, pp 747-768, September 2021 (https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-70873-3_53).

Radaideh, M., "Benchmarking the SE Undergraduate Program Curriculum at Jordan University of Science and Technology with the IEEE SE Body of Knowledge (SWE Knowledge Areas #6–10)". Published in the SPRINGER NATURE Research Book Series: Advances in Software Engineering, Education, and e-Learning, pp 85-100, September 2021 (https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-70873-3_7).

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SEKA#1 SW-RQTs - Reference Standards

ISO/IEC TR 19759:2015 SE - Guide to the SE body of the knowledge (SWEBOK). https://www.iso.org/standard/67604.html

ISO/IEC/IEEE 24765:2017 Systems and Software Engineering-Vocabulary. https://www.iso.org/standard/71952.html

ISO/IEC 19761:2011 Software Engineering-COSMIC: A Functional Size Measurement Method. https://www.iso.org/standard/54849.html

ISO/IEC 20926:2009 Software and Systems Engineering - Software Measurement - IFPUG Functional Size Measurement Method. https://www.iso.org/standard/51717.html

ISO/IEC 20968:2002 SE -Mk II Function Point Analysis - Counting Practices Manual. https://www.iso.org/standard/35603.html

ISO/IEC 24570:2005 SE - NESMA Functional Size Measurement Method Version 2.1 - Definitions and Counting Guidelines for applying Function Point Analysis. https://www.iso.org/standard/37289.html

ISO/IEC 19501:2005 Information Technology - Open Distributed Processing - Unified Modelling Language (UML) Version 1.4.2. https://www.iso.org/standard/32620.html

ISO/IEC 19505:2012 [two parts] Information Technology - Object Management Group Unified Modelling Language (OMG UML). Part I: https://www.iso.org/standard/32624.html Part II: https://www.iso.org/standard/52854.html

SEKA#2 SW-DS - Reference Standards

ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010:2022 Software, Systems, and Enterprise - Architecture Description. https://www.iso.org/standard/74393.html

IEEE Std. 1016-2009 Standard for Information Technology - Systems Design - SW-DS Descriptions. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5167255

ISO/IEC/IEEE 26514:2022 Systems and SE - Design and Development of Information for Users. https://www.iso.org/standard/77451.html

SEKA#3 Software Construction - Reference Standards

ISO/IEC TR 24772:2013 Information Technology - Programming Languages -Guidance to Avoiding Vulnerabilities in Programming Languages through Language Selection and Use. https://www.iso.org/standard/61457.html

IEEE Std. 1008-1987 Standard for Software Unit Testing. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/27763

ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-4:2021 Software and Systems Engineering - SW-TS - Part 4: Test Techniques. https://www.iso.org/standard/79430.html

ISO/IEC/IEEE 26515:2018 Systems and SE - Developing Information for Users in an Agile Environment. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8584455

IEEE Std. 1517-2010 Standard for Information Technology - System and Software Life Cycle Processes - Reuse Process. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5551093

SEKA#4 SW-TS - Reference Standards

IEEE Std. 829-2008 Standard for Software and System Test Documentation. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4578383

IEEE Std. 1008-1987 Standard for Software Unit Testing. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/27763

ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-4:2021 Software and Systems Engineering - SW-TS - Part 4: Test Techniques. https://www.iso.org/standard/79430.html

ISO/IEC/IEEE 26513-2017 International Standard -Systems and SE - Requirements for Testers and Reviewers of Information for Users. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8085435

IEEE Std. 1012-2016 Standard for System, Software, and Hardware Verification and Validation. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8055462

IEEE Std. 1044-2009 Standard for Classification for Software Anomalies. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5399061

SEKA#5 Software Configuration Management - Reference Standards

ISO/IEC/IEEE 14764:2022 SE - Software Life Cycle Processes – Maintenance. https://www.iso.org/standard/80710.html

SEKA#6 Software Configuration Management - Reference Standards

IEEE Std. 828-2012 Standard for Configuration Management in Systems and Software Engineering. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6170935

SEKA#7 SW-MG- Reference Standards

ISO/IEC/IEEE 16326:2019 Systems and SE - Life Cycle Processes - Project Management. https://www.iso.org/standard/75276.html

ISO/IEC/IEEE 16085:2021 System and SE - Life Cycle

Processes - Risk Management. https://www.iso.org/standard/74371.html

ISO/IEC/IEEE 15939:2017 System and SE - Measurement Process. https://www.iso.org/standard/71197.html

IEEE Std. 1062-1998 Recommended Practice for Software Acquisition. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/741938

ISO/IEC/IEEE 26512:2018 Systems and SE - Requirements for Acquirers and Suppliers of Information for Users. https://www.iso.org/standard/72088.html

IEEE Std. 1028-2008 Standard for Software Reviews and Audits. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4601584

IEEE Std. 1061-1998 Standard for Software Quality Metrics Methodology. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/749159

ISO/IEC/IEEE 26515:2018 Systems and SE - Developing Information for Users in an Agile Environment. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8584455

SEKA#8 SE Process - Reference Standards

ISO/IEC/IEEE 15289:2019 Systems and SE - Content of Lifecycle Information Items (Documentation). Link: https://www.iso.org/standard/74909.html

ISO/IEC/IEEE 24748-2:2018 Systems and SE - Life Cycle Management - Part 2: Guidelines for applying ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 (System Life Cycle Processes). https://www.iso.org/standard/84661.html

ISO/IEC/IEEE 24748-3:2020 Systems and SE - Life Cycle Management - Part 3: Guidelines for applying ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207 (Software Life Cycle Processes). https://www.iso.org/standard/77698.html

ISO/IEC/IEEE 24748-1:2018 Systems and SE - Life Cycle Management - Part 1: Guidelines for Life Cycle Management. https://www.iso.org/standard/84709.html

IEEE Std. 1517-2010 Standard for Information Technology - System and Software Life Cycle Processes - Reuse Processes. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5551093

ISO/IEC/IEEE 24774:2021 Systems and SE - Life Cycle Management - Specification for Process Description. https://www.iso.org/standard/78981.html

ISO/IEC TR 29110-5-1-2:2011 SE - Lifecycle Profiles for Very Small Entities (VSEs) - Part 5-1-2: Management and Engineering Guide: Generic Profile Group: Basic Profile. https://www.iso.org/standard/51153.html

IEEE Std. 1074-2006 Standard for Developing a Software Project Life Cycle Process. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/1665059

IEEE Std. 828-2012 Standard for Configuration Management in Systems and Software Engineering. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6170935

ISO/IEC/IEEE 14764:2022 SE - Software Life Cycle Processes – Maintenance. https://www.iso.org/standard/80710.html

ISO/IEC/IEEE 15026-4:2021 Systems and SE - Systems and Software Assurance - Part 4: Assurance in the Life Cycle. Link: https://www.iso.org/standard/74396.html

ISO/IEC/IEEE 15939:2017 System and SE - Measurement Process. https://www.iso.org/standard/71197.html

ISO/IEC 15940:2013 Systems and SE - SE Environment Services. https://www.iso.org/standard/60100.html

ISO/IEC/IEEE 16085:2021 System and SE - Life Cycle

Processes - Risk Management. https://www.iso.org/standard/74371.html

ISO/IEC/IEEE 16326:2019 Systems and SE Lifecycle Processes -Project Management. https://www.iso.org/standard/75276.html

ISO/IEC/IEEE 29148:2018 Systems and SE - System Life Cycle Processes - Requirements Engineering. Link: https://www.iso.org/standard/72089.html

ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 Information Technology - Service Management-Part 1: Service Management System Requirements. https://www.iso.org/standard/70636.html

SEKA#9 SE Models and Methods - Reference Standards

ISO/IEC/IEEE 26515:2018 Systems and SE - Developing Information for Users in an Agile Environment. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8584455

IEEE Std. 1320.1-1998 Standard for Functional Modelling Language-Syntax and Semantics for IDEF0. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/749110

31320-2-2012-ISO/IEC/IEEE International Standard- Information technology - Modelling Languages - Part 2: Syntax and Semantics For IDEF1X97(IDEFobject). https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6357338

ISO/IEC 19501:2005 Information Technology - Open Distributed Processing-Unified Modelling Language (UML) Version 1.4.2. https://www.iso.org/standard/32620.html

ISO/IEC 19505:2012 [two parts] Information Technology - Object Management Group Unified Modelling Language (OMG UML). Part I: https://www.iso.org/standard/32624.html Part II: https://www.iso.org/standard/52854.html

ISO/IEC 19506:2012 Information Technology - Object Management Group Architecture - Driven Modernization (ADM) - Knowledge Discovery Meta-Model (KDM). https://www.iso.org/standard/32625.html

ISO/IEC 19507:2012 Information Technology - Object Management Group Object Constraint Language (OCL). https://www.iso.org/standard/57306.html

ISO/IEC 15940:2006 Information Technology - SE Environment Services. https://www.iso.org/standard/29573.html

IEEE Std. 14102-2010 Standard Adoption of ISO/ IEC 14102:2008 Information Technology - Guideline for Evaluating and Selection CASE Tools. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5567083

IEEE Std. 1175.1-2002 Guide for CASE Tool Interconnections - Classification and Description. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/1178882

IEEE Std. 1175.2-2006 Recommended Practice for CASE Tool Interconnection-Characterization of Interconnections. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4068343

IEEE Std. 1175.3-2004 Standard for CASE Tool Interconnections - Reference Model for Specifying Software Behaviour. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/1350464

IEEE Std. 1175.4-2008 Standard for CASE Tool Interconnections - Reference Model for Specifying System Behaviour. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4839189

SEKA#10 Software Quality - Reference Standards

ISO/ IEC/IEEE 90003-2018 International Standard-SE - Guidelines for applying ISO 9001:2015 to Computer Software. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8559961

IEEE Std. 730-2014 Standard for Software Quality Assurance Processes. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6835311

ISO/IEC 25000:2014 Systems and Software Engineering-Systems and Software Quality Requirements and Evaluation (SQuaRE)-Guide to SQuaRE. https://www.iso.org/standard/64764.html

ISO/IEC 25010:2011 Systems and Software Engineering-Systems and Software Quality Requirements and Evaluation (SQuaRE) - System and Software Quality Models. Link: https://www.iso.org/standard/35733.html

ISO/ TR 25060:2023 Systems and SE - Systems and Software Quality Requirements and Evaluation (SQuaRE) - General Framework for Common Industry Format (CIF) for Usability - related Information. https://www.iso.org/standard/83763.html

IEEE Std. 982.1-2005 Standard for Dictionary of Measures of the Software Aspects of Dependability. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/1634994

IEEE Std. 1633-2016 Recommended Practice for Software Reliability. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7827907

IEEE Std. 1061-1998 Standard for Software Quality Metrics Methodology. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/749159

IEEE Std. 1012-2016 Standard for System, Software, and Hardware Verification and Validation. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8055462

ISO/IEC/IEEE 15026-1:2019 Systems and SE - Systems and Software Assurance - Part 1: Concepts and Vocabulary. https://www.iso.org/standard/73567.html

ISO/IEC/IEEE 15026-2:2022 Systems and SE - Systems and Software Assurance - Part 2: Assurance Case. https://www.iso.org/standard/80625.html

ISO/IEC/IEEE DIS 15026-3 Systems and Software Engineering-Systems and Software Assurance - Part 3: System Integrity Levels. https://www.iso.org/standard/84444.html

ISO/IEC/IEEE 15026-4:2021 Systems and Software Engineering-Systems and Software Assurance - Part 4: Assurance in the Life Cycle. https://www.iso.org/standard/74396.html

IEEE Std. 1228-1994 Standard for Software Safety Plans. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9097571

IEEE Std. 829-2008 Standard for Software and System Test Documentation. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/4578383

IEEE Std. 1008-1987 Standard for Software Unit Testing. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/27763

ISO/IEC/IEEE 26513-2017 International Standard - Systems and SE - Requirements for Testers and Reviewers of Information for Users. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8085435

ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119-4:2021 Software and Systems Engineering - SW-TS - Part 4: Test Techniques. https://www.iso.org/standard/79430.html

SEKA#11 SE Professional Practice - Reference Standards

ISO/IEC TR 19759:2015 Software Engineering-Guide to the SE Body Knowledge (SWEBOK). https://www.iso.org/standard/67604.html

ISO/IEC 24773-1:2019 Software and Systems Engineering - Certification of Software and Systems Engineering Professionals - Part 1: General Requirements. https://www.iso.org/standard/69724.html

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Published

20.06.2024

How to Cite

Moh’d A. Radaideh. (2024). Evaluating the Software Engineering Curriculum at JUST: A Comparative Analysis with IEEE Knowledge Areas. International Journal of Intelligent Systems and Applications in Engineering, 12(4), 583–593. Retrieved from https://ijisae.org/index.php/IJISAE/article/view/6262

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 4 (2024)

Section

Research Article

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