Software Development Lifecycle Specialization Course Syllabus
Full curriculum breakdown — modules, lessons, estimated time, and outcomes.
Overview: This specialization provides a comprehensive understanding of software development lifecycle methodologies, blending theoretical foundations with hands-on application. Through five core modules and a final project, learners will explore traditional, agile, lean, and secure software development philosophies, compare their trade-offs, and apply practices aligned with each. The course is designed for working professionals and requires approximately 57 hours to complete, offering flexible scheduling and practical exercises to reinforce learning. Upon completion, learners earn a shareable certificate from the University of Minnesota.
Module 1: Software Development Processes and Methodologies
Estimated time: 20 hours
- Overview of software team operations and lifecycle models
- Introduction to traditional software development (Waterfall, V-model)
- Foundations of agile and lean methodologies
- Comparative analysis of development philosophies
- Environmental, organizational, and product constraints in methodology selection
Module 2: Agile Software Development
Estimated time: 11 hours
- Principles and values of Agile (Agile Manifesto)
- Scrum framework: roles, events, and artifacts
- Extreme Programming (XP) practices
- Applying Agile in evolving requirement environments
- Agile project simulation and retrospective analysis
Module 3: Lean Software Development
Estimated time: 9 hours
- Origins of lean from manufacturing and Six Sigma
- Kanban systems and workflow visualization
- Value Stream Mapping for process optimization
- Lean Startup and Build-Measure-Learn cycle
- Design Thinking for user and market needs
Module 4: Engineering Practices for Building Quality Software
Estimated time: 17 hours
- Measuring software design quality attributes
- Testable scenarios for software architecture evaluation
- Code quality, maintainability, and technical debt management
- Post-development quality assurance practices
- Tools and metrics for continuous quality improvement
Module 5: Comparative Analysis of Development Philosophies
Estimated time: 10 hours
- Critical analysis of traditional, agile, lean, and secure philosophies
- Trade-offs in speed, security, cost, and scalability
- Case studies on philosophy selection under constraints
- Aligning methodology with organizational culture
- Emerging trends in hybrid development models
Module 6: Final Project
Estimated time: 20 hours
- Select and justify a development philosophy for a given scenario
- Design and simulate key process activities across phases
- Deliver a comprehensive report with trade-off analysis and quality assurance plan
Prerequisites
- Familiarity with basic software development concepts and terminology
- Experience in programming or software project participation preferred
- Basic understanding of software requirements and system design
What You'll Be Able to Do After
- Critically analyze and compare software development philosophies
- Apply Agile, Lean, and traditional methods in real-world scenarios
- Design development processes aligned with organizational needs
- Evaluate software quality beyond functionality using quantitative metrics
- Lead or contribute effectively to software projects using best practices