SWEN 301Scalable Software Development
This course introduces the processes, practices, and tools required to engineer medium to large software systems, and to address challenges arising from the emerging complexity of such systems. Topics include software craft, architecture, design, implementation, testing, maintenance, quality assurance, configuration management, build automation and principled use of components and libraries, and open-source development. Practical work will use integrated development environments, automation, and domain specific languages.
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Course details
- Dates
- 7 Jul 2025 to 9 Nov 2025
- Starts
- Trimester 2
- Fees
- NZ$1,197.60 for
- International fees
- NZ$5,477.70
- Lecture start times
- Tuesday 3.10pm
- Wednesday 3.10pm
- Friday 3.10pm
- Campus
- Kelburn
- Estimated workload
- Approximately 150 hours or 8.8 hours per week for 17 weeks
- Points
- 15
Entry restrictions
Taught by
School of Engineering and Computer Science—Faculty of Engineering
About this course
This course integrates key engineering practices such as software architecture design, implementation, process automation, and quality assurance, including testing.
Building on foundational programming knowledge from 200-level courses, students will develop these skills through weekly labs, which alternate with help desk sessions to provide support for assignment work.
Course learning objectives
Students who pass this course should be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of the main issues involved in the engineering of medium to large software systems.
Demonstrate competence in software engineering processes, practices, and tools.
How this course is taught
This course is designed to be taught in person, but we will make all lectures and assessments available online for those unable to attend in person.
We will have regular helpdesks available on campus, if you’re studying remotely and would like a helpdesk session please contact the course coordinator to arrange.
During the trimester there will be three lectures and one tutorial or help desk per week.
Assessment
- Exam (2 hours, during assessment period) Type: IndividualMark: 40%
- Assignment 1 (25 hours) Type: IndividualMark: 20%
- Assignment 2 (25 hours) Type: IndividualMark: 20%
- Assignment 3 (25 hours) Type: IndividualMark: 20%
Assessment dates and extensions
Once you've signed up to this course, you can use to see due dates for assessments and information about extensions.
Mandatory requirements
There are no mandatory requirements for this course.
Lecture times and rooms
What you’ll need to get
You do not need to get any texts or equipment for this course.
Who to contact

Selected offering
SWEN 301
7 Jul–9 Nov 2025
Trimester 2 · CRN 17183