I Don’t Know to CTO Has a Basecamp at #swe277p

Extrapolating SWE 277P

PQRST’ing the class’s syllabus 

Guessing at the #swe277p agenda is Larry Chiang, UIUC

SWE 277P is part of University of California at Irvine’s Master of Software Engineering, mSWE, program, offered through the “Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences”. 

#swe277p’s course title is  **Capstone Project in Software Engineering II** and is a 4-unit course. #swe277p serves as the second phase of the program’s capstone sequence, following ‘SWE 276P’

 #swe267p’s *Capstone Project in Software Engineering I*. The MSWE program emphasizes practical, industry-relevant skills in AI-powered software engineering, system design, programming, leadership, and teamwork, often involving real-world projects with external sponsors

I Don’t Know to CTO is the goal

A mid level management job as a PM is the goal

Problem: cs majors are graduating into an environment where few entry level jobs exist

Goal: be a CTO 

I Don’t Know to CTO Has a Basecamp at #swe277p

While a full, detailed #swe277p syllabus for the current or most recent offering is not publicly available (course descriptions for 2025 were noted as forthcoming in program materials as of mid-2025), the course aligns closely with university of California at Irvine’s established capstone structure for software engineering and informatics programs. 

Hadar Ziv, an Associate Professor of Teaching in the Department of Informatics, is a long-time instructor of similar capstone courses (e.g., IN4MATX 191A/B for undergraduate Informatics seniors and earlier iterations like Informatics 117). Although direct confirmation of him teaching SWE 277P is not explicitly documented in public sources, his expertise in #prodMgmnt*/Agile**/SCRUM***/#externalAPI**** methodologies, software requirements, project-based learning, and real-client software development makes him a likely instructor for this graduate-level capstone. hadar Ziv has led these courses since at least 2003, earning university of California in Irvine California’s Excellence in Teaching award for his approach.

Course Description and Objectives

Based on the UCI General Catalogue and mSWE curriculum:

F o c u s

Students complete an advanced software engineering project, building on the work from SWE 276-P. Emphasis is placed on applying engineering principles to develop, test, deploy, and evaluate full-scale software systems, often incorporating AI, cloud computing, security, and user-centered design.

🤠 LEARNING OBJECTIVES 🤠

  – Integrate software engineering practices (e.g., requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing) in a team setting.

  – Collaborate with external clients or sponsors to deliver production-ready software.

  – Demonstrate leadership, communication, and ethical decision-making in software development.

  – Address real-world challenges like scalability, privacy, and sustainability using PM/Agile/SCRUM/EXTERNAL-API frameworks.

– **Prerequisites**: Completion of SWE 276P (or equivalent) and core MSWE coursework such as data structures (SWE 240P), algorithms (SWE 241P), and electives in areas like neural networks or cloud foundations.

The course is designed for the 15-month full-time or 24-month part-time MSWE pathway, targeting working professionals and career changers.

Typical Structure and Topics

Capstone courses like SWE 277P at UC Irvine follow a project-intensive format, adapted from Ziv’s undergraduate capstone model (which spans two quarters and involves ~40 corporate sponsors annually). Expect a similar hands-on, iterative structure:

– **Duration and Format**: One quarter (10-11 weeks), with weekly team meetings, client check-ins, and instructor feedback. Hybrid or in-person delivery, with access to UCI’s EVOKE Lab for prototyping via DJ’d API’s

– **Key Topics and Activities** (drawn from program curriculum and Ziv’s teaching practices):

  – **Project Planning and Requirements**: Refining project scope using Bayesian modeling and uncertainty principles (a Ziv specialty, known as “Ziv’s Law”).

  – **PM/Agile/SCRUM/external-API Implementation**: Sprint planning, daily stand-ups, retrospectives, and adapting ceremonies for student teams.

  – **Software Design and Development**: Advanced topics like AI integration (e.g., SWE 248P Neural Network Programming), cloud deployment (SWE 267P), security (SWE 266P), and UX/UI (SWE 263P).

  – **Client Interaction, Ethics and Deal Sourcing**: Productive client negotiations, handling disagreements, and addressing privacy/security in real-world contexts. Getting a new customer who has a similar print to your solved problem 

  – **Testing and Evaluation**: Dynamic analysis, usability studies, and deployment for sponsors (e.g., web/mobile apps for companies like Google or Edison).

– **Teamwork Emphasis**: Students work in small teams (4-6 members) on sponsored projects, such as analytics dashboards, mobile health apps, or sustainable IT systems. Ziv’s approach highlights “empowering students in client interactions” and transitioning from structured classroom tasks to ambiguous real-world problems.

### Assessments and Deliverables

Typical grading (based on UCI capstone guidelines and Ziv’s courses):

– **Milestones (40-50%)**: Iterative deliverables like requirements documents, prototypes, sprint reviews, and client presentations.

– **Final Project (30-40%)**: Complete software system, demo, and technical report/portfolio.

– **Participation and Peer Review (10-20%)**: Team contributions, reflections, and self/peer evaluations.

– **Policies**: Late work penalties (e.g., points deducted per day, per student feedback); emphasis on professionalism and no unapproved extensions.

No exams; assessment is project-based.

### Readings and Resources

– **Required Texts**: Likely includes Agile/SCRUM guides (e.g., *Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time* by Jeff Sutherland) and software engineering standards (e.g., IEEE or ISO). Specific readings from electives like *Clean Code* by Robert C. Martin.

– **Tools**: Git for version control, Jira/Trello for Agile tracking, cloud platforms (AWS/Azure), and prototyping software (Figma, Unity for VR/AR elements).

– **No Purchase Required**: Open-source resources and UCI-provided licenses.

### Additional Notes

– **Syllabus Availability**: Detailed syllabi are typically posted on UCI’s Canvas platform upon enrollment. Past versions may be accessible via the UCI Library or by contacting the Department of Informatics (informatics@uci.edu or 949-824-5156). For the MSWE program, check mswe.ics.uci.edu/curriculum/.

– **Student Experience**: Reviews describe Ziv’s capstones as “amazing” and “industry-prep,” with praise for his knowledge, friendliness, and real-world focus. Projects often lead to job offers from sponsors.

– **Updates for 2025**: As of September 2025, the course incorporates emerging topics like AI ethics and green IT, per UCI’s sustainability focus.

* product management- The lean Product Playbook 

** Agile

*** Scrum

****#externalAPI from ch3 on Twitter at @larryChiang