The PGDSD program is a 12-month program divided into four quarters. Each quarter typically includes 10 weeks of training followed by a week of assessment. The goal of the program is to train students to become highly skilled software developers (with specialization in Java). The program’s learning model goes well beyond concepts and theories and ensures that students learn competencies through actual practice (Learn by Doing).

•   Algorithms, Data Structures & Problem Solving (C and Java)

•     - Procedural programming paradigm
      - Flowcharts & Pseudo-codes
      - Algorithm development through stepwise refinement;
      - Assignment, Arithmetic Expressions & Basic Input-Output
      - Simple Data types
      - Structures for procedural programming
      - Iterative structures and problem solving
      - Recursion
      - Data structures such as arrays, sets, stacks, lists, queues, trees, and graphs
      - Searching & sorting algorithms
      - List and tree traversal algorithms
      - Problem solving laboratory work that requires programming in C and the procedural aspects of Java.
  

•   Database Concepts

•     - Need for databases
      - Role, importance and uses of databases in applications development
      - Models of databases
      - ARelational databases
      - Basic principles and theory underlying relational databases
      - E-R modeling
      - Elements of a E-R diagram
      - Moving from E-R diagram to relational tables
      - Need for normalization of database tables
      - Normal forms
      - Basics of SQL
      - Using SQL in applications
      - Elements of Join
      - UUsing relational tables in applications development
  

•   Web Programming

•     - HTML, HTML forms & tables
      - Elements of HTML authoring - frames, style sheets and scripting languages
      - JavaScript and working with JavaScript objects
      - Interactive forms, cookies and security
      - Client side and custom scripts
      - JavaScript and Applets
      - JSP
      - XML
      - Client side programming
      - Server side programming
      - Special topics involving recent advances in web programming languages, systems, and methodologies
      - Emerging standards
      - Best practices
      - Using Open Source tools
      - Programming assignments and mini-projects that involve using appropriate web programming tools and applications

•   Object Oriented Concepts and Programming (Using Core Java)

•     - Object oriented programming paradigm
      - Pillars of object orientation - abstraction, encapsulation & information hiding, modularity, hierarchy
      - Other Pillars of object orientation - Typing, persistence, message passing
      - Responsibility driven design
      - Classes, objects, methods
      - Identifying classes, responsibilities and collaborators
      - Problem solving laboratory work that requires programming in Java using the Java API
      - Design and implementation of GUIs
      - Event driven programming
      - Exception handling
      - Using files and object serialization
      - Testing object oriented programs
  

•   Object Oriented Analysis & Design

•     - Elements of OOA and OOD
      - Role of UML and Patterns in OOAD
      - Inception
      - Requirements Analysis
      - Use Case Modeling
      - Moving from Inception to Elaboration
      - System Sequence Diagrams
      - Domain Model & Visualizing
      - Adding Associations and Attributes
      - Use Case Modeling and Operation Contracts
      - Moving from Requirements to Design
      - Interaction diagram
      - Collaboration diagram
      - GRASP
      - Design Model - visibility, class diagrams
      - Object design
      - Behavior Modeling - state chart diagrams
      - UML notation and modeling exercises through several case studies
  

•   Enterprise Application Development

•     - Challenges of enterprise application development
      - Integration with existing systems
      - Productivity, maintenance and security issues
      - Software platforms for enterprise application development
      - Overview of the J2EE platform
      - Overview of the .Net platform
      - Application scenarios - multi-tier applications, standalone client applications, web-centric applications, business to business applications
      - Emerging enterprise application architectures
      - Component technologies
      - Platform services
      - Service technologies
      - Communication technologies
      - Design issues, guidelines and best practices
      - Web tier
      - Packaging & deployment
      - Transaction management
      - Security concerns
      - Case studies: Laboratory exercises and assignments will be based on either the J2EE platform

•   Designing User Interfaces

•     - Performing user profiling
      - Use of metaphors
      - Drive for feature exposure
      - Need for coherence
      - Focus, focus, focus
      - Use of grammar
      - Designing Help
      - Provide a safety net
      - Stay within context
      - Aesthetics is not a “nice to have”
      - User testing is a must
      - Humility will save you
  

•   Software Testing

•     - Purpose of software testing
      - Testing versus Debugging
      - A model for testing
      - Oracles
      - Taxonomy of bugs
      - Black box testing
      - White box testing
      - Flow graphs and path testing
      - Transaction-flow testing
      - Data-flow testing
      - Domain testing
      - Metrics and complexity
      - Syntax testing
      - Logic-based testing
      - States, graphs and transition testing
      - Stress testing
      - Regression testing
      - Testing strategies
      - Test configuration control
      - Testing tools
  

•   Project-I: Developing SRS and Design Documentst

•     - Challenges of enterprise application development
      - This is a project course that is dovetailed to work with Project-II: Design Refinement, Programming & Testing
      - Each student will select a software development project to work on in the fourth quarter.
      - In this course, the student would be required to do independent study on requirements engineering techniques and consolidate        understanding of software design.
      - The course will culminate with the student submitting a final report that consists of the Software Requirements Specification (SRS) and        the Design Document for the project.

•   Project-II: Design Refinement, Programming & Testing

•     - This is a full-quarter project course that continues from where Project I (Developing SRS & Design Documents) stopped in the third        quarter.
      - Based on the SRS and design documents, each student will proceed to work on refining the design, programming and testing phases.
      - This project work is designed to draw upon the concepts, techniques and methods learnt by the student in various courses, and apply        them as appropriate.
      - The course will culminate in a final report that embodies the documentation of the various phases of the project.