Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - CMPT 479 D100

Special Topics in Computing Systems (3)

Class Number: 5531

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    CMPT 201 or CMPT 300, with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Current topics in computing systems depending on faculty and student interest.

COURSE DETAILS:

This is a project-based, seminar-style graduate course cross-listed with CMPT 982.


Given the widespread use and critical role of web applications, analyzing, understanding, debugging, and testing them are essential. However, analyzing web applications presents unique challenges due to their complexity, dynamism, asynchrony, and event-driven and heterogenous nature.

This seminar-style graduate course in web engineering focuses on the state of the art in research in analysis, comprehension, debugging, and testing of web applications. Students will gain a knowledge of various research techniques in the domain by reading and reviewing scholarly papers weekly, participating in group discussions, and presenting 1-2 papers during the course. Students will also define and complete a research project, culminating in a short paper and proposal/final presentations. The course aims to develop students' critical analysis skills, enhance their ability to present technical information, and enable them to conduct independent research. By the end of the course, students will have an understanding of current challenges and methodologies in web engineering and be equipped to contribute original insights to the field.

Materials

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

The following are default policies in the School of Computing Science. Please check your course syllabus whether the instructor has chosen a different policy for your class, otherwise the following policies apply.
 
  • Students must attain an overall passing grade on the weighted average of exams in the course in order to get a C- or higher.
  • All student requests for accommodations for their religious practices must be made in writing by the end of the first week of classes, or no later than one week after a student adds a course. After considering a request, an instructor may provide a concession or may decline to do so. Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability can contact the Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca).

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.