According to the 2024-25 Graduate Academic Calendar, the course is described as follows:

CSCI 6100G – Advanced Topics in Software Design. This course covers one or more advanced topics in software design that are not currently covered by the other courses in the program. This course is aimed at senior graduate students who have already taken one or more courses in this field. The instructor determines the topics that are covered in a particular year and they could change from one year to another. Topics are determined by the instructor before the start of the course. A detailed description of the course content will be posted before the start of term. Credit hours: 3

What advanced topics are covered? The course is an advanced topics course and will focus on applications of Large Language Models (LLMs) to solve Software Engineering problems. In addition, we will discuss how Natural Language Processing (NLP) and LLMs fit with the underlying themes of automation in software development. The format of the course will be a combination of:

• Lectures on LLM methods and Software Engineering problems
• Group paper discussions on foundational and fundamental issues related to LLMs and Software Engineering
• Student presentations on relevant state-of-the-art research in the application of LLMs in the Software Engineering literature

Course Outline

The course outline can be found here.

Marking Scheme

• Presentations – 50%
• Project – 50%