PA1486 - Software Testing - Blekinge Institute of Technology

1. Descision

This course is established by Dean 2023-04-27. The course syllabus is approved by Head of Department of Software Engineering 2026-02-27 and applies from 2026-02-27.

2. Entry requirements

Admission to the course requires completed courses comprising 5 credits in object-oriented programming and 5 credits in software development, introduction to software engineering, or a project course.

3. Objective and content

3.1 Objective

Testing is vital software engineering activity, but it is often challenging to perform software testing in an efficient and effective manner. The objectives of this course are for participants to understand how testing can improve software quality when effectively integrated into the software engineering processes, understand how this can be achieved using both established and novel software testing techniques, including AI-based ones, and gain practical experience about them.

3.2 Content

Basic concepts relating software testing to quality
Manual testing
Automated testing
Testing in continuous development
Testing in specific areas (e.g., AI, security)
Planning and managing testing initiatives

4. Learning outcomes

The following learning outcomes are examined in the course:

4.1. Knowledge and understanding

On completion of the course, the student will be able to:

Describe metrics to assess the quality of a software from a functional perspective.
Describe methods to generate tests from different sources (e.g., behavior modeling and test generation using FSM, input space modeling using combinatorial designs, combinatorial test generation).

4.2. Competence and skills

On completion of the course, the student will be able to:

Apply different testing techniques, tools and libraries including AI-based ones, from test harnesses to assertion libraries.
Generate software test plans with well-defined objectives and targets (including design, implementation, and maintenance).

5. Learning activities

The course summarizes basic topics of software quality and testing; and introduces the students to more advanced ones through lectures mixing theory and discussion-based approaches. A team project gives the students the opportunity to link the techniques, tools/framework, and methods learned to complex settings similar to real-world projects. The project results are summarized in a written report.

Hence, the course includes the following activities:

Discussion sessions/debates on different topics in testing
Team assignments/projects

6. Assessment and grading

Modes of examinations of the course

Code	Module	Credit	Grade
2610	Written Assignment 1	1 credits	AF
2620	Written Assignment 2	1 credits	AF
2630	Project	4 credits	AF

The course will be graded A Excellent, B Very good, C Good, D Satisfactory, E Sufficient, FX Failed result, a little more work required, F Fail.

The examiner may carry out oral follow-up of written examinations.

To receive a passing grade for the course, all components must be passed. The final course grade is the average of the grades of all components.

The information before the start of the course states the assessment criteria and make explicit in which modes of examination that the learning outcomes are assessed.

An examiner can, after consulting the Disability Advisor at BTH, decide on a customized examination form for a student with a long-term disability to be provided with an examination equivalent to one given to a student who is not disabled.

7. Course evaluation

The course evaluation should be carried out in line with BTH:s course evaluation template and process.

8. Restrictions regarding degree

The course can form part of a degree but not together with another course the content of which completely or partly corresponds with the contents of this course.

9. Course literature and other materials of instruction

• Jorgensen, P.C., 2013, Software Testing: A Craftsman's Approach, 4th Ed, Auerbach Publications. ISBN: 978-1466560680

• Myers, G.J., Sandler, C., Badgett, T., 2011, The Art of Software Testing, 3rd Ed, Wiley. ISBN: 978-1-119-20248-6

• McCaffrey, J.D., 2009, Software Testing: Fundamental Principles and Essential Knowledge, BookSurge Publishing

• Graham D., Veenendaal E.V., Evans I., Black R., Foundations of Software Testing (ISTQB certification). ISBN: 978-1844809899

• Davis J., Daniels R., Effective DevOps: Building a Culture of Collaboration, Affinity, and Tooling at Scale, 1st Ed. ISBN: 978-1491926307

• Torbjörn Ryber, Essential Test Design. 2007. ISBN: 978-9185699032

• Zeller, A., The Fuzzing Book, online at https://www.fuzzingbook.org Links to an external site.

• Aniche M., Effective Software Testing, ISBN: 978-1-63343-993-1

Course syllabus