Computing and Software Systems - Bachelor of Science

Special Topics

CSS 490: Computer Forensics

Barbara Endicott-Popovsky
Saturday: 8:45 - 12:05

Computer forensic tools and techniques used to detect computer fraud, computer crime, espionage, cyberterrorism: Gathering probative evidence to secure a conviction under federal law and to develop approaches to prevention and detection. Determining how a system was penetrated and what was done while the hackers were in the system.
Investigative procedures: Procedural rules affecting collection and use of physical evidence. Court opinions defining the rules of search and seizure and admissibility of evidence and how this translates into forensic methodologies.
Implications of related law: Principles of criminal law and procedure, preparation and presentation of evidence, examination of witnesses, and methods of legal research. Issues discussed concerning discovery, admissibility of scientific evidence, chain of custody, use of notes, etc.
Ethics as related to computer security issues: Values, duties, social responsibility and obligations with respect to the exercise of computer forensic procedures.

Prerequisite: CSS342 and 360 or have instructor permission. Business majors are welcome who have senior status and a basic knowledge of computers.

CSS 490 Topics for Autumn 2008

CSS 490 B: Agile Software Engineering

Since its inception in 2000, the Agile Alliance has been promoting agile methods such as Extreme Programming, Scrum and the Agile Unified Process as an alternative to the plan-driven processes advocated by the Capability Maturity Model and manifest in the waterfall lifecycle. This senior seminar-style course will examine the agile vs. plan-driven controversy. In addition to obtaining an overview of agile methods, students will be given an opportunity to do in-depth study of project management, requirements engineering, design, programming, or testing for agile methods.

There will be no exams or term projects. Instead, students will make presentations and develop a portfolio. The course itself will be run in an agile way rather than in a planned way. The course is split into three iterations. In the first iteration, students will give a set of introductory presentations from the course textbook; in the second iteration students will cover 2-4 agile methods in depth from the textbook, reserve readings and readings found by the students, and in the third iteration student interest will determine what material is covered. All of your lecture material will be summarized and annotated in your course portfolio.

Required textbook: Agile and Iterative Development, Craig Larman, Addison-Wesley, 2004.
For additional information about agile methods see http://www.agilealliance.com/.

SLN: 12270
Monday & Wednesday
5:45 - 7:50