Software testing applications in a computer science curriculum

The traditional methods of testing both hardware and software within a product´s lifecycle has evolved into various methodologies, some successful and others not so successful. These various strategies have grown in importance and the traditional phases of coding and then testing no longer have definitive boundaries. The traditional scenario of “design”, code, and then “toss over the wall” for testing is no longer applicable. Henry Cogswell College, has responded to this importance of the testing process from industry in information technology with a new course entitled CS 472, Software Testing and Reliability. Prior to the introduction of this specialty course, software testing was covered only in a software engineering course. The goal of this course is to prepare students for software testing management, testing considerations, designing for testing, and exposure to these various methodologies. Various design techniques for product reliability, quality assurance, and applying various testing tools and methodologies are studied and applied in a classroom environment. The end result is to achieve a product that is reliable, effective, and produced at or under budget and also “on time”. The application of automated test cases and the strengths and weakness of synergistic applications are also explored