Secure Software Engineering

Undergraduate | 2026

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Mode icon
Mode
Mode
Your studies will be on-campus, and may include some online delivery
On campus
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Area/Catalogue
COMP 4024
Course ID icon
Course ID
205829
Campus icon
Campus
Adelaide City Campus East
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course owner
Course owner
School of Comp Sc & IT
Course coordinator
Course coordinator
Xiaogang Zhu
Course level icon
Course level
4
Work Integrated Learning course
Work Integrated Learning course
No
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Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes

Course overview

This course will introduce the theoretical concepts and practical approaches and tools that support the security concerns in the whole systems development lifecycle resulting in software that is secure by default. The course will cover a wide range of software security topics ranging from as security as a cross-cutting concern, methodological approaches to improving software security during different phases of software development lifecycle, integrating secure software development principles and patterns into software development processes, contemporary paradigm of secure continuous software engineering, DevSecOps. The course will be offered in a workshop style mode with small and large parts of software development projects being the major types of assessment tasks.

Course learning outcomes

  • Argue the importance of security during the development of software systems
  • Describe the significance of security in various stages of the software development processRecognize the importance of security requirements as one of the key quality attributes for a software system
  • Design and motivate software design that incorporates security measures at multiple layers of abstraction
  • Develop skills to write code that is secure in the face of sophisticated attack vectors
  • Motivate the application of tools and approaches for identifying security defects and vulnerabilities in software systems
  • Understand the security by design paradigm for engineering software for emerging technologies

Availability

Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 04/09/2026
Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 21/08/2026
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 18/09/2026
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 16/10/2026

Class details

Adelaide City Campus East

Class number
Class number 52539
Section
Section LE01
Size
Size 34
Available
Available 34
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
3 Aug - 21 Sep Monday 3:10pm - 5pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, 208
12 Oct - 9 Nov Monday 3:10pm - 5pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, 208
Class number
Class number 52540
Section
Section WS01
Size
Size 34
Available
Available 34
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
3 Aug - 21 Sep Monday 9:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Engin and Maths Sciences, 108
12 Oct - 9 Nov Monday 9:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Engin and Maths Sciences, 108

Prerequisite(s)

  • must have completed COMP2037 Algorithm & Data Structure Analysis

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

  • must not have completed COMPSCI4812 Secure Software Engineering Hons at the University of Adelaide

Fee calculator

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Only some Postgraduate Coursework programs are available as Commonwealth Supported. Please check your program for specific fee information.

The Student Contribution amount displayed below is for students commencing a new program from 2021 onwards. If you are continuing in a program you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, or are commencing an Honours degree relating to an undergraduate degree you commenced prior to 1 January 2021, you may be charged a different Student Contribution amount from the amount displayed below. Please check the Student Contribution bands for continuing students here. If you are an international student, or a domestic student studying in a full fee paying place, and are continuing study that you commenced in 2025 or earlier, your fees will be available here before enrolments open for 2026.