MSCI 342Principles of Software Engineering
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Last listed
- Spring 2024
No longer offered. It was in Waterloo’s course catalog since at least Winter 2020 (as far back as Open Data goes) to Spring 2024 and last ran in Winter 2024. It isn’t in the 2024–25 or later calendars.
When it ran
- F20
- W21
- W22
- W23
- F23
- W24
Ran in 6 terms, Fall 2020 to Winter 2024.
In this course, students learn how to work as a team to efficiently design and build software that works correctly and solves a customer's problem. Topics include software development processes, requirements gathering and analysis, software design, specifications, estimation, scheduling, revision control, software testing, deployment, and team behavior. [Offered: W]
Requirements, as last listed
Prereq: MSCI 245; Level at least 3A Management Engineering
In today’s calendar
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
13 posts and comments in 13 threads mention MSCI 342, October 2017 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Spring 2024
easy vs usefulelectives for first years? 10 points, 4 comments
“I'm conflicted between choosing an elective that is actually useful to me versus a bird course that will lighten up my workload. …”
u/ConsequenceNo3618: “… Full-stack design courses MSCI 245/342 were the most useful for me - you can try to audit them but idk if they'll allow it”
Management Eng students, it you had the opportunity to go to UTSG CS instead, would you do it? 10 points, 55 comments
“Please explain why you would or would not. UTSG CS = University of Toronto St. George campus, Computer Science”
u/ConsequenceNo3618: “Management Eng is not that close to a CS program so I don't think it's a meaningful comparison As a 4th year MGTE student, I would definitely go for UTSG because I feel it has more freedom in course …”
u/ConsequenceNo3618: “Yes, most of us go into SWE; not because we want to, but because there's few other career paths for us We don't have that many CS/SWE courses, and the ones that we do have are pretty watered down (MSCI 121/240/245/342). You'll learn the fundamentals but you won't go in-depth”
Winter 2024
Is Management Engineering a viable path to being a Software Developer/Engineer? 20 points, 46 comments
“I got into ME, and though programming/cs is a part of the program, I'm not sure if I can actually reliably get jobs in software with a management eng degree. …”
u/marksmucker: “I'm a professor in Management Science and Engineering. If you want to become a software developer, the most sensible thing to do is to study software engineering or computer science. …”
u/HifiWeeb: “Prof. Smucker the GOAT has blessed us. PS. MSCI 342 was one of my favourite courses.”
What has been your Co op experience for Management Engineering at U Waterloo? 1 point, 6 comments
“Heading there in Septmeber from out of province and not sure what to expect. How hard is it to secure co ops, the process, etc?”
u/nyephe: “… For example, MSCI 245/342 teach web and full-stack development The process starts in the first weeks of classes. Most students will search on the school's job board, WaterlooWorks (WW). …”
Fall 2023
which course is the most useful/useless of ur major? 24 points, 44 comments
u/suiyui: “Useful: MSCI 342/245 - Full stack development MSCI 240 - OOP MSCI 446 (TE) - Machine learning Useless: Everything else, especially the non-MSCI courses”
Resume Building Courses 7 points, 2 comments
“List some courses preferably that requires no prerequisites or does, that teaches you software or any skill that would boost a resume. …”
u/suiyui: “… Should be easy to override unless class hits capacity - MSCI 245/342 Project based Full stack with Node/React - ECE 452 Software architecture and design - MSCI 446 Machine learning - MSCI 343 Human computer interaction for UI/UX design Difficult but rewarding - CS 341 Algorithms …”
Midterm Grades 1 point, 7 comments
“ECE/Engineering in general: How long after taking a midterm do you usually see the grades? &x200B; View Poll”
u/suiyui: “MSCI 342 we got our midterm grades back at the end of the term AFTER our other courses' final grades were already released and we couldn't even dispute it at that point (90% of it was MCQ too...)”
Spring 2023
What are your core courses? 8 points, 11 comments
“Basically title - What are several courses that you think really define your program? Any thoughts on them, and how they went? Looking forward to the discussion (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ\:･ﾟ✧”
u/1000Ditto: “Might as well take a stab at my own discussion post: MSCI 342 (SWE | CS247 equiv) MSCI 253 (Stats 2 | STAT 231+STAT 332 equiv) MSCI 431 (Stochastics| STAT 333 equiv) MSCI 332 (opti despair) MSCI 334/434 (operations, inventory control, scm)”
Winter 2022
Management Eng v.s. Computer Eng v.s. SYDE? 0 points, 9 comments
“This might not be the place to ask this question, sorry if it isn’t. I’m interested in a software engineering/developer career. …”
u/wagwanm0n: “Easiest to get into management and prospects for software jobs are great. Good amount of coding courses too”
u/Alternative_Way_3534: “… Software Engineering (MSCI 342) 5. Human Computer Interaction (MSCI 343) 6. Search Engines (MSCI 541) 7. Intro Machine Learning (MSCI 446) 8. Analytics and User Experience (MSCI 543) 9. Advanced Machine Learning (MSCI 546) 10. …”
Spring 2021
Job Opportunities and Workload: SYDE, Tron, and Management 1 point, 9 comments
“I have recently been thinking of switching from mechanical engineering and am deciding between SYDE, Tron, and Management. …”
u/wagwanm0n: “Management does have a good number of coding courses”
u/original-random: “… Core: MSCI 121 Intro to programming (Java) MSCI 240 Algorithms and Data Structures MSCI 245 Databases and Software Design (build web apps by yourself) MSCI 342 Principles of Software Engineering (build web apps as a team for a client) MSCI 343 Human Computer Interaction MSCI 436 …”
Winter 2021
Admissions / High School Megathread (Fall 2020) 316 points, 7,386 comments
“I think we lost track of the old one somewhere, and this is to also help reset the expiry date (these threads archive after six months) Engineering Admissions Blog: https://theroadtoengineering.com/ …”
u/Kbreadman: “\++I applied to management engineering because I love the idea of streamlining processes + working with data and using it to solve problems or draw conclusions, etc. …”
[deleted]: “… Looks like a mix to me of mechanical engineering (MODs, Thermo, Mechanics, Material Science), software (MSCI 101, 240, 245, 342), and more vague systems-y stuff (MSCI 211,331,334?). …”
Winter 2019
ECE alternative to CS 246? 8 points, 11 comments
“I'm trying to take either CS 246 or some course that is an anti req to it. What courses can ECE take that are similar to CS 246?”
u/marmoshet: “ECE 150 and ECE 250 together should cover the majority of CS 246. Otherwise you can try to get into CS 247, MSCI 342, or SYDE 322.”
Check it elsewhere
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2023–24Its last calendar entry, on ucalendar
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
- UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
- WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them