Students are expected to spend time in ākonga-managed activities to complete course requirements and achieve the learning outcomes for the course. Activities may include the following, but are not limited to:
- Completion of coursework, set assignments/projects
- Drawing, ideation, project planning
- Reading, study group work
- Preparation for classes
- Research - (e.g. exploration, location and selection of relevant information, review/ evaluation/analysis of information, recording information)
- Discussions with colleagues/subject matter experts
- Practising relevant practical and technical skills/methods/techniques
- Self-evaluation of coursework
- Gathering relevant contextual information/ issues/ideas to build knowledge of the subject
SDV503 – Software Development Foundations
SDV503 introduces the core principles, practices, and professional behaviours required to operate as a junior software developer in an NZ industry context. The course is designed to build strong fundamentals first, then scale toward structured development and quality-driven delivery.
In this course, you will learn how to:
- Interpret and clarify software requirements.
- Design logical solutions using algorithms and pseudocode.
- Implement structured programs using a modern programming language.
- Apply selection, iteration, and modular design correctly.
- Debug and test systematically using evidence-based habits.
- Use Git version control professionally (clean commits and traceable history).
- Package and present software solutions to industry expectations.
SDV503 follows a practical, incremental approach. We move from requirements and logic to implementation and quality. Each topic builds toward a final integrated project where you design, build, test, and demonstrate a complete working application.
What SDV503 emphasises:
- Clear thinking before coding.
- Readable, maintainable structure and naming.
- Defensive programming and input validation.
- Traceable development history using Git.
- Professional workflow habits aligned to NZ teams.
Outcome: By the end of the course, you will have developed both technical capability and the professional discipline expected in real software teams. SDV503 is the foundational bridge between learning to code and working like a developer.