Software Engineering: Software Design and Project Management
Offered by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Software Engineering: Software Design and Project Management is a beginner-level online course from Coursera in Project Management. It is structured in 6 modules, over 19h 40m. Learners rate it 4.6/5 from 219 ratings on Coursera.
Part of our Project Management courses collection, where we compare it against 5 other courses.
Course highlights
| Provider | Coursera |
| Duration | 19h 40m |
| Level | Beginner |
| Mode | Self-paced |
| Language | English |
| Certificate | Yes — shareable certificate |
| Rating | 4.6★ (219 reviews) |
| Price | Check price |
About this course
Software Engineering: Software Design and Project Management introduces the core concepts and practical techniques used to build and manage software systems. The course covers the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), a structured process for developing software from planning through maintenance. Key topics include System Analysis and Design, where learners identify user needs and define system requirements; State Machine Diagrams, which model the dynamic behavior of systems; and Design Patterns, reusable solutions to common software design problems. The syllabus also addresses Software Quality Assurance, ensuring software meets quality standards, and Managing Software Development, which covers planning and overseeing development projects.
This particular course focuses on applying design patterns and quality assurance within the SDLC framework. Learners study how to structure software using object-oriented design principles and how to create maintainable architectures. The module "Managing Software Development" addresses the project management side, teaching how to coordinate teams, track progress, and deliver projects on time. Skills gained include Software Design, Quality Assurance, Systems Architecture, Diagram Design, Software Architecture, Systems Analysis, Software Design Patterns, Software Quality Assurance, Project Management, Object-Oriented Design, Systems Design, and Software Engineering.
By the end of the course, a learner can produce system requirement documents, create state machine and class diagrams, apply common design patterns to solve recurring problems, and plan a software development project from scope to delivery. The course emphasizes practical application: students complete assignments that require them to design a small system, model its behavior, and propose a quality assurance plan.
Honest limits: The course does not cover programming language syntax or low-level coding; it assumes basic object-oriented programming knowledge. Learners seeking hands-on coding practice may prefer a programming-focused course. Those looking for a broader project management perspective without the software design depth can explore the alternatives listed on the page, such as the IT Project Management course on Udemy or the Agile Project Management course also on Coursera.
Level and time commitment
- Basic Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) Concepts
Skills you’ll gain
What this course covers
6 modulesThe 6-part outline Coursera publishes for this course, across 19h 40m.
Module 1 · System Analysis and Design
Module 2 · State Machine Diagram
Module 3 · Design Patterns
Module 4 · More Design Patterns
Module 5 · Software Quality Assurance
Module 6 · Managing Software Development
What learners rate it
Rated 4.6/5 by 219 learners on Coursera (checked 10 Aug 2026).
This rating is collected by Coursera from its own enrolled learners. We reproduce it as reported and do not accept paid or incentivised reviews. See it on Coursera →
Compiled by the CoursesGlobal editorial desk. Fees, ratings, duration and certificate details for the 1 course shown are read directly from Coursera course pages — we never estimate a price or a rating. Last verified 10 August 2026.
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Compare with alternatives
Same topic, different trade-offs — here's who runs each one and what it's best at.
| Course | Provider | Rating | Price | Duration | Why pick this one |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineering: Software Design and Project Management This |
 Coursera
|
4.6★ | Check price | 19h 40m | Most popular — 0 learners |
| Introduction to Project Management |
Coursera
|
4.8★ | Check price | 9h 33m | Quickest to finish (9h 33m) |
| Agile Project Management |
Coursera
|
4.8★ | Check price | 20h 2m | Highest rated (4.8★ from 15.3K reviews) |
| Construction Project Management |
Coursera
|
4.8★ | Check price | 30h 30m | Beginner-friendly · 30h 30m |
Common questions
How much does Software Engineering: Software Design and Project Management cost?
Coursera does not publish a price we can read on the course page, so we do not show one. Check the fee on the provider site — we would rather say nothing than quote a number we did not collect.
Does Software Engineering: Software Design and Project Management come with a certificate?
Yes — Coursera lists a certificate on completion. It is a course certificate, not a formal qualification or university credit.
How long does Software Engineering: Software Design and Project Management take?
Coursera lists it at 19h 40m. It is self-paced, so that is the volume of material rather than a deadline — how long it actually takes depends on the hours you put in each week.
Is Software Engineering: Software Design and Project Management suitable for beginners?
Yes. Coursera lists it at Beginner level, so no prior experience in the subject is assumed.
What does Software Engineering: Software Design and Project Management cover?
It is organised into 6 modules, starting with System Analysis and Design and going on to State Machine Diagram, Design Patterns, More Design Patterns, Software Quality Assurance, among others. The full outline is on this page.