Software Engineering and LLMs

CS 4501 - Fall 2025


Content is under development, all details are subject to change.


When and Where

  • T/Th 9:30AM - 10:45AM
  • Olsson Hall 009

  • Instructor

    Sebastian Elbaum
    Office Hours at Rice 413: Tuesday 11:00AM to 12:00PM or by appointment

    Description

    This course will explore the transformative impact of Large Language Models (LLMs) on modern software engineering. Students will learn to leverage LLMs to enhance their productivity across the software development lifecycle, from coding and testing to debugging and maintenance. We will also delve into the architectural considerations and practical techniques for building robust systems that integrate LLMs. Lastly, we will practice how to be cognizant of the ethical and safety implications of using LLMs in software development.


    Expectations

    We will be conducting many in-class experiments, so your presence and active participation are important to creating the most effective and engaging learning experience. A heavy workload can be expected when assignments/projects are due. There will be little hand-holding in terms of support to set up the tools and complete the assignments, as I expect everyone to have the technical and programming skills of DS2.


    Prerequisite(s)

    Required: DS2 or equivalent. Recommended: CS3240.


    Tentative Schedule

    CS 4501 - Fall 2025

    Software Engineering and LLMs

    Week Topic Due
    Week 1 Introduction
    Week 2
    Week 3
    Week 4
    Week 5
    Week 6
    Week 7
    Week 8
    Week 9
    Week 10
    Week 11
    Week 12
    Week 13
    Week 14
    Week 15 Project Presentations