Two Decades of Software Architecture Education: State of the Art, Challenges, and Future Directions

Software Architecture is pivotal to the success of software systems, yet teaching it effectively remains an open problem in Software Engineering Education. Its abstraction, cognitive demands, and the need to integrate technical and social skills pose barriers for students and instructors. To address this, we conducted a systematic mapping study of 45 primary studies published between 2005 and 2025, providing the most comprehensive overview of Software Architecture Education to date. Our analysis reveals that curricula still emphasize quality attributes, architectural patterns, documentation, and design processes, while active learning strategies, such as Project-Based Learning, gamification, and flipped classrooms, show a promising yet underexplored impact. At the same time, critical gaps persist: bridging abstraction with practice, designing for heterogeneous cohorts, and aligning educational practices with industry demands remain challenges. By consolidating two decades of research, this study delivers updated evidence, uncovers underexplored areas, and outlines directions for making Software Architecture Education more effective, scalable, and relevant.