You can use the latest technology for your assignment. So you can use
J2EE 1.2 (EJB 1.1, ...) or J2EE 1.3 (EJB 2.0, ...) or even J2EE 1.4 (EJB 2.1, Web Servives) for your assigment.
I'm not sure if SUN has changed the assignment itself since the last two years, but I don't think so.
Read also this article:
http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-12-2002/jw-1206-architect.html