Global Utilities

Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering

Single Degrees

Bachelor of Computer Science in Games Technology (SBCSGT) – Melbourne (Bundoora)

Accompanying the expansion of computer power and functionality in recent years has been a huge growth in the popularity and accessibility of increasingly realistic games and the establishment of a vibrant games development industry. In addition to specialist knowledge and skills in areas like computer software development, graphics, multimedia programming and artificial intelligence, games developers also need a solid grounding in mathematics and physics. The Bachelor of Computer Science in Games Technology provides the necessary theoretical basis, plus practical training in games design and development, and prepares students for a career in the dynamic and rapidly transforming world of computer games production, as ICT professionals. It is a three-year, full-time course and the Honours program requires a further year of study. Graduates of the course are eligible for membership of the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Scholarships

First-year scholarships are available for high achieving students. Prospective candidates should contact the Department of Computer Science and Computer Engineering early in their Year 12 studies for details.

Course structure

The course is of three years full-time or equivalent part-time duration and requires the completion of 360 credit points. In the first year, students take units designed to provide them with basic knowledge and skills in computer science, mathematics and physics, including programming skills in Java and C++ programming languages. In the second year students concentrate on developing further knowledge in the areas of mathematics needed for games development and building on understanding of key computer science topics. The third year includes visual basic programming, games technology (using the games development tl, Direct X), multimedia systems for web games, network communication protocols for massive multi-player online games and control of input/output devices. Students also undertake a major industry-sponsored games technology project during this year. Students who meet entrance requirements for Honours may proceed to the Honours year and will have the opportunity to take specialised units at an advanced level.

Mid-year commencement

Some students with prior tertiary studies may be required to commence their course three weeks early on 2 July 2007, three weeks earlier than the normal commencement for that teaching period. These students will be advised by the faculty office at the time of offer.

First year (120 credit points)
Teaching period
Unit name
Unit code
CP
TE-SEM-1 Principles of Physics A1 PHY1SCA 15
TE-SEM-1 Calculus, Functions and Number Systems MAT1CFN 15
TE-SEM-1 Introduction to Object Oriented Programming Using Java CSE1OOJ 15
TE-SEM-1
or
TE-SEM-2		 Discrete Mathematics MAT1DM 15
TE-SEM-2 Calculus and Linear Algebra MAT1CLA 15
TE-SEM-2 Intermediate Object Oriented Programming Using Java CSE1IPJ 15
TE-SEM-2 Principles of Physics B1 PHY1SCB 15
TE-SEM-2 Systems Programming Using C and C++ CSE1SYS 15

Key: 1 PHY1SCA plus another 15-credit point, first-year level unit from any faculty may be taken, if PHY1SCA and PHY1SCB are not appropriate.

Second year (120 credit points)

Core units (100 credit points)

Teaching period
Unit name
Unit code
CP
TE-SEM-1 Computer Organisation CSE2COR 10
TE-SEM-1 Linear Algebra MAT2LA 10
TE-SEM-1 Vector Calculus MAT2AVC 10
TE-SEM-1
or
TE-SEM-2		 Algorithms and Data Structures CSE2ADS 10
TE-SEM-2 Artificial Intelligence - Fundamentals CSE2AI 10
TE-SEM-2 C++ for Games Technology CSE2CGT 10
TE-SEM-2 Compilers and System Software CSE2CSS 10
TE-SEM-2 Introduction to Professional Communication CSE2COM 10
TE-SEM-2 Mathematical Topics for Computer Science MAT2MCS 10

Plus a further computer science unit chosen from the following list. CSE2DB is highly recommended. However, CSE3DB can be structured into the third year of the degree if necessary.

Teaching period
Unit name
Unit code
CP
TE-SEM-1 Data Communications and Networks CSE2NET 10
TE-SEM-1 Database Systems CSE2DB 10
TE-SEM-2 Computer Architecture CSE2ARC 10
TE-SEM-2 Object-Oriented Data Engineering CSE2ODE 10

Electives (20 credit points)

The remaining 20 credit points may be chosen from any of the above elective computer science units, or from the following units:

Teaching period
Unit name
Unit code
CP
TE-SEM-2 Engineering Physics PHY2ENG 10
TE-SEM-2 Mechanics MAT2AM 10
TE-SEM-1 Principles of Physics A PHY2SCA 20
Third year (120 credit points)

Core units (90 credit points)

Teaching period
Unit name
Unit code
CP
TE-SEM-1 Multimedia Systems CSE3MS 10
TE-SEM-1 Visual Graphics Programming CSE3GRA 10
TE-SEM-2 Games Technology Programming CSE3GAM 10
TE-SEM-2 Programming Project CSE3PRO 20

Plus a further 40 credit points of computer science units chosen from the following list:

Teaching period
Unit name
Unit code
CP
TE-SEM-1 Artificial Intelligence-Logic and Reasoning CSE3AIL 10
TE-SEM-1 Database Systems2 CSE3DB 10
TE-SEM-1 Input/Output Device Interfacing CSE3IDI 10
TE-SEM-1 Numerical Computation1 CSE3NC 10
TE-SEM-1 Operating Systems2 CSE3OS 10
TE-SEM-1 Protocols, Performance and Routing CSE3PPR 10
TE-SEM-1 Software Measurement and Metrics CSE3SMM 10
TE-SEM-2 Intelligent Systems Engineering CSE3ISE 10
TE-SEM-2 Networks and System Security CSE3NSS 10

Key:
1 MAT3NA (15 credit points) may be taken in place of CSE3NC.
2 CSE3DB is highly recommended if CSE2DB has not already been taken. CSE3OS is also highly recommended.

Electives (30 credit points)

The remaining 30 credit points may be chosen from third-year units offered by any department and may include further computer science units from the above list.

Honours

Honours degree students are selected on the basis of their performance in the final year of the pass degree course. Students must obtain a minimum average of 60% across all of their third-year units and obtain an average of at least 70% over their best third-year level computer science and computer engineering units to the value of 60 credit points to qualify for entry to the Honours year (the unit CSE3PRO will count as 10 credit points only in this calculation). Meeting this requirement, however, does not guarantee a place in the Honours year as resources may limit the total number of places available and students are expected to find a supervisor prior to enrolment

Fourth (Honours) year (120 credit points)

Core units (90 credit points)

Teaching
period
Unit name
Unit code
CP
TE-SEM-1 Thesis A CSE4THA 15
TE-SEM-1 Advanced Games Programming Technology CSE4AGT 15
TE-SEM-1 Neural Networks CSE4NN 15
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Graphics CSE4AGR 15
TE-SEM-2 Thesis B CSE4THB 30

Electives (30 credit points)

Plus a further 30 credit points of computer science units chosen from the following list:

Teaching period
Unit name
Unit code
CP
TE-SEM-1 E-Commerce Fundamentals and Applications CSE4ECS 15
TE-SEM-1 Performance Analysis of Computer Science CSE4PCS 15
TE-SEM-1 Software Engineering Project Management and Estimation CSE4SPM 15
TE-SEM-2 Software Qualify and Reliability CSE4SQR 15
TE-SEM-2 Enterprise Computing CSE4ENC 15
TE-SEM-2 Wireless Networks CSE4WIR 15

A full description of units, including the unit name, unit code, credit points, campus/location, unit coordinator, class requirements, assessment, Prerequisites and readings, appears at the end of this chapter. For the most recent descriptions of units students should access the Unit Database at (www.latrobe.edu.au/udb_public).

Content Approved by: Director, Marketing and Communications
Page maintained by: Handbook Web Editor
Last Updated: 6 October, 2006

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