Undergraduate courses offered by the Faculty
Bachelor of Computer Science (SBCS) – Melbourne (Bundoora)
The Bachelor of Computer Science offers a comprehensive and highly flexible program of study in the fields of hardware, software, and their underlying principles.
The course offers an extensive range of topics in computer science, with the opportunity to specialise in areas such as software engineering, artificial intelligenceand networking. Distinctive features of the course are its heavy emphasis on object-oriented systems, and its emphasis on practical work. The course also allows students to take some subjects from outside computer science. It is a three-year full-time course, and the Honours program requires a further year of study.
The course is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS).
Upon completion of this course, students should possess:
- a comprehensive understanding of the core areas of computer science including computer organisation, algorithms and data structures, compiliers and systems software, and artifical intelligence;
- in-depth knowledge and understanding of additional areas selected from the broader body of computer science subject matter;
- a sound understanding of computer-related mathematics including discrete mathematics, calculus, functions and number systems, and linear algebra;
- high-level skills in developing software using high level languages, with a current emphasis on C++ and Java;
- proficiency in applying an object-oriented approach to systems analysis, design and implementation;
- skills and abilities necessary to function effectively in project teams;
- written and oral communication skills enabling effective communication with professional colleagues and the wider community;
- ability to engage in lifelong learning, and
- an appreciation of pertinent social, legal, and ethical issues faced by today’s computing professional.
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.
CISCO Program
A CISCO certification training program is available for students who have passed the subjects CSE2NEF, and CSE3INE in their undergraduate studies. Any students interested in obtaining full details of this CISCO program should contact the Department of Computer Science and Computer Engineering at the beginning of first semester.
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 select subjects from a list of core and recommended subjects from within the disciplines of computer science and mathematics. Elective subjects may be chosen from subjects offered by any department. In the second and third years of the degree, students select available computer science and elective subjects. In the third year of the degree, students must include either the software engineering project, CSE3PRA and CSE3PRB (30 credit points) or the programming project, CSE3PRG (30 credit points) in their choice of subjects. Students may choose to take one of the ‘streams’ available in the second and third years.
Mid-year commencement
Students entering the course mid year with equivalent year-12 studies will commence second semester on 5th July 2010, three weeks earlier than the normal commencement date for that teaching period. Some students with prior tertiary studies may also be required to commence their course on 5th July. These students will be advised by the faculty office at the time of offer.
First year (120 credit points)
Core subjects (90 credit points)
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Calculus and Number Systems | MAT1CNS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Object-Oriented Programming Fundamentals | CSE1OOF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Discrete Mathematics | MAT1DM | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Intermediate Object-Oriented Programming | CSE1IOO | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Mathematics Topics for Computer Science | MAT2MFC | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Object-Oriented Programming Using C++ | CSE1CPP | 15 |
Electives (30 credit points)
The remaining 30 credit points may be chosen from first year subjects offered by any department, subject to meeting the prerequisites for those subjects. The subject BUS1MIS is not permitted.
Second year (120 credit points)
Core subjects (90 credit points)
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Computer System Architecture | CSE2CSA | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Database Fundamentals | CSE2DBF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2 | Algorithms and Data Structures | CSE2ALG | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals | CSE2AIF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Professional Environment | CSE3PE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | System Design Engineering Fundamentals | CSE2DES | 15 |
Electives (30 credit points)
The remaining 30 credit points may be chosen from subjects offered by any department, subject to meeting the prerequisites for those subjects. The subjects BUS2BAD and MGT2BCO are not permitted.
Third year (120 credit points)
Students are required to take 90 credit points of third year level computer science subjects from the ‘streams’ or from the list below. Students must include either the software engineering project CSE3PRA and CSE3PRB (30 credit points) or the programming project CSE3PRG (30 credit points) in their choice of subjects.
Core subjects (90 credit points)
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | System Design and Methodologies | CSE3SDM | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2 | Third year level computer science subjects chosen from the lists below. | 75 |
Electives (30 credit points)
The remaining 30 credit points may be chosen from subjects offered by any department and may include further computer science subjects from the list below or the business subject BUS3EBS.
Students may also choose to include one of the following computer science specialty ‘streams’ in their structure:
Software Engineering Stream:
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third year: | |||
| TE-SEM-2 | Metrics, Quality and Reliability | CSE3MQR | 15 |
Data Engineering Stream:
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second year: | |||
| TE-SEM-1 | Internet Client Engineering | CSE2ICE | 15 |
| Third year: | |||
| TE-SEM-1 | Database Management Systems | CSE3DMS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Web Applications Engineering | CSE3WAE | 15 |
Artificial Intelligence Stream:
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third year: | |||
| TE-SEM-1 | Artificial Intelligence: Logic and Reasoning | CSE3ALR | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Computational Intelligence | CSE3CI | 15 |
Network Engineering Stream:
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second year: | |||
| TE-SEM-1 or SEM-2 | Network Engineering Fundamentals | CSE2NEF | 15 |
| Third year: | |||
| TE-SEM-1 | Intermediate Network Engineering | CSE3INE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Networks, Systems and Web Security | CSE3NSW | 15 |
The remaining 15 credit points may be chosed from the list below:
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Intelligent Multimedia Systems | CSE3IMS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Object-Oriented Application Development | CSE3OAD | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Operating Systems | CSE3OSS | 15 |
Honours
Honours degree students are selected based on their performance in the final year of the pass degree course. To qualify for entry to the Honours year in computer science students must obtain a minimum average of 60% across all of their third year subjects and obtain an average of at least 70% over their best 60 credit points of third year level computer science and computer engineering subjects (project included), the subjects CSE3PRA and CSE3PRB (30 credit points) and CSE3PRG (30 credit points) will count as 15 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 re-enrolment.
For a full description of subjects, including the subject name, subject code, credit points, campus/location, subject coordinator, class requirements, assessment, prerequisites and readings, students should access the Subject Database at www.latrobe.edu.au/udb_public.