Master of Computer Science
Course code/s: SMCSC - Melbourne
The principal objective of this program is to provide training relevant to the software technologies required by information and communications technology professionals to design, program, manage, maintain, and enhance computer systems, particularly knowledge-based systems. The duration of the course is a maximum of two years of full-time study or the equivalent of part-time study.
Upon completion of this course students should possess:
- strong skills in the area of computer science and computer studies;
- research skills gained from independent research project;
- an appreciation of pertinent social, legal and ethical issues faced by today’s computing professional; and
- an ability to lead and engage in lifelong learning.
Admission requirements
Prospective students must:
- have completed a three year undergraduate degree in computer science; or
- hold a four year engineering degree with a substantial computer science content, equivalent to a third year computer science course.
Full-fee international students are required to have equivalent qualifications.
Students should note that they may take out the award for the Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science after completing the first year of the Masters course only if they decide not to proceed to the second year of the Masters course.
Advanced standing
Advanced standing may be available for previous tertiary studies, for subjects completed equivalent to fourth year level or the completion of a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science. If advanced standing is granted for the first year of the Masters degree then second year subjects must be selected from the list of level 4 (advanced) subjects and no further level 1, 2 or 3 subjects may be taken.
Professional recognition
Satisfactory completion of the course meets the professional level requirements for membership of the Australian Computer Society.
Course structure
The duration of the course is two years full-time or the equivalent part-time. Students are required to complete:
- 240 credit points
- the core subjects CSE3PE, CSE4PRA and CSE4PRB
- a maximum of three Level 1, 2 or 3 subjects
- a 45 credit point thesis (CSE5TSB) completed over two semesters
- the remaining subjects may be selected from the list of Level 4 subjects below
NOTE: Students with an average grade less than 70% calculated from the best 90 credit points of subjects from their first year of the program do not qualify for the thesis and will not be able to continue their enrolment in the Master of Computer Science. A transfer to a Master of Information Technology or Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science will occur.
Core subjects (90 credit points)
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-2 | Professional Environment | CSE3PE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Industry Project 4A | CSE4PRA | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Industry Project 4B | CSE4PRB | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 or 2 | Thesis A** | CSE5TSA | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 or 2 | Thesis B** | CSE5TSB | 30 |
** Students must achieve an average of at least 70% from the top 90 credit points of subjects completed in the first year of the program.
Elective subjects
Students are permitted to select the subjects of their choice provided that the prerequisite requirements are met. Students undertake a maximum of three level 1, 2 or 3 subjects (45 credit points) and select the remainder from level 4 subjects. The subjects can be chosen from the lists below.
Level 1, 2 and 3 subjects (a maximum of three subjects may be chosen)
Most subjects have prerequisites.
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Advanced Games Programming Technology | CSE3AGT | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Artificial Intelligence – Logic and Reasoning | CSE3ALR | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Computational Intelligence | CSE3CI | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Database Fundamentals | CSE2DBF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Database Management Systems | CSE3DMS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Intermediate Network Engineering | CSE3INE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Internet Client Engineering | CSE2ICE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Network Engineering Fundamentals | CSE2NEF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | System Design and Methodologies | CSE3SDM | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | System Testing and Quality | CSE2STQ | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Visual Information Systems | CSE3VIS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Artificial Intelligence – Fundamentals | CSE2AIF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Games Programming Technology | CSE2GAM | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Metrics, Quality and Reliability | CSE3MQR | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Networks Systems and Web Security | CSE3NSW | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Object-oriented Programming using C++ | CSE1CPP | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Operating Systems | CSE3OSS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | System Design Engineering Fundamentals | CSE2DES | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Web Applications Engineering | CSE3WAE | 15 |
Level 4 subjects
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Advanced System Design | CSE4ASD | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Bioinformatics Technologies | CSE5BIO | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Communication Protocol Engineering | CSE4CPE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Decision Support Systems | CSE4DSS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Multi-agent Systems | CSE4MAS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Web Services Engineering | CSE4WSE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Wireless Network Engineering | CSE4WNE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Databases | CSE4ADB | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Network Engineering | CSE4ANE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Quality and Reliability | CSE4AQR | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Data Mining | CSE4DMI | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Entrepreneurship | CSE4ENT | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Mobile and Pervasive Computing | CSE4MPC | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Performance Analysis of Computer Systems | CSE4PCS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Pervasive Network Design | CSE4PND | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Real-time and Fault-tolerant Systems | CSE4RFS | 15 |
Please note: Some of these subjects may not be offered in the current year. For a full description of subjects, including the subject name, subject code, credit points, campus/location, teaching period and availability, subject coordinator, class requirements, assessment, prerequisites and readings, please click on the appropriate Subject Code or refer to the Subject/Unit Database at www.latrobe.edu.au/udb_public.