Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2012

Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science

Course code/s: SPCS - Melbourne

This one year full-time (or part-time equivalent) course aims to produce ICT professionals. The course comprises coursework subjects and may include a research thesis in the areas of artificial intelligence, computer communications and networks, software engineering and software systems.

Upon completion of this course students should possess:

  • strong skills in the area of computer science and computer studies;
  • an appreciation of pertinent social, legal and ethical issues faced by today’s computing professional;
  • an understanding of core areas of computer science and computer studies and
  • an ability to lead and engage in lifelong learning.

Admission requirements

A three year pass degree (majoring in computer science), the Graduate Diploma in Computer Science, or an equivalent, is required. Applications are competitively assessed and performance in the initial degree or graduate diploma is taken into account. Demonstrated skills using a modern programming language such as C, C++, or Java, and some familiarity with an operating system such as UNIX or Windows is required.

Advanced Standing

No advanced standing is given.

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 one year full-time or the equivalent part-time and is equivalent to the first year of the Master of Computer Science. Students are required to complete:

  • 120 credit points of subjects
  • 60 credit points of core subjects
  • a maximum of two Level 1, 2 or 3 subjects from the list of Electives below
  • the remaining subject must be selected from the list of Level 4 subjects below

Core subjects (60 credit points)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit points
TE-SEM-1 System Design and Methodologies CSE3SDM 15
TE-SEM-1 Industry Project 4A CSE4PRA 15
TE-SEM-2 Industry Project 4B CSE4PRB 15
TE-SEM-2 Professional Environment     CSE3PE 15

Elective subjects (60 credit points)

Students select subjects to the value of 75 credit points from the lists below.

Level 1, 2 and 3 subjects (a maximum of two 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 Database Fundamentals CSE2DBF 15
TE-SEM-1 Database Management Systems CSE3DMS 15
TE-SEM-1 Visual Information Systems CSE3VIS 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 Testing and Quality CSE2STQ 15
TE-SEM-2 Artificial Intelligence – Fundamentals CSE2AIF 15
TE-SEM-1 Computational Intelligence CSE3CI 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 Core Subjects Subject code Credit points
TE-SEM-1 Advanced System Design CSE4ASD 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-2 Real-time and Fault-tolerant Systems CSE4RFS 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 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

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.