Bachelor of Computer Systems Engineering
Course code/s: Melbourne (SVCSE)
The Bachelor of Computer Systems Engineering produces graduates skilled in the design of large software systems, computer networks and computer architecture.
It is a four-year pass or Honours degree, and provides the opportunity to be an expert in the design of the computer and its digital components, large software systems, computer architecture, the design and analysis of embedded systems and design of large communication networks A distinguishing feature of the course is the fourth year thesis, which provides students with research skills and the opportunity to study a current research area in great depth.
The course is accredited by both Engineers Australia and the Australian Computer Society (ACS).
Upon completion of this course, students should possess:
- a comprehensive understanding of the body of mathematics, physics, electronics and computer science subject matter that forms the academic basis of computer engineering;
- in-depth knowledge and understanding of the digital circuitry constituting computer hardware, as evidenced through completion of a digital electronics design project in which this knowledge is applied;
- 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 software systems analysis, design and implementation;
- a sound knowledge of the basic engineering principles and methodologies underlying the analysis design and implementation of total systems composed of hardware, software, and an interface between the two;
- depending on electives chosen, advanced knowledge and skills in other areas of computer science including networks and communications, intelligent systems, compilers and systems software, numerical computing, etc.;
- skills in the management of resources and technology, as required of an engineering professional;
- skills and abilities necessary to function effectively in project teams as a manager, leader or team member;
- 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, ethical, and environmental issues faced by today’s engineering professional.
Articulation
Students who have completed the Bachelor of Computer Technology may apply for entry to the third year of this course.
Industry experience
Students are required to complete at least twelve weeks of certified practical experience before being deemed to have completed the course. This is usually undertaken during the annual vacation following the third year of the course but may be done at the conclusion of the final year. International students must undertake their experience during the annual vacation following the third year. It may be done at the conclusion of final year but must be completed before the students visa expiry date. Visa expiry dates may not be extended for the sole purpose of completing practical experience. International applicants are advised to ensure they have the correct visa to undertake this work placement.
Scholarships
First year scholarships are available for high achieving local 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 passed the subjects 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 four years full-time or equivalent part-time duration and requires the completion of 480 credit points. In the first and second years, students study a fixed combination of subjects in computer science and electronics, together with mathematics, computer systems, physics, and engineering management. In the third and fourth years, students may select from a range of subjects in software engineering (the design of large software systems) or network engineering (the design and implementation of computer networks). If students desire, they may complete a stream in either network engineering or software engineering. A major industry-relevant project must be completed in third year and a research project in the student’s fourth year. A student may choose to take the Engineering Project (CSE5TSB) 45 points. Those students who choose to take the Engineering project must ensure they complete the required prerequisite subjects and obtain approval from the Department of Electronic Engineering.
New course structure for students commencing from 2012 onwards
First year (120 credit points)
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Calculus and Probability for Engineers | MAT1CPE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | C Programming for Engineers and Scientists | CSE1CES | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Introductory Electronics | ELE1IEL | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Principles of Physics A | PHY1SCA | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Basic Electronic Circuits | ELE1CCT | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Calculus and Linear Algebra | MAT1CLA | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Engineering Practice | EMS1EP | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Object-Oriented Programming Fundamentals | CSE1OOF | 15 |
Second year (120 credit points)
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Discrete Mathematics | MAT1DM | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Intermediate Object-Oriented Programming | CSE1IOO | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Microprocessors and Digital Design | ELE2MDD | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Network Engineering Fundamentals | CSE2NEF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals | CSE2AIF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Digital Design with Programmable Logic | ELE2DDP | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Mathematics Topics for Computer Science | MAT2MFC | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | System Design Engineering Fundamentals | CSE2DES | 15 |
Third year (120 credit points) - structure for 2014
Core subjects (105 credit points)
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Algorithms and Data Structures | CSE2ALG | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | System Design and Methodologies | CSE3SDM | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Industry Project 3A1 | CSE3PRA | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Industry Project 3B1 | CSE3PRB | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Models for Data Analysis | STA2MD | 15 |
Key: 1 Subjects must be taken in the one academic year
Plus a further 30 credit points of computer science subjects chosen from the following:
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Database Fundamentals | CSE2DBF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Embedded Processors | ELE3EMB | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Intermediate Network Engineering | CSE3INE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Operating Systems2 | CSE3OSS | 15 |
Key: 2 If permitted the student may replace the elective subject and CSE3IBB
Electives (15 credit points)
The remaining 15 credit points may be chosen from the list below:
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Artificial Intelligence - Logic and Reasoning | CSE3ALR | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Visual Information Systems | CSE3VIS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Object-Oriented Application Development | CSE3OAD | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Computational Intelligence | CSE3CI | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Database Management Systems | CSE3DMS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Professional Environment | CSE3PE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Networks, Systems and Web Security | CSE3NSW | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Metrics, Quality and Reliability | CSE3MQR | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Web Applications Engineering | CSE3WAE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-S / TE-SEM-1 / TE-SEM-2 | Industry Based Learning B3 | CSE3IBB | 30 |
Key: 3 If permitted the student may replace the elective subject and CSE3IBB
Fourth year (120 credit points)
Core subjects (75 credit points)
Eligible students may choose either the Thesis (45 credit points) or the Engineering Project (45 credit points). Those students wishing to undertake the Engineering Project must have completed the required prerequisite subjects and have obtained approval from the fourth year coordinator in the Department of Computer Science and Computer Engineering and the Department of Electronic Engineering.
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Applied Management for Engineers | ELE4EMT | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Thesis A | CSE5TSA | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Thesis B | CSE5TSB | 30 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Performance Analysis of Computer Systems | CSE4PCS | 15 |
Electives (45 credit points)
45 credit points must be chosen from the list of subjects below.
| 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 | CSE5CPE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Decision Support Systems | CSE4DSS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Multi-Agent Systems | CSE4MAS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Pattern Recognition | CSE4PRN | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Real-Time and Fault-Tolerant Systems | CSE4RFS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Web Services Engineering | CSE5WSE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Wireless Network Engineering | CSE4WNE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Databases | CSE5ADB | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Pervasive Network Design | CSE4PND | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Quality and Reliability | CSE4AQR | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Business Intelligence Engineering | CSE4BIE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Data Mining | CSE4DMI | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Entrepreneurship in I.T. | CSE5ENT | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Mobile and Pervasive Computing | CSE4MPC | 15 |
The following conditions apply for students taking the Network Engineering stream: in third year students must take CSE4PND.
The following conditions apply for students taking the Software Engineering stream: in third year students must take CSE4AQR.
Existing course structure for students continuing study in 2013
Second year (120 credit points)
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Algorithms and Data Structures | CSE2ALG | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Microprocessors and Digital Design | ELE2MDD | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Network Engineering Fundamentals | CSE2NEF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Principles of Physics A | PHY1SCA | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals | CSE2AIF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Digital Design with Programmable Logic | ELE2DDP | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Mathematics Topics for Computer Science | MAT2MFC | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | System Design Engineering Fundamentals | CSE2DES | 15 |
Third year (120 credit points)
Core subjects (105 credit points)
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | System Design and Methodologies | CSE3SDM | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Industry Project 3A1 | CSE3PRA | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Industry Project 3B1 | CSE3PRB | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Models for Data Analysis | STA2MD | 15 |
Key: 1 Subjects must be taken in the one academic year
Plus a further 45 credit points of computer science subjects chosen from the following:
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Database Fundamentals | CSE2DBF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Embedded Processors | ELE3EMB | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Intermediate Network Engineering | CSE3INE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Operating Systems2 | CSE3OSS | 15 |
Key: 2 If permitted the student may replace the elective subject and CSE3IBB
Electives (15 credit points)
The remaining 15 credit points may be chosen from the list below:
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Artificial Intelligence - Logic and Reasoning | CSE3ALR | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Visual Information Systems | CSE3VIS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Object-Oriented Application Development | CSE3OAD | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Computational Intelligence | CSE3CI | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Database Management Systems | CSE3DMS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Professional Environment | CSE3PE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Networks, Systems and Web Security | CSE3NSW | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Metrics, Quality and Reliability | CSE3MQR | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Web Applications Engineering | CSE3WAE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-S / TE-SEM-1 / TE-SEM-2 | Industry Based Learning B3 | CSE3IBB | 30 |
Key: 3 If permitted the student may replace the elective subject and CSE3IBB
Fourth year (120 credit points)
Core subjects (75 credit points)
Eligible students may choose either the Thesis (45 credit points) or the Engineering Project (45 credit points). Those students wishing to undertake the Engineering Project must have completed the required prerequisite subjects and have obtained approval from the fourth year coordinator in the Department of Computer Science and Computer Engineering and the Department of Electronic Engineering.
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Applied Management for Engineers | ELE4EMT | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Thesis A | CSE5TSA | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Thesis B | CSE5TSB | 30 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Performance Analysis of Computer Systems | CSE4PCS | 15 |
Electives (45 credit points)
45 credit points must be chosen from the list of subjects below.
| 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 | CSE5CPE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Decision Support Systems | CSE4DSS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Multi-Agent Systems | CSE4MAS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Pattern Recognition | CSE4PRN | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Real-Time and Fault-Tolerant Systems | CSE4RFS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Web Services Engineering | CSE5WSE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Wireless Network Engineering | CSE4WNE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Databases | CSE5ADB | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Pervasive Network Design | CSE4PND | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Quality and Reliability | CSE4AQR | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Business Intelligence Engineering | CSE4BIE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Data Mining | CSE4DMI | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Entrepreneurship in I.T. | CSE5ENT | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Mobile and Pervasive Computing | CSE4MPC | 15 |
The following conditions apply for students taking the Network Engineering stream: in third year students must take CSE4PND.
The following conditions apply for students taking the Software Engineering stream: in third year students must take CSE4AQR.
Honours
Students completing the degree will have their degree awarded with Honours provided they are accepted as Honours candidates at the beginning of their final year. Entry to the Honours course is based on academic performance in third year. Those students not eligible for entry to Honours are required to undertake the Major Computer Engineering Project subjects (CSE4CPA and CSE4CPB) (45 credit points) in place of Thesis A (CSE5TSA) and Thesis B (CSE5TSB) (45 credit points).
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 Database at www.latrobe.edu.au/udb_public.