1999 Information Technology Handbooks - Bachelor of Digital Systems

Bachelor of Digital Systems

General Information
Introduction
- Entrance requirements
Course structure
Honours program in digital systems
Subject list - digital systems
Bachelor of Digital Systems 1998 course structure

General Information

Clayton campus
Course code: To be advised
Course leader: Dr B Qiu

The course is designed to provide an integrated and practical study in computer hardware and software. The three major areas of emphasis are digital electronics, which involves the study of digital logic, digital system design and microprocessor systems; technical computing, which involves operating systems, assembler and higher level languages, and real-time software; and integrated applications, which involves control systems, computer communications, signal processing, robotics, graphics and artificial intelligence. These three areas are supported by studies in mathematics and electronics. During the course, students must undertake a project involving the development of integrated hardware and software.
The course is recommended for students seeking an in-depth study of computer hardware and related software with a view to applying their skills immediately in the design and development of digital devices and the building of integrated systems.
The course is at present available for full-time study over three years, with a fourth (honours) year also available.
Graduates meet the level 1 standard of knowledge for membership of the Australian Computer Society.

Entrance requirements

The prerequisites for entry are a grade average of D or above in VCE English and Mathematical Methods units 3 and 4. VCE Specialist Mathematics, Physics and Information Technology are strongly recommended. Students must also have VCE prerequisites appropriate for any first-year elective subject which they take.

Course structure

For course map details, please refer to map 6 in the 'Undergraduate course maps' section.
The course for the pass degree consists of subjects to a total value of 144 points, with:
(a) a core sequence, totalling a minimum of eighty-four points (thirty in first year, thirty-six in second year and eighteen in third year);
(b) two specialisation sequences, each consisting of two subjects from the approved list, totalling twenty-four points;
(c) a sequence of approved mathematics subjects totalling twelve points in first year;
(d) up to twenty-four points of other subjects as selected by the student. These may be additional electives in digital systems, computer science, information systems, or any other discipline.
In general, at most sixty points of first-year subjects may be counted towards the degree. Students must complete at least thirty-six points of second-year subjects and at least thirty-six points of third-year subjects. All subjects listed below are six points each unless indicated otherwise.

First year

A full-time study program will consist of:

CSE1101 Digital technology I
CSE1102 Digital technology II
CSE1112 Introduction to electronics
CSE1301 Computer programming
CSE1303 Computer science
MAT1811 Mathematics ID
MAT1812 Mathematics IID
One free elective subject

Second year

CSE2101 Digital design I
CSE2102 Digital design II
CSE2111 Electronics for digital systems I
CSE2302 Operating systems
CSE2304 Algorithms and data structures
CSE2305 Object-oriented software engineering I
Two specialisation elective subjects from the specialisation list

Third year

CSE3120 Digital systems project (12 points)
CSE3101 Digital design III
Two specialisation elective subjects from the specialisation list
Three free elective subjects

The project cannot be commenced until all the core first and second-year subjects are completed.
Two specialisation sequences each consisting of two subjects must be completed in the second and third-year study of this course.

Specialisation list

Five approved sequences are currently available:

CSE2131 Fundamentals of digital signal processing and CSE3132 Digital signal processing
CSE3133 Fundamentals of robotics and CSE3134 Robotics
COT2001 Data communications and networks or equivalent, and one of COT3020 Network technology, COT3151 Communication network performance, COT3153 Network administration
CSE2324 Computer architecture and CSE3304 Computer organisation
CSE3313 Computer graphics and CSE3314 Image processing

Honours program in digital systems

Course code: 1200
Coordinator: Dr Andrew Paplinski

Prerequisites

The normal entry requirement is a completed three-year Bachelor of Digital Systems degree, or its equivalent, with a final-year average grade of credit or better in digital systems or related subjects.
The honours program will normally be available full-time; however the coordinator will be able to approve part-time study in exceptional circumstances. The honours program may not be repeated.

Structure

The honours program is arranged as a single subject CSE4100 Digital systems of forty-eight points. This subject comprises:

twenty-four points of coursework units (50 per cent of the assessment) selected from the honours units offered by the School of Computer Science and Software Engineering. Typically, three coursework units of four points each are selected in each semester;
a substantial project (twenty points, approximately 40 per cent of the assessment);
the compulsory four-point unit (approximately 10 per cent of the assessment) CSC417 Communication and research skills. This unit is intended to improve the oral and written presentation skills of students and to teach skills required for the critical analysis of research.

Coursework units

Coursework units are to be selected from the honours units offered by the School of Computer Science and Software Engineering. Approved third-year electives can also be taken. Selection of units is conducted during the first two weeks of a semester. Three units are to be selected in each semester. The selection must be approved by the coordinator.
Units taught in the honours year vary from year to year depending on the research interests of the staff. The following units were available in 1998:

Modelling, animating and rendering: advanced topics in graphics
Communications and research skills
Telecommunications
Natural language processing
Advanced object-oriented idioms in C++
Machine learning
Neural network fundamentals
Learning and prediction
Cryptography and security
Pattern recognition and image processing
Parallel systems
Advanced digital design
Video coding and compression

In most cases the appropriate prerequisites must be completed before attempting honours units.

Project topics

Selection of a project is a very important issue from the point of view of both the research area and the prospective supervisor and students are advised to consider their selection carefully and in advance. The selection of projects is conducted during the first two weeks of the first semester. The following are some of the projects undertaken in 1998:

Optimisation of fuzzy control systems using genetic and other algorithms
The simulation and implementation of a flexible controlled CPU
Image interpretation algorithms for a class of ophthalmological images
Low bit rate coding of speech signals
SSCOP - the reliable end-end ATM protocol (ATM adaptation layer type 5)
HG-RCP - the Host-Gateway Rate Control Protocol
Laser tracking for real-time dynamic measurements
Long-reach manipulation techniques
Image tracking implemented in VHDL
Direct transfer of image data from a CCD device to memory
Development of computer architectures which implement various optimisation algorithms

Subject list - digital systems

COT2001 Data communications and networks (6 points)
COT3020 Network technology (6 points)
COT3151 Communication network performance (6 points)
COT3153 Network administration (6 points)
CSE1101 Digital technology I (6 points)
CSE1102 Digital technology II (6 points)
CSE1112 Introduction to electronics (6 points)
CSE1301 Computer programming (6 points)
CSE1303 Computer science (6 points)
CSE2101 Digital design I (6 points)
CSE2102 Digital design II (6 points)
CSE2111 Electronics for digital systems (6 points)
CSE2131 Fundamentals of digital signal processing (6 points)
CSE2304 Algorithms and data structures (6 points)
CSE2305 Object-oriented software engineering (6 points)
CSE2303 Operating systems (6 points)
CSE2324 Computer architecture (6 points)
CSE3101 Digital design III (6 points)
CSE3120 Digital systems project (12 points)
CSE3132 Digital signal processing (6 points)
CSE3133 Fundamentals of robotics (6 points)
CSE3134 Robotics (6 points)
CSE3141 Real time system design (6 points)
CSE3142 Integrated circuit design (6 points)
CSE3304 Computer organisation (6 points)
CSE3313 Computer graphics (6 points)
CSE3314 Image processing (6 points)
CSE4100 Digital systems (honours) (48 points)

Bachelor of Digital Systems 1998 course structure

A major amendment to the Bachelor of Digital Systems course was approved in 1998. The 1998 course structure appears below. The 1999 course structure details appear above.
The course for the pass degree consists of subjects to a total value of 144 points, with:
(a) a core sequence, totalling a minimum of seventy-eight points (thirty in first year, thirty-two in second year and sixteen in third year);
(b) a sequence of approved elective subjects totalling a minimum of sixteen points;
(c) a sequence of approved mathematics subjects totalling twenty points (twelve in first year and eight in second year);
(d) up to thirty points of other subjects as selected by the student. These may be additional electives in digital systems, computer science, information systems, or any other discipline.
In general, at most sixty points of first-year subjects may be counted towards the degree. Students must complete at least forty points of second-year subjects and at least thirty-six points of third-year subjects.