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Monash University: University handbooks: Undergraduate handbook: Units indexed by faculty
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Bachelor of Software Engineering

Course code: 2770 + Course abbreviation: BSE + Total credit points required: 192 + 4 years full-time (part-time only by special permission)

Study mode and course location

On-campus (Clayton)

Course description

The course, offered by the Clayton School of Information Technology, aims to prepare students for careers in software engineering, software project management, and software development and integration.

Software engineering comprises the core principles consistent in software construction and maintenance: fundamental software processes and life-cycles, mathematical foundations of software engineering, requirements analysis, software engineering methodologies and standard notations, principles of software architecture and reuse, software quality frameworks and validation, software development, and maintenance environments and tools.

Current industry-strength programming languages, technologies and systems feature highly in the practical components, electives and projects of the course, but they are also taught with a view to understanding and applying principles underlying their more ephemeral character. Experts estimate that half of all current technologies become obsolete in approximately three years.

Course structure

The course commences with the establishment of a sound foundation in introductory information technology and mathematics. All information technology units have approximately one-third laboratory-based programs.

In the later years, the introduction of major software engineering projects builds the students' self-reliance and planning capabilities in both individual and team-based environments. Project management units strengthen the formal basis of management skills. Elective units are provided to allow specialization in some aspect of the field of study, with free electives to permit broadening of intellectual and personal horizons.

The course structure balances four major strands:

  1. Synthesis: software systems construction and design, including methodologies and notations.
  2. Analysis: software artifact analysis including mathematical foundations, evaluation and measurement.
  3. Processes: software and team management including software lifecycle and software projects.
  4. Systems: understanding, abstracting, reusing and maintaining systems and components, including exposure to the architecture and principles of large systems such as operating systems and distributed systems.

The four-year course is based upon the four-year engineering degree structure, from which it is derived. In particular, the honours program is integral with the four years of study and is undertaken in the fourth year, with enrolment in the honours program predicated upon students reaching a credit level of performance in the first three year levels.
This standard of performance is determined from a weighted average of results over the first three levels, with first level having a weight of one, second level a weight of two, and third level a weight of three. An honours grade is calculated with a scaled weighted average of results from levels 3 and 4.

Course requirements

Students who commenced the BSE prior to 2006 should refer to the 2005 undergraduate handbook for details of the course requirements.

To fulfil the degree regulations, students are required to complete the following core units, together with electives, to a value of 192 points. In addition, students are required to fulfil a 12-week industry placement requirement. Students will be advised to complete this requirement during their summer break between year 3 and year 4 of their course. This approach is in line with what is followed by the Faculty of Engineering at Monash University to ensure compliance with IE Aust requirements for accreditation of Professional Engineering courses.

First year (48 points)

All units are 6 points, unless otherwise specified.

  1. Two core units from the Faculty of Information Technology:

  2. One unit from the Faculty of Engineering:

  3. Two BSE core units:

    • FIT1008 Computer science
    • FIT1010 Introduction to software engineering

  4. Two mathematics units:

    • MAT1830 Mathematics for computer science II
    • MAT1841 Mathematics for computer science I

  5. One approved elective (6 points) chosen from a schedule published by the Faculty of Information Technology and approved electives from the Faculty of Engineering.

Approved course variations of the BSE level 1 course structure
  1. Students intending to complete a minor or major sequence in mathematics within the Faculty of Science should substitute another mathematics unit for MAT1841, with approval.
  2. Students requiring other mathematics for an engineering sequence may replace MAT1830/1841 with approval.
  3. Students who have completed Specialist Mathematics in Year 12 may take a more advanced mathematics unit sequence with approval.

Second year (48 points)

  • FIT2001 Systems analysis and design
  • FIT2004 Algorithms and data structures
  • FIT2008 Networks and data communications
  • FIT2010 Database
  • FIT2014 Theory of computation
  • FIT2022 Computer systems II
  • FIT2024 Software engineering practice
  • FIT2043 Technical documentation for software engineers

Third year (48 points)

  • FIT3013 Formal methods for software engineering
  • FIT3042 System tools and programming languages
  • FIT3077 Software engineering: architecture and design
  • FIT3084 Multimedia programming and the world wide web
  • FIT3086 IT project management
  • FIT4001 Parallel and distributed systems
  • Approved Elective
  • Approved Elective

Fourth year (48 points) - Option 1

  • FIT4002 Software engineering studio project (12 points) (full-year project)
  • FIT4004 System validation and verification, quality and standard
  • Approved Elective
  • Approved Elective
  • Approved Elective
  • Approved Elective
  • Approved Elective

Fourth year (48 points) - Option 2

Like other engineering degrees, the Bachelor of Software Engineering is graded - pass, H3, H2B, H2A, H1. A candidate is awarded a degree with Honours for meritorious performance. No additional time is required. The grade is determined by a weighted average of core units in the course map for levels 3 and 4. Students who perform well in level 3 are invited to take the research project FIT 4003, replacing the year 4 free electives. This unit will add to the weighted average to determine research. FIT4002 is a 12-point research project, available only to students undertaking the research version of the degree.

  • FIT 4002 Software engineering studio project (12 points) (full-year project)
  • FIT 4004 System validation and verification, quality and standard
  • FIT 4003 Software engineering research project (12 points) (full-year project)
  • Approved Elective
  • Approved Elective
  • Approved Elective

Fourth year (48 points) - Option 3

Like other engineering degrees, the Bachelor of Software Engineering is graded - pass, H3, H2B, H2A, H1. A candidate is awarded a degree with Honours for meritorious performance. No additional time is required. The grade is determined by a weighted average of core units in the course map for levels 3 and 4. Students who perform well in level 3 are invited to take the research project FIT 4013, replacing FIT 4002 and FIT4003 available only to students undertaking the research version of the degree.

This unit will add to the weighted average to determine the final mark.

  • FIT 4013 Software engineering research project (24 points) (full-year project)
  • FIT 4004 System validation and verification, quality and standard
  • Approved Elective
  • Approved Elective
  • Approved Elective

Contact details

Inquiries: visit www.infotech.monash.edu.au/about/schools/clayton/

Course leader

Dr Sita Ramakrishnan

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