Honours degree of Bachelor of Computer Science

Course code: 1608 + Course abbreviation: BCompSc(Hons) + Total credit points required: 48 + 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

Study mode and course location

On-campus (Clayton)

Course description

An honours degree in computer science opens a range of career opportunities. Students with honours are particularly sought after by employers, and can choose from more interesting research and development positions because of their extra skills and proven abilities. An honours degree also leads to postgraduate study, which is necessary for an academic career or a career in industrial research.

Course objectives

On completion of the Honours degree of Bachelor of Computer Science, students will have knowledge of: a range of specialised topics in computer science; cultural, social, legal and ethical issues inherent in research applicable to the discipline of computer science; how to plan, conduct and manage a research project; and research methodology appropriate to computer science, their use and their limitations.

Graduates will have an understanding of: several advanced areas of computer science; and how to formulate and approach a research problem.

They will have the ability to: critically analyse research literature and conduct a literature survey; plan and manage a research project; analyse, synthesize and evaluate factors in their research project, and to defend their research approach; undertake a significant independent research project; document and communicate research results, and the methods used, orally and in a written report; and undertake independent learning and apply analytical thinking.

They will have attitudes which enable them to: behave in an ethical and professional manner; and participate professionally in research and development.

Entry requirements

To be eligible for the honours degree, students should have fulfilled the requirements for the Bachelor of Computer Science (years one to three) or a relevant degree, with a distinction average or above in their level three IT units. External applicants should have fulfilled the equivalent of these requirements. Entry to the honours year may be subject to quota restrictions.

Course structure

Course requirements

The honours degree consists of a total of 48 points comprising:

honours thesis (24 points)
FIT4005 IT Research methods (6 points) with compulsory attendance at workshops and stipulated faculty seminars
advanced computer science coursework electives (18 points), as listed below.

Students choose one core unit from the following list (all units 6 points):

FIT4009 Advanced topics in intelligent systems
FIT4010 Advanced topics in algorithms and discrete structures
FIT4011 Advanced topics in programming languages and systems
FIT4012 Advanced topics in computational science

Students choose two elective units from the following list* (all units 6 points):

CSE4333 Parallel systems
CSE4431 System validation and verification, quality and standard
FIT4008 Reading unit
FIT4009 Advanced topics in intelligent systems
FIT4010 Advanced topics in algorithms and discrete structures
FIT4011 Advanced topics in programming languages and systems
FIT4012 Advanced topics in computational science

*Instead of choosing two units from the list above, students may complete one FIT level 4 unit from the list above and a 6-point elective chosen from any faculty of Monash University at either level 3, level 4 or level 5, with approval from the honours coordinator.

Contact details

Email enquiries@csse.monash.edu.au or visit www.infotech.monash.edu.au/honours

Course leader

Dr David Albrecht

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