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Monash University:
University handbooks: Undergraduate handbook:
Units indexed by faculty Bachelor of Computer ScienceCourse code: 2380 + Course abbreviation: BCompSc + Total credit points required: 144 + 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time Study mode and course locationOn-campus (Clayton; Malaysia) Course descriptionThe course is designed for students who wish to study computing in depth, focusing on the software, hardware and underlying theory of computing and its applications to scientific and technical problem solving and to information processing in commerce and industry. Computer science can be studied as a discipline in its own right or in combination with a wide variety of other units, some from other schools and other faculties. The course offers students the opportunity to combine their computing studies with additional material appropriate to their chosen career. Along with supporting studies in mathematics, computer science may be combined with another area of interest by using ‘free’ electives to complete a sequence in any discipline, including from another faculty (eg maths, biology, economics, philosophy). Or they can be used to build a specialisation in another field of information technology (such as software engineering, multimedia, or network computing). During the course, students also undertake a substantial project work involving the development of a realistic software or hardware system. Course objectivesGraduates from the course will have knowledge of: different programming language paradigms and their limitations; the breadth of Computer Science applications; the development process for large pieces of software; software design strategies such as top-down and object-oriented; problem solving strategies and common techniques for algorithm design; the formal theoretical basis of Computer Science; algorithms and data structures used in common application areas; and the cultural, social, legal and ethical issues inherent in the discipline of computing. Graduates will have an understanding of: limitations of algorithmic solutions for undecidable and intractable problems; the underpinning of information technology by Computer Science; how high level applications can be understood and are implemented in various levels of abstraction ranging from a high-level programming language, through assembly language to the underlying hardware; the various components in the hardware of a typical computer and their roles; the various components in the software of a typical computer system and their roles; the importance of user-interface design issues; and several important application areas of Computer Science such as databases, artificial intelligence and graphics. Graduates will have the ability to: design well-structured programs; write, test and debug substantial pieces of software; write technical and user documentation; find or develop an efficient algorithmic solution to a problem; reason theoretically about and empirically evaluate the complexity of a program or algorithm; participate in large-scale programming projects; communicate effectively in a professional environment; and review and evaluate computing systems. Graduates will have attitudes which enable them to: behave in an ethical and professional manner; work in group projects; recognise the importance of theoretical underpinnings for practice; recognise the need to keep up to date with developments in Computer Science; develop safe, secure, reliable and dependable software; adapt readily to changing technologies; and participate professionally in industrial research and development. Course structureThe requirements for this degree changed in 2006; students who commenced the BCompSc prior to 2006 should refer to the handbook entry for the year in which they commenced their studies. The course includes compulsory (core) and optional (elective) units selected from the range of Faculty of Information Technology units, plus units chosen from those offered by other schools and departments. Course requirementsAll units are 6 points, unless otherwise specified. The BCompSc requirements are: (a) seven core units common to all Faculty of Information Technology undergraduate degrees:
(b) seven FIT units that are core to the BCompSc:
(c) two mathematics units from the Faculty of Science that are core to the BCompSc: (d) two computer science-specified electives (12 points) chosen from a schedule published by the Faculty of Information Technology (e) six electives (36 points) chosen from any faculty of the university. Notes1. Approved variations of the BCompSc course structure are as follows: (a) 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. (b) students requiring other mathematics for a non-computer science elective stream (for example, an engineering stream) may replace MAT1830/1841, with approval. (c) students transferring from other faculty programs and students entering with credit for prior studies will be permitted the following course variation:
2. The BCompSc degree is subject to the requirement that:
3. Computer science electives are non-core units identified as supporting the specific objectives of the course. An initial list of computer science electives is included below but may be subject to change. First yearThe first-year units serve as a general introduction to computer science and as prerequisites for further studies. Students must complete the FIT core units FIT1001 and FIT1003 as well as Bachelor of Computer Science core units FIT1002 and FIT1008 and MAT1841 (Mathematics for computer science I) and MAT1830 (Mathematics for computer science II). Two elective units which may form the basis of a sequence either in the computer science area or in another discipline from IT or any other faculty must also be undertaken. Second yearThe second-year core units aim to develop a firm foundation in the fundamental concepts of computer science. These include FIT2004, FIT2022 and FIT2014. Three faculty core units must also be undertaken: FIT2001, FIT2010 and FIT2008, as well as two elective units. Third yearStudents in computer science must take the core third-year unit FIT3086, plus FIT3077, FIT3014 and one of the projects FIT3036 or FIT3038, and 12 points of additional third-year computer science-approved elective units, as well as two elective units. Specified computer science electives
* Subject to faculty board approval of the unit - see equivalent unit CSE1370 (Advanced project level 1) in the ‘Unit information' section of this handbook) Professional recognitionGraduates of the course are eligible for professional-level membership of the Australian Computer Society. Contact detailsClayton: email enquiries@csse.monash.edu.au or visit www.infotech.monash.edu.au/bcs Malaysia: email inquiries@infotech.monash.edu.my or visit www.infotech.monash.edu.my Course leadersDr Sid Ray (Clayton), Mr Loke Kar Seng (Malaysia) Previous page | Next page | Section contents | Title and contents |