Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Course

The 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.

High-achieving Australian resident students at Clayton campus will be given the option of participating in the Industry-based learning (IBL) placement program, focusing on the applications of computer science in industry, and providing students with an understanding of computer science roles in business.

Graduates from the course will have knowledge of:

• the breadth of computer science applications
• problem solving and algorithm design strategies
• the theoretical basis of computer science
• the software design and development process
• different programming language paradigms
• cultural, legal and ethical issues in the discipline of computing.

Graduates will have an understanding of:

• the underpinning of information technology by computer science
• levels of abstraction from hardware to high-level languages
• computer system design; development methods, programming and debugging methods
• limitations of computational and algorithmic solutions
• user-interface design
• and several important application areas such as databases, artificial intelligence and graphics.

Graduates will have the ability to:

• develop efficient computational solutions
• evaluate computing systems
• design well-structured programs
• implement substantial pieces of software
• analyse the complexity and correctness of algorithms
• write technical documentation
• participate in large-scale programming projects
• communicate effectively.

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
• develop safe and reliable software
• adapt readily to changing technologies
• and participate professionally in industrial research and development.

Industry Based Learning (IBL) placement program (Clayton only)

Applicants who qualify for the industry based learning placement program are awarded a scholarship (currently valued at $15,000) and will undertake a 22-week industry placement with a participating company as directed by the University. The student's work during the placement will be structured and assessed as part of the degree.

The IBL placement program is available to Australian citizens and Australian permanent resident visa holders who commenced their studies after 2006. There are a limited number of places available. Selection takes place after the completion of first year and is based on an interview (conducted by industry partners) and academic performance. IBL students are required to be available during the normal vacation period in summer and winter for special units and industry-based learning placements. For further information on IBL, including application deadlines, how to apply and selection criteria, please visit http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/ibl.

This course is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) as meeting the standard of knowledge for professional-level membership.

NOTE: The 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.

All units are six points, unless otherwise specified.

(a.) seven core units:

• FIT1001 Computer systems
• FIT1002 Computer programming
• FIT1003 IT in organisations
• FIT2001 Systems analysis and design
• FIT2008 Networks and data communications
• FIT2010 Database
• FIT3086 Project management

(b.) eight FIT units that are core to the BCompSc:

• FIT1008 Computer science
• FIT1029 Algorithmic problem solving
• FIT2004 Algorithms and data structures
• FIT2014 Theory of computation
• FIT2022 Computer systems 2
• FIT3014 Analysis and design of algorithms
• FIT3036 Computer science project or FIT3038 Software engineering project
• FIT3077 Software engineering: architecture and design

(c.) two mathematics units:

• MAT1830 Mathematics for computer science 2
• MAT1841 Mathematics for computer science 1

(d.) one computer science-specified electives (6 points) chosen from a schedule published by the Faculty of Information Technology at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/bcs

(e.) six electives (36 points) chosen from any faculty of the University

(f.) students selected to participate in the IBL placement program will replace the following:

• FIT3036 or FIT3038
• one approved computer science electives
• two free electives

with:

• FIT3127 Industry-based learning (18 points) and FIT2043 Technical documentation for software engineers (6 points).

IBL students should complete FIT3086 Project management over summer otherwise they will have to overload in one semester by one unit.

Notes

(1.) Approved variations to 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/MAT1841, with approval

(c.) students transferring from other faculty programs and students entering with credit for prior studies may be permitted the following course variation:

• FIT1004 Database may be substituted for FIT2010 Database
• FIT1005 Networks and data communications may be substituted for FIT2008 Networks and data communications

(d.) FIT2002 Project management may be substituted for FIT3086 Project management if taken in second year. One approved computer science elective must be at third-year level

(2.) The BCompSc degree is subject to the requirement that:

• a maximum of 60 points is obtained at level 1
• a minimum of 36 points is obtained at level 3.

(3.) Computer science electives are non-core units identified as supporting the specific objectives of the course. A list of approved computer science electives can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/bcs.

First year

The 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, FIT1008, FIT1029 and MAT1841 and MAT1830.

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 year

The 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 year

Students in computer science must take the core third-year unit FIT3086, plus FIT3077, FIT3014 and one of the projects FIT3036 or FIT3038, and 6 points of additional third-year computer science-approved elective units, as well as two elective units.

Students in the IBL placement program will replace FIT3036 or FIT3038, one approved computer science elective and one free elective with FIT3127. These students are also required to complete FIT2043 as a core unit (replacing one free elective).

Please refer to http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/bcs for specified computer science electives.

Bachelor of Computer Science