Monash University Handbook 2011 Undergraduate - Course

The course aims to provide students with the opportunity to combine the strong communication skills, critical analysis and problem-solving ability of a science degree with mathematical and computational thinking and the IT skills required to solve complex scientific problems.

Students with a distinction average may apply to participate in the Industry Based Learning (IBL) placement stream of the Bachelor of Computer Science. IBL students are awarded a scholarship and undertake a 22-week industry placement with participating companies as directed by the University. The student's work during the placement will be structured and assessed as part of the degree.

Upon completion of this course, students will have advanced knowledge and skills in mathematics, computer science and computational science, and in another area of science. Graduates will have improved life and employment skills including generic skills necessary to critically analyse and communicate scientific ideas and information, and a capacity to apply discipline knowledge and critical thinking to define and analyse problems, and develop effective solutions.

The industry-based learning (IBL) stream

The IBL placement program of the computer science component of this double degree is available to Australian citizens and permanent resident visa holders who commenced their studies in 2006 or later, but it is not available to international students. A limited number of places will be available. Selection will be made after the completion of second year and will be based on academic performance and an interview conducted by industry partners. IBL students are required to be available during the normal holiday periods in summer and winter for special units and industry-based learning placements.

Industry-based learning stream students must undertake an industry placement to complete the requirements of the course.

This course comprises a minor and a major sequence in science, along with a specified number of core, elective and additional units in both science and computer science. For the purposes of this course, computer science units are not considered as science units.

Science component

(1.) 96 points of science units including:

(a.) MTH1112 Numbers, logic and graphs or STA1010 Statistical methods for science (6 points)

(b.) SCI2010 The practice and application of science (6 points)*

(c.) a major sequence in a science area of study (48 points)

(d.) a minor sequence in mathematics (24 points)

(e.) science elective units to complete a total of 96 points

Note:

For details of available science minor and major sequences, consult the section 'Science areas of study and sequences - Clayton' in this Handbook available at http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2011handbooks/undergrad/sci-aos-clayton.html.

Within the science component students must complete a minimum of four level-three science units (24 points), and a maximum of six level-one science units (36 points) can be taken overall.

Computer science component

(2.) 96 points of computer science units including:

(a.) 13 core units:

• FIT1002 Computer programming
• FIT1004 Data management
• FIT1008 Introduction to computer science
• FIT1029 Algorithmic problem solving
• FIT1031 Computers and networks
• FIT2001 Systems development
• FIT2002 Project management**
• FIT2004 Algorithms and data structures
• FIT2014 Theory of computation
• FIT3139 Computational science
• FIT3140 Advanced programming
• FIT3143 Parallel computing
• FIT3036 Computer science project or FIT3144 Advanced computer science project (12 points)***

(b.) MTH2051/MTH3051 Introduction to computational mathematics (6 points)

(c.) two approved level-three computer science elective units (12 points)***

Recommended program of study

Stage one (all students)

• FIT1002 Computer programming
• FIT1004 Data management
• FIT1008 Introduction to computer science
• FIT1029 Algorithmic problem solving
• MTH1030* Techniques for modelling and MTH1020* Analysis of change or MTH2010* Multivariable calculus
• a 12 point level-one sequence in a science area of study other than mathematics

Note: Students with a strong mathematics background and a keen interest in the subject could replace the units MTH1030 and MTH2010 with their advanced versions MTH1035 and MTH2015 respectively. Enrolment in these units is with permission from the head of the School of Mathematics.

Stage two (all students)

• FIT1031 Computers and networks
• FIT2004 Algorithms and data structures
• FIT2014 Theory of computation
• MTH1112 Numbers, logic and graphs or STA1010 Statistical methods for science
• MTH2010* (if not already completed) or SCI2010*
• MTH2032 Differential equations and modelling
• 12 points of science units to complete a minor sequence in an area of study other than mathematics or computer science

At the end of stage two, students should have completed two minor sequences - one in mathematics and one in another science area (not including computer science).

Stages three and four

Main stream

• FIT2001 Systems development
• FIT2002 Project management
• FIT3139 Computational science
• FIT3140 Advanced programming
• FIT3143 Parallel computing
• FIT3036 Computer science project or FIT3144 Advanced computer science project (12 points)***
• MTH2051/MTH3051 Introduction to computational mathematics
• SCI2010* (if not already completed)
• 24 points of science units to complete a major sequence in a science area of study, in either mathematics or the area of the minor sequence completed at stage two
• two or three elective science units to complete the final 48 points
• two level three approved computer science elective units***

IBL stream

• FIT2001 Systems development
• FIT2002 Project management**
• FIT3139 Computational science
• FIT3140 Advanced programming
• FIT3143 Parallel computing
• FIT3045 Industry-based learning (18 points)
• MTH2051/MTH3051 Introduction to computational mathematics
• SCI2010* (if not already completed)
• 24 points of science units to complete a major sequence in a science area of study, in either mathematics or the area of the minor sequence completed at stage two
• two or three elective science units to complete the final 48 points

* Students who have not completed the prerequisite requirements for MTH1030 should complete MTH1020 and MTH1030 at stage one, complete MTH2010 instead of SCI2010 at stage two, and complete SCI2010 instead of one of the science elective units at stage three.

** FIT2002 should be completed in summer semester, otherwise IBL students will need to overload in one semester by one unit.

*** Students who complete the 12 point computer science project will only complete one approved level-three computer science elective.

Students may apply for admission to an honours program in science, following the completion of an approved combination of at least 144 points of units including all of the science requirements for the double degree course. Students who are considering doing honours in science prior to completing the double degree should consult with the Faculty of Science regarding their unit selection prior to re-enrolling for level three.

Students who wish to graduate with a Bachelor of Science prior to the completion of the double degree course must have completed at least 144 points of studies, including all of the science requirements for the double degree course.

Students can graduate with a Bachelor of Computer Science after completion of 144 points of study provided all the requirements of this degree have been met.

Bachelor of Computer Science

Bachelor of Science