courses

3517

Monash University

Undergraduate - Course

Students who commenced study in 2012 should refer to this course entry for direction on the requirements; to check which units are currently available for enrolment, refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course.

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This course entry should be read in conjunction with information provided in the 'Faculty information' section of this Handbook by the Faculty of Science

Managing facultyScience
Abbreviated titleBSc/BCompSc
CRICOS code041540K
Total credit points required192
Standard duration of study (years)4 years FT, 8 years PT
Study mode and locationOn-campus (Clayton)
Admission, fee and application details http://www.monash.edu/study/coursefinder/course/3517
Contact details

Email: sci-enquiries@monash.edu

or go to http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/about/contactus.html

Course coordinator

BSc: Email: sci-enquiries@monash.edu; BCS: Associate Professor Bernd Meyer, Faculty of Information Technology, Clayton

Notes

  • Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the handbook are not available for study in the current year.
  • The Industry-based Learning (IBL) stream is not available to international students.
  • Study of one unit may be required over a summer semester or as overload in one other semester. The maximum time for completion of the course is 10 years, including any periods of intermission. Students cannot take additional units that exceed the 192 credit points required for the course. Students wishing to take additional units can only do so on a single subject basis (full-fee paying basis) with the approval of the faculty.
  • This course has compulsory off-campus placement requirements for those students undertaking the industry-based learning stream.

Description

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.

Outcomes

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.

Fieldwork

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

Structure

This course comprises a minor and a major sequence in different areas of 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.

Requirements

Science component

Students must complete:

(1.) 96 points of science units including:

(a.) MAT1830 Discrete mathematics for computer science or STA1010 Statistical methods for science (6 points)

(b.) SCI2010 Scientific practice and communication (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/2012handbooks/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

Students must complete:

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

(a.) 13 core units:

(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. Students will need to seek permission to enrol in these units at the Faculty of Science, Student Academic Services office (contact details at http://www.sci.monash.edu.au/contact/undergrad.html).

Stage two (all students)

  • FIT1031 Computers and networks
  • FIT2004 Algorithms and data structures
  • FIT2014 Theory of computation
  • MAT1830 Discrete mathematics for computer science 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.

Progression to further studies

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.

Alternative exit(s)

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.

Award(s)

Bachelor of Computer Science
Bachelor of Science