Undergraduate - Course2770 - Bachelor of Software Engineering

NOTE: This course has had one or more changes made to it since publication on 1 October 2012. For details of changes, please consult the 2013 Handbook change register2013 Handbook change register (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2013handbooks/2013-change-register.html).

The course aims to prepare students for careers in software engineering, software project management, and software development and integration.

Software engineering comprises the core principles consistent in software construction and maintenance: fundamental software processes and life-cycles, mathematical foundations of software engineering, requirements analysis, software engineering methodologies and standard notations, principles of software architecture and re-use, software quality frameworks and validation, software development, and maintenance environments and tools.

Current industry-strength programming languages, technologies and systems feature highly in the practical components, electives and projects of the course, but they are also taught with a view to understanding and applying principles underlying their more ephemeral character.

Eligible* students can apply to participate in the Industry Based learning (IBL) program focusing on the applications of software engineering in industry, and providing students with an understanding of software engineering roles in business.

* Refer to 'Industry Based Learning Program' information below.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 7, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate Attributes. For more information refer to http://opvclt.monash.edu.au/curriculum-by-design/aligning-course-outcomes-with-aqf-bologna.html.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to demonstrate:

• fundamental knowledge in mathematics, computer science, programming and computer systems, which underpin the software engineering discipline
• basic knowledge and understanding of the analysis, synthesis and design of complex systems
• ability to apply software engineering principles and techniques
• ability to develop, maintain and evaluate large-scale software systems
• ability to produce efficient, reliable, robust and cost-effective software solutions
• ability to critically evaluate assumptions and arguments
• ability to perform independent research and analysis
• ability to communicate and coordinate competently by listening, speaking, reading and writing English for technical and general purposes
• ability to work as an effective member or leader of software engineering teams
• ability to apply the principles, tools and practices of IT project management
• ability to manage time, processes and resources effectively by prioritising competing demands to achieve personal and team goals
• ability to understand and meet ethical standards and legal responsibilities
• ability to rapidly learn and apply emerging technologies

Award with honours

Students may be admitted to the degree with honours. The honours program does not require an additional year of study, and admission is based on academic merit.

Industry Based Learning (IBL) program

Applicants who qualify for the industry based learning program are awarded scholarships (currently valued at up to $19,000) 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 program is available to Australian citizens and Australian permanent resident visa holders. There are a limited number of places available.

There are two intakes into the IBL program each year. Students can be admitted prior to the commencement of first year or at the end of their first year of study. Selection is based on academic performance and an interview process conducted by industry partners of the program. IBL students are required to be available during the normal vacation period in summer and winter for special units and IBL placements. For further information on IBL, including application deadlines, how to apply and selection criteria visit http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/ibl.

The Bachelor of Software Engineering program is accredited for the purpose of admission to membership of Engineers Australia. For eligibility to graduate in the BSE as per the Engineers Australia accreditation requirements, it is mandatory for students to undertake a 12-week paid vacation employment.

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

This course consists of:

• core information technology, software engineering and mathematics units
• coursework electives or for eligible students an honours stream
• for selected eligible students, an industry based learning component.

The course commences with the establishment of a sound foundation in introductory information technology and mathematics. All information technology units have approximately one-third laboratory-based programs.

In the later years, the introduction of major software engineering projects builds the students' self-reliance and planning capabilities in both individual and team-based environments. Project management units strengthen the formal basis of management skills. Approved elective units across IT, Engineering and Science are provided which allow both specialisation in some aspect of the field of study as well as broadening of intellectual and personal horizons.

The course structure balances four major strands:

(1.) Synthesis: Software systems construction and design, including methodologies and notations

(2.) Analysis: Software artifact analysis including mathematical foundations, evaluation and measurement

(3.) Processes: Software and team management including software lifecycle and software projects

(4.) Systems: Understanding, abstracting, re-using and maintaining systems and components, including exposure to the architecture and principles of large systems such as operating systems and distributed systems.

This four-year course is based upon the four-year engineering degree structure, from which it is derived. In particular, the honours program is integral with the four years of study, rather than a separate degree, and is undertaken in the fourth year, with enrolment in the honours research program predicated upon students reaching a credit level of performance in the first three year levels with a distinction average in level three FIT units.*

* This standard of performance is determined from a weighted average of results over the first three levels, with first level having a weight of one, second level a weight of two, and third level a weight of three. An honours grade is calculated with a scaled weighted average of results from all units undertaken in the degree.

• Software engineering
• Computer science

All units are six points, unless otherwise specified.

Engineers Australia requirements

In order to fulfil the requirements of Engineers Australia, all Bachelor of Software Engineering students must complete 12 weeks of approved software engineering work experience and submit a report on that work. Such work is normally undertaken in the break between third and fourth years. Students who have completed all academic requirements for their degrees are not eligible to graduate until this work experience has been completed and a satisfactory report submitted. This requirement is waived for students in the IBL program.

All students

Students must complete:

(a.) six information technology core units (36 points):

• FIT1004 Data management
• FIT1031 Computers and networks
• FIT1040 Programming fundamentals
• FIT2001 Systems development
• FIT2002 Project management
• FIT2003 IT professional practice*

* Students can complete ENG1061 (Engineering profession) in place of this unit.

(b.) 15 core software engineering units (96 points):

• FIT1008 Introduction to computer science
• FIT1010 Introduction to software engineering
• FIT1029 Algorithmic problem solving
• FIT2004 Algorithms and data structures
• FIT2024 Software engineering practice
• FIT2043 Technical documentation for software engineers
• FIT2069 Computer architecture
• FIT2070 Operating systems
• FIT3013 Formal specification for software engineering
• FIT3042 System tools and programming languages
• FIT3077 Software engineering: architecture and design
• FIT3141 Data communications and computer networks
• FIT3142 Distributed computing
• FIT4002 Software engineering studio project (12 points) (full year project)
• FIT4004 System validation and verification, quality and standard

(c.) two mathematics units (12 points):

• MAT1830 Discrete mathematics for computer science
• MAT2003 Continuous mathematics for computer science

Notes:

(a.) Students intending to complete a minor or major sequence in mathematics within the Faculty of Science should substitute another mathematics unit for MAT2003, with approval.

(b.) Students requiring other mathematics for an engineering sequence may replace MAT1830/MAT2003 with approval.

(c.) Students who completed Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) Specialist Mathematics in Year 12 may take a more advanced mathematics unit sequence, with approval.

Students who perform well in level three can apply to enrol in the honours stream in fourth year. All other students must complete the coursework stream.

Coursework stream

(d.) eight approved electives (48 points) chosen from a schedule published by the Faculty of Information Technology at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/current/index.html

Honours Stream

(d.) FIT4005 IT research methods

(e.) an Honours thesis (18 points)

(f.) four approved electives (24 points) chosen from a schedule published by the Faculty of Information Technology at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/current/index.html

Industry Based Learning

Students who perform well in level two may be selected to participate in the Industry Based Learning (IBL) placement program and will be required to replace three approved electives with FIT3045 (Industry-based learning) (18 points) in second semester of third year and to complete FIT2002 over summer semester.

General requirements

In addition to the above unit requirements, all students must meet the following general requirements:

• a maximum of 60 points of first-year level study (ten units)
• a maximum of 120 points of first and second-year level study (twenty units)
• a minimum of 36 points of third-year level study (six units).

Students wishing to exit this course early may apply after successful completion of 144 points of study to graduate with the Bachelor of Computer Science, providing they have met the requirements of that degree.

Bachelor of Software Engineering
Bachelor of Software Engineering (with Honours)

Where more than one award is listed the actual award conferred may depend on units/majors/streams/specialisations studied, the level of academic merit achieved, or other factors relevant to the individual student's program of study.