Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives On completion of this subject students should have an advanced knowledge of selected areas of system development; and have developed the basic research skills needed to undertake a higher degree.
Synopsis Students undertake the equivalent of twenty-four points of fourth-year coursework, together with a substantial individual project. The project involves a written thesis of approximately 10,000 to 20,000 words, a number of oral presentations, and may also involve some system design and development work. A project topic is determined after discussion with the honours coordinator and other staff members. The honours project contributes 50 per cent towards the final grade for the subject, with the other 50 per cent being determined by the coursework component of the honours year. Honours coursework topics offered in any one year will depend on staff interests, but in 1996 the units of study available at the Gippsland campus may include the areas of formal specifications, advanced user interface design and development, advanced database management systems, and non-symbolic artificial intelligence. In the first semester of the honours year, all students undertake a research methods and reading unit that reviews research methods and techniques. This is followed by a literature search, presentation and report. In this unit students also investigate and read in a selected topic in some depth, and then deliver a seminar. Subject to the approval of the head of school, students may include in their coursework component up to two fourth- or fifth-year subjects from any other department of the faculty. Approval to include one third-year subject in the course work component may be granted under some circumstances; for example, where that subject is relevant to the student's project work. Each student is allocated to a staff member who supervises their project and regularly reviews their progress in the subject. The Gippsland School of Computing and Information Technology organises regular seminars for staff and postgraduate students. Honours students are required to attend such seminars in order to pass the course.
Assessment Examinations: 50% + Minor thesis: 50%