Monash University: University Handbooks: Undergraduate handbook 2005: Units indexed by faculty
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Undergraduate handbook 2005 - Information Technology

Bachelor of Computer Science

Course code: 2380 + Course abbreviation: BCompSc + Total credit points required: 144 + 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time

Study mode and course location

On-campus (Clayton; Malaysia)

Course description

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.
Students enrolled in a variety of degrees (eg BA, BSc and BEc) may be able to take a major, minor or individual units in computer science. It has been common to combine computer science and accounting in the BSc degree and in the Bachelor of Computer Science degree. The Bachelor of Computer Science is an alternative to and not a replacement for the BSc.

Entry requirements

Victorian Certificate of Education

The prerequisite is a grade study score of 20 or above in VCE units 3 and 4 Mathematical Methods and in English (any). (VCE Specialist Mathematics is recommended.) Students must also have VCE prerequisites appropriate for any first-year unit they wish to take.

Malaysia campus

The course prerequisites for Malaysia are English and mathematics Year 12 equivalent. For details on entry requirements, inquire on campus or email inquiries@infotech.monash.edu.my.

Course structure

The course for the pass degree Bachelor of Computer Science can be completed in three years of full-time study. It includes both core and optional units selected from the range of computer science units, plus units chosen from those offered by other schools or faculties.
The course for the pass degree consists of units to a total value of 144 points, with a major in computer science (96 points) and corequisite studies in mathematics (12 points). The remaining 36 points may be taken in computer science or another discipline (computing or non-computing) and may be selected from any first, second or third-year units for which the student has the appropriate prerequisites.
In the pass degree, computer science units must total at least 96 points. They occupy at least one-quarter (12 points) of the first-year load, at least three-quarters (36 points) of the second-year load, and at least three-quarters (36 points) of the third-year load. The remaining 12 points may be selected from first, second or third-year bachelor of computer science electives. In addition, the course requires approved mathematics units to a value of at least one-quarter (12 points) of first year.
Normally, a maximum of 60 points of first-year units may be counted towards the degree.
Normally, students must complete from the listed core units and Bachelor of Computer Science electives at least 36 points at second-year level and at least 36 points at third-year level. The head of school may approve:

up to two additional Bachelor of Computer Science electives taken at third-year level to be counted as second-year level Bachelor of Computer Science electives; or
one additional Bachelor of Computer Science elective taken at second-year level to count as the equivalent dual-coded, third-year level unit.

Normally, students may only include units from the listed core units and Bachelor of Computer Science electives in the 96 points of computer science units. The head of the school may approve up to two CSE-coded units that are not in the list to substitute for Bachelor of Computer Science electives, provided they maintain depth in computer science studies.
The Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996 of Malaysia requires students in Malaysia to take three units: Malaysian studies, a national language (there is one unit for Malaysian citizens and another for citizens of other countries), and either Islamic studies (Muslim students) or moral studies (other students). For further details, inquire on campus.

Course requirements

Students must complete the course requirements as specified below (refer also to 'Course map 3 - Bachelor of Computer Science' in the back of the IT faculty section in this handbook).
Some additional information on each level of the course is outlined below, along with a list of core and Bachelor of Computer Science elective units.

First year

First-year coordinator (Clayton): To be advised

The first-year units serve both as a general introduction to computer science and as a prerequisite for further studies. They may be taken either by students wishing to major in computer science or by students whose major interest is in some other branch of science, arts, economics, or another discipline area. They are also ideal for students who wish to combine computing with another discipline.
The first-semester unit CSE1301 covers basic programming skills and gives an introduction to computer science. The second-semester unit CSE1303 develops the students' understanding of algorithms, data structures and computer systems.
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Computer Science are required to take 12 points of first-year mathematics or the equivalent. Examples of approved mathematical sequences are:

MAT1841 (Mathematics for computer science I) and MAT1830 (Mathematics for computer science II)

MTH1020 (Analysis of change) and MTH1030 (Techniques for modelling) requiring VCE Mathematical Methods units 3 and 4

MTH1030 (Techniques for modelling) and MAT1830 (Mathematics for computer science II) requiring VCE Specialist Mathematics units 3 and 4

Students who do not develop a solid background in mathematics may be at a disadvantage in later years of the course. Students intending to take second-year mathematics are advised to consult with the Department of Mathematics and Statistics on their choice of first-year mathematics units.

Second year

Second-year coordinator (Clayton): To be advised

The second-year core units aim to develop a firm foundation in the fundamental concepts of computer science, namely operating systems; formal methods; algorithms and data structures and software engineering. In addition, at least 12 points of second-year Bachelor of Computer Science approved electives broaden the student's view of computation and its applications.

Third year

Third-year coordinator (Clayton): To be advised

Students in computer science must take the core third-year unit of CSE3308, plus at least two of the core units of CSE3305, CSE3322 and CSE3323, plus one of the projects of CSE3301 (Project) or CSE3302 (Software engineering project) and at least 12 points of additional third-year Bachelor of Computer Science approved elective units.

Bachelor of Computer Science core units

All units are six points unless otherwise specified.

CSE1301 Computer programming
CSE1303 Computer science
CSE2302 Operating systems
CSE2303 Formal methods I
CSE2304 Algorithms and data structures
CSE2305 Object-oriented software engineering
CSE3301 Project
CSE3305 Formal methods II
CSE3308 Software engineering: analysis and design
CSE3322 Programming languages and implementation
CSE3323 The computer industry: historical, social and professional issues

Bachelor of Computer Science electives

CSE1304 Professional communication and presentation
CSE1308 Digital logic
CSE1370 Advanced project level 1 (zero points) (by invitation)
CSE1401 Introduction to software engineering
CSE1402 Technical documentation for software engineers
CSE1434 Web programming with java applets
CSE2306 Digital logic
CSE2307 Numerical computing
CSE2309 Artificial intelligence
CSE2316 Database management systems
CSE2318 Data communications and computer networks
CSE2319 Second-year topics in computer science
CSE2324 Computer architecture
CSE2325 Multimedia programming and the world wide web
CSE2330 Introduction to computational neuroscience
CSE2370 Advanced project level 2 (zero points) (by invitation)
CSE2391 UNIX tools (3 points)
CSE2392 COBOL programming (3 points)
CSE2393 Prolog programming (3 points)
CSE2394 LISP programming (3 points)
CSE2395 Perl programming (3 points)
CSE3020 Network technology
CSE3151 Communication network performance
CSE3153 Network administration
CSE3212 Data mining
CSE3302 Software engineering project
CSE3303 COBOL project
CSE3304 Computer organisation
CSE3306 Microprocessors
CSE3309 Artificial intelligence
CSE3313 Computer graphics
CSE3314 Image processing
CSE3316 Database management systems
CSE3318 Data communications and computer networks
CSE3319 Third-year topics in computer science
CSE3320 Machine learning
CSE3324 Computer architecture
CSE3325 Multimedia programming and the world wide web
CSE3391 UNIX tools (3 points)
CSE3392 COBOL programming (3 points)
CSE3393 Prolog programming (3 points)
CSE3394 LISP programming (3 points)
CSE3395 Perl programming (3 points)
CSE3821 Internet architecture and protocols
CSE1102 Digital technology 2
CSE2111 Electronics for digital systems
CSE2131 Fundamentals of digital signal processing
CSE2101 Digital design 1
CSE2102 Digital design 2
CSE3101 Digital design 3
CSE3120 Digital systems project (12 points)
CSE3132 Digital signal processing
CSE3133 Fundamentals of robotics
CSE3134 Robotics
CSE3141 Real-time system design
CSE3142 Integrated circuit design