Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours)
2023 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2023 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) |
| Course Map | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2023. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Online | Yes |
| Duration | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| CRICOS course code | 111441G Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Deakin course code | S406 |
| Approval status | This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8. |
New course from Trimester 2, 2023 | |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Fees and charges
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Major sequences
- Minor sequences
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Details of major sequences
- Details of minor sequences
- Other learning experiences
Course overview
Computer scientists are problem solvers and innovators. Throughout this specialised four-year course, you will develop the knowledge and practical skills required to design and develop innovative software solutions to address multifaceted information and technology challenges. You will have access to specialised facilities, including dedicated robotics, cyber security and augmented and virtual reality laboratories supported by experienced, industry-connected staff.
You’ll also have opportunities to undertake a professional placement as part of studies, work in teams with an industry partner to tackle authentic business challenges as part of a capstone project, focus your studies towards the area that interests you most by undertaking at least one major or minor in an area of your choosing, and culminate your knowledge in your final year through completion of an honours research project.
Want to drive change through the adoption of innovative technology?
The Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) gives you ample opportunity to sharpen your skill set under the guidance and direction of our supportive teaching staff. You’ll explore fundamental concepts across computer systems and discrete mathematics as well as data science and analytics, before diving into more advanced topics in networking and communication, computational intelligence and distributed programming.
Indicative student workload
You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Career opportunities
Skilled computer science professionals are highly sought-after across the globe. As a graduate, you will have a highly specialised skill-set that enables you to push boundaries. You may find employment in software development, software engineering, systems architecture, information security, robotics and application development or telecommunications. As your experience develops, you may progress to positions including technical lead, senior developer or project management.
By undertaking a focused research project in your final year of study, you’ll also acquire research skills and advanced technical expertise in your chosen topic, as well as the skills to become a creative, solutions-driven professional in the dynamic and ever-evolving field of computer science. You will also be well positioned to pursue further study including a masters by research or PhD.
Participation requirements
Placement can occur at any time, including during the standard holiday breaks listed here: https://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/key-dates.
Elective units may be selected that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Mandatory student checks
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
Equipment requirements
For information regarding hardware and software requirements, please refer to the School of Information Technology's website, www.deakin.edu.au/information-technology/students or telephone 03 9244 6699.
Alternative exit
S306 Bachelor of Computer Science
Course expenses
Student Equipment Purchases
The learning experiences and assessment activities within this course require that students have access to a range of technologies beyond a desktop computer or laptop. Access to high cost specialist equipment, such as robots, is provided. Students will be required to purchase minor equipment, such as small single board computers, microcontrollers and sensors, which will be used within a range of units in this course. This equipment is also usable by the student beyond their studies. Equipment requirements and details of suppliers will be provided on a per-unit basis. The indicative cost of this equipment for this course is AUD$500.
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. Further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods is available on our Current students fees website.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes
|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Develop a coherent and advanced knowledge of computer science, with detailed knowledge of programming, algorithms, and scientific approaches to problem solving and knowledge, skills, tools, and methodologies for professional practice and research. |
| Communication | Communicate in a professional context to inform, motivate, and effect change, and to drive sustainable innovation, utilising a range of verbal, graphical and written methods, recognising the needs of diverse audiences. |
| Digital literacy | Utilise a range of digital technologies and information sources to discover, analyse, evaluate, select, process, and disseminate both technical and non-technical information in computer science projects and research. |
| Critical thinking | Evaluate information and evidence, applying critical and analytical thinking and reasoning, technical skills, personal judgement and values, in decision making processes. |
| Problem solving | Apply theoretical constructs, skills and critical analysis to real-world and ill-defined problems and develop innovative software solutions involving design and development of custom algorithms. |
| Self-management | Work independently to apply knowledge and skills to new situations in research and professional practice and/or further learning in the field of computer science with adaptability, autonomy, responsibility, and personal accountability for actions as a practitioner and a learner. |
| Teamwork | Contribute effectively as a skilled and knowledgeable individual to the processes and output of a work unit or team, with specific knowledge and skills associated with using professional and research practices associated with the information technology industry. |
| Global citizenship | Apply professional and ethical standards and accountability in research and in designing, developing, and deploying custom software solutions. |
Approved by Faculty Board 28 July 2022
Course rules
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) students must complete 32 credit points comprising:
- Thirteen (13) credit points of core units
- A three (3) credit point Computer Science capstone
- A four (4) credit point Computer Science Research Training capstone
- And twelve (12) credit points that can comprise of:
- One major (totalling 6 credit points), and six elective units (6 credit points) OR
- Two majors (totalling 12 credit points) OR
- One major (totalling 6 credit points), one minor (totalling 4 credit points) and two elective units (2 credit points) OR
- Two minors (totalling 8 credit points) and four elective units (4 credit points) OR
- Three minors (totalling 12 credit points) OR
- Two minors (totalling 8 credit points) and four elective units (4 credit points) OR
- One minor (totalling 4 credit points), and eight elective units (8 credit points)
- Completion of STP050 Academic Integrity (0-credit point compulsory unit)
- Completion of SIT010 Safety Induction Program (0-credit point compulsory unit)
- Completion of STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0-credit point compulsory unit)
- level 1 - maximum of 10 credit points
- levels 2 and 3 - minimum of 14 credit points over both levels
- level 3 - minimum of 6 credit points
- level 7 – minimum 4 credit points of postgraduate units
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Major sequences
Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability.
Minor sequences
Refer to the details of each minor sequence for availability.
- Cloud Technologies
- Embedded Systems
- Full Stack Development
- Game Design
- Virtual and Augmented Reality
- Information Technologies Research
Course structure
Core
Year 1 - Trimester 1
| STP050 | Academic Integrity (0 credit points) |
| SIT010 | Safety Induction Program (0 credit points) |
| STP010 | Career Tools for Employability (0 credit points) |
| SIT111 | Computer Systems |
| SIT192 | Discrete Mathematics |
| SIT112 | Data Science Concepts |
| SIT102 | Introduction to Programming |
Year 1 - Trimester 2
| SIT232 | Object-Oriented Development |
| SIT103 | Database Fundamentals |
| SIT292 | Linear Algebra for Data Analysis |
| SIT202 | Computer Networks and Communication |
Year 2 - Trimester 1
| SIT221 | Data Structures and Algorithms |
| SIT215 | Computational Intelligence |
Plus one (1) elective unit (one (1) credit point)
Plus one (1) major or minor unit (one (1) credit point)
Year 2 - Trimester 2
| SIT223 | Professional Practice in Information Technology # |
| SIT320 | Advanced Algorithms |
Plus one (1) elective unit (one (1) credit point)
One (1) major or minor unit (one (1) credit point)
Year 3 - Trimester 1
Two (2) major or minor units (two (2) credit points)
Plus, two (2) credit points from the following capstone options:
| SIT374 | Team Project (A) - Project Management and Practices ^~ and |
| SIT306 | IT Placements and Industry Experience ^+ |
OR
| SIT344 | Professional Practice (2 credit points) ^+ |
Year 3 - Trimester 2
| SIT315 | Concurrent and Distributed Programming |
Plus two (2) major or minor units (two (2) credit points)
Plus one (1) credit point from the following capstone options:
| SIT378 | Team Project (B) - Execution and Delivery ^ |
OR
One (1) SIT elective unit
Year 4 - Trimester 1
| SIT723 | Research Training and Project (2 credit points) (Research Training capstone)^ |
Plus two (2) major or minor units (two (2) credit points)
Year 4 - Trimester 2
Plus two (2) electives or minor units (2 credit points)
Plus two (2) credit points from the following Research Training capstone options:
| SIT724 | Research Project (2 credit points)^ |
OR
| SIT746 | Research Project (Advanced) (2 credit points)^* |
^ offered in trimester 1, trimester 2, trimester 3
+ Students must have completed STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0-credit point compulsory unit) and SIT223 Professional Practice in IT.
~ Note: Students are recommended to undertake SIT374 and SIT378 in consecutive trimesters. Students should seek advice from the unit chair if they are unable to complete SIT374 and SIT378 consecutively.
^ Offered in Trimester 1, trimester 2 and trimester 3
# Corequisite of STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0-credit point compulsory unit)
* Entry to SIT746 is subject to specific unit entry requirements.
Electives
Select from a range of elective units offered across many courses. In some cases you may even be able to choose elective units from a completely different discipline area (subject to meeting unit requirements).
Work experience
This course includes a compulsory work placement where you will be required to undertake a minimum of 100 hours in industry, providing professional work experience with an approved host organisation. Alternatively, high achieving students may have the opportunity to undertake an extended full-time paid industry-based learning placement (conditions apply, please refer to deakin.edu.au/sebe/wil.)
Elective units may also provide additional opportunities for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
Details of major sequences
Data Science
Campuses
Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Unit set code
MJ-S000087
Overview
Skilled data professionals are in high demand as organisations increasingly rely on skilled specialists to unlock hidden patterns in big data to provide strategic advantage in the competitive business world. This major sequence will prepare you with knowledge and technical skills in the areas of data mining, machine learning, deep learning, software architecture and scalability, natural language processing and AI.
Units
| SIT199 | Applied Algebra and Statistics |
| SIT220 | Data Wrangling |
| SIT307 | Machine Learning |
| SIT319 | Deep Learning |
| SIT314 | Software Architecture and Scalability for Internet-Of-Things |
| SIT330 | Natural Language Processing * |
* available from 2024
Internet of Things
Campuses
Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Unit set code
MJ-S000089
Overview
Many organisations are starting to realise the enormous potential of IoT in their business leading to growing demand for Internet of Things (IoT) related skillsets in the IT job market. In this major sequence you will explore areas relating to data capture, embedded systems, software architecture and scalability, data mining and machine learning.
Units
SIT123 Data Capture Technologies [No longer available for enrolment from 2024, alternate unit SIT225]
| SIT210 | Embedded Systems Development |
| SIT331 | Full Stack Development: Secure Backend Services |
| SIT314 | Software Architecture and Scalability for Internet-Of-Things |
| SIT307 | Machine Learning |
| SIT329 | Advanced Embedded Systems |
Robotics
Campuses
Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Unit set code
MJ-S000088
Overview
Robotics is a rapidly growing field and brings together the disciplines of computer science and engineering to design, construct and deploy robotic machines that can benefit humans – either through substitution or replication of human actions. Robots are increasingly built to do jobs that are hazardous to people and serve various practical applications across domestic, commercial and military settings. This major sequence will equip you with technical skills software engineering, embedded systems development, computer vision and speech processing, and robotics application development.
Units
SIT123 Data Capture Technologies [No longer available for enrolment from 2024, alternate unit SIT225]
| SIT122 | Robotics Studio |
| SIT210 | Embedded Systems Development |
| SIT310 | Robotics Application Development |
| SIT315 | Concurrent and Distributed Programming |
| SIT332 | Robotics, Computer Vision and Speech Processing * |
* available from 2024
Details of minor sequences
Cloud Technologies
Campuses
Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Unit set code
MN-S000011
Overview
In today’s data-driven digital world, cloud technologies are an area of significant business interest and their adoption and integration into business practices is growing at a rapid pace. This minor focuses on providing you with the knowledge, skills and expertise required to construct solutions using virtualisation, enterprise networks, system security and cloud infrastructure.
Units
| SIT233 | Cloud Computing |
| SIT325 | Advanced Network Security |
| SIT323 | Cloud Native Application Development |
| SIT314 | Software Architecture and Scalability for Internet-Of-Things |
Embedded Systems
Campuses
Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Unit set code
MN-S000005
Overview
This minor will focus on developing solutions that use hardware, software, sensors, actuators, prototyping platforms and systems software. Students will gain the skills and knowledge to solve real-world problems in smart-homes, the Internet of Things and Robotics.
Units
| SIT122 | Robotics Studio |
SIT123 Data Capture Technologies [No longer available for enrolment from 2024, alternate unit SIT225]
| SIT210 | Embedded Systems Development |
| SIT329 | Advanced Embedded Systems |
Full Stack Development
Campuses
Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Unit set code
MN-S000012
Overview
Web development is one of the fastest-growing careers in today’s economy, with growing demand for full stack web developers who are proficient in both front-end and back-end web development. Throughout this minor sequence, you will explore responsive web apps, full stack development across frontend applications and backend services, and mobile programming for Android and iOS.
Units
| SIT120 | Introduction to Responsive Web Apps |
| SIT331 | Full Stack Development: Secure Backend Services |
| SIT313 | Full Stack Development: Secure Frontend Applications |
| SIT305 | Mobile Application Development |
Game Design
Campuses
Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Unit set code
MN-S000006
Overview
Game design introduces the range of concepts relevant to an aspiring game designer, ranging from the terminology used in professional game design through to aspects of game content design, design of rules and mechanics, and design to support the marketing and distribution of interactive applications.
Units
| SIT151 | Game Fundamentals |
| SIT253 | Content Creation for Interactive Experiences |
| SIT254 | Game Design |
| SIT283 | Development for Virtual and Augmented Reality * |
*SIT283 replaced SIT352 Creative Production from 2022
Virtual and Augmented Reality
Campuses
Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Unit set code
MN-S000009
Overview
Virtual and augmented reality technologies are revolutionising business processes, disrupting the way companies work with complex data sets, and enhancing educational and training practices. They contribute to novel therapies and treatments, allow access to opportunities despite physical and geographical restrictions and have redefined the way we represent and interact with digital media whether it be our holiday souvenir snapshots or the latest interactive gaming experience.
Units
| SIT183 | Interactive Application Design for Virtual and Augmented Reality |
| SIT283 | Development for Virtual and Augmented Reality |
| SIT253 | Content Creation for Interactive Experiences * |
| SIT383 | Assembling Virtual and Augmented Reality Experiences |
*SIT253 replaced SIT352 Creative Production from 2022
Information Technologies Research
Campuses
Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Unit set code
MN-S000018
Overview
This minor provides students with hands on experience in research and publishing scientific papers. This minor is designed to help support students aiming to pursue a research higher degree.
Units
| SLE761 | Professional Research Practice |
| SIT718 | Real World Analytics |
| SIT747 | Research Project (Publication) (2 credit points)+ |
+ Entry to SIT747 is subject to specific unit entry requirements.
Other course information
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Other learning experiences
You will have the opportunity to participate in a range of extra-curricular learning opportunities, such as internal and external competitions and challenges, industry projects within the Deakin Incubator Group, and international study tours.