Computer Science is the study of information and computation of algorithms, data and computing systems which accept, store, transform and present data in ways that contribute to knowledge and the well-being of society.
In the Computer Science major you will learn the underlying principles and theory used in developing computational solutions to problems including a study of data structures, algorithms, and programming languages and their use in translating solutions into software systems. Within the Computer Science major, you can choose to specialise in modern fields of computer science and software development, including artificial intelligence, computational theory, computer systems, human-centric computing, and information-intensive computing.
By completing the major, you will develop a deep understanding of software development, software systems or computer science theory, with many applications to fields in Science or further studies in Computer Science. There are also excellent career opportunities for graduates with these backgrounds in business, industry and government as programmers, systems analysts, computer systems and network managers, user support officers and software engineers.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the basic principles and theory used in developing computational solutions to problems. These include the ability to use formal notations and the use of the principle of abstraction.
- Apply a range of skills to analyse problems and construct a reliable computational solution. This includes the identification of requirements, separation of concerns, and testing.
- Understand the connections between computing and other disciplines, and recognize computational ideas embedded in other contexts.
- Apply independent learning and reasoning in the computing discipline; this includes an awareness of current research issues. This is done through reading of textbooks, papers and and electronic resources.
- Work in both independent and collaborative ways with others; relate professional and disciplinary information and ideas to diverse audiences in effective and appropriate ways; but at the same time be responsible for individual work and aware of plagiarism issues.
- Apply in-depth knowledge and competencies in advanced areas of the computing discipline.
Other Information
To complete this major students must also complete a 1000 level MATH course (to meet the pre-requisites of COMP2100 and COMP2300).
The math course can form part of a Foundational Science minor, another science minor/major or sequence of science electives. If a student is in a Flexible Double Degree, the courses can only contribute towards one degree. For advice on fitting a maths courses into your degree program, please contact the CoS Student Service Office.
Advice to First Year students: You will need to enrol in any 1000 level MATH course. Students desiring a more scientifically oriented first programming course may take COMP1730 instead of COMP1100 but COMP1100 is preferable. Students desiring more advanced study of algorithms and data structures should consider taking COMP1130 and COMP1140 instead of COMP1100 and COMP1110.
Additional Advice:
- Students wishing to concentrate their studies in Computer Systems should take COMP2300 instead of COMP2100.
- COMP2410 cannot be taken in this major.
- Suggested themed enrolment patterns for the remaining four courses of the major include:
- Artificial Intelligence: COMP3620 Artificial Intelligence; and any three courses from COMP2620 Logic, COMP4691 Optimisation, COMP4620 Advanced Topics in Artificial Intelligence, COMP4650 Document Analysis and COMP4660 Introduction to Statistical Machine Learning.
- Computational Theory: COMP3600 Algorithms and COMP3630 Theory of Computation and any two courses from COMP2310 Systems, Networks and Concurrency, COMP2610 Information Theory, COMP2620 Logic, COMP3610 Principles of Programming Languages, COMP4600 Advanced Algorithms. COMP4011 Advanced Topics in Formal Methods and Programming Languages and COMP4630 Overview of Logic and Computation.
- Computer Systems: COMP2310 Systems, Networks and Concurrency; and any three courses from COMP3300 Computer Networks, COMP3310 Operating Systems, COMP3320 High Performance Scientific Computation, COMP3610 Principles of Programming Languages, COMP4300 Parallel Systems, COMP4712 Compiler Constructions.
- Human-Centric Computing: COMP3540 Game Development, COMP3900 Human-Computer Interaction, COMP4350 Sound and Music Computing, COMP4610 Computer Graphics, COMP4660 Neural Networks, Deep Learning and Bio-Inspired Computing.
- Information-intensive Computing: COMP2400 Relational Databases, COMP3425 Data Mining, COMP3430 Data Wrangling, COMP4650 Document Analysis, COMP4660 Neural Networks, Deep Learning and Bio-Inspired Computing.
- Software Development: COMP2120 Software Engineering, COMP3500 Software Engineering Project, COMP36000 Algorithms, COMP3900 Human-Computer Interaction and COMP3120 Managing Software Development.
Students should seek further course advice from the academic convener of the Computer Science major.
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This major requires the completion of 48 units, which must include:
6 units from the completion of the following course:
COMP1600 Foundations of Computing (6 units)
6 units from the completion of a course from the following list:
COMP1100 Programming as Problem Solving (6 units)
COMP1130 Programming as Problem Solving (Advanced) (6 units)
COMP1730 Programming for Scientists (6 units)
6 units from the completion of a course from the following list:
COMP1110 Structured Programming (6 units)
COMP1140 Structured Programming (Advanced) (6 units)
6 units from the completion of a course from the following list:
COMP2100 Software Construction (6 units)
COMP2300 Computer Organisation and Program Execution (6 units)
A maximum of 6 units from the completion of courses from the following list:
2000 level Computer Science (COMP) courses
A minimum of 18 units must come from completion of courses from the following list:
3000/4000 level Computer Science (COMP) courses
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