Computer Science and Information Technology

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The Bachelor of Computer Science has been designed for students who want to study computing as a core discipline.  Each year at least half the time will be spent on Computer Science.  You will be required to complete at least one major at level three chosen from:

• Computer Science
• Information Technology Applications
• Information Technology Systems

A second major may be selected from any available in the University.

Computer Science is the study of algorithms for solving computational problems.  It is commonly thought of as "programming" but there is more to it.  Computer Science 4 is about expressing algorithms in different styles of language (procedural, object-oriented, function and logic) using the paradigm appropriate to the problem in hand.  It is about being able to prove that the resulting procedures are correct as well as being able to quantify in some way how good the procedures are.

Information Technology is the application of computer science to important problems in industy and commerce.  The major areas you will study include databases, computer networks, computer graphics (including virtual reality), expert systems, robotics and computer vision.

Course Outline

The School offers three majors:

• Computer Science or Information Technology major
• Information Technology Systems major
• Information Technology Applications major

You can also combine a Bachelor of Engineering (Information Technology) with:

Arts, Commerce, Science (in Applied Mathematics, Chemistry, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematical Statistics, Physics or Pure Mathematics)

Computer Science can be studied as a major in the Bachelor of Computer Science or the Bachelor of Science.

Level 1
Regardless of the computer science major, all first level computer science students study Java Programming. You may also study optional introductory units to Computer Science, Information Technology and Software Engineering.

Level 2
Your second level studies will include the study of Data Structures and Algorithms Operating Systems, Object Oriented Programming and Software Engineering. The languages used are Java and C++.

Level 3
In the third level, Computer Science offers three majors. You must pass Professional Computing which examines professional ethics and the law relating to information technology as well as topics selected from one of the following lists.

During the Bachelor of Computer Science you are also required to complete at least 8 weeks full time (or part time equivalent) professional work experience.

Duration

Bachelor of Computer Science: 3 years full time, up to 10 years part time
Bachelor of Science: 3 years full time, up to 10 years part time

Career Opportunities

Graduates will be equipped with up-to-date skills and expertise in a wide variety of computing areas.  You will also have key generic skills such as good problem solving abilities, good communicaiton skills, the capacity to work in a team and an appreciation of life-long learning.

Employment opportunities may be with:

• Companies involved in a wide range of software developments in the areas of databases, internet and web technologies, electronic commerce, graphics, visualisation and computer vision.
• Financial institituions and banks involved in financial software development and maintenance.
• Government departments and companies requiring systems, network and web administrators.
• Research organisations like the Comonwealth Scienctific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and universities.

Recent employers have included Telstra, Western Mining Corporation, Ericsson, BHP Information Technology, Motorola (Perth), Microsoft (USA) and Australian Defence Industries Ltd.