Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
Computing for Human Movement
Enrolment code: KXA111
Offered: Ltn, sem 1
Special note: restricted to Human Movement Students
Unit description: Provides students with an understanding of the latest
computer technology. It provides a description of the various parts of a
computer a student is likely to encounter and the applications which are suited
to computerisation. The systems development process is considered and a
study made of the main trends concerning application of small computers to
the workplace. The practical component imparts knowledge of word
processing, spreadsheets, presentation programs and the use of data bases.
They will gain experience in the use of Internet facilities including the World
Wide Web, Email and discussion groups via the Schools computer network.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 2-hr lecture, 1-hr lecture, 1 hr tutorial weekly
Mutual excl: KXA153, KXA131
Assess: in-semester (50%), end-of-sem exam (50%)
Courses: E3HPRE E3J
Computer Science 1
Enrolment code: KXA150
Offered: Hbt, sem 1&2
Unit description: Combines the content of KXA151 and KXA154 (qv). The
unit is restricted to BSc students.
Unit weight: 25%
Courses: S3G S3GD2
Programming and Problem Solving
Enrolment code: KXA151
Offered: Hbt, s-sch and sem 1&; Ltn, sem 1/sem 2/; NWC, 1
Special note: when taken as part of GradDipSIS(Hons) N6Y this unit is
weighted at 0%
1
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
2
Unit description: Using a high level language students learn to write
computer programs which solve problems defined by a program specification.
Students are taught to decompose problems via the use of top down design and
to produce well-structured, modular algorithms which can be readily converted
into source code. Students master the fundamental concepts of event-driven
imperative programming and are expected to use systematic processes to plan,
document, debug, and test their programs. Programming exercises are
introduced in the context of small problems.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3 hrs lectures, 1 hr tutorial weekly (or equiv)
Mutual excl: KCA150, KCA151, KXA132
Assess: in-sem assessment (30%) end-of-sem exam (70%)
Courses: C3C C3L C3S C3X N3A N3H S3E S3F S3G S3GD1 S3GD2 S6J N6Y
Computer Organisation and Architecture
Enrolment code: KXA152
Offered: Hbt, sem 2; Ltn, sem 2; NWC, sem 2
Unit description: Introduces the components and operations within
computers beginning at the micro-level (gates) and progressing to the
macro-level (parallel systems) with exposure to assembly language
programming and operating systems. The unit covers such topics as: number
systems, digital logic circuits (combinational, sequential), digital components
(decoders, multiplexers, registers and counters), memory systems and
programmable logic devices, buses, sequencing and control, instruction set
architecture, CISC and RISC, input-output and communication, assembly
language programming, basic operating systems, and parallel computer
architectures.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3 hrs lectures, 1 hr tutorial weekly (or equiv)
Mutual excl: KXA135
Assess: in-sem assessment (30%) end-of-sem exam (70%)
Courses: C3X S3F S3G S6J
Computer Applications
Enrolment code: KXA153
Offered: Hbt, sem 1; Ltn, sem 1; NWC, sem 1
Special note: when taken as part of GradDipSIS(Hons) N6Y this unit is
weighted at 0%
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
3
Unit description: Introduces the latest computing technology and the ways
that technology can be applied in a variety of situations. The unit provides a
description of the various hardware components a student is likely to encounter
and the software that runs that hardware. Students are introduced to personal
productivity software including word processing, spreadsheets, presentation
and graphics software. Database use and design for scientific usage is
introduced. Students gain experience in the use of internet facilities including
the World Wide Web, electronic mail and discussion groups; and they learn the
theory behind networks including the internet.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3 hrs lectures, 1 hr tutorial weekly (or equiv)
Mutual excl: KXA131, BSA101
Assess: in-sem assessment (40%) end-of-sem exam (60%)
Courses: M3E S2B S3E S3F S3G S3K S6J M3H N6Y
Software Process
Enrolment code: KXA154
Offered: Hbt, s-sch and semester 2&; Ltn, 2; NWC, 2
Unit description: Extends the students’ knowledge and experience of
programming, and introduces them to the consideration and experience of the
software engineering processes necessary for the construction of software
systems of high quality. Programming topics include: references, allocation and
deallocation of memory, self-referential data structures, classes and objects,
class instantiation, object based programming in an imperative language,
abstract data types, introduction to algorithm complexity. Software Engineering
topics include: requirements analysis, functional specification, software design,
programming techniques and tools, software development life-cycles, an
introduction to software version control, systematic approach to testing,
tracking, prioritisation and management of time, period planning, product
planning.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3 hrs lectures, 1 hr tutorial weekly (or equiv)
Prereq: KXA151
Mutual excl: KCA150, KCA152
Assess: in-sem assessment (30%) end-of-sem exam (70%)
Courses: C3X C3S N3A N3H S3F S3E S3G S3GD1 S3GD2 S6J
Professional Computing
Enrolment code: KXA155
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
4
Offered: Hbt, sem 1; Ltn, sem 1; NWC, sem 1
Unit description: Discusses the social, legal and ethical aspects of the
computing industry, and develops skills appropriate to professional computing
employment, particularly communications skills. Reviews the historical
development of computing and the computing profession. Provides practical
experience and understanding of the broad structure of various interactive
computing systems, particularly operating systems, the internet and its
multimedia applications, and interpretive systems for computations and
artificial intelligence.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3 hrs lectures, 1 hr tutorial weekly (or equiv)
Prereq: KXA151
Mutual excl: KXA133
Assess: in-sem assessment (30%) end-of-sem exam (70%)
Courses: C3X S3F S3G S6J
Multimedia and Web Applications
Enrolment code: KXA156
Offered: Hbt, sem 2; Ltn, sem 2; NWC, sem 2
Unit description: Introduces the principles used in multimedia and internet
technologies and the issues in the construction of electronic documents. Topics
include the history of the internet, understanding email addresses and HTTP
formats, and common internet applications such as Email, Telnet, FTP, News,
Gopher and the WWW. The principles of electronic document design are
considered in detail, including languages such as HTML and Javascript, and the
use of sound and graphics. Some web page design tools are also demonstrated.
Multimedia applications that deal with still images, digital video, audio and
animation are also investigated.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3 hrs lectures, 1 hr tutorial weekly (or equiv)
Assess: in-sem assessment (30%) end-of-sem exam (70%)
Courses: C3X S3F S3G S6J
Algorithms and Metrics
Enrolment code: KXA251
Offered: Hbt, sem 1; Ltn, sem 1
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
5
Unit description: Covers fundamental data structures and algorithms
together with an analysis of the space and runtime complexity of such
algorithms. These algorithms and data structures will be implemented in a
high-level language (such as C). Fundamental software engineering theory (cost
and risk prediction, measurement and assessment) is also presented. Emphasis
is placed on practical aspects but including, where appropriate, underlying
theory.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3-hr lecture, 1-hr tutorial weekly or equiv
Prereq: KXA154
Mutual excl: KCA203
Assess: in-semester (30%), end-of-sem exam (70%)
Courses: N3A S3E S3F S6J C3S +OC
Artificial Intelligence
Enrolment code: KXA252
Offered: Hbt, sem 1; Ltn, sem 1
Unit description: Introduces the basic principles of knowledge representation
and search which underlie symbolic Artificial Intelligence and illustrates these
principles by enabling students to represent and manipulate knowledge in
small AI systems, using the Prolog computer language. The unit also describes
the application of these principles in applied AI sub-fields, including expert
systems, natural language understanding, planning, machine learning,
intelligent agents, computer vision and robotics. Students will examine the
assumptions underlying the symbolic approach to AI and compare them with
those of alternative approaches.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3-hr lecture, 1-hr tutorial weekly
Prereq: KXA151
Mutual excl: KXA305, KXA234
Assess: in-semester (30%), end-of-sem exam (70%)
Courses: S3E S3F S6J +OC
Software Design
Enrolment code: KXA253
Offered: Hbt, sem 2; Ltn, sem 2
Unit description: Provides a solid grounding in software design methods.
Two methods (object-oriented and data-oriented) are discussed in detail.
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
6
Students are also introduced to design methods appropriate for multi-media
and artificial intelligence projects. In the object-oriented component, students
are taught how to decompose problems into object-oriented models, and then
how to implement those models in an object-oriented manner. the data-oriented
design material lays the foundation for database projects.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 2-hr lecture, 1-hr lecture, 1-hr tutorial weekly or equiv
Prereq: KXA154
Mutual excl: KXA233, KCA201
Assess: in-semester (30%), end-of-sem exam (70%)
Courses: N3A S3E S3F S6J +OC
Operating Systems
Enrolment code: KXA254
Offered: Hbt, sem 2; Ltn, sem 2
Unit description: The approach is based on theoretical issues and practical
work. Lectures will review computer architecture, with an emphasis on new
technologies and trends, cover the concepts of processes, mutual exclusion and
deadlock, and discuss general algorithms for scheduling, memory management
and I/O processing. Upon completion of this unit the student should be able to
demonstrate a practical understanding of operating system architecture, and
the functions of operating system components, explain the relationships
between the operating system modules, and design and implement some
operating system functions in commonly used operating systems environments.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3-hr lecture, 1-hr tutorial weekly or equiv
Prereq: KXA151
Mutual excl: KXA303, KCA202
Assess: in-semester (30%), end-of-sem exam (70%)
Courses: S3E S3F S6J N3A +OC
Computer Security
Enrolment code: KXA262/362
Offered: Hbt, sem 2; Ltn, sem 2
Unit description: Students of this unit examine the problems and tasks
involved in maintaining secure computer systems together with the techniques
available to help with these tasks. Computing techniques such as those built
into operating systems for access control, the concepts of encryption, and the
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
7
associated protocols are studied. These are then placed into the context of the
overall operation of an organisation. This leads to an examination of secure
methods of using private and public networks, business continuity planning,
and application examples including the Internet and electronic commerce.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3-hr lecture, 1-hr tutorial weekly or equiv
Prereq: KXA151 and KXA152
Mutual excl: KXA333
Assess: in-semester (30%), end-of-sem exam (70%)
Courses: S3F N3A +OC
Advanced Web Development
Enrolment code: KXA281/381
Offered: Hbt, sem 1; Ltn, sem 1
Unit description: Extends the skills taught in Multimedia and Web
Applications (KXA156) into the area of programming interactive web interfaces.
Students learn how to program CGIs, advanced JavaScript, applets and servlets
as well as how to link their web sites to databases. Assignments require
students to demonstrate practical ability in these areas.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3-hr lecture, 1-hr tutorial weekly or equiv
Prereq: KXA151
Assess: in-semester (30%), end-of-sem exam (70%)
Courses: S3F S6J +OC
UMAP Exchange Program (Stage 1)
Enrolment code: KXA299
Unit description: For details, contact Faculty of Science and Engineering
Computing Project A
Enrolment code: KXA331
Offered: Ltn, sem 1/sem 2/
Unit description: Students undertake a significant project, using skills
acquired in the rest of the course. The project is a group or team effort and part
of the learning is the development of the ability to work together on a
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
8
substantial task. Students explore various management styles through their
interaction with clients. Apart from developing the skills to work successfully
in a team students are able to: analyse a problem involving the use of
computers; interact successfully with an adviser (an expert or a client) in the
analysis; and specify a computer product to solve the client’s problem.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: a series of 2-hr lectures, individual and group meeting/presentations
scheduled when necessary, formal and information meeting with project
supervisors and clients
Prereq: KXA133, 136, 233; at least 12 units passed including 8 computing core
units
Mutual excl: KXA301
Assess: test based on lecture material plus satisfactory completion of the
Preliminary Design Report is required to proceed to Project B
Courses: C3X S3F
Computing Project B
Enrolment code: KXA332
Offered: Ltn, sem 1/sem 2/
Unit description: The work in this unit is to implement the computer system
designed and specified in KXA331. Students produce a working product and
present a preliminary and final demonstration of the product. They also
prepare appropriate user and technical documentation.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: individual and group meeting/presentations scheduled when
necessary, formal and informal meetings with project supervisor and clients
Prereq: KXA133, 136, 233, 331
Mutual excl: KXA302
Assess: based on quality of final product (including presentations and
documentation)
Courses: C3X S3F
Principles of Operating Systems
Enrolment code: KXA334
Offered: Ltn, sem 2
Unit description: The approach is based on theoretical issues and practical
work. Lectures will review computer architecture, with an emphasis on new
technologies and trends, cover the concepts of processes, mutual exclusion and
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
9
deadlocks, and discuss general algorithms for scheduling, memory
management and I/O processing. Practical work will include programming
with concurrency, use of a simulator to experiment with scheduling algorithms,
and some other operating system functions. Upon successful completion of this
unit the student should be able to demonstrate and understand the architecture
of operating systems, to understand the functions of operating system
components, to explain the relationships between the operating system
modules, and to design and implement some of the operating systems
functions.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3-hr lecture, 1-hr tutorial weekly
Prereq: KXA135, KXA231 or KXA105, KXA202
Mutual excl: KXA303
Assess: in-semester (30%), end-of-sem exam (70%)
Courses: S3E S3F S6J +OC
Knowledge-Based Systems
Enrolment code: KXA335
Offered: Ltn, sem 1
Unit description: Introduces the principles underlying the development of
expert or knowledge-based systems and provides students with the knowledge
engineering skills needed to develop a medium-scale expert system, using an
appropriate development tool. The unit covers backward-chaining,
forward-chaining and object-oriented expert systems and introduces a range of
manual and semi-automated knowledge acquisition methods. Reasoning
techniques for handling uncertain knowledge are discussed and the unit
concludes with an examination of several large distributed expert systems
which have been fielded in Australia.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3-hr lecture, 1-hr tutorial weekly
Prereq: KXA234
Assess: in-semester (30%), end-of-sem exam (70%)
Courses: S3E S3F S6J +OC
Digital Networks
Enrolment code: KXA336
Offered: Ltn, sem 1
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
10
Unit description: Provides students with a broad understanding of computer
networks and digital communications. Instructs students in the various ways
data may be transmitted through various media, and in particular with the
various methods for encoding data digitally for transmission. Informs students
about procedures and protocols under which data communication is organised
and managed, about the interfacing and control of data links and about the
various standards which are widely accepted as a basis for data
communications as well as the OSI architecture model and key industry
architectures. Gives students practice in installing, operating, and managing
networked computer systems.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3-hr lecture weekly; 7x2-hr tutorials
Coreq: KXA334 or KXA303
Mutual excl: KXA308
Assess: in-semester (30%), end-of-sem exam (70%)
Courses: S3E S3F S6J +OC
Programming Systems
Enrolment code: KXA337
Offered: Ltn, sem 2
Unit description: Enables students to understand the characteristics and
appropriate uses of different styles of programming languages: imperative,
object-oriented and functional. The unit also introduces the topics of
programming language description and translation. It furthers understanding
of the language styles previously encountered (imperative and object-oriented),
explaining in more depth the underlying mechanisms. Students will develop
programs in C, C++, ML and Scheme, with the last two being used to introduce
students to functional programming.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3-hr lecture, 1-hr tutorial weekly
Prereq: KXA231 or KXA202
Mutual excl: KXA307
Assess: in-semester (30%), end-of-sem exam (70%)
Courses: S3E S3F S6J +OC
Computer Graphics & Animation
Enrolment code: KXA338
Offered: Ltn, sem 2
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
11
Unit description: Looks at the creation and use of 2- and 3-dimensional
graphical information, user interfaces, and animations. The mathematical and
algorithmic techniques used in generating computer graphics are covered as
well as the programming methods to build the tools needed to implement
them. Emphasis is placed on object-oriented programming techniques.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3-hr lecture, 1-hr tutorial weekly
Prereq: KXA231 or KXA202
Mutual excl: KXA314
Assess: in-semester (30%), end-of-sem exam (70%)
Courses: S3E S3F S6J +OC
Computer Assisted Learning
Enrolment code: KXA339
Offered: Ltn, sem 1
Unit description: Looks at the development of computer assisted learning
materials using authoring systems, including design guidelines for multimedia
and web-based applications. Lectures cover the ability of people to learn in
terms of human development, learning styles, gender, etc. Processes used in the
development of educational software are studied including: screen design;
storyboard design; iterative design methods; the development of support
materials; and evaluation and testing. The principles of human computer
interface design are studied and applied. Students are made aware of current
developments in multimedia and internet applications and will use at least one
authoring tool.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3-hr lecture, 1-hr tutorial weekly
Prereq: KXA232
Mutual excl: KXA310
Assess: in-semester (30%), end-of-sem exam (70%)
Required texts, etc:
tba
Courses: S3E S3F S6J +OC
Computer Assisted Learning
Enrolment code: KXA361
Offered: Ltn, sem 1
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
12
Unit description: Looks at the development of computer assisted learning
materials using authoring systems, including design guidelines for multimedia
and web-based applications. Lectures cover the ability of people to learn in
terms of human development, learning styles, gender, etc. Processes used in the
development of educational software are studied including: screen design;
storyboard design; iterative design methods; the development of support
materials; and evaluation and testing. The principles of human computer
interface design are studied and applied. Students are made aware of current
developments in multimedia and internet applications and will use at least one
authoring tool.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3-hr lecture, 1-hr tutorial weekly
Prereq: KXA232
Mutual excl: KXA310
Assess: in-semester (30%), end-of-sem exam (70%)
Required texts, etc:
tba
Courses: S3E S3F S6J +OC
UMAP Exchange Program (Stage 2)
Enrolment code: KXA399
Unit description: For details, contact Faculty of Science and Engineering
Computation and Functional Programming
Enrolment code: KXA412
Offered: Ltn, tba
Unit description: Investigates the computational aspects of numerical
problems using functional programming techniques; and introduces a
functional programming language to investigate different number
representations, basic arithmetic operations and their effect on errors. The
language is further developed through investigating algebraic functions, and
their differential and integrals. Studies also include: solution of equations, error
reduction, and use of numeric series.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3 hrs lectures or seminars weekly as advised by the lecturer
Assess: 3 computational papers
Courses: S6S S7K
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
13
Spatial Information Systems
Enrolment code: KXA415
Offered: Ltn, sem 2
Unit description: Provides students with a basic understanding of spatial
information systems and the computing concepts underlying them. The unit
introduces computing techniques and data structures commonly used within
spatial information systems; and examines current implementation issues. The
integration of spatial information systems with remote sensing systems, and the
role that artificial intelligence techniques can play in the future development of
these integrated systems, are discussed.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3 hrs lectures or seminars as advised by lecturer
Assess: exam (70%), in-semester (30%)
Courses: S6S S7K
Advanced Computer Security
Enrolment code: KXA418
Offered: Ltn, tba
Unit description: Provides a detailed exploration of the techniques available
to protect computer systems against possible threats and to develop further
methods of analysing a system’s vulnerabilities. Topics include: secure system
design, operating system features, application architectures, security packages,
encryption and network security. Students have the opportunity to explore
current issues in security and to develop resources to enable them to keep
abreast of changes.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3 hrs lectures or seminars as advised by lecturer
Assess: exam (70%), in-semester (30%)
Courses: S6S S7K
Multimedia & Internet Applications
Enrolment code: KXA430
Offered: Ltn, tba
Unit description: Introduces the principles of multimedia, including the
acquisition and preparation of still images, animation, digital video, and audio,
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
14
and the production of multimedia titles using various authoring tools. Students
are given the opportunity to develop their knowledge of multimedia
applications through the production of a multimedia title, for example, an
information kiosk, using various delivery mechanisms.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3 hrs lectures or seminars weekly as advised by lecturer
Assess: design presentation (10%), project presentation (20%), final report (70%)
Courses: S6S S7K
Machine Learning
Enrolment code: KXA431
Offered: Ltn, sem 2
Unit description: Provides students with sufficient understanding of the key
current ideas and techniques in machine learning to apply them to practical
problems and to participate in research in the area. The major focus of the unit
is on classifier learning and its evaluation. The types of classifiers studied will
include: decision trees, rule sets, instance-based, naive Bayesian and neural
networks. Other topics include continuous value prediction and inductive logic
programming.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3 hrs lectures, tutorials or seminars weekly as advised by lecturer
Assess: exam (70%), in-semester (30%)
Courses: S6S S7K
Java Applications
Enrolment code: KXA433
Offered: Ltn, sem 2
Unit description: Provides an understanding and an appreciation of advanced
programming techniques using the Java programming language. Students will
implement a system using Java in a World Wide Web environment.
Unit weight: 12.5%
Teaching: 3 hrs lectures or seminars weekly
Assess: practical work (50%), project (50%)
Courses: S6S S7K
Computing Honours Full time
Unit details (Course and Unit Handbook 2002)
15
Enrolment code: KXA450
Offered: Ltn, sem 1&2
Special note: Availability of units depends on resources and demand.
Unit description: Comprises the whole of the academic requirements for the
Bachelor of Computing with Honours viz – a coursework component (40%) and
a thesis component (60%). Coursework is selected from a number of units on
advanced topics including advanced computer security; advanced expert
systems; applications of AI; computation and functional programming; java
applications; machine learning; multimedia and internet applications; and
spatial information systems. To complete the thesis component, students will
undertake research work and will produce a thesis document which reports
and discusses the findings from this research.
Unit weight: 100%
Courses: S4D
Computing Honours Part time
Enrolment code: KXA451
Offered: Ltn, sem 1&2
Special note: Availability of units depends on resources and demand.
Unit description: Comprises one half of the academic requirements for the
Bachelor of Computing with Honours viz – a coursework component (40%) and
a thesis component (60%). Coursework is selected from a number of units on
advanced topics including advanced computer security; advanced expert
systems; applications of AI; computation and functional programming; java
applications; machine learning; multimedia and internet applications; and
spatial information systems. To complete the thesis component, students will
undertake research work and will produce a thesis document which reports
and discusses the findings from this research.
Unit weight: 50%
Courses: S4D