Bachelor of Software Engineering
Statement addressing the ACS accreditation requirements
Degree produces IT professionals and contains the mandatory component of the core body
of knowledge
The Bachelor of Software Engineering develops professionals with a skills in the area of
compuer programming and the design and construction of software systems. Students gain
extensive experience in developing IT to address the needs of modern organisations.
Teamwork, project management and communication skills are developed in addition to
exploration of the technical and human aspects of IT and its use.
The course directly includes the three mandatory areas for accreditation.
o Interpersonal communications:
Topics related to communications at the interpersonal level, and in written and
visual communication are addressed throughout the course. Students are first
exposed to relevant topics in the unit Information Systems in Organisations,
then further Designing Human-Computer Interaction, and Systems Analysis
and Modelling . This is an intentional part of the design of the whole course.
More specifically, students are involved in theoretical and practical work in
interpersonal communication through all subjects, including the final year
Information Technology Project.
o Ethics/social implications/professional practice:
These areas are introduced in the introductory unit Information Systems in
Organisations – social implications, and further emphasized and practiced in
Designing Human-Computer Interaction – ethics and approaches to design,
Software Engineering Practice - professional practice as well as in
Information Technology Project.
o Project management and quality assurance.
These concepts and techniques are specifically addressed in the following
units: Designing Human-Computer Interaction, Document and Workflow
Management, and Software Engineering Practice. Students will gain further
practical experience in these areas through Information Technology Project.
The degree has at least one third of its content in the IT discipline
The degree consists of 72 credit points from 23 units of study. Out of those, 54 credit points
(17 units) come from the IT discipline. For further details on the course structure and typical
study program please see the Course Outline document.
The degree progresses from introductory material to subjects that synthesise and build on
prior learning in the course
The degree clearly progresses from introductory units through to the final semester capstone
subject, the 6 credit points Information Technology Project. In the first year a variety of
introductory subjects and concepts are addressed. In second and third years, all units have
pre-requisites. The 18 credit points mandatory Software Engineering Major and Information
Systems Major are specifically designed as a progression. The third year IT elective units all
have specific pre-requisites and/or require certain number of credit points of study before the
student can undertake them. This ensures that adequate pre-requisite study has been
undertaken so that more advanced work can be addressed in third year.
There is appropriate infrastructure at UC to support this course, and its students
Our IT infrastructure is continuously upgraded. We support .NET and UNIX software
development environments, for example.
Our Student Resource Centre and Academic Skills Program actively support this degree. Our
library provides carefully selected paper and online reference material. Websites are provided
to support each unit. For further detail see the Staff and Facilities document.

The three tables that address the way in which the degree covers the three mandatory areas of the core body of
knowledge.
CORE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE: ETHICS / SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS / PROFESSINAL PRACTICE
These areas are introduced in the introductory subject Information Systems in Organisations (social implications and
ACS Code of Ethics), and emphasized through Designing Human-Computer Interaction (ethics, approaches to design,
social implications), Systems Analysis and Modelling (social implications and business impact in the context of
analysing and designing systems), Software Engineering Practice (ethics; professional practice) and through the final
year Information Technology Project (professional practice and ethics, social implications).
Topic
Ethics
Where in the Course is this topic
addressed?
(Subject Name/Number)

The ACS Code of Ethics is first
introduced in Information Systems in
Organisations .

One point (4.3.4 quality of life…) is
specifically addressed in Designing
Human-Computer Interaction where
there is an emphasis on participatory,
user-centred design, the design of
socio-technical systems, and assessing
the match between the system and the
way users wish to work.
Is this topic assessed?
If so, what form does the assessment take?

Yes, discussed in tutorial session and examined.

Yes, students undertake a project based on this
approach – their documentation and processes
must illustrate participative and user-centred
design in their major assignment and in the
examination.
Is the subject
containing this
topic
mandatory?
Yes
Yes
Yes

Ethics is specifically taught in
Software Engineering Practice – this
subject requires students to consider
the ethical issues involved in projects.

Yes, tutorial discussion and one examination
question.
Professional
Practice

Ethical issues are also addressed in the
final year Information Technology
Project

Yes, as part of the overall project assessment and
possibly an exam question
Yes

Software Engineering Practice
students are referred to core standards
of professional competency and
behaviour. Students are expected to be
familiar with these and apply them in
all their work.

Yes, tutorial presentations and exam question
Yes

US Project Management Institute:
http://www.pmi.org/
Core body of PM Knowledge:
http://www.pmi.org/publictn/pmboktoc.htm
Aust. Institute for PM: http://www.aipm.com.au/
Competency standards:
http://www.dab.uts.edu.au/aipm/index.html




The final year Information
Technology Project addresses
professional practice in the first lecture
before the student groups make contact
with their project clients, and then
throughout the unit, partly using
visiting practitioner/lecturer as
appropriate.

Yes, part of project assessment, client feedback
and exam question
Yes
Social
Implications
Yes

In Information Systems in
Organisations many broader societal
issues are discussed in relation to the
impact and use of IT systems.

Yes, students are required to reflect on current
technologies, typically in an assessable journal
that they keep over the semester.

Systems Analysis and Modelling
addresses classical and modern system
requirements gathering techniques, and
analysis and design methodologies,
considering all stakeholders in the light
of a strong business case.

Yes, assignment work, tutorial exercises and
final examination
Yes
Yes


Designing Human-Computer
Interaction also focuses on sociotechnical systems design, users, clients
and other stakeholders in IS design.
The broadest context of systems design
is considered as the starting point for
design – this includes social issues and
societal impact of systems.

In Information Technology Project
students analyse, design and
implement a software system for a
“real-life” client. Students are exposed
to methods for considering
organizational and user requirements
and must consider the impact of the
systems they are developing on all
stakeholders.

INSTITUTION: University of Canberra
COURSE: Bachelor of Software Engineering
Yes, students are required to develop rich
pictures and workflow diagrams as one way of
understanding systems and their societal and
workplace social impact. They are required to
develop a poster that places innovative IT
systems and system design methods in a broad
context and considers the usability of systems.
Yes
Yes, part of project assessment, client feedback
and exam question
CORE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE: INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS
Interpersonal communications is addressed across the BSE course. Written, verbal, interpersonal and visual communication are all
emphasized. Many subjects include group work one aim of which is to develop strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills
through the running of several types of meetings (eg planning, brainstorming, reviewing of work, reviewing of project status) both faceto-face and online (we specifically use online workspaces to share information and to support discussion and project work in some
subjects, eg Designing Human-Computer Interaction and Information Technology Project). This is in addition to the more routine
practice of online information distribution and online class cafes. Students are also expected and required to present to their tutorial
group and in some cases to the whole class – that is, to give oral presentations to present a poster and supporting poster paper (as in a
conference, for example in Designing Human-Computer Interaction; and in a role-playing exercise as a presentation to management,
in Software Engineering Practice). They are required to present written communication documents in the form of essays, management
reports, user manuals and technical (maintenance) documentation. They also are required to present standard formatted reports such as
design review reports, usability evaluation reports. An example of some of the subjects follows. However, communication skills are
required for every subject.
Topic
Written communication
Where in the Course is this topic addressed?
(Subject Name/Number)
Is this topic assessed?
If so, what form does the assessment take?

Written assignments are required in all
subjects in the course.

Yes. Structure, clear expression of ideas and
appropriate use of language are important
assessment criteria.

Information Systems in Organisations
The syllabus explicitly includes “Students
will be encouraged to develop skills in
locating and evaluating information from
printed and on-line sources and organising
and presenting it using written, oral and
visual means.”

Yes. Grading criteria for assignments will
include quality of presentation.
Information Technology Project.


Is the subject
containing this
topic
mandatory?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes. Professional writing skills are required.
Written progress reports are required as well
as a full set of final documentation (user
manual, technical manual, PM report, etc).
These are part of the assessable work.
Verbal communication
Presentations by students to their tutorial
group are a common element in many UC
subjects.

Yes, directly or indirectly in grading the
presentation.

Information Systems in Organisations
(see above)

Yes (see above)
Yes

Designing Human-Computer Interaction.
Students must present a design proposal to
their tutorial. They also present a poster in a
public forum (large lecture theatre with
invited guests) where they speak to their
poster. They also manage usability tests
where verbal skills are important to gain the
confidence and cooperation of participants.

Yes. As part of the mark for the assignment.
Students are assessed on their verbal
presentation skills in each environment –
sometimes formally, sometimes informally.
Yes

Interpersonal
communication
Yes
Yes

Information Technology Project.
Iinvolves regular progress reports to the
tutorial group as well as presentations to the
whole class on some interesting aspect of
the project.

Yes. An integral component of the project
grading process
Yes
Yes

Group projects are included in many UC
subjects.

Yes – in some subjects (eg Designing
Human-Computer Interaction and
information Technology Project) group work
participation is peer- and self-assessed through
allocation of 100 gold coins and through a
reflective report.
Yes

Designing Human-Computer Interaction.
This subject contains two group projects (a
poster and a design project). Issues of group
behaviour are discussed.

Yes. Indirectly, through the group outcomes
and directly, through a reflection report on
group processes.
Yes
Visual communication
Throughout the course there is an emphasis on
visual presentation of information. This
includes:
 visual display of information in
Information Systems in Organisations
and in the form of a poster session in
Designing Human-Computer Interaction;
 various forms of diagrammatic modelling in
the subjects Information Systems in
Organisations, Database Design,
Designing Human-Computer Interaction,
Systems Analysis and Modelling;
 storyboarding and prototyping in Designing
Human-Computer Interaction,
INSTITUTION: University of Canberra
COURSE: Bachelor of Software Engineering

Yes. As part of assignment marking criteria
and exam questions.
Yes
CORE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE: PROJECT MANAGEMENT / QUALITY ASSURANCE
The subject Designing Human-Computer Interaction includes an introduction to Project & Quality Management. P&QM are used to
assist the students to plan and develop a requirements specification based on prototyping. Students learn both technical skills and also the
people skills involved in project management and quality management and assurance in the subject Software Engineering Practice.
These are supported by a theoretical framework and reference to appropriate standards. Students then practice these skills in the final
year Information Technology Project.
Topic
Project Management
& Quality Assurance
Where in the Course is this topic
addressed?
(Subject Name/Number)
Is this topic assessed?
If so, what form does the assessment take?

Designing Human-Computer
Interaction

Yes. Students are expected to develop and
maintain project plans and to reflect on the
work of the project team.

Software Engineering
Practice
Stakeholders’ needs and
expectations are considered.
The 9 knowledge areas of PM
(4 Core Functions – scope,
time cost and quality plus 4
Facilitating Functions – human
resource, communications, risk
and procurement as well as
project integration
management) are addressed.
PM tools and techniques are
also covered and practiced.

Yes. Individual and group assignments,
tutorial presentations and exam questions.
Information Technology
Project


Is the subject
containing this
topic
mandatory?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes. The way student groups manage all
aspects of their projects is a major component
in the project assessment. Questions on various
aspects of P&QM are included in the exam
paper.
Yes
INSTITUTION: University of Canberra
COURSE: Bachelor of Software Engineering

The cross-reference table that shows how the degree covers the overall core body of knowledge.
CROSS REFERENCE to CORE BODY of KNOWLEDGE
In this table we have used three symbols to try to make a reasonably accurate statement about the content of each subject against each
item in the core body of knowledge.
I: introductory – the subject covers a substantial amount of the material in an introductory manner.
M: medium – the subject covers some of the material in reasonable depth.
C: :comprehensive – the subject covers most or all of the material in reasonable depth.
COURSE: Bachelor of Software Engineering
Unit
No:
6348
4478x
Title
Information Systems in
Organisations
Introduction to Information
Technology
Introduction to Software
Engineering
Required/
Elective
5.1
5.2
5.3
required
I
M
I
required
M
required
x
Discrete Mathemattics
required
5915
Database Design
required
C
4483x
Software Technology 1
required
M
6389
Designing Human Computer
Interaction
required
C
x
Software Technology 2
required
M
x
System Software
required
6365
Systems Analysis and Modelling
required
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
5.8
I
C
5.9
M
C
M
!
5.10
5.11
5.12
5.13
I
I
5.14
I
M
M
C
I
M
M
C
C
I
M
C
I
I
M
C
I
M
C
M
M
I
M
C
M
I
C
M
C
x
Web Design and Programming
required
M
I
x
Security and Support in IT
required
M
C
x
Object Oriented Software Design
required
C
x
Software Engineering Practice
required
x
Distributed Systems Technology
required
x
Information Technology Project
required
M
C
C
C
C
I
I
C
C
M
C
C
C
M
C
C
C
M
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
M
Notes: 1. IT Project is a professional practice subject and it can involve the application of ALL of the concepts and skills flagged in this
table.
2. Students take a non-computing elective minor (required), constituted of a sequence of 4 units (open electives). This is highly
likely to result in further patterns of study addressing similar areas of the core body of knowledge. Units selected as Software
Engineering electives in third year will also further strengthen their knowledge and skills in the areas commonly noted in the table
already.