Units of study for 2008
First year
INFO1003 Foundations of Information Technology
Credit points:6 Session: Semester 1, Semester 2 Classes: (Lec 2 hrs & Prac 3hrs) per week Prohibitions: INFO (1903 or 1000) or INFS1000 Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit prepares students from any academic discipline to develop the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to be competent in the use of information technology for solving a variety of problems. The main focus of this unit is on modelling and problem solving through the effective use of IT. Students will learn how to navigate independently to solve their problems on their own, and to be capable of fully applying the power of IT tools in the service of their goals in their own domains while not losing sight of the fundamental concepts of computing. Students are taught core skills related to general purpose computing involving a range of software tools such as spreadsheets, database management systems, internet search engines, HTML, and JavaScript. Students will undertake practical tasks including authoring an interactive website using HTML and JavaScript and building a small scale application for managing information. In addition, the course will address the many social, ethical, and intellectual property issues arising from the wide-spread use of information technology in our society.
INFO1103 Introduction to Programming
Credit points:6 Session: Semester 1, Semester 2 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 3hrs) per week Prohibitions: INFO1903 or SOFT (1001 or 1901) or COMP (1001 or 1901) or DECO2011 Assumed knowledge: HSC Mathematics Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit provides an introduction to programming using Java. The main aims are (i) to develop basic programming skills and (ii) learn how to express algorithms using computer programming and develop basic algorithmic problem solving skills
INFO1903 Informatics (Advanced)
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 3hrs) per week Prerequisites: UAI sufficient to enter BCST(Adv), BIT or BSc(Adv), or portfolio of work suitable for entry Prohibitions: INFO (1003 or 1103 or 1000) or SOFT (1001 or 1901) or COMP (1001 or 1901) or DECO2011 or INFS1000 Assumed knowledge: HSC Mathematics Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
Note: Department permission required for enrolment.
This unit covers advanced data processing and management, integrating the use of existing productivity software, e.g. spreadsheets and databases, with the development of custom software using the powerful general-purpose Python scripting language. It will focus on skills directly applicable to research in any quantitative domain. The unit will also cover presentation of data through written publications and dynamically generated web pages, visual representations and oral presentation skills. The assessment, a Available: Semester long project, involves the demonstration of these skills and techniques for processing and presenting data in a choice of domains. The unit serves as an advanced version for both INFO1003 and INFO1103.
Textbooks Given the diversity of the material, the main resource for INFO1903 will be the course notes, which will be made available through the University Copy Centre. Additional suggested readings: M. Lutz and D. Ascher. Learning Python, 2nd Ed., OReilly, 2003. ISBN 0-596-00281-5
INFO1105 Data Structures
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 3hrs) per week Prohibitions: INFO1905 or SOFT (1002 or 1902) or COMP (1002 or 1902 or 2160 or 2860 or 2111 or 2811 or 2002 or 2902) Assumed knowledge: Programming, as for INFO1103 Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
The unit will teach some powerful ideas that are central to quality software: data abstraction and recursion. It will also show how one can analyse the scalability of algorithms using mathematical tools of asymptotic notation. Contents include: both external "interface" view, and internal "implementation" details, for commonly used data structures, including lists, stacks, queues, priority queues, search trees, hash tables, and graphs; asymptotic analysis of algorithm scalability, including use of recurrence relations to analyse recursive code. This unit covers the way information is represented in each structure, algorithms for manipulating the structure, and analysis of asymptotic complexity of the operations. Outcomes include: ability to write code that recursively performs an operation on a data structure; experience designing an algorithmic solution to a problem using appropriate data structures, coding the solution, and analysing its complexity.
INFO1905 Data Structures (Advanced)
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 3hrs) per week Prerequisites: Distinction-level performance in INFO1103 or INFO1903 or SOFT1001 or SOFT1901. Prohibitions: INFO1105 or SOFT (1002 or 1902) or COMP (1002 or 1902) Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
An advanced alternative to INFO1105; covers material at an advanced and challenging level. See the description of INFO1105 for more information.
Second year
COMP2007 Algorithms and Complexity
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2hrs) per week Prohibitions: COMP (2907 or 3309 or 3609 or 3111 or 3811) Assumed knowledge: INFO1105, MATH1004 or MATH1904Discrete Maths Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit provides an introduction to the design and analysis of algorithms. The main aims are (i) to learn how to develop algorithmic solutions to computational problems and (ii) to develop understanding of algorithm efficiency and the notion of computational hardness.
COMP2907 Algorithms and Complexity (Advanced)
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2hrs) per week Prerequisites: Distinction level result in INFO (1105 or 1905) or SOFT (1002 or 1902) Prohibitions: COMP (2007 or 3309 or 3609 or 3111 or 3811) Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
An advanced alternative to COMP2007; covers material at an advanced and challenging level. See the description of COMP2007 for more information.
COMP2129 Operating Systems and Machine Principles
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2hrs) per week Prohibitions: SOFT (2130 or 2830 or 2004 or 2904) or COMP (2004 or 2904) Assumed knowledge: Programming, as from INFO1103 Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
In this unit of study elementary methods for developing robust, efficient and re-usable software will be covered. The unit is taught in C, in a Unix environment. Specific coding topics include memory management, the pragmatic aspects of implementing data structures such as lists and hash tables and managing concurrent threads. Debugging tools and techniques are discussed and common programming errors are considered along with defensive programming techniques to avoid such errors. Emphasis is placed on using common Unix tools to manage aspects of the software construction process, such as version control and regression testing. The subject is taught from a practical viewpoint and it includes a considerable amount of programming practice, using existing tools as building blocks to complete a large-scale task.
INFO2110 Systems Analysis and Modelling
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2hrs) per week Prohibitions: INFO (2810 or 2000 or 2900) Assumed knowledge: Experience with a data model as in INFO1003 or INFO1103 or INFS1000 Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day This unit provides a comprehensive introduction to the analysis of complex systems. Key topics are the determination and expression of system requirements (both functional and non-functional), and the representation of structural and behavioural models of the system in UML notations. Students will be expected to evaluate requirements documents and models as well as producing them. This unit covers essential topics from the ACM/IEEE SE2004 curriculum, especially from MAA Software Modelling and Analysis.
INFO2120 Database Systems 1
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2hrs) per week Prohibitions: INFO (2820 or 2005 or 2905) Assumed knowledge: Computer literacy Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit of study will provide a comprehensive introduction to database management, SQL query language, and application development using databases. The fundamentals of relational database technology will be covered. Contents: data modelling, relational data model, data normalisation, logical and physical database design, SQL query language, Form-based application development, client server and web-enabled transactions processing systems, and distributed database systems.
INFO2820 Database Systems 1 (Advanced)
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2hrs) per week Prerequisites: Distinction-level result in INFO (1003 or 1103 or 1903 or 1105 or 1905) or SOFT (1001 or 1901 or 1002 or 1902) Prohibitions: INFO (2120 or 2005 or 2905) Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
An advanced alternative to INFO2120; covers material at an advanced and challenging level. See the description of INFO2120 for more information.
INFO2315 Introduction to IT Security
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2hrs) per week Prohibitions: NETS (3305 or 3605 or 3016 or 3916) or ELEC (5610 or 5616) Assumed knowledge: Computer literacy Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit provides a broad introduction to the field of IT security.We examine secure and insecure programs, secure and insecure information, secure and insecure computers, and secure and insecure network infrastructure. Key content includes the main threats to security; how to analyse risks; the role in reducing risk that can be played by technical tools (such as encryption, signatures, access control, firewalls, etc); the limitations of technical defences; and the simple process and behavioural changes that can reduce risk.
ISYS2140 Information Systems
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2hrs) per week Prohibitions: ISYS (2006 or 2007) Assumed knowledge: INFO1003 or INFS1000 Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit of study will provide a comprehensive conceptual and practical introduction to information systems (IS) in contemporary organisations. Content: General Systems Theory; Basic concepts of organisations, systems and information; The role of information systems in operating and managing organisations; How IS and the Internet enables organisations to adopt more competitive business models, including e-Commerce; The technologies that underpin IS; Distributed systems, including security, networking principles, the client server model and how distributed components locate and communicate with each other; The integration of disparate systems both within the organisation and between organisations, including the role of XML; Behavioural, managerial and ethical issues in implementing and managing IS.
Textbooks Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm, 8th Edition, Kenneth C. Laudon & Jane P. Laudon, Prentice Hall 2004 Computer Networking: A Top-down Approach Featuring the Internet, 2nd edition, James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross, Pearson/Addison Wesley 2003
Third year
COMP3109 Programming Languages and Paradigms
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2hrs) per week Assumed knowledge: COMP2007 Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit provides an introduction to the foundations of programming languages and their implementation. The main aims are to teach what are: grammars, parsers, semantics, programming paradigms and implementation of programming languages.
COMP3308 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Tut 2hrs) per week Prohibitions: COMP (3608 or 3002 or 3902) Assumed knowledge: COMP2007 Assessment: Assignments, written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all about programming computers to perform tasks normally associated with intelligent behaviour. Classical AI programs have played games, proved theorems, discovered patterns in data, planned complex assembly sequences and so on. This unit of study will introduce representations, techniques and architectures used to build intelligent systems. It will explore selected topics such as heuristic search, game playing, machine learning, and knowledge representation. Students who complete it will have an understanding of some of the fundamental methods and algortihms of AI, and an appreciation of how they can be applied to interesting problems. The unit will involve a practical component in which some simple problems are solved using AI techniques.
Textbooks S.J. Russell and P.Norvig, Artificial Intelligence, A Modern Approach, 2d edition Prentice Hall, 0-13-080302-2, 2003
COMP3608 Intro. to Artificial Intelligence (Adv)
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2hrs) per week. Prerequisites: Distinction-level results in some 2nd year COMP or MATH or SOFT units. Prohibitions: COMP (3308 or 3002 or 3902) Assessment: Assignments, written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
An advanced alternative to COMP3308; covers material at an advanced and challenging level. See the description of COMP3308 for more information.
Textbooks S.J. Russell and P.Norvig, Artificial Intelligence, A Modern Approach, 2d edition Prentice Hall, 0-13-080302-2, 2003
COMP3309 Algorithms
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Tut 2hrs) per week. Prerequisites: COMP(2160 or 2860 or 2111 or 2811 or 2002 or 2902). Prohibitions: COMP(3111 or 3811 or 3001 or 3901 or 3609 or 2007 or 2907) Assessment: Assignments, written exam Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
Note: This unit of study will be offered for the last time in 2008.
This unit will discuss techniques of algorithm design and analysis and their applications. The contents include review of analysis of algorithms; divide and conquer; greedy algorithms; dynamic programming; preprocessing; case study of sorting/selection; case study of pattern matching; case study of graph algorithms; randomised algorithms; NP completeness; approximation algorithms for NPC problems.
COMP3419 Graphics and Multimedia
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2hrs) per week Prohibitions: MULT (3306 or 3606 or 3019 or 3919 or 3004 or 3904) or COMP(3004 or 3904) Assumed knowledge: COMP2007, MATH1002 Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
Computer Graphics and Multimedia are core technologies to support an interdisciplinary computing and communication environment. This unit provides a broad introduction to the field of multimedia to meet the diverse requirements of application areas such as entertainment, industrial design, virtual reality, intelligent media management, medical imaging and remote sensing. The unit covers both the underpinning theories and the practices of manipulating and enhancing digital media including image, computer graphics, audio, computer animation, and video. It introduces principles and cutting-edge techniques such as multimedia data processing, content analysis, media retouching, media coding and compression. It elaborates on various multimedia coding standards. A particular focus is on principles and the state-of-the-art research and development topics of Computer Graphics such as modeling, rendering and shading, and texturing.
COMP3456 Computational Methods for Life Sciences
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2hrs) per week Prerequisites: INFO1105 and (COMP2007 or INFO2120) and 6
Credit points from BIOL or MBLG Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit introduces the algorithmic principles driving advances in the life sciences. It discusses biological and algorithmic ideas together, linking issues in computer science and biology and thus is suitable for students in both disciplines. Students will learn algorithm design and analysis techniques to solve practical problems in biology.
COMP3520 Operating Systems Internals
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2hrs) per week Prohibitions: NETS (3304 or 3604 or 3009 or 3909) or COMP (3009 or 3909) Assumed knowledge: COMP2129, INFO1105 Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit will provide a comprehensive discussion of relevant OS issues and principles and describe how those principles are put into practice in real operating systems. The contents include internal structure of OS; several ways each major aspect (process scheduling, inter-process communication, memory management, device management, file systems) can be implemented; the performance impact of design choices; case studies of common OS (Linux, MS Windows NT, etc). The contents also include concepts of distributed systems: naming and binding, time in distributed systems, resource sharing, synchronization models (distributed shared memory, message passing), fault-tolerance, and case study of distributed file systems.
COMP3615 Software Development Project
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: (Meeting with academic supervisor 1hr & Class meeting 1hr) per week Prerequisites: INFO3402 Prohibitions: INFO3600 or SOFT (3300 or 3600 or 3200 or 3700) Assessment: Individual presentation, oral examination and group report. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit will provide students an opportunity to apply the knowledge and practise the skills acquired in the prerequisite and qualifying units, in the context of designing and building a substantial software development system in diverse application domains including life sciences. Working in groups students will need to carry out the full range of activities including requirements capture, analysis and design, coding, testing and documentation.
INFO3220 Object Oriented Design
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2 hrs) per week Prohibitions: SOFT (3301 or 3601 or 3101 or 3801) or COMP (3008 or 3908) Assumed knowledge: INFO1105, INFO2110 Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit covers essential design methods and language mechanisms for successful object-oriented design and programming. C++ is used as the implementation language and a special emphasis is placed on those features of C++ that are important for solving real-world problems. Advanced software engineering features, including exceptions and name spaces are thoroughly covered.
INFO3315 Human-Computer Interaction
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2hrs) per week Prohibitions: MULT (3307 or 3607 or 3018 or 3918) or SOFT (3102 or 3802) or COMP (3102 or 3802) Assumed knowledge: INFO2110 Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit will introduce techniques to evaluate software user interfaces using heuristic evaluation and user observation techniques. Students will (i) learn how to design formal experiments to evaluate usability hypothesis and (ii) apply user centered design and usability engineering principles to design software user interfaces. A brief introduction to the psychological aspects of human-computer interaction will be provided.
INFO3402 Management of IT Projects and Systems
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2hrs) per week. Prohibitions: ISYS3000, ISYS3012 Assumed knowledge: INFO2110 Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This course introduces the basic processes and techniques for managing IT projects, systems and services, throughout the IT lifecycle. It addresses both the technical and behavioural aspects of IT management at the enterprise level. Major topics include: organisational strategy and IT alignment, IT planning, project planning, tracking, resource estimation, team management, software testing, delivery and support of IT services, service level agreements, change and problem management, cost effectiveness and quality assurance.
[[i||Textbooks Martin, E. W., C. V. Brown, et al. (2002). Managing Information Technology. New Jersey, Pearson Education Inc.
INFO3404 Database Systems 2
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2hrs) per week Prohibitions: INFO (3504 or 3005 or 3905) or COMP (3005 or 3905) Assumed knowledge: INFO2120 Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit of study provides a comprehensive overview of the internal mechanisms of a Database Management System (DBMS) and gives an introduction to post-relational and semi-structured data models. This unit of study will provide a deeper understanding of the internal mechanisms of a database engine, as it is needed e.g. by Database Administrators (DBA) or Software Engineers for successful performance tuning. Topics include: the internal mechanisms of a DBMS engine, database tuning, physical data organization and index structures, query processing and optimisation, transaction management, and distributed and replicated databases. The second focus is on extensions to the relational data model to support different application needs. Topics include: Semi-structured data including XML, xPath and xQuery, and information retrieval for textual data. This unit will be of interest to students seeking an introduction to database tuning, disk-based data structures and algorithms, and advanced data models. It will be valuable to those pursuing such careers as Software Engineers, Database Experts, Database Administrators, and e-Business Consultants.
INFO3504 Database Systems 2 (Adv)
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: - Session: Semester 2 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 2hrs) per week Prerequisites: Distinction-level result in INFO (2120 or 2820) or COMP (2007 or 2907) Prohibitions: INFO (3404 or 3005 or 3905) or COMP (3005 or 3905) Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
An advanced alternative to INFO3404; covers material at an advanced and challenging level. See the description of INFO3404 for more information.
INFO3600 Major Development Project (Advanced)
Credit points: 12 Session: Semester 2 Prerequisites: INFO3402 Prohibitions: COMP3615 or ISYS3400 or SOFT (3300 or 3600 or 3200 or 3700) Assessment: Individual presentation, oral examination and group report. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
Note: Only available to students in BIT, BCST(Adv) or BSc(Adv)
This unit will provide students an opportunity to carry out substantial aspects of a significant software development project. The project will be directed towards assisting a client group (from industry or with strong industry links). The student's contribution could cover one or more aspects such as requirements capture, system design, implementation, change management, upgrades, operation, and/or tuning. Assessment will be based on the quality of the delivered outputs, the effectiveness of the process followed, and the understanding of the way the work fits into the client's goals, as shown in a written report.
ISYS3400 Information Systems Project
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 2 Classes: (Meeting with academic supervisor 1hr & Class meeting 1hr) per week Prerequisites: (INFO3402 or ISYS3012) and (ISYS3401 or ISYS3015) Prohibitions: INFO3600 or ISYS3207 Assumed knowledge: INFO2120 Assessment: Individual presentation, oral examination, group report Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit will provide students an opportunity to apply the knowledge and practise the skills acquired in the prerequisite and qualifying units, in the context of a substantial information systems research or development project and to experience in a realistic way many aspects of analysing and solving information systems problems. Since information systems projects are often undertaken by small teams, the experience of working in a team is seen as an important feature of the unit. Students often find it difficult to work effectively with others and will benefit from the opportunity provided by this unit to further develop this skill.
ISYS3401 Analytical Methods & Information Systems
Credit points: 6 Session: Semester 1 Classes: (Lec 2hrs & Prac 1hr) per week Prohibitions: ISYS3015 Assumed knowledge: INFO2110, ISYS2140 Assessment: In-course involvement, assignments, quizzes and written exam. Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Mode of delivery: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This course will provide an introduction to the scientific approach and basic research methods that are relevant for conceptualizing and solving complex problems encountered Information Systems practice. A collection of different methods for collecting and analyzing information will be studied in the context of a few typical information system projects. These methods include surveys, controlled experiments, questionnaire design and sampling.
Textbooks Leedy P. and Ornrod J. Practical Research: planning and design (7th ed). Prentice Hall