Course Title: Computing Theory

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Computing Theory

Credit Points: 12.00

Important Information:

Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities. 

Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance. 

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
COSC1105	City Campus	Postgraduate	140H Computer Science & Information Technology	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 1 2011, Sem 1 2012, Sem 1 2013, Sem 1 2014, Sem 1 2015, Sem 1 2016
COSC1105	City Campus	Postgraduate	171H School of Science	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2017, Sem 2 2018, Sem 2 2019, Sem 2 2020
COSC1105	City Campus	Postgraduate	175H Computing Technologies	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2022
COSC1106	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	140H Computer Science & Information Technology	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2006
COSC1107	City Campus	Undergraduate	140H Computer Science & Information Technology	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 1 2011, Sem 1 2012, Sem 1 2013, Sem 1 2014, Sem 1 2015, Sem 1 2016
COSC1107	City Campus	Undergraduate	171H School of Science	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2017, Sem 2 2018, Sem 2 2019, Sem 2 2020, Sem 2 2021
COSC1107	City Campus	Undergraduate	175H Computing Technologies	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2022
COSC2087	RMIT University Vietnam	Undergraduate	140H Computer Science & Information Technology	Face-to-Face	Viet1 2015
COSC2087	RMIT University Vietnam	Undergraduate	175H Computing Technologies	Face-to-Face	Viet2 2022
COSC2235	Taylors College KL	Undergraduate	140H Computer Science & Information Technology	Face-to-Face	Offsh 1 11

Course Coordinator: Professor James Harland

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2045

Course Coordinator Email: james.harland@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 12.10.41

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

You must have successfully completed the following course before enrolling in this course: 

• COSC2123 Algorithms and Analysis
• MATH2411 Mathematics for Computing
• MATH1150 Discrete Mathematics
• COSC2627 Discrete Structures in Computing

Course Description

 

Computing Theory introduces you to foundational issues in computer science. The emphasis is on understanding and applying foundational concepts and techniques. You will learn and apply fundamental theories of computing to computing problems. Topics include the study of formal models of computation and computability properties, measuring time requirements for a computation approaches to difficult problems, the use of grammars to specify syntax rules.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes in BP094 Bachelor of Computer Science and BP096 Bachelor of Software Engineering:  

1. Enabling Knowledge 

You will gain skills as you apply knowledge effectively in diverse contexts. 

2. Critical Analysis 

You will learn to accurately and objectively examine and consider computer science and information technology (IT) topics, evidence, or situations, in particular to:
- Analyse and model requirements and constraints for the purpose of designing and implementing software artefacts and IT systems
Evaluate and compare designs of software artefacts and IT systems on the basis of organisational and user requirements. 

 

3. Problem Solving 

 

Your capability to analyse problems and synthesise suitable solutions will be extended as you learn to:
- Design and implement software solutions that accommodate specified requirements and constraints, based on analysis or modelling or requirements specification. 

Upon successful completion of this course you should be able to: 

• CLO 1: Identify the core concepts and notions of fundamental theories of computing.
• CLO 2: Discriminate between core ideas of computation and computing technology.
• CLO 3: Analyse and compare the characteristics of different types of computational models and problems and of different models of computation.
• CLO 4: Design and implement solutions to a wide range of problems, including constructing grammars or automatons for given formal languages and specifying formal languages for given grammars or automatons.
• CLO 5: Communicate clearly and effectively using the technical language of the field correctly. 

Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities for this course are: 

key concepts will be explained in pre-recorded lecture videos, classes or online, where syllabus material will be presented and the subject matter will be illustrated with demonstrations and examples; 

Overview of Learning Resources

The course is supported by online tools, such as the Canvas learning management system and/or Google-based systems, which provide specific learning resources. See the RMIT Library Guide at http://rmit.libguides.com/compsci 

Overview of Assessment

The assessment for this course comprises:
Note: This course has no hurdle requirements.  

Assessment tasks

Assessment Component 1:  Assignments
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs  1-5

Assessment Component 2: Quizzes
Weighting 10%
This assessment task supports CLOs  1-5

Assessment Component 3: End-of-semester Exercise
Weighting 50% 
This assessment task supports CLOs  1-5

Please note that the breadth and depth of assessment tasks for postgraduate students will be greater than the tasks for undergraduate students.