Course Title: Computing Theory

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Computing Theory

Credit Points: 12.00

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, Sem 2 2023, Sem 2 2024
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, Sem 2 2023, Sem 2 2024
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, Viet2 2023, Viet2 2024
COSC2235	Taylors College KL	Undergraduate	140H Computer Science & Information Technology	Face-to-Face	Offsh 1 11
COSC2725	RMIT Vietnam Hanoi Campus	Undergraduate	175H Computing Technologies	Face-to-Face	Viet2 2024

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

Enforced Pre-Requisite Courses
Successful completion of:

• COSC2123 Algorithms and Analysis; AND
• MATH1150 Discrete Mathematics OR
• COSC2627 Discrete Structures in Computing OR
• MATH2411 Mathematics for Computing OR
• MATH2393/MATH2394 Engineering Mathematics.

Note: it is a condition of enrolment at RMIT that you accept responsibility for ensuring that you have completed the prerequisite/s and agree to concurrently enrol in co-requisite courses before enrolling in a course. 

For your information go to RMIT Course Requisites webpage. 

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 will be able to: 

1. Identify the core concepts and notions of fundamental theories of computing.
2. Discriminate between core ideas of computation and computing technology.
3. Analyse and compare the characteristics of different types of computational models and problems and of different models of computation.
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.
5. Communicate clearly and effectively using the technical language of the field correctly. 

Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities for this course are: 

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities. 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. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both. 

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course. 

Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal. 

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: Timed and Timetabled Assessment
Weighting 50% 
This assessment task supports CLOs  1-5

This assessment is a timed and timetabled assessment that students must attend on campus except for international students who are outside Australia.

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

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.