Course Title: Computer Science Honours Thesis Part 1

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Computer Science Honours Thesis Part 1

Credit Points: 24.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COSC2460

City Campus

Undergraduate

140H Computer Science & Information Technology

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 1 2016

COSC2460

City Campus

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 1 2020

Course Coordinator: Dr Hai Dong

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3736

Course Coordinator Email: hai.dong@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 14.10.10

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment, by email


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

COSC2148 Research Methods

Each part-time honours student must take the Computer Science Honours Thesis Part 1 before the Computer Science Honours Thesis Part 2. The whole honours research project is worth 48 credit points in total.

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 the RMIT Course Requisites policy can be found at Course requisites – 7.29.1.6: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=twx09y07zi1c


Course Description

The honours research project is designed to introduce students to the skills and character of computer science research. It is a substantial work of supervised research or development.

This course is the first component in the computer science honours research project (part-time mode), following preparation in the Research Methods course. Each part-time honours student must complete the Computer Science Honours Thesis Part 1 (24 credit points) and Computer Science honours thesis Part 2 (24 credit points), worth 48 credit points in total. (For full-time mode, Preliminary Computer Science Honours Thesis (12CP) and Computer Science Honours Thesis (36CP) should be taken.)

For more information on the honours research project, see the Program Information Book, available from: http://www.rmit.edu.au/compsci/bh013


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes

This course contributes to the following program learning outcomes:

  • PLO1: Knowledge - Apply a broad and coherent set of knowledge and skills for developing user-centric computing solutions for contemporary societal challenges.
  • PLO2: Problem Solving - Apply systematic problem solving and decision-making methodologies to identify, design and implement computing solutions to real world problems, demonstrating the ability to work independently to self-manage processes and projects.
  • PLO4: Communication - Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, employing a range of communication methods in interactions.to both computing and non-computing personnel.
  • PLO6: Responsibility and Accountability - Demonstrate integrity, ethical conduct, sustainable and culturally inclusive professional standards, including First Nations knowledges and input in designing and implementing computing solutions.

 


Course Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Identify a task or problem relevant to computer science and/or IT,
  2. Search and review of the relevant literature,
  3. Propose a partial solution to the task or problem,
  4. Establish effective research practices under supervision,
  5. Present a survey of the research literature and research plan in written form,
  6. Commence implementation of the proposed solution,
  7. Carry out some initial experiments.


Overview of Learning Activities

Work on the honours thesis actually takes place during the whole of the honours program, not just in one course. The initial work on the project is done as part of the course Research Methods, followed by honours thesis part 1 and part 2 in subsequent semesters.

For honours thesis part 1, you are expected to continue to refine the research proposal as needed, and develop a prototype of the proposed model. Some initial experiments are expected to be carried out, so that preliminary research results may be obtained. This will lay a solid foundation for the honours thesis part 2 in the subsequent semester.


Overview of Learning Resources

For extra support with study organisation, assignment planning or learning skills you may wish to contact any of the following:

Study and Learning Centre: To make appointments or just drop-in for learning support, see location, times, and contact details, as well as self-help learning support resources, via: http://www.rmit.edu.au/studyandlearningcentre

BH013 Honours Coordinator: Dr. Flora Salim
 


Overview of Assessment

The honours thesis part 1 is assessed based on your initial draft of your thesis, using the following criteria:

  • clear identification of problems and research objectives
  • comprehensiveness of literature review in the research domain
  • suitability of research methodologies to the identified problems
  • preliminary research results
  • thesis outline.

Each draft thesis is examined by at least two academics, usually from within the School.

For more details on the assessment criteria and process see the program information book.

For standard assessment details, including deadlines, weightings and requirements relating to Computer Science and IT courses see: http://www.rmit.edu.au/compsci/cgi