- Overview
- Learning outcomes
- Program delivery and structure
BH013 - Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours)
Plan: BH013P9 - Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours)
Campus: City Campus
Program delivery and structure
Approach to learning and assessmentWork integrated learningProgram structureProgram transition planApproach to learning and assessment
This program contains a coursework component and an Honours thesis component.
For the coursework component of this program, your learning experiences will contain a broad mix of study modes, including lectures, tutorials, practical classes, and seminars, using face-to-face, on-line and other flexible delivery mechanisms.
Assessment is designed to give you opportunities to demonstrate your capabilities. You will find that the forms of assessment used may be different for each course, depending on the course objectives and learning outcomes.
Your assessment in the coursework component of this program will include all or some of the following:
- Examinations: an individual form of assessment where you are asked to demonstrate your ability to explain principles and to solve problems;
- Assignments and projects: some will require you to demonstrate an ability to work alone, while some will involve group work requiring you to be part of team with other students;
- Reflective journals: where you pause to consider what you have learnt and reflect on the further development of the related capability;
- Assessed tutorials or presentations: a form of in-class test, which you will be required to complete either individually or as a team member.
- Self-assessment and peer-assessment: for assessment activities such as seminars you may be asked to assess your own work, the work of your group, or the work of other groups. This is part of equipping you to become more independent in your own learning and to develop your assessment skills.
The assessment you receive, with the exception of exams, will enable the teaching staff to provide you with feedback on your strong and weak points. This will enable you to improve your performance in the future.
Honours Thesis Component
Work on the Honours thesis actually takes place during both semesters of the Honours program (or in the last three semesters, if done part-time). The first semester work on the project is done as part of the Research Methods course and in the preliminary thesis course, if you undertake this in the first semester. This work includes selecting a supervisor, performing a literature review, writing a project proposal that is reviewed, and making progress on the project.
In second semester there is a single major deadline – the delivery of the final honours thesis by the end of October. Each student can schedule the project as they wish. Note, however, that most HD students take at least six weeks, or 200 hours, to write their honours reports after all of the research is complete. This does not include the time spent by supervisors reading drafts of reports, at a time of year when academics are busy with tasks such as preparing exams. A typical (successful) schedule would allow about eight weeks between completion of research and submission date, or alternatively, would specify dates throughout the year for progressive drafts of the report, so that it is written as the research proceeds.
Assessment of Honours Thesis
Honours projects are assessed on the final report and on the merits of the report as a research publication. Each report is initially examined by two academics, usually from within the School of Science. (Each examiner usually will have at least two reports to examine.) Usually both examiners will themselves be supervisors of students at honours level, but they are not allowed to examine theses of their own students. Where possible one examiner will be an expert in the topic of the thesis. Other aspects of the project - programming undertaken and so on - are not examinable; assessment is based on the thesis alone.
In addition to the thesis, you are required to provide a seminar on your thesis, shortly after the thesis itself is submitted.
If you have a long term medical condition, disability and/or other form of disadvantage it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Equitable Learning Sevice team if you would like to find out more.
Top of pageWork integrated learning
RMIT is committed to providing you with an education that strongly links formal learning with workplace experience. As a student enrolled in this RMIT program you will:
- undertake and be assessed on structured activities that allow you to learn, apply and demonstrate your professional or vocational practice;
- interact with industry and community when undertaking these activities; and
- complete these activities in real or simulated work contexts or situations
- gain benefits from these interactions and the work context as they provide a distinctive source of feedback to assist your learning.
Any or all of these aspects of a WIL experience may be in a simulated workplace environment.
This program includes a substantial research project (COSC2177 Computer Science Honours Thesis/COSC2460 Computer Science Honours Thesis Part 1/COSC2461 Computer Science Honours Thesis Part 2) that will prepare you for future work in an academic, government or industrial research environment. You will carry out an individual research project under the supervision of an experienced researcher. Many projects have significant involvement from external collaborators.
Top of pageProgram Structure
| For students who commence their study in this program from 1 January 2016 onwards, your mark in all courses in which you enrol in this program will be included in the weighted average mark that will determine the honours level of your award once you have completed the program. | ||||||||||||
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Year One of the program |
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| Complete the following One (1) Course: | ||||||||||||
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| Select and Complete Three (3) Courses from the following CS Honours Options | ||||||||||||
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| Complete the following Two (2) Courses: | ||||||||||||
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| Complete the following Two (2) Courses: | ||||||||||||
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Program transition plan
Very Important: This program is being phased out.
This program will only be available until Sem 2 2023. If you believe you will not complete the program within this time or if you have any queries or concerns regarding the changes and how you may be impacted, academic advice from the College of Science, Engineering and Health Academic Services team or from your Program Manager will be available to you. No new students will be admitted to this program after 2019.
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