Course Title: Systems Architecture

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Systems Architecture

Credit Points: 12


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ISYS1088

City Campus

Postgraduate

140H Comp Sci & Info Technology

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010

ISYS1089

City Campus

Undergraduate

140H Comp Sci & Info Technology

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010

Course Coordinator: Charles Thevathayan

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 9604

Course Coordinator Email:charles.thevathayan@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 14.10.12


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

You may not enrol in this course unless it is explicitly listed in your program summary, and you have confirmed with your program coordinator that it is an appropriate choice for your study plan.

You will be expected to understand key processes, knowledge and capabilities equivalent to those acquired in Software Engineering Fundamentals and Introduction to Programming.


Course Description

As the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) states: “For all but the most trivial system, success will be elusive if you fail to pay careful attention to its architecture: the way the system is decomposed into constituent parts and the ways those parts interact.” The primary aims of this course are to provide you with a sound understanding of architecture concepts, functions, tasks and techniques, and to expose you to the practical aspects of architecture through the analysis of case studies and design assignments. It also aims to enable you to understand what is required at a high level to evaluate, communicate and document architectures.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Objectives
The primary aims of the Systems Architectures course are to provide you with a sound understanding of systems architecture concepts, functions, tasks and techniques, and various practical aspects of systems architecture.

Capability Development
This course contributes to the development of the following capabilities:

  • Critical analysis: examine and deliberate accurately and objectively the potential for, and practicality of, developing systems architectures in specific scenarios.
  • Communication: effectively communicate a systems architecture, via a written report and oral presentation.
  • Team work: work as an effective and productive team member in a project that develops a systems architecture.



Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities included in this course are:

  • key concepts will be explained in lectures, classes or online, where syllabus material will be presented and the subject matter will be illustrated with demonstrations and examples;
  • tutorials and/or labs and/or group discussions (including online forums) focussed on projects and problem solving will provide practice in the application of theory and procedures, allow exploration of concepts with teaching staff and other students, and give feedback on your progress and understanding;
  • assignments, as described in Overview of Assessment (below) and Assessment Tasks (part B course guide for this Teaching Period), requiring an integrated understanding of the subject matter; and
  • private study, working through the course as presented in classes and learning materials, and gaining practice at solving conceptual and technical problems.
Attendance:
While a minimum attendance standard is not compulsory, non-attendance may seriously jeopardise the chances of success in this course. Clearly, non-attendance at an assessment will result in failure of that assessment. Where visa conditions apply, attendance is compulsory.


Overview of Learning Resources

You will make extensive use of computer laboratories and relevant software provided by the School. You will be able to access course information and learning materials through the Learning Hub (also known as online@RMIT) and may be provided with copies of additional materials in class or via email. Lists of relevant reference texts, resources in the library and freely accessible Internet sites will be provided.

Use the RMIT Bookshop’s textbook list search page to find any recommended textbook(s).


Overview of Assessment

The assessment for this course comprises practical work involving appropriate communication approaches for systems architecture development, adoption, and understanding, group presentations to classmates and teaching staff of outcomes from assessment activities, and a final exam. Part of the assessment will be based on a large group project that involves the design and development of a systems architecture.

See Assessment Tasks (part B course guide for this Teaching Period) for assessment details, including deadlines, weightings, and hurdle requirements. For standard assessment information relating to Computer Science and IT courses see: http://www.rmit.edu.au/compsci/cgi