Admission and Unit Information - Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology / Bachelor of Arts

As a first unit in computer programming, Programming Fundamentals covers basic computer architecture, basic data and file structures, concept of algorithms, programming constructs, programming language features and functions, program design, test design, basic documentation. A high level programming language is employed to solve problems in a structured manner.

The unit provides students with an introductory understanding of a range of communication theories and practices necessary for academic work and professional success.

This unit provides an introduction to systems analysis and design. Incorporating systems concepts, theories and methodologies, this unit provides students with elementary problem solving experience in computerised information systems. Students will gain the ability to derive systems requirements from problem definitions and to produce system models using process, data, object and network modelling. Design and implementation issues include, (but may not be limited to), elementary database design, input, output and user interface design and prototyping. Students are also introduced to roles and responsibilities in information systems development, selection of packaged solutions and the principles of software quality.

Statistical Decision Making introduces students to various statistical techniques supporting the study of computing and science. Presentation of the content will emphasize the correct principles and procedures for collecting and analysing scientific data, using information and communication technologies. Topics include describing different sets of data, probability distributions, statistical inference, and simple linear regression and correlation.

Computer Networking is an introductory unit in computer systems networking. It covers basic networking technologies, Ethernet fundamentals, ISO OSI model, routing, switching and subnetting, the Internet architecture, networking protocols including TCP/IP, important networking devices such as repeaters, hubs, bridges, switches, routers and gateways, basic management and security issues. This unit is also the first of three units, which will prepare students for industry based networking certification (CCNA).

Analyzing and modeling requirements using the object-oriented (OO) approach is the core strength of this unit. The system analysis is taken to greater depths within the context of Object Orientation. The Unified Modeling Language version 2.0 (notably use cases, activity diagrams, class diagrams and sequence diagrams) is used as a modeling standard for creating OO models in the problem space. This unit also covers methodologies for OO analysis work through practical case studies.

The main purpose of this unit is to provide students with an opportunity to gain a basic knowledge of database design and development including data modeling methods, techniques for database design using a set of business rules that are derived from a case study and finally implementation of the database using a commercial relational database management system. The unit also examines a number of important database concepts such as database administration, concurrency, backup and recovery and security. At the same time student learning and intercommunication skills are enhanced by running tutorial presentations and group assignments.

Building on material covered in Programming Fundamentals this unit introduces students to the basics of developing interactive and dynamic web applications from both the client and server perspective. The unit covers web site design, web site development, web page accessibility and usability, XHTML, CSS, client side and server side scripting, database interaction, web site promotion (SEO), legal issues and web security.

This unit builds on the programming foundation laid in the unit Programming Fundamentals. Utilising an object-oriented language it continues the development of programming skills and methodologies required for professional programming and for further study in later computing units. Topics covered include object-oriented programming techniques of encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism, programming concepts including pointers, references, multi-dimensional arrays, strings, file I/O, and abstract data types.

This unit extends on the work undertaken in the prerequisite unit and provides students with an in-depth understanding of the role of TCP/IP, ICMP and routing protocols used in IP networks and internetworks. Students will learn about the critical role of routing protocols and how to design, construct and implement small internets. Students will also learn how to perform basic management and security tasks in a practical, hands-on fashion using Cisco routers and other networking equipment. This is the second of three units that prepares the student for industry based networking certification (CCNA).

In this unit students further develop their theoretical and practical skills in designing and developing web based information systems using systems analysis, programming, database, human computer interaction and web technologies skills that they have learnt in previous units. Current web development technologies and/or frameworks will be utilised to build a complex web information system in a collaborative web development team. Techniques of porting web systems to mobile platforms will also be explored.

The fact that computers work at all in the way they do is due to the formal mathematical structure that is used in their design. The same holds for establishing important matters such as the reliability of our computer networks. This unit presents, in their computing context, a range of mathematical concepts that are essential for understanding a number of topics concerning computers: the ways they work, they ways they interact, and the ways we interact with them.

A key component to the discipline of Information Systems is the understanding and the advocacy of the user in the development of IT applications and systems. IT graduates must develop a mind-set that recognizes the importance of users and organizational contexts. They must employ user-centered methodologies in the development, evaluation, and deployment of IT applications and systems. This unit examines human-computer interaction in order to develop and evaluate software, websites and information systems that not only look professional but are usable, functional and accessible.

This is a final year unit that builds on foundation and intermediate computing units to prepare students for professional experience. The unit covers the content in three modules as 1) Ethics and Professional Code of Conduct, 2) Project Management, and 3) Legal, Social, Environmental issues, Quality Assurance and IT Compliance. The content covered in these three modules are carefully designed to fill in the gaps in knowledge that is not so far covered previous units in preparing students for the challenging projects units and professional working life ahead. This unit is a pre-requisite to the capstone project, covered in Professional Experience Project unit.

This unit provides the knowledge of the internal structure and functionality of Operating Systems. An operating system defines an abstraction of hardware behaviour and provides a range of services more suitable for ICT application development than what raw hardware could deliver, in terms of convenience, efficiency and security. It is important that ICT Professionals have some understanding of how these services are realized. For ICT Professionals whose role includes supporting the operating system this unit provides the introduction to the relevant theory and practice.

Professional Experience is a final year capstone project unit. This unit provides opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in software systems requirements definition, analysis, design and implementation, in a real-world setting. Students work in groups, guided by an academic supervisor or an industry mentor, in achieving the goals set by the client that provides the project. Suitable projects are sourced from external organisations or within UWS by way of giving the students professional experience in independent learning and reflective practice.