1997 Swinburne Higher Education Handbook

2044 Bachelor of Software
Engineering
(subject to accreditation)
The Bachelor of Software Engineering (BSE) is an
exceptionally innovative and challenging engineering
program, consisting of four full-time years of academic study
plus either one year of industry based learning (IBL) or at
least 12 weeks of relevant industry experience.
Successful completion of the BSE is deemed equivalent to
the completion of an honours program and generally fulfils
entry requirements for postgraduate research study.
The process of developing large scale software systems is
very complex, involving detailed processes and sophisticated
techniques and tools. Software Engineers bring to the
development of software the methodologies, technologies
and management practices of traditional engineering
disciplines, along with an extensive knowledge of
fundamental computer science.
Career potential
Many Australian organisations experience difficulty in
obtaining personnel with high-level, up-to-date skills and
knowledge in software engineering, and industry demand for
professionals in information technology and electronics is
expected to continue to grow. Students graduating from the
Bachelor of Software Engineering will be well placed to
meet this need.
Graduates will typically find employment in organisations
engaged in large-scale software development. The course is
oriented towards applications in areas such as defence,
aerospace and medicine, where software plays a major role,
often of a safety-critical nature. Initially graduates could
expect to be involved in technical areas such as
programming and systems analysis and design, with good
opportunities available for progression into project
leadership and management positions.
Professional recognition
The degree provides credit at Level 1 (the highest level)
towards professional membership of the Australian
Computer Society. Application has also been made for
recognition of the course to the Institution of Engineers
Australia (IEAust).
The degree program
Graduates of the program will be equipped with the
knowledge, skills and attitudes to make them valuable
members of any team developing large-scale software-based
systems using contemporary Software Engineering
approaches.
Students have the opportunity to study, to an advanced
level, important areas of software engineering such as
software process modelling, software architecture, validation
and verification, software re-engineering, formal methods
and metrics, together with real-time systems engineering.
They will also graduate with advanced skills in management
of resources and technology.
The skills and knowledge acquired during the course are
reinforced by several project subjects and through a
supervised industry based learning year (or 12 week industry
based placement).
A range of electives is offered, which allow students to
explore a specialist area of computer science/software
engineering at an advanced level, and domains in which they
might subsequently practise as developers of software.
The program also includes the study of fundamental generic
engineering concepts and principles, and the mathematics
and physics necessary to support these studies. Students
elect to undertake an advanced stream in electronics.
telecommunications or manufacturing engineering to
complement their software engineering studies.
Industry based learning
Industry based learning (IBL) is a mandatory part of the
course. Students have the opportunity to undertake one full
year of paid IBL, between the third and final years of the
course. Alternatively they must take at least 12 weeks of
relevant industry experience prior to graduation. IBL gives
students a real advantage in the graduate job market.
Entry requirements
Applicants must have completed satisfactorily an
appropriate Victorian Year 12 or its equivalent such as an
interstate or international Year 12 qualification.
VCE Prerequisites: Physics Units 1 and 2; a grade average
of C or higher in Units 3 and 4 Mathematical Methods or
Specialist Mathematics. A bonus is awarded to applicants
who have successfully completed Information Technology:
Information Systems and/or Specialist Mathematics.
Generally students will not be selected if they have a TER
below 80.
Credit transfer
Students admitted to the degree may be granted advanced
standing for previous studies on a case-by-case basis.
Course structure
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Software
Engineering, students must accumulate a minimum of 400
credit points (100 credit points per full-time academic year)
and undertake an IBL placement. Students undertaking an
IBL year accumulate 500 credit points and will be presented
with an additional testamur indicating their successful
completion of the program. Five subjects will generally be
taken during each academic semester, with a total of
approximately 15-17 hours per week contact time (including
lectures, classes, tutorials and laboratory sessions). The
typical student's average weekly workload during semester
is expected to be 50 hours.
Year 1
Sem 1
Credit points
ESlOO Object-Oriented Software Development 1 10
ES104 Professional Skills for Software Engineers 10
ES107 Computer Systems 1 10
SMl 11 Engineering Mathematics 1 10
SP124 Physics 1 10
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