Bachelor of Advanced Computing

Welcome to all new BAC and BAC(R&D) students!

Convenor

The role of BAC Convenor is to act as both an advocate and advisor for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Advanced Computing programs. This is particular in relation to working out what courses to take. But they are also happy to advise/help on other issues that relate to your degree program or your university studies.

The Convenor for 2013 is A/Prof Chris Johnson, from March to June, or Dr Peter Strazdins, at other times. The current Convenor may be contacted via bac.convenor at cs.anu.edu.au.

News!

The new course ENGN3230 Engineering Innovation (S2) may be used as an alternate to MGMT3027 Entrepreneurship and Innovation (S2).

Policy for Transferring into the BAC and BAC(R&D)

It is possible to transfer into these programs during the first or second year of studies. Students having taken COMP1100 and/or COMP1110/COMP1510 may be given status for COMP1130 and/or COMP1140 after sitting-in on the Advanced Computing segments of those courses in the second year of study. Satisfactory completion of the corresponding assignments plus a `take-home' exam will be required.

Transfer into the BAC(R&D) is possible in the third (preferably) or fourth semester of study provided a High Distinction average has been achieved so far.

Selecting Courses - Electives

There is not a lot of room in the BAC for electives (apart from those cournting to a Major, see below), but students with an ESL background are strongly recommended to consider taking

ESEN1101 Essential University English

in either of their first two semesters of study at ANU. Note that there are core courses such as COMP3120 Project Management which are considered `English intensive'.

Selecting Courses - Majors

It is the intention of the BAC is that all students complete a Major in a interdisciplinary area cognate with one of the Research Groups in the School of Computer Science.

Because the BAC Enrollment Pattern is rather tight, and some interdisciplinary courses listed in the Majors have hidden prerequisites (that must be taken as a BAC elective), thought should be given to this as early as possible. Below is a list of issues to note:

• Computational Foundations
  • MATH3343 Foundations of Mathematics Honours (S1) requires MATH2322 Algebra 1 Honours (S2) to be taken as an elective.
• Computer Engineering
  • ENGN2218 Electronic Systems & Design (S2) requires ENGN1218 Introduction to Electronics (S2) to be taken as an elective (we plan to include it in the Major for 2013).
  • Note the prerequisite chain ENGN2228 (S2) => ENGN3226 (S2) => ENGN4536 (S2)
  • the required course ENGN3213 Digital Systems and Microprocessors currently has ENGN2218 as a formal prerequisite - however, the practice has been to waive this for CS students having completed COMP2300 and rest of second year, so it is not necessary to plan to to take this course for the major
• Human-Centric Computing:
  • ENGN4528 Computer Vision (S1) will require permission from the course co-ordinator.
  • PSYC2008 Visual Perception and Cognition (S2) will require PSYC1004 Psychology 2 (S2) taken as an elective or permission from the course co-ordinator, as well as PSYC1003 (S1).
  • PSYC3011 (S1) will require permission from the course co-ordinator.
• Information-Intensive Computing :
  • BIOL2151 Introductory Genetics (S1) requires BIOL1003 Biology 1 (S1) to be taken as an elective.
  • MATH3346 (2012) requires outstanding results in 2nd/3rd yr computing or maths.
  • MATH3353 may require 12 units of 2000-level maths/stats.
• Intelligent Systems
  • ECON2141 Strategic Thinking: An Introduction to Game Theory (S2) will require ECON1101 Microeconomics 1 (S1/S2)
  • PSYC2007 Biological Basis of Behaviour (S1) will require PSYC1004 Psychology 2 (S2) taken as an elective, as well as PSYC1003 (S1).
  • PSYC3016 Issues in Behavioural Neuroscience (S1) will require PSYC2008 Visual Perception and Cognition (S2) or another science course, as well as PSYC2007 (S1).

In some cases, by permission of the respective course convenor, it may be possible to get these requirements waived.