7 July 2004

Curriculum Updates

(A) Introduction of new IS modules

CS3255 Information Organisation

CS4254 IS Project Management

The above two modules will be electives to Information Systems and e-Commerce programmes for all cohorts. Details on the module descriptions can be found at: http://www.comp.nus.edu.sg/~cmcurric/AY2004_5/moddes2004_5.pdf

(B) Changes to Degree Requirements in the Department of Computer Science

The following change is applicable to 2003 and 2002 cohorts reading Computer Science, Communications and Media, and Technology focus:

MA1505C will be dismounted in semester 2, AY2004-5 and students will read MA1505 Mathematics I. MA1505C will be offered in Semester 1, 2004-5 for students who have yet to complete this degree requirement for the last time.

(C) Introduction of new CS module

The module description of CS4214 Formal Semantics can be found at:

http://www.comp.nus.edu.sg/~cmcurric/AY2004_5/moddes2004_5.pdf

(D) Update to existing CS modules

(i) Changes to workload are made to the following modules:

CS2106 Operating Systems

CS2271 Embedded Systems

Level 4 CS (A1-A4) modules in the Department of Computer Science

See http://www.comp.nus.edu.sg/~cmcurric/AY2004_5/moddes2004_5.pdf for details.

(ii) The module description of CS4211 Advanced Software Engineering is updated and available at: http://www.comp.nus.edu.sg/~cmcurric/AY2004_5/moddes2004_5.pdf

Note from CELC on CS2301 Business and Technical Communications

The CELC hosting this module would like SoC to inform our students the advantages of clearing the module in their first or second year rather than waiting for their last year. Each semester, the student enrolment fluctuates and demand is less than supply of places based on each cohort size.

There should be about 180 students from AY2003/2004 who haven't taken CS2301 and who will have to take it, and perhaps another 500 from the AY2004/2005 intake who will have to take it etc. We foresee a backlog at some point if students realise they have to take CS2301 before they graduate.

In order to serve the students with their usual high standards, CELC would like to keep numbers consistent. In the new academic year, some 220 places per semester will be reserved for freshmen and those who have yet to complete it. This would enable them to assign staff with the most relevant experience to teach business and technical communication for SoC students. If registration is consistent CELC can plan to keep these staff on the CS2301 team. If registration fluctuates CELC have to re-assign these staff and once assigned elsewhere, CELC may not be able to easily assign them on board the team again. Hence it is a win-win situation to have consistent student registration numbers and a regular teaching team. The constancy of student registration in the past has meant that a regular teaching team has been able to dedicate themselves to the needs of the students and to develop IT/SOC specific materials and even to consolidate the materials into a text book. This would not have been possible with an ever changing team of different full timers and part timers.

With this, we hope students (especially seniors) should clear their CS2301 soon by coming semesters.