Software Development Major - Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences

You design and develop secure software and use the latest technologies including modern programming languages, operating systems, networks, distributed computing systems, databases and modelling. You also carry out quality assurance tasks.

Year 1

You’ll study six core courses that cover foundational computing knowledge, as well as a course on programming, covering the processes of program design and implementation using object-oriented programming.

You study the following courses:

Core courses

• COMP500 Programming Concepts and Techniques
• COMP501 Computing Technology in Society
• COMP507 IT Project Management
• COMP508 Database System Design
• DIGD507 Mahitahi/Collaborative Practices
• MATH503 Mathematics for Computing

Software development course

• COMP503 Object Oriented Programming

You also take the first course for your second major, minor or elective courses.

Year 2

Courses include software development practice, program design and construction, data structures, operating systems, and algorithms.

You study the following courses:

Software development courses

• COMP602 Software Development Practice (15 points)
• COMP603 Program Design and Construction (15 points)
• COMP610 Data Structures and Algorithms (15 points)
• One of:
  • COMP604 Operating Systems
  • COMP611 Algorithm Design and Analysis

You also continue to take courses for your chosen second major, minor(s) or elective courses.

Year 3

This year you complete courses related to human computer interaction, issues in software engineering, distributed and mobile systems, and web development.

You study the following courses:

Software development courses

• COMP719 Applied Human Computer Interaction 
• ENSE701 Contemporary Issues in Software Engineering
• One of:
  • COMP713 Distributed and Mobile Systems
  • COMP721 Web Development

You also take the final courses for your chosen second major, minor(s) or elective courses.

Study planner for this programme

Download our study planner to see what your studies could look like in the Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences.

Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences study planner

Workplace experience in the Software Development major

The Research and Development Project course in your final year brings together the skills you’ve developed throughout your degree. You apply what you’ve learnt throughout your studies in a project for an industry client or research centre, under the guidance of an experienced supervisor.

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Workplace experience in AUT programmes