Offered By	Faculty of Science, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, ANU Medical School, Faculty of Asian Studies, School of Art, Faculty of Arts, and Faculty of Economics and Commerce
Academic Contact	Dr Stephen Roberts
Areas of Interest	Computer Science and Mathematics

 

Computational Modelling is the application of mathematical models and computational techniques to the analysis of scientific, industrial and financial problems. It involves the formulation and analysis of models, the development and application of computational algorithms, program and software packages, computational simulation and visualization, mathematical and numerical analysis, and high-performance supercomputing. Typical application areas include stock market analysis, car crash simulation, drug design, earthquake prediction, medical imaging and oil recovery.

The major is offered jointly by the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Physical Sciences.  Students have access to computer resources that are unsurpassed in Australia. The ANU campus hosts the Australian Partnership for Advanced Computation (APAC) and its national facility supercomputer, and is a part of the APAC national education program. ANU (and the University of NSW) are the primary nodes in the new National Information and Communication Technology Australia Limited (NICTA) funded by the Federal Government. NICTA is Australia's pre-eminent research, research training and commercialization facility in these areas.

Students taking the major may emphasise either mathematics or computer science, and will acquire a strong background in both. Most students will choose to specialize (and will probably take a second major) in related fields or areas of application, such as biology, chemistry, computer science, economics, environmental modelling, mathematics, mathematical finance, physics or statistics.

Graduates with skills and knowledge in the area of the major are highly sought after in industry and corporate IT areas, in scientific and financial research, and in large government departments or hospitals. Many will continue to post graduate study.

Requirements

This major will consist of a minimum of 42 units of courses including:

(a) MATH2305 Differential Equations and Applications or MATH2405 Math Methods 1 Honours: Ordinary Differential Equations and Advanced Vector Calculus

(b) at least one of:

     COMP3320 High Performance Scientific Computing

     COMP4300 Parallel Systems

(c) at least two of:

     MATH3501 Scientific and Industrial Modelling,

     MATH3511 Scientific Computing,

     MATH3512 Matrix Computations and Optimisation,

     PHYS3038 Case Studies in Advanced Computing

(d) Three Computer Science/Mathematics level B or C courses other than those counting towards requirements (b) or (c).

First Year Course Advice

Students must take MATH1013/1115, MATH1014/1116, COMP1100 and COMP1110.

The information published on the Study at ANU 2009 website applies to the 2009 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2008 website.