PROPOSAL TO INTRODUCE A NEW COURSE 

1.	COURSE DETAILS

1.1	Course ID	COMP4181 
 
1.2	Course name – Long      Language-based Software Safety

1.3	Course name – Abbreviated	Language-based Software Safety

1.4	Course Authority Dr. Manuel Chakravarty	 ext/email 54495/chak@cse.unsw.edu.au

1.5	Organisational Unit responsible for course
School:		School of Computer Science and Engineering	      Faculty:      Engineering
Academic Group Code (Faculty):  ENG
Academic Organisation Code (Owner): COMPSC

1.6	Justification of Proposal  

Many courses cover good development practices based on a solid engineering discipline (e.g. COMP2041 and COMP3141/4003). However, it is virtually impossible to get beyond a certain level of assurance with these techniques alone (e.g. Evaluation Assurance Levels of the Common Criteria, ISO/IEC 15408, beyond EAL4 are generally assumed to be out of reach). We also have courses that cover specific formal methods and associated tools (e.g. COMP4151, COMP4161, and COMP9116) as a means to achieve high assurance.

We are lacking any coverage of programming language technology to achieve high levels of assurance, despite such methods already being used in industry (e.g. Intel, Glois Connections, Linspire, Ericcson). The change of the first-year curriculum to more low-level languages and programming is doing its share to  increase this lack. The proposed course will fill the current gap in our curriculum.

1.7	Consultation Process

I spoke to the lecturers of other language-related courses, namely COMP3131/9102 and COMP3161/9161, and the academics of the Programming Languages and Compilers research group. They support the present proposal.

I have also discussed the proposal with the NICTA Formal Methods and ERTOS groups, who have an interest in the material of the proposed course. They have U/G and P/G students that would benefit from the proposed course, and thus, they also support the proposal.

1.8	Units of credit (UOC) Session/s offered	Hours Per Week
            6 UoC                          S2                                 3 hours

1.9	Pre-requisites:  COMP2911
Co-requisites:  none
Exclusions: none

1.10	Proposed Entry in the Faculty Handbook (including course description)

Trust in the safety and security of software systems is increasingly important with the use of software in systems where failure or sabotage can lead to loss of life or be very expensive (this includes medical and financial applications as well as software used for power grids, amss transport systems, and secutiry infrastructure). This course covers language-based safety engineering techniques including advanced type systems, specification-based test generators, domain-soecific languages, and prototyping for high-assurance. It demonstrates via concrete examples, including security infrastructure software, how modern functional languages are used to achieve high assurance, and converys hands-on experience via practical assignments.

This course may be taught concurrently with COMP9181.

1.11	Is this course replacing an existing course? No

1.12	Undergraduate

1.13	Elective

1.14	Program stage  3 or 4

1.15	Program/s in which course is be available 
3798  Bachelor of Science Computer Science
3645  Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering
3647  Bachelor of Engineering in Bioinformatics
3648  Bachelor of Engineering in Software Engineering
3400  Bachelor of Arts (major in Computing)
3970  Bachelor of Science (minor in Computing)

and combined programs that include one of the programs listed above.

1.16	Proposed teaching methods and assessment practices 
Teaching: lectures and projects.
Assessment: programming assignments and written exam.

1.17	Assessment grades to be used 
Full range of UNSW grades.

1.18	Mode of delivery  Internal

1.18.1	Multi-mode Delivery Guidelines  N/A

1.19	Information Technology Requirements for students
Standard resources available in the school.

1.20	Textbooks 
Text: no appropriate text is available, as this is very recent technology.
Reading material: online resources and research papers.

1.21	Industrial experience component  N/A

1.22     Parallel Teaching Requirement

This course is an elective course in the BE programs in Computer Engineering, Bioinformatics and Software Engineering as well as in the BSc Computer Science (and associated combined programs). 

This course may be taught concurrently with COMP9181 Language-based Software Safety. 

Both COMP4181 and COMP9181 are taught concurrently under Recommendation 3 of the Academic Board Policy on Parallel Teaching (Resolution AB04/106). 

Lectures and some assessment tasks are delivered concurrently.

a)	The handbook course description contains a statement that advises students that parallel teaching of postgraduate and undergraduate course is occurring.
b)	Postgraduate students are enrolled under a postgraduate course code.
c)  Postgraduate students are required to complete an additional assignment. 
d)  Postgraduate students and undergraduate students take different final examinations.

2.	RESOURCE STATEMENT

2.1	Enrolments
Estimated or proposed enrolments for the next three years.

2007:  30	
2008:  40	
2009:  40	

2.2	Resource Requirements

Staffing Requirements:

Hours per week
3			 Full-time Academic Staff	
0	                         Part-time Teaching Staff	
0			 General Staff	

Field Costs: 	N/A	
Studio/Laboratory Requirements: 	N/A	
Materials Requirements: 	N/A
	
Equipment Costs: 	N/A	
Computing Requirements:	Standard for CSE courses, already available.	
Library Requirements:	None	
Capital Funds Requirements: 	N/A	

2.3	Servicing Implications: N/A

2.4	Teaching Arrangements:

(i)	Will other units contribute on a regular basis to the teaching of this course? NO

2.5	Alternative Delivery Arrangements: N/A

2.6	Details of Tuition Fees:

Standard fees for courses in the Faculty of Engineering.

3.	AUTHORISATION

3.1	University Librarian’s Endorsement

Note:  this section of the Proposal must be signed by a Library representative, stating:

I have examined the Library needs related to the above proposal and certify that existing Library holdings, staffing, services and accommodation are adequate / inadequate (delete one) to cover the demands that are inherent in it.

Appropriate arrangements for the use of digitised material to support this course have been made by the Course Authority with the University Librarian.

Further Comments:

University Librarian
    /    /2006

3.2	Head of School’s Approval

Note:  this section of the Proposal must be signed by the Head of School, stating:

I have examined the resource implications of the above proposal in regard to staff, space, materials, equipment, capital funds, and computing, and certify that the School can cover the demands that are inherent in it.

Further Comments:

Head of School
    /    /2006

3.3	Dean’s Approval

Note:  this section of the Proposal must be signed by the Dean, stating:

I have examined the resource implications of the above proposal in regard to staff, space, materials, equipment, capital funds, and computing, and certify that:

(Tick whichever is applicable)

3.3.1	(i)	the proposal involves no additional resources. (A statement from the Head of School explaining how this can be achieved must be provided);  or

(ii)	the proposal involves additional resources and it is proposed to redeploy existing resources within the faculty. (A statement from the Head of School explaining how this will be achieved must be provided); or

(iii)	the proposal involves additional resources to be obtained as set out below; or

(iv)	the additional resources essential to bring the proposal into effect cannot be found within resources available to the faculty. 

3.3.2	Fees (delete if not applicable):

·	a fee will not be charged for this program (other than HECS)

·	a fee will be charged for this program for local fee-paying students

·	a fee will be charged for international students

If a fee is to be charged the Dean certifies as follows: 

I have ensured that the Vice-Chancellor has been advised of the proposed fee arrangements, and note that approval of fee arrangements is needed before the new program can be implemented.

3.3.3	the proposal conforms to the University's commitment to Equal Opportunity in Education.

Statement from Head of School on Source of Additional Resources and/or Further Comments:

Dean
    /    /2006