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Unit outline_

COMP9003: Object-Oriented Programming

Semester 1, 2025 [Normal evening] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Object-oriented (OO) programming is a technique that arranges code into classes, each encapsulating in one place related data and the operations on that data. Inheritance is used to reuse code from a more general class, in specialised situations. Most modern programming languages provide OO features. Understanding and using these are an essential skill to software developers in industry. This unit provides the student with the concepts and individual programming skills in OO programming, starting from their previous mastery of procedural programming.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Computer Science
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
INFO1113 or INFO1103 or COMP9103
Assumed knowledge
? 

COMP9001 or INFO1110 or INFO1910

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Imdad Ullah, imdad.ullah@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Mafruha Hossain, mowrin.hossain@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2025
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
hurdle task
Written Final Exam
Pen-and-paper based exam (Closed-book)
50% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Assignment Individual assignment
Individual assignment, real-world problem solutions
12.5% Week 06
Due date: 06 Apr 2025 at 23:59

Closing date: 11 Apr 2025
N/A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO6 LO8
Small test Supervised mid-exam
Invigilated exam during tutorials, based on unit contents weeks 1 – 7.
10% Week 08
Due date: 14 Apr 2025 at 19:00

Closing date: 18 Apr 2025
1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO8
Small test Quiz
Quiz based on unit contents from Weeks 8-10.
5% Week 11
Due date: 17 May 2025 at 00:00

Closing date: 18 May 2025
30
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8 LO9 LO10
Assignment group assignment Group Assignment
Implement an application-based project; group-based; 2-3 students
22.5% Week 12
Due date: 25 May 2025 at 23:59

Closing date: 30 May 2025
N/A
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • The supervised test will be during the tutorial sessions.
  • The group assignment will have viva during week 13 to assess individual contributions.
  • The use of AI is not allowed for all assessments.
  • The final exam is closed-book.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

It is a policy of the School of Computer Science that in order to pass this unit, a student must achieve at least 40% in the written examination. For subjects without a final exam, the 40% minimum requirement applies to the corresponding major assessment component specified by the lecturer. A student must also achieve an overall final mark of 50 or more. Any student not meeting these requirements may be given a maximum final mark of no more than 45 regardless of their average.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Except for supervised exams or in-semester tests, you may use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessments unless expressly prohibited by your unit coordinator. 

For exams and in-semester tests, the use of AI and automated writing tools is not allowed unless expressly permitted in the assessment instructions. 

The icons in the assessment table above indicate whether AI is allowed – whether full AI, or only some AI (the latter is referred to as “AI restricted”). If no icon is shown, AI use is not permitted at all for the task. Refer to Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks for this unit. 

Your final submission must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of automated writing tools or generative AI, and any material generated that you include in your final submission must be properly referenced. You may be required to submit generative AI inputs and outputs that you used during your assessment process, or drafts of your original work. Inappropriate use of generative AI is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply. 

The Current Students website provides information on artificial intelligence in assessments. For help on how to correctly acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the  AI in Education Canvas site

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late submission is not possible for any of the quizzes during the semester, as results for these are released immediately after the due time.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Unit of Study Introduction and Programming: 1. Introduction to the unit 2. Computer programs 3. Java programming language 4. Course overview 5. Administrative issues Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO6
Week 02 Java Basics & Primitive Data Types: 1. Java Basics 2. Primitive Data Types 3. Useful Classes Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO6 LO8
Introduction to Programming Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO6
Week 03 Decision & Iteration: 1. if statement 2. if-else statement 3. Nested branches 4. switch statement Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO6
Java Basics & Primitive Data Types Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO6 LO8
Week 04 Arrays & Loops: 1. Loop and static methods 2. Arrays and strings Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO6 LO8
Decision & Iteration Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO6
Week 05 Introduction to OOP: 1. Object-Oriented Paradigm 2. Using Classes (Scanner Class) 3. String objects 4. Interactive Text IO via Scanner Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO6 LO8
Arrays & Loops Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO6 LO8
Week 06 Introduction to Classes: 1. Fields 2. Constructors 3. Methods Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Introduction to OOP Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO6 LO8
Week 07 Inheritance and Encapsulation: 1. Inheritance and encapsulation 2. Overloading and overriding Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO8
Introduction to Classes Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 08 Polymorphism: 1. Polymorphism 2. Abstract Classes 3. Interfaces Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8 LO9
Inheritance and Encapsulation Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO8
Week 09 Class Members and ArrayList: 1. Class Members (Instance Vs. Static) 2. Access Modifiers 3. ArrayList Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO8 LO9
Polymorphism Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8
Week 10 OO Software Development in Java: 1. Design process 2. Implementation process 3. Testing process Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8 LO10
Class Members and ArrayList Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO8 LO9
Week 11 Recursion and Debugging: 1. Recursive Thinking for Problem-solving 2. Exceptions and error handling 3. Debugging techniques Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
OO Software Development in Java Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8 LO10
Week 12 Revision - 01 Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO10
Recursion and Debugging Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Week 13 Revision: 1. Revision - 02 2. Overview of Exam Structure Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Group Assignment Viva Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library Reading List, available at USYD Library.

Textbook:

  • Schildt, Herbert. 2022. Java: A Beginner's Guide. 9th ed. New York: McGraw Hill. https://www.accessengineeringlibrary.com/content/book/9781260463552

Reference Books:

  • Schildt, Herbert, and Danny Coward. 2024. Java: The Complete Reference. 13th ed. New York: McGraw Hill. https://www.accessengineeringlibrary.com/content/book/9781265058432
  • Savitch, Walter, and Kenrick Mock. Java: an Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming PDF Ebook, Global Edition, Pearson Education, Limited, 2014. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/usyd/detail.action?docID=6606384

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate an understanding of the concept of Object-Orientation: understand and explain key concepts of object-oriented programming, including classes as encapsulating data, object instances, memory model of references, methods and calling them across objects
  • LO2. read and interpret an object oriented design document
  • LO3. demonstrate an understanding of the memory model and differences between locations of variables
  • LO4. derive a computer program from a design document that uses concepts of OO and memory model, trace and write small examples of code including the following elements: inheritance, polymorphism, abstract classes and interfaces, variables and their type and the relationship between static and dynamic type, exception
  • LO5. demonstrate experience in testing Object-Oriented programs, write tests for standalone objects, be able to generate and handle exceptions, create invariants for classes, methods and objects, pre- and post-conditions for methods, and assertions
  • LO6. create appropriate class/data structure including the data types and methods for simple problems
  • LO7. read, trace and write recursive Object-Oriented programs to perform an operation in a related set of classes that support some nested structure
  • LO8. demonstrate an understanding of Object-Oriented programming language : reading, tracing and writing competence with the following elements of Java programming language: classes, methods, object creation; instance and local variables, parameters and scope; basic types; simple I/O; control flow primitives and understand, modify and add functionality to Java programs
  • LO9. demonstrate experience writing code with common interfaces and collections in Object-Oriented programming language
  • LO10. demonstrate experience in testing and debugging Object-Oriented programs, write tests for stand-alone object code, to be run automatically.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The unit was redesigned for master students with no prerequisites.

IMPORTANT: School policy relating to Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism.

- In assessing a piece of submitted work, the School of Computer Science may reproduce it entirely, may provide a copy to another member of faculty, and/or to an external plagiarism checking service or in-house computer program and may also maintain a copy of the assignment for future checking purposes and/or allow an external service to do so.

- All written assignments submitted in this unit of study will be submitted to the similarity detecting software program known as TurnItIn. TurnItIn searches for matches between text in your written assessment task and text sourced from the Internet, published works and assignments that have previously been submitted to Turnitin for analysis.

- There will always be some degree of text-matching when using TurnItIn. Text-matching may occur in use of direct quotations, technical terms and phrases, or the listing of bibliographic material. This does not mean you will automatically be accused of academic dishonesty or plagiarism, although Turnitin reports may be used as evidence in academic dishonesty and plagiarism decision-making processes.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.