COSC445-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026

Professional, Ethical and Cultural Perspectives on Computer Science

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 16 February 2026
End Date: Sunday, 21 June 2026
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 1 March 2026
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 10 May 2026

Description

To prepare students to perform in a professionally and culturally appropriate manner in Computer Science and Information Technology roles in an Aotearoa-New Zealand context.

PLEASE NOTE THIS COURSE IS NOT FOR SOFTWARE ENGINEERING STUDENTS AND IS RESTRICTED AGAINST ENEL301.

Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate bicultural competence and confidence skills and knowledge appropriate for computer science and IT professionals in Aotearoa-New Zealand.
  • Apply ethical principles and codes of ethics to scenarios experienced by computer science and IT professionals in Aotearoa-New Zealand reflecting its place in the Pacific Region and the rest of the world.
  • Apply Treaty partnership principles and the experiences of Māori to current and emerging issues facing computer science and IT professionals in Aotearoa-New Zealand.
  • Analyse issues facing computer science and IT professionals relating to data privacy, data sovereignty, Māori data sovereignty and emerging technologies.
  • Critique the academic literature relating to IT codes of ethics, biculturalism and Māori data sovereignty.

Prerequisites

Approval from the Head of Department required

Restrictions

Timetable 2026

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 15:00 - 16:00 James Logie 104
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 12:00 - 13:00 A7
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
Tutorial A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 15:00 - 16:00 Jack Erskine 111
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May

Course Coordinator

Trevor Nesbit

Additional Course Outline Information

Grade moderation

The Computer Science department's grading policy states that in order to pass a course you must meet two requirements:
1. You must achieve an average grade of at least 50% over all assessment items.
2. You must achieve an average mark of at least 45% on invigilated assessment items.

If you satisfy both these criteria, your grade will be determined by the following University-wide scale for converting marks to grades: an average mark of 50% is sufficient for a C- grade, an average mark of 55% earns a C grade, 60% earns a C+ grade and so forth. However if you do not satisfy both the passing criteria you will be given either a D or E grade depending on marks. Marks are sometimes scaled to achieve consistency between courses from year to year.

Students may apply for special consideration if their performance in an assessment is affected by extenuating circumstances beyond their control.

Applications for special consideration should be submitted via the Special Considerations website within five days of the assessment.

Where an extension may be granted for an assessment, this will be decided by direct application to the Department and an application to the Examinations Office may not be required.

Special consideration is not available for items worth less than 10% of the course.

Students prevented by extenuating circumstances from completing the course after the final date for withdrawing, may apply for special consideration for late discontinuation of the course. Applications must be submitted to the Examinations Office within five days of the end of the main examination period for the semester.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,247.00

International fee $5,663.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Computer Science and Software Engineering .

All COSC445 Occurrences

  • COSC445-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026