COSC478-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025

Special Topic

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 14 July 2025
End Date: Sunday, 9 November 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 27 July 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 28 September 2025

Description

Special Topic

SPECIAL TOPIC: APPLICATIONS OF GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE USING LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS

Course Aim
To provide students with an in-depth understanding of the applications of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) using Large Language Models (LLM) in a range of industries and the opportunity to critically evaluate the use of associated tools and develop a chat-bot for an industry of the student’s choosing.

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically evaluate the differences between generative artificial intelligence tools (focussing on Large Language Models) [WA2]
2. Analyse and critically evaluate the application of GenAI tools across a range of industries, and from a range of perspectives including ethics, cultural and data sovereignty (focussing on Large Language Models) [WA2]
3. Develop a chat-bot for use in a particular context [WA3]
4. Critique the academic literature relating to the use of generative artificial intelligence tools [WA2, WA10, WA12]

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

Employable, innovative and enterprising

Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

Biculturally competent and confident

Students will be aware of and understand the nature of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, and its relevance to their area of study and/or their degree.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval by Head of Department.

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 09:00 - 10:00 Rehua 529
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Thursday 10:00 - 11:00 E12
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct

Course Coordinator

Trevor Nesbit

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Assignment 1 - Evaluation of Tools 15%
Research Report and Presentation 35%
Development of a Chat-Bot 20%
Final Exam 30% Final Exam

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.

Special Consideration Applications for the Final Exam

Please click HERE for the CSSE Department's policy for the academic remedy of applications for a special consideration for final exams.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,176.00

International fee $5,475.00

* 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 COSC478 Occurrences

  • COSC478-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025