The study of computing and information technology opens up a wide variety of challenging and interesting career opportunities. Computing and information technology plays an important role in most areas of commerce, industry and government where an extensive range of applications for computers is to be found. Computing experience, particularly that involving the use of computer-based systems for supporting the operation and management of organisations, provides a sound foundation for a career in management. Those with engineering-oriented computing skills are in demand in the telecommunications industry and in organisations which rely heavily on telecommunications, for example banks, large retail businesses and Telecom. There are many other interesting applications for computers which require a knowledge of both computing and another discipline, for example graphic art and design, the analysis of geophysical data, the processing of satellite images and medical instrumentation. For this reason the computing courses offered by the university provide the opportunity for students to combine other relevant studies with the study of computing and information technology topics.
A shortage of trained computing professionals in Australia is predicted to last into the next century, so career opportunities should be good. Often the career path of a graduate is determined by the development of an interest in a specific aspect of computing or a particular area of commerce, industry, science or engineering during the course. There are also opportunities for good students to study for higher degrees and to pursue careers in teaching and research. The shortage of qualified academic staff in the field is expected to last for some years.
In Australia, the largest proportion of graduates in computing is employed in commerce, industry and government in the analysis of the requirements of organisations for computer-based information processing systems, in the development of computer programs and in supporting the day-to-day operation of the systems. Consequently there are more students studying for the Bachelor of Computing, Bachelor of Computing (Computer Science) and Bachelor of Business Systems degrees than for the other degrees that are offered.
Courses offered
The Faculty of Computing and Information Technology offers a number of undergraduate degree courses covering different aspects of computing and designed to equip students to enter a variety of areas of the computing profession including the application of computer technology to information systems in commerce and industry, and the design, construction and programming of computer equipment. It offers the degrees Bachelor of Business Systems, Bachelor of Computing (with majors in any of computer technology, information systems, software development, application development and system development), Bachelor of Computing (Computer Science) and Bachelor of Digital Systems - which are all accepted as qualifications to gain a level of membership of the Australian Computer Society; and the Bachelor of Information Management. In conjunction with the Faculty of Engineering it offers the four-year Bachelor of Computer Science and Engineering and in conjunction with both the faculties of Engineering and Science it offers the five-year BSc/BE combined degree. In conjunction with the Faculty of Business and Economics it offers the double degree of Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and the Bachelor of Computing. The Associate Diploma in Computing is offered at the Gippsland campus.
Computing subjects may also be studied to some extent by students enrolled for undergraduate degree courses in other faculties. For example at Clayton it is possible to study computer science, business systems, information management, information systems and digital technology at first and second-year level while studying another discipline as the major part of a course, and to study computing to third-year level in a degree involving two major disciplines. The extent to which this can be done can be determined by studying the regulations for the course concerned.
Postgraduate studies are offered by the faculty at the Clayton, Caulfield, Peninsula and Gippsland campuses.
At the Clayton campus masters degrees in business systems, computer science, robotics and digital technology, librarianship, archives and records, bibliographical and textual studies can be completed; as can the Graduate Diploma in Archives and Records Management, the Graduate Diploma in Business Systems, the Graduate Diploma in Computer Science, the Graduate Diploma in Digital Communications, the Diploma in Librarianship, the Graduate Diploma in Library and Information Studies, and the Graduate Diploma in Robotics.
The Caulfield campus offers the Master of Information Systems, and the Master of Computing which can be completed in computer technology, information systems or software development; the Graduate Diploma in Business Technology, the Graduate Diploma in Computing, the Graduate Diploma in Information Systems, the Graduate Diploma in Information Technology; and the Graduate Certificate in Information Technology and the Graduate Certificate in Computing.
At the Peninsula campus, the Graduate Diploma in Computing and the Master of Computing by research are offered. At Gippsland, the faculty offers the Graduate Diploma in Computing and the Graduate Diploma in Business Systems by distance education as well as the Master of Computing. Gippsland also offers the Graduate Certificate in Computing by distance education.
Entry requirements
Applicants who seek to enter a course for full-time or part-time study for an undergraduate degree should apply directly to the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre, 40 Park Street, South Melbourne, 3205. Applicants applying under the university's alternative category entry (ACE) must apply through the VTAC and may be required to sit a Special Tertiary Admissions (STAT) test. All applications for postgraduate courses should be addressed to the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, PO Box 197, Caulfield East 3145, or Wellington Road, Clayton 3168.
The Bachelor of Business Systems course at Clayton offers the option of an industry-based learning program. The applicants who qualify for it are awarded a scholarship (currently valued at approximately $6000 pa for the first year and up to $8800 for subsequent years) and are required to undertake industrial placement for any of the participating companies as directed by the university. It is assumed that all applicants for the course will be prepared to sign a contract to undertake industrial placement where directed and to abide by the conditions of the scholarship which is awarded to Australian residents on enrolment.
It should be noted that the university is experiencing a high level of demand for places in undergraduate computing courses and there are considerably more applicants than places to be offered. Consequently applicants are selected on their academic merit as measured by the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent in the case of students from interstate and overseas. It should be noted that there are special entry schemes, such as the John Crawford Scholarship Scheme for overseas students. Students who have completed, elsewhere, studies equivalent to part of those prescribed for a degree of the faculty may apply for admission to a course with advanced standing.
Experience has shown that people from many backgrounds who are interested in computing can be highly successful in the field. The policy of the faculty is to keep to a minimum the prerequisites for entry to the course in terms of the subjects which must have been studied successfully at the secondary level and to give credit for achievements in all fields of study. Nevertheless, it should be recognised that all courses assume that mathematics has been studied at secondary school to a reasonable level and that the minimum requirement is a mathematics study at VCE levels 1 and 2. For Victorian students, the requirement for some courses is VCE Mathematics levels 1 and 2 and for other courses, levels 3 and 4. Courses which involve computer engineering, such as engineering courses, have relatively stringent prerequisites while those which involve computer programming and information processing have few. Those applicants who have work experience, particularly those who can demonstrate some aptitude for computer programming, should not be deterred by the course prerequisites.