Berwick
campus
Course Code: 2163
Director of studies: Mr Martin Atchison
The
Bachelor of Multimedia is offered by the School of Information Management and
Systems in collaboration with the Faculty of Art and Design. The aim of the
Bachelor of Multimedia is to provide undergraduate students with the knowledge,
skills, and attitudes essential to the analysis, design and implementation of
computer-based multimedia products, services and systems. The principle focus
of the degree is on the development process, and all subject material is
oriented towards the problems of identifying appropriate areas of application
of multimedia, and developing products and systems to meet different user
requirements.
The course content is not specific to any particular application area for
multimedia, but provides students with exposure to as wide as possible a
variety of applications in business and government, while enabling them to
develop specialised expertise in areas of greatest interest to them. The course
has a very strong practical focus which emphasises learning by doing. Students
are required to carry out a lot of practical development of real systems for
real-life clients to reinforce the theory covered in formal lectures and
tutorials.
Entry into the Bachelor of Multimedia will require completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (or equivalent) with a minimum grade of C in English at levels 3 and 4. Mature-age applicants are considered on the basis of their employment history, educational background and career objectives. A lack of formal qualifications should not discourage inquiry.
The Bachelor of Multimedia aims to produce graduates who will work in both the public and private sectors developing computer-based multimedia systems, products and services. Students will gain experience in a wide variety of industry-standard tools and technologies used in web-based and CD-ROM- based systems. The course has a strong practical orientation, and will be ideally suited to meet the needs of industry, government and business.
Outstanding students who wish to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of aspects of multimedia may choose to take a fourth year of study, called an honours year. Completion of an honours year is essential for students who wish to pursue a research career. Entry into the Bachelor of Multimedia honours year will require completion of the Bachelor of Multimedia pass degree, or equivalent qualification, with an overall grade average of credit. The honours program will not be offered until 2001 .
For course map details please refer map 10 in the 'Undergraduate course maps' section. The pass degree involves 144 credit points of study made up of the following components:
Twelve six-point subjects spread throughout the three years of the degree. They will cover the fundamental elements of the development of multimedia products, services and systems. Areas covered by the core subjects include multimedia tools and technology, the systems development process, graphic design, visual communication, interface design, the creation of narrative in multimedia, and multimedia in society
One full-year twelve-point subject in each year of the course. Each of these subjects will contain a mixture of project-based system development work, laboratory sessions, tutorials, seminars and formal lectures. They will enable the students to learn about multimedia and the process of multimedia system development by developing systems and system components in conditions similar to those which they will encounter in the workplace.
Comprising
units of study chosen by the student to broaden their interests or to develop
in depth their understanding and skills in particular areas of multimedia which
suit their interests and aptitude. Examples of relevant fields include computer
programming, the technology of multimedia, information systems, graphic design,
communication and electronic commerce. At least eighteen credit points of study
must be thematically related in some way to form a coherent sequence.
No more than sixty points of first-year subjects may be counted toward the
degree and at least thirty-six points must be at third-year level.
The core subjects and studio subjects are offered only during the day at the
Berwick campus. Specialisation and elective subjects may be taken in any mode
at any Monash campus.
The first-year core subjects will introduce students to key basic concepts in information technology, information and media, the design process and the process of multimedia system development. The primary focus will be on gaining an understanding of basic multimedia development concepts and familiarity with the technical environment for developing multimedia products and systems. Practical work will be based around development of systems for the world wide web.
The second-year subjects will build on the material covered in the first year core, and cover more advanced topics in the tools and techniques of multimedia systems development. The focus will be on issues of integration of components to form a coherent whole.
The third-year subjects will explore the social and organisational context of multimedia systems, and provide a basic introduction to the business environment in which most students will be seeking employment. The focus will be on the usage of multimedia products and systems and their implications for business and for society.