1999 Information Technology Handbooks - Bachelor of Network Computing

Bachelor of Network Computing

General information
Introduction
Admission requirements
Objectives
Structure

General information

Peninsula campus
Course code 2233
Course director: Dr Des Casey

This course aims to produce graduates who will be specialists in the field of network computing, who will be able to design and construct distributed applications operating on local area networks, wide area networks, intranets, extranets and the Internet. Graduates will be able to administer and manage these networks for organisations and will have an understanding of the legal and organisational issues that have become critical for successful implementation of networked applications. Graduates will be enabled to continually develop their skills in order to keep abreast with technological developments.
The course is innovative in a number of ways. It is one of the first undergraduate courses in Australia specifically focusing on the emerging paradigm of network computing. The course uses summer semester study to enable students to accelerate their studies.

Admission requirements

Prerequisites: Any mathematics at levels 3 and 4; English at levels 3 and 4 with a grade of D.
Note that for 1999 and 2000 intakes only, units 1 and 2 Maths Methods will be accepted. Students with General Maths units 1 and 2 will also be accepted, but students will be required to take a Monash mathematics subject in their first semester. This subject will be at another campus or through distance education.

Objectives

The Bachelor of Network Computing aims to provide students with the necessary knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes to enable them to analyse a wide variety of information processing problems and to develop solutions to these using distributed information systems and computer networks.
While the Bachelor of Network Computing will have a strong theoretical base, it will also be applied in nature and involve the students in using the latest commercially relevant computer networking and distributed computing technologies.
Although graduate employment outcomes vary considerably due to the wide variety of career opportunities available in network computing, typical career outcomes include traditional roles such computer programmer, systems designer, systems developer and analyst/programmer. However, graduates of this course will have specialised knowledge and skills in relation to computer networks, the Internet, the World Wide Web and distributed applications. Graduates will also be well equipped to undertake emerging roles such as network administrator, network manager, Internet developer, web page author, corporate web master and corporate server administrator.
The objectives of the course are:
1 To provide students with a conceptual framework on which a thorough grasp of network and distributed system technologies, architectures and information systems may be built.
2 To enable students to think critically, take responsibility for self-learning, and use a degree of resourcefulness when solving problems.
3 To provide students with the necessary knowledge, understanding and skills required for them:

to identify, analyse and model user requirements for distributed information systems and computer networks;
to design, construct, test, implement and manage distributed information systems and computer networks that meet user requirements;
to effectively use computer hardware and software technologies such as computer networks, Internet technologies, network operating systems and database management systems in the development of distributed information systems.

4 To engender in students attitudes:

that accept of the code of professional conduct and practice appropriate to practicing information technology professionals;
that embrace a group cooperative ethos for productive problem solution development.

5 To develop effective oral, visual, textual and inter-personal communication skills.
6 The Bachelor of Network Computing qualifies graduates for admission to the professional division of membership of the Australian Computer Society.

Structure

For course map details, please refer to map 11 in the 'Undergraduate course maps' section.
The degree consists of 144 points of study, of which no more than sixty points are at first year level of study, and at least thirty-six points of study are at each of the second and third-year levels. Of the minimum thirty-six points of third year study, at least twenty-four must be computing study. All subjects are of six points value, except for the industrial experience project which is of twelve points value.
The degree is made up of three components:

The compulsory core

The core comprises thirty-six points of first year, thirty-six points of second year, and eighteen points of third year. The core provides students with the fundamentals of network computing: the conceptual framework, the understanding, knowledge, skills and attitudes at the heart of this degree.

Minor sequence

At least one minor sequence of study in a computing or non-computing area of study. A minor sequence consists of twenty-four points of related study. No more than twelve points of a minor may at first-year level. The minor sequence allows students to add breadth to their learning, by engaging a related and useful discipline area. Areas of study may include business, arts, education or areas of computing not included in the core.

Electives

Electives, computing or non-computing, in accordance with the points requirements for the degree. The electives enable students to select particular areas of interest in which to study.
Students who elect to convert a minor to a major may do so by the selection of an additional twenty-four points of study in the designated area.