wwwdev@monash.edu.au
Tue Apr 13 14:11:13 EST 1999
Auth: C Whip, University Webmaster's Office
Copyright © Monash University 1998 - All Rights Reserved - Caution
Clayton
campus
Course code: 2406
Course leader: Associate Professor Jim Breen
Monash's
digital communications program covers a broad range of courses ranging from the
short graduate certificate up to the masters degree by coursework in digital
communications. The courses have been structured to provide an integrated
program of postgraduate education in digital communications.
The original focus of the program was on computer communications, however in
recent years, with the rapid digitisation of the telecommunications network,
the field of digital communications has expanded, and the fundamental
technologies have merged, to the point that virtually the whole range of
communications technologies, products and services are of vital interest to all
specialists.
The aims of Monash's digital communications program are:
1 to provide a thorough understanding of the central communications and
networking technologies: transmission systems, local networks, and protocols;
2 to provide practical and theoretical foundations to enable graduates to
design, develop, specify, select, install and operate communications facilities
in a wide range of applications areas;
3 to provide a foundation of theory from which trends and future technologies
can be evaluated.
The course currently draws students from a wide range of employment backgrounds
including programming, systems analysis, engineering, management, consultancy,
auditing, marketing and teaching. The program is designed to provide graduates
in fields such as computing, computer science or electrical engineering with
specialist graduate-level education in topics such as digital communications
technologies, communications architectures, protocols and communications
software.
The initial subjects introduce underlying principles and technologies, and the
later subjects go more deeply into the underlying theoretical and technological
foundations of digital communications systems, and also examines the social and
political aspects of communications networking, and the management structures
for communications networks.
The course is available either part-time for a minimum of three years or
full-time for a minimum of eighteen months (three semesters.)
The
normal entry requirement is a three-year degree or diploma-level qualification
in a discipline that provides a suitable basis for the course, eg computer
science, data processing or electrical, electronic or communications
engineering.
Applicants with a degree or diploma in a discipline not directly related to the
course will be considered if they have relevant work experience in computers or
communications.
Applicants without degree or diploma qualifications may also be admitted on the
basis of work experience, subject to the approval of the faculty's admissions
committee. The level of work experience required would be at least five years
in a position carrying significant technical responsibility in an area relevant
to the course. Applicants should also be able to demonstrate an ability to
study at tertiary level. The number of places available to applicants in this
category is limited.
Applicants should note that demand for this course usually exceeds the quota of
places available and consequently not everyone qualified for entry to the
course can be admitted. Applicants are therefore advised to present their cases
strongly when applying for the course.
Advanced standing in the program is available to applicants who hold a suitable
postgraduate qualification, or who have a four-year or honours degree with
significant emphasis on data communications or telecommunications.
In 1999 the course fee is $12,000 or $1000 per six-point subject.
The course consists of coursework subjects, and either a major project or a minor thesis, structured as follows:
(a)
At least eight subjects from the list of approved digital communications
graduate subjects listed below. No more than four of these subjects may be from
group one on the list.
(b) Up to two subjects which may be drawn from any postgraduate program of the
university with the approval of the school or nominee.
(c) A communications project (twelve points), in which the student undertakes
an investigation of some aspect of digital communications, leading to a project
report, or in some circumstances the development of communications-oriented
hardware or software.
(a)
At least six subjects from the list of approved digital communications graduate
subjects listed below. No more that four of these subjects may be from group
one on the list.
(b) Up to two subjects which may be drawn from any postgraduate program of the
university with the approval of the school or nominee.
(c) A communications minor thesis (twenty-four points), in which the student
undertakes a significant investigation of some aspect of digital
communications, leading to a thesis which will be assessed by two examiners.
(The minor thesis is expected to be at a significantly higher standard than the
project in structure A. Students proceeding to a later PhD program would
normally undertake the minor thesis as a demonstration of readiness for a
research degree.)
Note that not all subjects are available in any one year. This list is subject to revision.
wwwdev@monash.edu.au
Tue Apr 13 14:11:13 EST 1999