Monash University: University Handbooks: Distance Education 2001: Subjects indexed by faculty
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Master of Information Management and Systems


General information

Course code: 2401 Caulfield campus Course director: Dr Graeme Johanson Fees for Australian residents (subject to approval): $14400 or $1200 per six-point unit
The Master of Information Management and Systems (MIMS) is offered by the School of Information Management and Systems (SIMS). The aim of the program is to prepare students for senior careers in the management of information and the development of information systems.
Graduates of the MIMS are expected to play leading professional roles in Australia and other countries. The course attracts students from a wide variety of educational and professional backgrounds. MIMS can be studied in full-time and part-time modes and a number of units are available by distance education. Each student is required to specialise in at least one area of information management and systems.
SIMS also offers the Master of Information Management and Systems (Honours), which is a research degree under the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS).

Admission requirements

Applicants for admission must normally have qualified for a bachelors degree at Monash University or at another tertiary institution approved by the faculty board. Special entry provisions enable admission of candidates without formal tertiary qualifications who can establish that they have the foundation required for postgraduate studies.

Course structure

To qualify with the MIMS, students must complete 72 points of graduate units - 60 points from SIMS and 12 points of free choice electives. The SIMS units in the MIMS are shown in the list below. Each student's course of study must include IMS5022 (Contemporary issues in information management and systems) and at least one specialisation from information systems development, information technology management, information management, decision support systems, library and information services, electronic recordkeeping and archiving, or multimedia.
Students should take careful note of prerequisites for the units in the specialisation that they have chosen and complete these units early in their course. Many units have bridging units as prerequisites. The bridging units have been designed for students with little prior study in information technology. Students who feel they have the knowledge and skills equal to a bridging unit may sit a challenge exam and if successful will be given an exemption without credit for the unit. They must then elect another graduate unit in place of the 'challenged' bridging subject.
Once students have selected their course of study, namely the core unit and the requirements of their specialisation, they must then select other graduate units to make up their 72 points. This elective study can involve units from other specialisations or may come from the SIMS bridging and additional units. Some electives are classed as 'special entry' and admission requires the formal approval of the head of school. Up to 12 points of elective study may be taken from outside SIMS as part of the degree. It may be possible for some students to complete more than one specialisation in their degree. The specialisations completed will be acknowledged on the student's official academic transcript.
Students who successfully complete 24 points of units may exit the course with a Graduate Certificate in Information Management and Systems. Students who successfully complete 48 points of units may exit the course with a Graduate Diploma in Information Management and Systems.

Bridging units

Specialisations units

Decision support systems
Information management
Information systems development
Information technology management
Library and information services
Multimedia
Electronic recordkeeping and archiving

Additional units

Special entry units

Course length

The course is of three semesters duration.

Credit and advanced standing

Students who have completed a graduate qualification with a recognised specialisation in information management or systems, or who have extensive professional experience, may be granted credit and advanced standing. The granting of credit and advanced standing of more than 24 points is rare. To qualify for a MIMS with advanced standing, a student must complete at least four level-five SIMS units and meet the specialisation and core unit requirements. The SIMS procedures for the recognition of prior learning can be found at http://www.sims.monash.edu.au/courses/mims/rpl

Professional recognition

Students who successfully complete the MIMS may, depending on their unit choice, be eligible for professional recognition by the Australian Library and Information Association, the Australian Society of Archivists, the Records Management Association of Australia, or the Australian Computer Society. For further information on professional recognition, consult http://www.sims.monash.edu.au/courses/professions

Further information

For more detailed information and application forms, contact the Administrative Officer (Coursework), School of Information and Management Systems, Faculty of Information Technology, Caulfield Campus, telephone (03) 9903 2208, fax (03) 9903 2005, email info@sims.monash.edu.au or refer to our website at http://www.sims.monash.edu.au

Completed applications

Completed applications should be forwarded to the Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, PO Box 197, Caulfield East, Victoria 3145.
NB: Students should complete Faculty of Information Technology application forms, not the distance education application forms.

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