Off-Campus Learning Guide 2004
Information Technology

Master of Information Technology (Minor Thesis)

Course code: 3316 + Gippsland campus + Australian residents - 2004 annual fees: TBC + International students - 2004 annual fees: $19,200 per year, or $2400 per six-point unit + Course director: Dr Kai Ming Ting

Aims

This masters degree aims to (a) provide students with an in-depth knowledge of an area of study relevant to information technology and (b) provide preparation for further research.

On the successful completion of this degree, students will have:

• an in-depth knowledge of one or more areas of study relevant to information technology
• an understanding of the use of a variety of research methods appropriate to information technology
• a demonstrated competency in research communication, including oral and written presentations
• planned and completed a substantial research project relevant to information technology
• documented by thesis the findings of a substantial research project
• been adequately prepared to undertake further research at masters or PhD level
• theoretical knowledge in specific areas so that they will have the intellectual and conceptual foundation to play leading roles in the development of the information technology industry
• the conceptual and theoretical framework to appreciate and integrate new software and hardware technologies, and, within an information technology context, to use them to develop solutions to complex problems in our society.

Course length

The course duration is three semesters full-time or six semesters part-time.

Entry requirements

Entrance normally requires a first degree that is equivalent to an Australian bachelors degree, with a credit average in results in level three units. It is expected that entrants will have a degree in a cognate discipline which provides a suitable basis for the course, eg computer science, computing, information systems, business systems, digital systems, information management or software engineering.

Course structure

Coursework

The course is a 72-point masters which consists of a 36-point minor thesis and 36 points of coursework.

The 36 points of coursework will include:

• GCO4010 Research methods and reading in information technology

plus five units (30 points) chosen from the following:

• GCO5801 Trading systems and electronic commerce
• GCO5802 Financial modelling
• GCO5803 Applied operations research
• GCO5804 Forecasting methods
• GCO5805 Multimedia computing and communications
• GCO5806 Internet commerce
• GCO5807 Project management
• GCO5828 Applications of data mining
• GCO5900 Introduction to multimedia computing
• GCO5910 Multimedia programming in JAVA
• GCO5816 Information technology management
• GCO5930 GUI design and programming
• GCO4015 Evolutionary and neural computing
• GCO4802 Computer models for business decisions
• GCO4803 Inventory management systems
• GCO4805 Software system design and development
• GCO4806 General operations management
• GCO4807 Business statistics and applications

Two out of the five units (12 points) must be selected from the 5000-level units. A maximum of three units (18 points) may be selected from the 4000-level units. Students may select one unit (6 points) from the 9000 level.

Research component

The research component consists of a supervised extended minor thesis of at least one-and-a-half semesters length (for full-time students). Students are expected to complete a written research project proposal mid-way through the first semester.

Advanced standing for previous study

Generally, students who have completed similar units in previous studies will normally be required to make substitutions. Credit will only be granted for postgraduate units that have not counted for the award of any other degree or diploma. Where credit is granted, the number of the elective units that may be taken outside the list of approved information technology graduate units may be reduced. In evaluating units for possible credit, a distinction will be made between a graduate unit and a postgraduate unit. Also, an attempt will be made to distinguish between fourth-year units and fifth-year units. Students can be granted at most 36 points of advanced standing credit.

Credit for unsupervised research prior to enrolment will not be granted as credit towards the required supervised research within the course. Credit will not be granted for units on the grounds that the material in the unit has been learned as a result of work experience. In these cases, students should choose another unit.

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