Postgraduate handbook 2005 - Information Technology

Master of Network Computing (Minor Thesis)

Course code: 3318 + 1.5 years full-time, 3 years part-time + On-campus (Caulfield; Peninsula)
Course leader: Dr Phu Dung Le

Course description

This masters degree aims to (a) provide students with an in-depth knowledge of an area of study relevant to network computing 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 network computing
• an understanding of the use of a variety of research methods appropriate to network computing
• theoretical knowledge in specific areas so that they will have the intellectual and conceptual foundation to play leading roles in the development of the network computing industry
• the conceptual and theoretical framework to appreciate and integrate new software and hardware technologies, and, within a network computing context, use them to develop solutions to complex problems in our society
• demonstrated competency in research communication, including written and oral presentations
• planned and completed a substantial research project relevant to network computing
• documented by extended minor thesis (36 points) the findings of a substantial research
• adequately prepared to undertake further research at PhD level.

Entry requirements

Entry normally requires a first degree that is recognised as equivalent to an Australian bachelors degree, with a credit average in results in final-level computing units. Those expecting to complete their degrees in the current year may apply. 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, software engineering.

Advanced standing

Credit provision/advanced standing in the program is available to applicants who hold a suitable postgraduate qualification or who have a suitable four-year or honours degree with significant emphasis on information technology. Students can be granted up to 24 points of advanced standing with a postgraduate award and up to 36 points credit for non-award units.
Generally, students who have completed similar units in previous studies will normally be required to make substitutions. Where credit is granted, the number of the elective units that may be taken outside the list of approved network computing 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.
Credit for unsupervised research prior to enrolment will not be granted as credit towards the required supervised research within the course. A thesis from previous courses cannot be counted towards credit.
Credit will not be granted for units on the grounds that the material in the units has been learned as a result of work experience. In these cases, students should choose another unit.

Course structure

The course is a 72-point masters, consisting of a 36-point minor thesis and 36 points of coursework.
The coursework includes:

• a research methods unit (6 points) at level 4
• two units (12 points) must be selected from level 5
• a maximum of three units (18 points), which can be selected from level 4.

Only one unit (6 points) of coursework may be at the 9000 level or from outside the faculty.
There are no core units. Students may select their units from those on offer, provided the program of studies conforms to requirements given above, from the following list:

Units

• CPE4001 Distributed programming in Java
• CPE4002 Data communications and internetworking
• CPE4004 Analysis and design of distributed information systems
• CPE5002 Network security
• CPE5004 Advanced multimedia programming techniques
• CPE5006 Virtual private networks
• CPE5007 Object-oriented middleware
• CPE5008 Electronic commerce technologies
• CPE5009 Internet devices and services
• CPE5010 Mobile software agents
• CPE5011 Internet applications development
• CPE5012 Web database technologies
• CPE5013 Network administration
• CPE5014 Analysis and design of portal enterprise applications
• CPE5020 Global software
• CPE5021 Advanced network security
• CPE5100 Reading unit in network computing
• CPE5501 Network computing project part A
• CPE5502 Network computing project part B
• CPE9001 Java programming
• CPE9005 Web development
• CSE4702 Formal methods in distributed computing systems
• CSE5000 Distributed object technology
• CSE5020 Distributed computation and simulation
• CSE5060 Multimedia applications on the web
• CSE5200 Distributed database systems
• CSE5501 Mobile and distributed computing systems
• CSE5210 Advances in information security
• CSE5802 Distributed systems
• CSE5803 Advanced internet protocols and applications
• CSE5805 Advanced network design
• CSE5806 Telecommunications management
• CSE5910 Multimedia programming in Java
• FIT5910 Multimedia programming in Java
• IMS5007 Electronic commerce
• IMS5011 Recordkeeping, archiving and the internet
• IMS5030 The internet and multimedia

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, as a hurdle requirement.

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