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Monash University: University handbooks: Undergraduate handbook: Units indexed by faculty
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Bachelor of Business Information Systems

Course code: 3333 + Course abbreviation: BBIS + Total credit points required: 144 + 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time

Study mode and course location

On-campus (Clayton)

Course description

This course is a cooperative education program between the Clayton School of Information Technology and industry, which focuses on the applications of information technology in business and leads to a career in business information technology. The curriculum has been developed in consultation with the industry partners of the school who regularly employ graduates of the program. It is a broad-based degree, with core units ranging from computer programming to business analysis.

The course has two major aims: to provide students with an understanding of information technology’s role in business and to prepare them for leadership roles. Students develop their knowledge, skills and attitudes in the broad areas of business programming, business information systems, computer systems and business analysis. Graduates obtain employment in roles such as a business analyst, project manager or IT consultant.

Course objectives

The course aims to teach fundamental concepts as well as the application of information technology in business. In addition, graduates should be able to relate their university studies to the world of business and to offer employers a competitive advantage in business operations. Specifically, graduates will have knowledge of: how information technology is used within organisations; the fundamentals of business programming; the techniques used to develop business information systems; current business information systems; business processes; and business analysis.

Graduates will also have an understanding of: the applications of information technology in industry; the analysis and interpretation of business data; business systems development within organisations; how information systems can support business processes and decision making within organisations; and project management.

Graduates will have the skills to: develop business applications; analyse and interpret business data; solve quantitative business problems; rapidly learn and apply emerging technologies; improve business productivity using information technology; and communicate at a professional level with clients, system users and peers. They will also have developed attitudes which allow them to: produce work to the very best of their ability; work effectively in a team environment; and interact effectively with clients, system users and peers.

Course structure

The course includes compulsory (core) and optional (elective) units selected from the Faculty of Information Technology, plus units chosen from those offered by other schools and departments.

Areas of study

Two streams are offered – the coursework stream and the industry-based learning (IBL) stream.

Industry-based learning stream

Applicants who qualify for the industry-based learning program are awarded a scholarship (currently valued at $36,000 over three years) and undertake two 22-week industry placements with the participating companies as directed by the university. The student’s work during the placement will be structured and assessed as part of the degree. IBL stream students are required to be available during the normal vacation period in summer and winter for special units and industry-based learning placements.

The scholarships are awarded to Australian residents based on an interview conducted by the industry partners of the Clayton School of Information Technology. The IBL program is not available to international students. The granting of a scholarship does not create an employment obligation on the part of students’ industry partners. In order to remain in the IBL stream, students must perform at a satisfactory academic level.

There are two intakes into the IBL stream each year. In 2007, there will be approximately 35 IBL scholarships awarded to students admitted to the first year of the degree. 20-25 of these will be offered in the first release of IBL scholarships in December 2006 prior to VTAC change of preference. The rest of the scholarships will be released towards the end of the first year of study. The assessment criteria used at the interview includes communication skills, leadership, initiative, part-time work experience (does not have to be related to IT) and career interests.

Industry partners of the program include the following organisations:

  • Accenture
  • ADP Employer Services
  • AWB Limited
  • AXA
  • Coles Group
  • Deloitte
  • IBM Australia
  • Incitec Pivot Pty Ltd
  • McCormick Foods Australia
  • National Australia Bank
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers
  • Qenos Pty Ltd
  • Red Wahoo
  • Smorgon Steel Distribution
  • Southern Health
  • Tata Consultancy Services
  • Telstra Corporation

Course requirements

The Bachelor of Business Information Systems pass degree consists of units to a total value of 144 points. A maximum of 60 points of first-year units may be counted towards the degree. Students must complete at least 36 points of second-year units and at least 36 points of third-year units.

Students must complete the course requirements for the relevant stream as specified below.

Coursework stream

All units are 6 points, unless otherwise specified.

First year
Second year
  • FIT2001 Systems analysis and design
  • FIT2002 IT project management
  • FIT2006 Business process modelling and workflow
  • FIT2011 Decision support systems fundamentals
  • FIT2013 e-Business technologies
  • FIT2017 Computer models for business decision making
Third year
  • FIT3003 Business intelligence and data warehousing, or FIT3022 Intelligent decision support systems
  • FIT3009 e-Business systems, or FIT3012 Enterprise systems
Elective units*
  • two (6-point) third-year BBIS electives chosen from a schedule published by the Faculty of Information Technology
  • three (6-point) electives from the Faculty of Business and Economics
  • five (6-point) electives chosen from any faculty or school of the university
Industry-based learning stream

All units are 6 points, unless otherwise specified.

First year
Second year
  • FIT2001 Systems analysis and design
  • FIT2002 IT project management
  • FIT2006 Business process modelling and workflow
  • FIT2011 Decision support systems fundamentals
  • FIT2013 e-Business technologies
  • FIT2017 Computer models for business decision making
  • FIT2035 Professional communications for industry-based learning (0 points)
  • FIT2032 Industry-based learning (18 points)
Third year
  • FIT3045 Industry-based learning (18 points)#
  • FIT3003 Business intelligence and data warehousing, or FIT3022 Intelligent decision support systems
  • FIT3009 e-Business systems or FIT3012 Enterprise systems

    # Subject to faculty board approval of the unit (see equivalent units, BUS3000 (Industry based learning) in the ‘Unit information' section of this handbook)

Elective units*
  • one (6-point) BBIS elective chosen from a schedule published by the Faculty of Information Technology
  • two (6-point) electives from the Faculty of Business and Economics

    * Electives in both the coursework and IBL streams are subject to the requirement that: a maximum of 60 points be obtained in the first year, and a minimum of 36 points be obtained in the second and third year.

Professional recognition

Graduates of the course are eligible for professional-level membership of the Australian Computer Society.

Contact details

Email bsinfo@infotech.monash.edu.au or visit www.infotech.monash.edu.au/bbis

Course director

Sue Bedingfield (Clayton)

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