Introduction - Faculty of Information Technology

The Faculty of Information Technology offers a wide range of graduate programs, from graduate certificates to higher degrees in all areas of computing and information technology.

A certificate entails one semester of full-time study, a diploma consists of two semesters of full-time study, and a masters degree includes three or four semesters of full-time study.

Certificates or diplomas may be offered at graduate or postgraduate level.

Graduate awards require a degree, but not generally in IT. Postgraduate-level awards require an IT degree. These programs differ in their objectives, prerequisites and content. They can be regarded as falling into one of two groups - programs that extend knowledge in a particular discipline area and programs that have a professional orientation, providing cross-disciplinary access and training to develop professional expertise.

Domestic students who do not hold an Australian equivalent degree but have extensive work experience should consider the Executive or Professional Certificate, which can be used as pathways to graduate/postgraduate study.

Courses that extend knowledge

These courses build on a degree that is equivalent to an Australian bachelors degree with a major in the particular discipline or a fourth-year level course in the same discipline (honours, graduate diploma or masters preliminary). The focus is on extending the knowledge of the discipline methodology and its application.

Relevant course types

• Postgraduate Certificates
• Postgraduate Diplomas
• Masters degrees by research / minor thesis / coursework
• Doctor of Philosophy.

Doctor of Philosophy

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a research degree course and requires a prerequisite of an honours degree at first or upper second class honours level, a masters preliminary qualification at the same level or a masters degree by research in the discipline or equivalent. PhD studies are offered at Berwick, Caulfield, Clayton, Gippsland and Sunway.

Professionally-oriented and cross-disciplinary courses that develop information technology knowledge

These courses provide an opportunity for people with a qualification in another discipline area to gain a first qualification in IT, and to develop expertise in computing and information technologies. They require a degree that is equivalent to an Australian bachelors degree in any discipline.

Relevant course types

• Graduate Certificates
• Graduate Diplomas
• Masters degrees by coursework.

Special pathways to graduate studies

The faculty offers special programs for those with extensive work experience and no undergraduate degree, who wish to progress directly to postgraduate studies by coursework. These courses require four to six years experience at or above a project or executive management or technical / senior technical level.

Relevant course types

• Professional Certificate
• Executive Certificate.

Professional recognition

The Faculty of Information Technology has designed its coursework programs to prepare graduates for entry to the information industry as professionals. Our courses are submitted to appropriate professional bodies to meet the requirements for entry to the Australian Computer Society (ACS), the society for information and communications technology professionals in Australia. In order to achieve that professional knowledge level, students need to complete courses of one year (or more) duration. A recent exception to this general principle of course design is the Graduate Diploma in Information and Knowledge Management. In 2008, this course is accredited with the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), the Australian Society of Archivists (ASA), and the Records Management Association of Australia (RMAA).

CISCO Certification Credits

Cisco is an industry-sponsored program that helps prepare students for industry. The course consists of 4 Cisco Certified Network Associate modules (CCNA1, CCNA2, CCNA3, and CCNA4), each of 40 hours in duration. Credit is available for Monash University students who complete at least two of their Cisco modules at the Monash University Cisco Academy. This can be in the form of direct credit that has been arranged in a number of degree programs at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Details of credit arrangements can be obtained from the Monash Professional website: http://www.professional.monash.edu.au. Alternatively, many courses will accept completion of Cisco units to be credited as electives. Please discuss this with your course leader prior to undertaking the Monash Cisco study.

Part-time, off-campus learning and off-shore studies

Part-time

Part-time students are expected to proceed through their course at half the rate of full-time students. Some units are available in the evening, commencing at 4pm or 6pm, on the Caulfield campus and classes for the Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Communications and the Master of Digital Communications are held in the early evening at the Clayton campus.

Off-campus learning

All courses offered by the Gippsland School of Information Technology are available to students for part-time study by off-campus learning*. These courses are designed so that it is possible to complete all requirements without any on-campus attendance. Off-campus PhD candidates are required to meet the on-campus residency requirements of the university. Some units offered by the Caulfield School of Information Technology are also available by off-campus learning (see the entry for the Master of Information Management and Systems and Master of Information Management and Systems Professional).

All off-campus students in computing courses must have an IBM-compatible personal computer with a printer, modem, and internet access in order to complete and electronically submit assignment work and to communicate with lecturers and other students.

*Visit http://www.monash.edu.au/offcampus for more information

Off-shore students

The faculty has students based in Hong Kong who are completing their degrees through off-campus learning offered in collaboration with a partner organisation. Off-shore students are subject to the same university, faculty and course regulations as students based in Australia. Email gsit@infotech.monash.edu.au for details.

Non-award studies

The Faculty of Information Technology offers a range of units for non-award study. These units offer practical experience in computing areas for students of all levels acquiring new or additional skills. For detailed information about non-award studies visit http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au.

Duration

Normally, all units are conducted over a 13-week period (one semester). Summer-semester units are usually conducted on an intensive basis over a much shorter time period. Each unit may have an average of four hours contact time per week.

Some units may be available in the evening or late afternoon. Study via off-campus learning is available from the Gippsland campus. Units may be taken as either assessable, ie complete assignments and exams etc, or non-assessable where no formal work requirements are done. Students choosing this non-assessable enrolment form of study are not able to obtain credit towards awards of the faculty.

Applying for a course

For information about applying for a course visit http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au.

Research programs

Masters and PhD by research

Students enrolled in a masters degree by research or PhD undertake research into a topic of interest within a school of the faculty, under the supervision of two academic staff members. The thesis or research component comprises more than 66% of the course and must show evidence of wide reading.

Students enrolled in a masters degree by major thesis must submit a major thesis which shows independence of thought and demonstrates the student's ability to carry out research in the field concerned.

Students enrolled in a PhD submit a thesis which makes a significant contribution to knowledge and understanding in the field of study.

A wide range of research interests are pursued within the schools of the faculty. For information about research interests in a specific discipline, refer to the `Schools and research programs' section or contact the faculty office at research@infotech.monash.edu.au.

Supervision

Students undertaking a thesis pursue a course of research in a school of the faculty under the main supervision of a member of academic staff from that school. The school must appoint both a main supervisor and an associate supervisor. An associate supervisor need not be a full-time member of staff, but should be recognised in the field of research.

Attendance requirements

While specific requirements may vary among the different courses, graduate research students are expected to meet with their supervisor and attend the university on a regular basis, and to participate in seminar and other programs specified by the school.The rules applying to attendance are laid out in the PhD regulations and in the faculty's information on research courses. However, full-time PhD candidates should note that as well as meeting the attendance requirements laid down in chapter three of the Monash University Doctoral Handbook, the faculty requires PhD candidates to pursue their research on-campus unless they negotiate other arrangements with their supervisor. In the case of overseas study, permission must also be obtained from the Research Graduate School Committee.

Part-time PhD candidates are also required to meet the on-campus residency requirements of the university.

For more detailed information about major and minor theses, students should contact the faculty office.