Monash University Handbook 2010 Postgraduate - Course

The Master of Business Information Systems Professional is part of a program which comprises three degrees: Master of Business Information Systems, Master of Business Information Systems Professional and Master of Business Information Systems (Honours).

Six professional tracks (specialisations), are offered within the degrees, although not all professional tracks may be offered in any one year.

In addition to the option of professional tracks, students in the professional stream have an opportunity to study more advanced areas of business information systems and some may undergo research methods training.

The objectives of the Master of Business Information Systems Professional are to:

• provide students with knowledge and understanding of fundamental principles in the disciplinary areas that underpin the information technology field
• provide students with knowledge, understanding, and experiences that transcend technologies and are robust over time so that students are well placed to deal with ongoing, rapid changes in the information technology field
• develop students' understanding of one or more significant areas of business information systems to a level of depth and sophistication consistent with senior professional practice
• enable students to complement their detailed studies of a significant area of business information systems with elective study from a wide range of disciplines
• and enable high performing students to undergo research training through a minor thesis program.

This course has been accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) as meeting the standard for professional-level membership. Students who successfully complete the MBIS (Prof) may, depending on their unit choice, be eligible for professional accreditation/recognition by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), the Australian Society of Archivists (ASA), or the Records Management Association of Australasia (RMAA).

The course consists of 16 approved masters level units.

Core studies

Core units comprise studies in database systems design, computer programming for business, computer architecture and networks, and information technology management.

Professional tracks

Professional tracks are recommended specialisations. Where all the units in a professional track are successfully completed by a student, the track will be identified on the student's academic transcript.

The MBIS Prof is available in two forms: coursework only and coursework plus a minor thesis.

Coursework version

Students complete:

(i) four MBIS foundation units (24 points) as listed below

(ii) eight units (48 points) from the MBIS professional tracks listed below

(iii) four elective units (24 points) approved by the course coordinator. These may be selected from units within the professional tracks, or from other postgraduate units within Monash, with course director approval.

It is highly recommended that students enrolled in the MBIS Professional specialise by completing all the units in two professional tracks.

Coursework and minor thesis version

Students complete:

(i) four MBIS foundation units (24 points) as listed below

(ii) four units (24 points) from the MBIS professional tracks listed below

(iii) FIT4005 IT Research methods (6 points)

(iv) a minor thesis (24 points)

(v) three elective units (18 points) approved by the course coordinator. ). These may be selected from units within the professional tracks or from other postgraduate units within Monash with course director approval.

It is highly recommended that students enrolled in the MBIS Professional (with a Minor Thesis) specialise by completing all the units in one professional track.

To enrol in the MBIS Prof minor thesis a student must have:

(i) completed at least eight MBIS units

(ii) achieved a distinction 70 per cent average in all MBIS units attempted

(iii) obtain approval of the minor thesis director.

FIT4005 must be completed before or during the first semester of minor thesis study.

Note: It is highly recommended that students undertake postgraduate orientation activities and workshops coordinated by the Faculty of Information Technology.

MBIS foundation (core) units

• FIT9003 Database systems design*
• FIT9004 Computer programming for business or FIT9017 Foundations of programming *,**
• FIT9005 Computer architecture and networks*
• FIT9006 Information technology management*

MBIS professional tracks (specialisations)

The units in each professional track are listed below.

Business application development

• FIT5059 Advanced programming for database applications*
• FIT5077 e-Business application and development*
• FIT5151 Object-oriented business application development*
• FIT5152 User interface design and development*

Business intelligence

• FIT5093 Business intelligence applications
• FIT5094 IT for management decision making
• FIT5095 Data warehousing
• FIT5097 Business intelligence modelling

Business systems

• FIT5157 Services science
• FIT5158 Customer relationship management and data mining
• FIT5159 IT for financial decisions
• FIT5160 Business process modelling, design and simulation

Corporate information and knowledge management

• FIT5086 Information and knowledge management principles*
• FIT5088 Information and knowledge management systems*
• FIT5102 IT strategy and governance*
• FIT5150 Project management as knowledge-based practice*

Enterprise systems

• FIT5092 Electronic business
• FIT5101 Enterprise systems
• FIT5111 Information systems development practices
• FIT5057 Project management

Library, archival and recordkeeping systems

• FIT5090 Social informatics*
• FIT5104 Professional practice*,**

and any two from the following:

• FIT5087 Archival systems*
• FIT5105 Information access*
• FIT5106 Information organisation*
• FIT5107 Managing business records*

All units are offered on-campus.

* Units offered by off-campus learning (OCL) mode.

** Special entry requirements apply; course coordinator approval is required.

MBIS elective units for both coursework and minor thesis versions

Students can take electives from the following:

• units from other MBIS professional tracks
• level 4 and 5 units from the Master of Applied Information Technology and Master of Information Technology programs
• FIT9058 Chinese language information technology
• FIT5098 Industry based project unit (12 points). This unit involves partnership with industry. Entry to FIT5098 is competitive and requires a distinction average in 48 points of MBIS study. Final selection is by interview.
• units from other faculties of the University, subject to the approval of the course coordinator.

Graduates of the MBIS Prof will not automatically qualify for entry into a PhD program. High performing students may study a minor thesis in the MBIS Prof and with appropriate grades they could progress to a research degree through the Monash Research Graduate School H1 equivalence process.

Students wishing to exit the Master of Business Information Systems Professional early may apply to graduate with the:

• Graduate or Postgraduate Certificate in Business Information Systems after successful completion of 24 points of study
• Graduate or Postgraduate Diploma in Business Information Systems or Graduate Diploma in Information and Knowledge Management after successful completion of 48 points of study
• Master of Business Information Systems after successful completion of 72 points of study

provided they have satisfied the requirements for these awards.

Master of Business Information Systems Professional