Monash University Handbook 2011 Undergraduate - Course

This degree focuses on the applications of IT to model and solve business problems and leads to a career in business information technology. The curriculum has been developed in consultation with industry partners of the faculty, that regularly employ graduates of the program. It is a broad-based degree, with core units ranging from computer programming to business analysis. Students develop their knowledge, skills and attitudes in the broad areas of business programming, business information systems, e-business, business analysis and decision support.

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 and consulting roles.

The course teaches 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
• 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
• 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

communicate at a professional level with clients, system users and peers

They will also have developed attitudes which allow them to:

• produce best practice work
• work effectively in a team environment
• interact effectively with clients, system users and peers

Graduates obtain employment in a wide range of roles including business analyst, project manager or IT consultant.

Industry Based Learning Program

The Industry Based Learning (IBL) program is available to Australian citizens and Australian permanent resident visa holders.

Applicants who qualify are awarded a scholarship (currently valued at $36,000 over three years) and undertake two 22-week industry placements with 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 IBL placements.

There are two intakes into the IBL stream each year. Students can be admitted prior to the commencement of first year or at the end of their first year of study. For further information on IBL, including post-admission application deadlines visit http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/ibl.

This course is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) as meeting the standard of knowledge for professional-level membership.

The course includes compulsory (core) and optional (elective) units selected from the Faculty of Information Technology, plus units chosen from those offered by other faculties. All units are 6 points, unless otherwise specified. Students complete the coursework stream or the industry based learning (IBL) stream.

All students

Students complete:

(a.) six information technology core units (36 points):

• FIT1002 Computer programming
• FIT1004 Data management
• FIT1031 Computers and networks
• FIT2001 Systems development
• FIT2002 Project management
• FIT2003 IT professional practice

(b.) eight business information systems core units (48 points):

• FIT1006 Business information analysis
• FIT1013 IT for business
• FIT1030 Introduction to business information systems
• FIT2006 Business process modelling and workflow
• FIT2013 e-Business software technologies
• FIT2017 Computer models for business decision making
• FIT3003 Business intelligence and data warehousing
• FIT3009 e-Business systems or FIT3138 Real-time enterprise systems

Coursework stream

(c.) two industrial experience project units (12 points):

• FIT3047 Industrial experience project
• FIT3048 Industrial experience project

(d.) eight electives (48 points)* chosen from any faculty of the University. Students can also complete a major in financial information systems by completing the units listed below.

Industry Based Learning (IBL) stream

(c.) two industry based learning placement units (36 points):

• FIT2032 Industry-based learning (18 points)
• FIT3045 Industry-based learning (18 points)

(d.) four electives (24 points)*: these can be chosen from any faculty of the University. Students can also complete a minor in financial information systems by completing the units listed below.

IBL students should complete FIT2002 Project management over summer semester of first year or will be required to overload in their final semester.

* 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.

Financial Information Systems major or minor

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Business Information Systems with a major in financial information systems, students must complete the eight units listed below whilst fulfilling the requirements of the coursework or the industry-based learning stream. Students can complete a minor on completion of the four core units.

Compulsory units

• AFC1000 Principles of accounting and finance
• AFC2140 Corporate finance
• FIT3136 IT governance and strategy for business
• FIT3051 Decision support systems for finance

Elective units

Any four of:

• FIT3138 Real time enterprise systems
• FIT3022 Intelligent decision support systems
• any undergraduate accounting or finance unit (AFC unit code) offered by the Department of Accounting and Finance in the Faculty of Business and Economics (prerequisites must be satisfied).

Areas of Study

• Business information systems

Bachelor of Business Information Systems