Monash University Handbook 2011 Postgraduate - Course

The Master of Business Information Systems (Honours) 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). This course prepares students for careers in IT management, applications development, business information systems, information systems, information management, or knowledge management. Seven specialisations, are offered within the Master of Business Information Systems (Honours), although not all specialisations may be offered in any one year. This degree prepares students for either senior professional practice or doctoral level (PhD) studies through research methods training leading to a minor thesis in business information systems.

The objectives of this course are to:

• develop students' understanding of two significant areas of business information systems to a level of depth and sophistication consistent with senior professional practice
• provide students with knowledge and understanding of the major theoretical and professional controversies in business information systems
• 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
• and prepare students for PhD study through research methods training and research leading to a minor thesis in business information systems.

Grading

MBIS (Hons) graduates will be awarded an overall honours grade for the degree (H1, H2A, H2B, or H3).

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 (Hons) 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 including a research methodology unit and a 24-point minor thesis.

Students complete:

(i.) eight units (48 points) from the MBIS specialisations listed under "Areas of Study"

(ii.) FIT5185 IT research methods (6 points)

(iii.) FIT5181 Advanced topics in information systems (6 points)

(iv.) a 24-point minor thesis

(v.) two elective units (12 points) approved by the course director. These may be selected from units within the specialisations or from other postgraduate units within Monash, subject to the approval of the course coordinator.

MBIS Specialisations

Students can choose to complete one or two MBIS specialisations or select units from a number of these and complete the course without a specialisation. It is highly recommended that students specialise by completing all the units in two specialisations.

MBIS elective units

Students can take electives from the following:

• FIT5098 Industry based project (12 points)*
• FIT9058 Chinese language information technology
• level four and five units from 3309 Master of Applied Information Technology and 2402 Master of Information Technology
• units within the MBIS specialisations or from other postgraduate units within Monash, subject to the approval of the course coordinator.

* This unit involves partnership with industry. Entry to FIT5098 is competitive and requires a distinction average in 48 points on MBIS study. Final selection is by interview.

Areas of Study

• Business application development
• Business intelligence
• Business systems
• Corporate information and knowledge management
• Enterprise systems
• Library, archival and recordkeeping systems
• Project management

MBIS (Hons) students must complete a minor thesis and will be awarded an overall course grade. Graduates of the MBIS (Hons) with a H1 or H2A result may progress to PhD study.

Students wishing to exit this course early may apply to graduate with one of the following provided they have satisfied the requirements for the awards:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Business Information Systems after successful completion of 24 points of study
• Postgraduate Diploma in Business Information Systems after successful completion of 48 points of study
• 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.

Master of Business Information Systems (Honours)