Undergraduate - Course4310 - Bachelor of Informatics and Computation Advanced (Honours)

The Bachelor of Informatics and Computation Advanced (Honours) is a flexible course for high achieving students providing a strong foundation in information technology and leading to advanced studies in one field of IT. The course is primarily designed for students who expect to pursue postgraduate study or employment requiring research and advanced IT development skills.

Upon completion of the course, students will have achieved honours-level research studies in one contemporary specialised area of IT study. They will have a sound foundation in the core areas of IT and enabling disciplines, deep knowledge of one or more field of IT, and hands-on experience of IT research. They will have developed strong research, analysis, problem solving, communication and team work skills.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 8, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 8, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://opvclt.monash.edu.au/curriculum-by-design/aligning-course-outcomes-with-aqf-bologna.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to demonstrate:

• a comprehensive knowledge of the IT discipline including: computer programming skills; software design and development; IT project management; hardware and software architectures; and an understanding of the contexts in which IT systems are used
• knowledge of fundamental IT abstractions and theoretical underpinning and the ability to adapt readily to changing technologies
• in-depth specialist understanding of one of the following branches of IT: computer science; business information systems; information management or technical computing
• understanding and appreciation of the ethical and professional issues that arise in IT practice and research, and the importance of adhering to ethical and professional guidelines
• ability to work as an effective member or leader of teams
• ability to communicate proficiently to a multi-disciplinary audience by: listening, speaking, reading and writing English for professional practice and to communicate research results
• understanding and knowledge of research methodologies used in the IT discipline and of the different organisational contexts in which IT research is performed
• ability to undertake a significant independent research informed by advanced studies in IT including critical literature analysis, choice of appropriate methodology and conducting the research project;
• strong problem-solving skills, the ability to undertake independent learning and to apply analytical thinking

Course progression requirements

A sustained high level of achievement must be demonstrated throughout the course. Students in the program are required to maintain at least a distinction average (70 per cent) across their best 48 points of enrolment in IT studies or the total of their FIT-coded unit enrolment if 48 credit points have not yet been completed. Students who do not meet this standard will be required to transfer to the Bachelor of Software Engineering, Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Business Information Systems or Bachelor of Information Technology and Systems depending upon their major or specialisation.

Research or Industry Placement

In the third year of the course students will be required to undertake either a 22-week placement in a research group or work unit of a participating organisation or a 22-week Industry Based Learning (IBL)Industry Based Learning (IBL) (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/ibl) placement. The student's work during the placement will be structured and assessed as part of the degree and must be successfully completed to be eligible to graduate.

This course consists of seven compulsory (core) units in information technology, an eight-unit major, a research or industry-based learning placement, an honours thesis, two restricted electives chosen from an approved list of topics, and eight free elective units.

Free electives can be taken as a major (eight units) or minor (four units) sequence in a specific area of study. It is possible to select electives to complete two minor sequences.

Refer to course mapscourse maps (http://infotech.monash.edu.au/current/course-information/) for course progression and approved elective information.

• Business information systems
• Computer science
• Computing technology
• Information management

Students must complete:

(a.) five information technology core units (30 points):

• FIT1004 Data management
• FIT1031 Computers and networks
• FIT1040 Programming fundamentals
• FIT2001 Systems development
• FIT2002 Project management

(b.) a major of eight units from one of the majors listed under 'Areas of study' (48 points)

(c.) two research project units (12 points):

• FIT1041 Research project 1
• FIT2082 Research project 2

(d.) one research or industry-based learning placement unit (18 points):

• FIT3153 Research placement or FIT3045 Industry-based learning

(e.) eight elective units chosen from one of the following options (48 points):

• eight electives from any faculty in the University
• four electives and a minor of four units
• a major of eight units

Minors and majors can be chosen from:

• one of the specialisations listed under 'Areas of study'
• a science area of studyscience area of study (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/undergrad/sci.html), e.g. biology, physics, chemistry, biotechnology
• other facultiesother faculties (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2014handbooks/aos/index-byfaculty.html) of the University

Suitable elective units can be chosen from any undergraduate (level 1-3) faculty of the University and identified using the browse units toolbrowse units tool (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/search) in the Handbook.

Note: Some units, majors and minors may require permission from the owning faculty.

(f.) an honours thesis (24 points):

• FIT4441 Honours thesis part 1
• FIT4442 Honours thesis part 2
• FIT4443 Honours thesis part 3
• FIT4444 Honours thesis final

(g.) two honours electives (12 points) as approved by the course director.

Students must complete FIT2002 (Project management) over summer semester or overload in one semester by one unit in order to complete the degree within four years.

General requirements

In addition to the above unit requirements, students must meet the following general requirements in relation to the overall number of points at each year level:

• a maximum of 60 points is obtained at level one
• a minimum of 36 points is obtained at level three.

Bachelor of Informatics and Computation Advanced (Honours)