Postgraduate - CourseMaster of Business Information Systems

The Master of Business Information Systems will prepare graduates for important careers in business-focussed IT as business analysts, systems analysts, project leaders, or IT managers. The degree covers the business IT spectrum from supporting business operations through to supporting managers' decision making.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://monash.edu/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

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

(1.) knowledge and understanding of the major theoretical and professional issues in business information systems

(2.) the knowledge and skills to be able to analyse a business problem, design IT solutions for such problems and assess their effectiveness

(3.) if undertaking the research stream, knowledge of IT research methods and expertise in executing a research project leading to a minor thesis in business information systems

(4.) an understanding of business information systems to a level of depth and sophistication consistent with senior professional practice

(5.) professional social, ethical and communication skills in an industry setting. Students will learn to handle ambiguity and complexity in real-world settings

(6.) the ability to communicate their findings and rationale of design solutions to the full range of stakeholders

(7.) knowledge, understanding, and experiences that are technology independent and are robust over time so that they are well placed to deal with ongoing, rapid changes in the information technology field.

Credit or exemptions up to a maximum of 24 credit points may be granted for bachelor degree level qualification in business information systems. Students may be eligible for credit to a maximum of 50 per cent of the course requirements for previous graduate level studies.

Students who successfully complete this course 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 and Information Management Professionals Australasia (RIM Professionals Australasia).

Note that recognition by the above professional bodies is dependent on unit choiceunit choice (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/current/accreditation/).

This course consists of approved master's-level units including 48 points of foundation and core units, 24 points of either research or industry units, and 24 points of electives.

Students must complete:

(a.) four foundation units (24 points):

• FIT9123 Introduction to business information systems
• FIT9130 Systems analysis and design
• FIT9131 Programming foundations
• FIT9132 Introduction to databases

(b.) four core units (24 points):

• FIT5057 Project management
• FIT5101 Enterprise systems
• FIT5133 Enterprise architecture and management
• FIT5195 Business intelligence and data warehousing

(c.) four elective units (24 points):

• chosen from an approved listapproved list (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/current/course-information/bis-pg-electives.html) of level five postgraduate units
• from the specialisations listed under 'Areas of study'
• as approved on a case-by-case basis by the course director - suitable units can be identified using the browse units toolbrowse units tool (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/search) in the Handbook.

Not all electives will be offered in any one year.

(d.) 24 points of research* or industry units as follows:

• FIT5125 IT research methods
• FIT5126 Masters thesis part 1
• FIT5127 Masters thesis part 2
• FIT5128 Masters thesis final

or

• FIT5120 Industry experience studio project (12 points)
• FIT5122 Professional practice or FIT5104 Information and knowledge management professional practice (for students completing the archives and recordkeeping or library and information science specialisations only)
• one further elective unit as outlined in (c.) above

* To enrol in the research units, students must have successfully completed 24 points of level five units and have achieved an overall average of at least 70 per cent across all level 5 units.

The following areas of study are intended for students who wish to specialise in either library and information science or archives and recordkeeping only and are taken as the elective block of units in (c.) above. Students can also choose to complete electives as outlined in (c.).

• Archives and recordkeeping
• Library and information science

Note: These areas of study are not available to students at Monash University Malaysia.

Graduates of this course who achieve an overall distinction average for all units and a distinction grade or higher for FIT5125 (IT research methods) and the research thesis are eligible to apply for entry into a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program.

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

Graduate Certificate in Business Information Systems after 24 points of study comprising all core units described at (b.) under 'Requirements'.

Graduate Diploma in Business Information Systems after 48 points of study comprising:

(a.) all core units described at (b.) under 'Requirements'

(b.) 24 points from one of:

• either the research or industry option as detailed at (d.) under 'Requirements'
• four elective units (24 points) chosen from an approved listapproved list (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/current/course-information/bis-pg-electives.html) of level five postgraduate units or from the specialisations listed under 'Areas of Study'.

Note: Exit awards do not apply to Monash University Malaysia unless the awards have been approved by the Malaysian Ministry of Education. For information on the exit awards approved at the Malaysian campus, please contact the respective schools at Monash University Malaysia.

Master of Business Information Systems