Master of Information Technology

The Master of Information Technology prepares students for work in the information technology industry at the highest levels. It provides students with a previous tertiary qualification in another discipline area with the knowledge, understanding and skills to enable them to deal effectively with advanced issues involving the application of information technology in various domains.

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://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

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

1. analyse critically advanced algorithms and information technologies.
2. design and construct innovative information technology solutions that are based on sound and considered theoretical foundations.
3. review critically, synthesise, apply and evaluate contemporary information technology theories into practice.
4. extend and generalise existing advanced information technology techniques in relevant contexts and evaluate the efficacy of such extensions.
5. analyse critically and consequently report, with scientific rigour, on the application of information technology theories in solving complex problems.
6. communicate effectively appropriate information technology solutions to the stakeholders.
7. evaluate critically the ethical use of information technology to guide professional practise in the relevant information technology disciplines.

Graduates may be eligible for membership of the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

The course is structured in three parts, A, B and C. All students complete Part B (core studies). Depending upon prior qualifications, you may receive credit for Part A (foundation studies) or Part C (advanced studies) or a combination of the two.

Note that if you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit.

Part A. Foundations for advanced information technology studies

These studies will provide an orientation to the field of information technology at graduate level. They are intended for students whose previous qualification is not in a cognate field.

Part B. Core master's study

These studies draw on best practices within the broad realm of IT application, theory and practice. You will gain an understanding of information technology real world IT problems and gain problem solving skills. Your study will focus on IT project management, software, network and systems areas.

Part C. Advanced practice

The focus of these studies is professional or scholarly work that can contribute to a portfolio of professional development. You have two options.

The first option is a research pathway including a thesis. Students wishing to use this Masters course as a pathway to a higher degree by research should take this first option. For students to be able to progress to HDR, this course must have a minimum 12 points of research.

The second option is a program of coursework involving advanced study and an Industry experience studio project.

Students admitted to the course, who have a recognised honours degree in a discipline cognate to information technology, will receive credit for PART C, however, should they wish to complete a 24 point research project as part of the course they should consult with the course coordinator.

The course comprises 96 points structured into three parts: Part A. Foundations for advanced information technology studies (24 points), Part B. Core Masters study (48 points) and Part C. Advanced application (24 points).

• Students admitted at Entry level 1 complete 96 points, comprising Part A, Part B and Part C.
• Students admitted at Entry level 2 complete 72 points, comprising Part B and Part C, or Part A and Part B.
• Students admitted at Entry level 3 complete 48 points, comprising Part B.

Note: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Foundations for advanced information technology studies (24 points)

Students complete four units of advanced preparatory study:

• FIT9131 Programming foundations
• FIT9132 Introduction to databases
• FIT9134 Computer architecture and operating systems
• FIT9135 Data communications

Part B. Core master's study (48 points)

Students complete:

a. two units (12 points):

• FIT5136 Software engineering
• FIT5057 Project management

b. four units (24 points) selected from:*

• FIT5003 Software security
• FIT5032 Internet application development
• FIT5037 Network security
• FIT5042 Enterprise application development on the web
• FIT5046 Mobile and distributed systems
• FIT5047 Intelligent systems
• FIT5083 Network infrastructure
• FIT5133 Enterprise architecture and management
• FIT5137 Database analysis and processing
• FIT5138 Advanced software engineering
• FIT5139 Advanced distributed and parallel systems
• FIT5140 Advanced mobile systems
• FIT5141 Advanced topics in information technology
• FIT5142 Advanced data mining
• FIT5145 Introduction to data science
• FIT5148 Distributed and big data processing
• FIT5163 Information and computer security
• FIT5166 Information retrieval systems
• FIT5171 System validation and verification, quality and standards
• FIT5195 Business intelligence and data warehousing

* Note: not all units will be offered every year.

c. two units (12 points) from Part B (b), any FIT Level 5 units or Level 5 units from other faculties in the University with course director approval.

Part C. Advanced practice (24 points)

Students complete either a. or b. below:

a. Minor thesis research:*

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

* To enrol in the research units, students must have successfully completed 24 points of level five FIT units and have achieved an overall average of at least 75 per cent across all these units.

b. Industry experience:

• FIT5120 Industry experience studio project (12 points)
• FIT5122 Professional practice
• one FIT Level 5 unit (6 points)

Students entering at Entry levels 1 and 2 can choose to complete a research pathway (24 points) that will provide a pathway to a higher degree by research. Students entering at Entry level 3 will normally already have an honours degree, however, students in this group who wish to complete a research thesis in Information Technology should discuss the options with the course coordinator.

Students may exit this course early and apply to graduate with one of the following awards, provided they have satisfied the requirements indicated for that award during their enrolment in this Masters course:

• Graduate Certificate in Information Technology after successful completion of 24 credit points of study including FIT5136 Software engineering and FIT5057 Project management and two units as described in Part B, Section b.
• Graduate Diploma in Information Technology after successful completion of 48 credit points of study including FIT5136 Software engineering and FIT5057 Project management and six units as described in Part B, Section b. and c. and Part C with at least 12 credit points from Part B, section b.