Caution
Copyright © Monash University 1996
ISBN 1320-6222
Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
For undergraduate study, the department offers subjects in either a major sequence in computer technology or a minor sequence within the Bachelor of Computing course offered on the Caulfield campus. It also offers subjects within other undergraduate courses that incorporate computer technology subjects, particularly the Bachelor of Information Management.
For postgraduate study, the department presents a wide range of subjects in the Graduate Diploma in Computing, the Graduate Diploma in Business Technology, the Graduate Diploma in Information Technology, and the Master of Computing courses. The department also provides for students undertaking the Master of Computing by research, and for PhD studies.
Academic staff: Dr N Craske
Deductive database using an SQL filter classification scheme.
Academic staff: Dr G Martin, Mr R Simpson
Data mining in large commercial databases.
Academic staff: Dr G Martin, Ms K Muntz
Transaction-driven database design; performance modelling of DBMS; SQL preprocessing and optimisation techniques.
Academic staff: Professor B Srinivasan, Mr M Nolan
Academic staff: Professor B Srinivasan, Associate Professor J Daly
Resource sharing issues and distributed computing.
Academic staff: Mr S Giles
Academic staff: Dr G Martin, Mr S Giles
Graphical user interface research for applications and operating systems.
Academic staff: Mr B Sier
Academic staff: Professor B Srinivasan
Academic staff: Dr G Martin
Performance issues in string matching algorithms for text databases; use of SGML structured documents to generate hypertext retrieval systems; text retrieval, natural language.
Academic staff: Mr D Foott
Data compression techniques using neural nets; CD-ROM based technology.
Academic staff: Mr J Carpenter
Knowledge processing and data generation.
Academic staff: Mr J Ceddia
CASE technology.
Academic staff: Dr G Martin, Ms K Bay
Academic staff: Mr C Avram
Distributed fax service issues. Interprocess communication across computer networks.
Academic staff: Mr P Granville
For further information, contact the postgraduate coordinator, Dr Noel Craske, telephone (03) 903 2051.
The aims of the major are:
+ to provide undergraduate students in computing and other disciplines with the intellectual tools to enable them to apply state-of-the-art knowledge, skills, methods and techniques to the management of computer hardware, operating systems, database management systems and data communication systems;
+ to provide the theoretical understanding which will be a foundation for learning and using new methods in the future, and the attitude which sees the constant updating of knowledge as required professional behaviour;
+ to develop the students' communication and critical reasoning skills;
+ to provide students with an understanding of the fundamental ethical issues associated with practising as computing systems officers.
Students completing this sequence will have knowledge and understanding of:
+ computer hardware, computer architecture and computer operating systems used in building information systems;
+ the application, operation, security and management of database management systems and databases;
+ the application, operation and management of data communication systems;
+ the content of appropriate standards and their application in computer technology;
+ the basic economic, legal and ethical issues of computer technology.
They will be able to:
+ apply fundamental principles in the performance of the various computer technology activities;
+ develop and use appropriate tools covering all activities of computer technology;
+ evaluate new technologies and tools to determine their applicability in a particular context;
+ formulate strategic plans for an organisation in relation to its computer technology needs;
+ develop innovative solutions to technological problems;
+ clearly communicate the nature of, and the reasons for, recommending a computer system design in terms accessible to a range of clients including computer system users, application program developers, peer technology specialists and technology managers;
+ undertake research and development tasks.
They will have developed attitudes which allow them to:
+ act professionally as computer systems officers, database administrators, system administrators and systems analysts
+ appreciate the ethical and social issues involved in the storage and transmission of data.
Information systems at Monash has a strong professional orientation. The majority of academic staff have significant industrial experience and the department enjoys close links with industry through its Associate program, industry-sponsored staff positions, cooperative research and consulting activities. The department's research program is also closely linked to industry practice.
Courses in information systems cover the planning, analysis, design and management of information systems. Courses draw upon a number of reference disciplines, including computer science, psychology, economics, and management. In the study of information systems human factors are at least as important as technical factors. A systems analyst must be able to work in a variety of industrial settings and must communicate effectively with clients, users and programmers.
Courses address the core of information systems practice - the modelling of systems. While other professionals, such as engineers, model physical systems (bridges, machines, buildings), systems analysts use a variety of modelling techniques to define organisational functions, processes, data and behaviour.
For undergraduate study the department offers subjects in either a major or minor sequence within the Bachelor of Computing course at the Caulfield campus, and to a lesser extent within other undergraduate courses such as science, arts and business. All majors are accepted as qualifications to gain level 1 membership of the Australian Computer Society. The department has an active honours program with students undertaking research across all the areas described below.
A range of graduate studies is offered by the department. Coursework programs include the Graduate Diploma in Information Systems and the Master of Information Systems. Research programs include the Master of Computing and the Doctor of Philosophy.
Career options for graduates with a major in information systems typically occur within the information systems departments of large organisations such as banks, insurance companies, government departments and semi-government instrumentalities. Career opportunities include applications programming, systems programming, systems analysis, project management and a range of specialist positions. In smaller organisations the employment positions are often less specialised and include a number of the above roles.
The department maintains close links with the national and international information systems research community through presenting at and organising major conferences, and by working with scholars from other universities. It also has close links to industry with senior information systems professionals holding Associate appointments, by means of joint research projects and through specialised professional development courses.
Academic staff: Professor D Arnott, Dr F Burstein, Ms H Smith, Ms I Jagielska, Dr G Wittig, Mr P O'Donnell, Ms J Pereira
Academic staff: Dr P Swatman, Mr G Shanks, Ms S Lichtenstein, Mr M Atchison, Mr A Barnden, Ms P Darke, Ms C Rodrigues, Mr B Hodgson
In the first instance, prospective research students should contact the academic services officer, Miss Karen Young.
+ Minor in Information Systems
+ Major in Information Systems
+ Honours in Information Systems
+ Graduate Diploma of Information Systems
+ Master of Information Systems
+ Master of Computing by Research in Information Systems
+ Doctor of Philosophy in Information Systems
+ Decision Support Systems Research Group
+ Information Systems Strategy and Modelling Research Group.
Current details about the department's teaching and research are displayed at URL:http://www.is.monash.edu.au