Caution
Copyright © Monash University 1996
ISBN 1320-6222
Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Course code: 0176
Departmental coordinators: Dr Noel Craske (Computer Technology); Mrs Sita Ramakrishnan (Software Development)
The Master of Computing by coursework has two major objectives. The first is to provide the conceptual and theoretical framework in which students can appreciate and integrate new software and hardware technologies, and, within an information technology context, use them to develop solutions to complex problems in our society. The second objective is to deepen students' theoretical knowledge in specific areas so that they will have the intellectual and conceptual foundation to play leading roles in the development of the information technology industry.
The course may be completed in a minimum of one year of full-time study or two years of part-time study. The maximum period of candidature is two years full-time or four years part-time.
Only applicants who have shown high academic ability by their performance in prior studies (at least class II honours), will be admitted to each year of the course.
Due to the dynamic nature of this field of study, new subjects will be introduced as is deemed appropriate. Not all subjects are available each year.
Students will be required to discuss their subject selections with departmental coordinators prior to enrolment to ensure the subject is appropriate to their thesis area. The currently approved subjects are:
+ COT5010 Reading unit in computer technology
+ COT5200 Advanced topics in distributed systems
+ COT5210 Data security and cryptography
+ COT5220 Advanced topics in database systems
+ SFT5010 Reading subject
+ SFT5020 Distributed computation and simulation
+ SFT5030 Visual programming
+ SFT5040 Case study in engineering software for reuse
+ SFT5050 Software metrics and reliability
+ SFT5180 Software engineering
+ SFT5300 Systems support management
+ SFT5400 Advanced issues in programming languages
+ SYS5110 Advanced topics in artificial intelligence
+ SYS5120 Requirements acquisition and modelling
+ SYS5150 Decision support methods
+ SYS5240 Management and information systems
+ SYS5270 Current topics in cognitive science
+ SYS5280 Knowledge-based decision support
+ SYS5306 Advanced issues in system design
+ SYS5316 Design theory
Students may negotiate to undertake the study of up to two coursework subjects of equivalent standard offered by another faculty.
Course code: 0176
Departmental coordinators: Associate Professor John Hurst (Computer Science), Dr Noel Craske (Computer Technology), Dr Frada Burstein (Information Systems), Professor Jim Breen (Robotics and Digital Technology), Dr A Sajeev (Software Development), Dr Baikunth Nath (Gippsland School of Computing and Information Technology), Dr Jun Han (Peninsula School of Computing and Information Technology)
Areas for research include graphics and image processing, artificial intelligence, inductive inference, parallel and persistent computer architectures, systems analysis and design methodologies, knowledge-based systems, information systems management, computer-assisted software engineering, programming paradigms and languages, object-oriented systems, formal specification, software metrics, decision support systems, executive information systems, human-machine interfaces, distributed systems, information storage and retrieval, robotics, digital communications, microelectronic circuit design and digital systems design.
For more information about research interests and activity within the department, please refer to the `Department information' section in this handbook.
An applicant with a degree or diploma in computing and several years relevant experience may also qualify for admission after completion of a preliminary program. A preliminary course of study mainly involves studying subjects offered at honours (fourth year) or graduate diploma level. The Monash graduate diplomas in Information Technology, Information Systems, Digital Communications or Robotics are considered equivalent to a Master of Computing preliminary year.
1. Candidates should meet with their supervisor at least once per month, and attend specific seminars.
2. Full-time candidates are required to attend the university five days per week unless other arrangements have been made with their supervisor. Full-time students are also expected to spend the equivalent of five days per week working on the project.
3. Part-time candidates are required to attend the university, on average, one day per week and be able to spend the equivalent of two days per week working on the project.
4. Where work is to be done away from the university, the head of department should certify that suitable facilities, supervision and time are available to the candidate.
It is possible for a candidate to transfer to PhD candidature if the department and faculty determines that the candidate has demonstrated an ability to undertake research and that the research topic will remain essentially unchanged, although its scope will be substantially broadened.
Course code: 1234
Course leader: Professor J Breen
Developments in microelectronics have profoundly altered this situation by providing complex digital components, such as microprocessors, at a very low cost. In computing, there is now a strong requirement for communications so that distributed computer systems can cooperate on common tasks. Furthermore the reduced cost of communications equipment has also accelerated the use of communications. In communications, it is now common for signals to be transmitted using digital encoding and computers are widely used to control the communications process.
As a result, professionals in both areas are finding it increasingly necessary to be competent in computing, digital technology and communications. Unfortunately few people have had the opportunity to acquire this range of expertise, either through educational courses or through work experience.
The Master of Digital Communications is intended for professionals in either computing or communications who wish to undertake studies in computer communications. The aim is to provide a thorough understanding of the central subject of the course, computer communications, and to consolidate students' skills in the underlying foundation disciplines of computing, digital technology and communications.
The program is divided into two stages, level four (preliminary year) and level five (masters year). Level four is designed to provide graduates in fields such as computing, computer science or electrical engineering with specialist graduate-level education in topics such as digital communications technologies, communications architectures, protocols and communications software.
Level five has been designed to build upon the material covered in level four, and to go more deeply into the underlying theoretical and technological foundations of digital communications systems. In addition level five examines the social and political aspects of communications networking, and the management structures for communications networks.
The course is available either part-time for a minimum of four years or full-time for a minimum of two calendar years.
Applicants with a degree or diploma in a discipline not directly related to the course will be considered if they have relevant work experience in computers or communications.
Applicants without degree or diploma qualifications may also be admitted on the basis of work experience, subject to the approval of the faculty's admissions committee. The level of work experience required would be at least five years in a position carrying significant technical responsibility in an area relevant to the course. Applicants should also be able to demonstrate an ability to study at tertiary level. The number of places available to applicants in this category is limited.
Applicants should note that demand for this course usually exceeds the quota of places available and consequently not everyone qualified for entry to the course can be admitted. Applicants are therefore advised to present their cases strongly when applying for the course.
Direct entry to level five is possible. The normal requirement for direct entry to level five is satisfactory completion of the Graduate Diploma in Digital Communications. Applicants with a four-year or honours degree with significant emphasis on data communications may be considered; however, it is likely that some preliminary subjects selected from the graduate diploma program will also be required.
The level four course is similar to the Graduate Diploma in Digital Communications. For further information, please refer to the Graduate Diploma in Digital Communications entry in this section of the handbook.
+ RDT6810 Computer networks
+ RDT6820 Digital communications technologies
+ RDT6830 Communications software
+ RDT6840 Network design and management
+ RDT6850 Communications practical
+ RDT6900 Proprietary network architectures
+ RDT6910 Public telecommunication networks
+ RDT6920 Information security
+ One approved subject from another graduate diploma
Progression from level four to level five will require an average mark of at least 65 per cent in level four subjects.
+ ECS5362 Application of high speed telecommunication networks
+ RDT5020 Distributed systems
+ RDT5030 Advanced communications applications
+ RDT5040 Protocol engineering
+ RDT5050 Advanced network design
+ RDT5060 Telecommunications policy and management