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Graduate Diploma in Digital Communications


Introduction

Clayton campus

Course code: 0361

Course leader: Associate Professor Jim Breen

Monash's digital communications program covers a broad range of courses ranging from the short graduate certificate up to the masters degree by coursework in digital communications. The courses have been structured to provide an integrated program of postgraduate education in digital communications at the fourth and fifth-year level.

The original focus of the program was on computer communications, however in recent years, with the rapid digitisation of the telecommunications network, the field of digital communications has expanded, and the fundamental technologies have merged, to the point that virtually the whole range of communications technologies, products and services are of vital interest to all specialists.

The aims of Monash's digital communications program are:

The course currently draws students from a wide range of employment including programming, systems analysis, engineering, management, consultancy, auditing, marketing and teaching. Level four, the graduate diploma, 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.

The minimum entry requirement is a three-year degree or diploma in a discipline which provides a suitable background, eg computer science, data processing, electrical engineering, electronic engineering and communications engineering. Applicants without such a qualification may be admitted on the basis of suitable work experience in computing or communications. Normally four years relevant experience is required plus evidence of the ability to undertake study at a tertiary level.

The course is available either part-time taking a minimum of two years or full-time taking a minimum of one calendar year.

Admission requirements

The normal entry requirement is a three-year degree or diploma-level qualification in a discipline that provides a suitable basis for the course, eg computer science, data processing or electrical, electronic or communications engineering.

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.

Fees for Australian residents

In 1998 the course fee is $6000 or $750 per subject.

Course structure

In order to satisfy the course requirements, each student must pass a total of seven coursework subjects and complete a project. Subjects may be taken in any order, subject to the prerequisites and corequisites defined for each subject. The subjects are grouped as follows.

Bridging subjects

Before proceeding with the core subjects in the course, students must have reached a minimum standard in programming in the C language, digital electronics, operating system principles and introductory data communications. Students with insufficient prior study in one or more of these topics must enrol in the bridging subject DGS6800 (Topics in digital technology), during which they will undertake an assessed program of reading and self-study.

Core subjects

There are six compulsory core subjects:

Elective subjects

Students must complete two electives from the following:

Students interested in this program should also refer to the Master of Digital Communications entry in this section of the handbook.


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