Higher degrees by coursework
Master of Information Systems – Melbourne (Bundoora) (SMIS)
This two-year program has been carefully designed to provide students with a sound management and technical education in the area of information systems. The course aims to develop information and communications technology professionals who can both use and build information systems to aid decision-making, as well as training postgraduate students in topics which enhance their employment prospects. Successful graduates of this course may consider further study in this area through a research degree.
Admission requirements
All prospective students must have:
- demonstrated skills in object-oriented programming using Java and
- a three-year or four-year undergraduate degree in an appropriate area such as business, commerce, economics and engineering, including units equivalent to CSE1OOF and CSE2ALG. Unless prospective students have undertaken prior studies emphasising ethical and professional issues and have advanced programming knowledge equivalent to CSE1IOO, they will be required to take CSE1IOO. Completion of a database unit would also be beneficial.
Advanced standing
Advanced standing may be available for previous tertiary studies, for units completed equivalent to fourth year level or the completion of a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science.
Students should note that they may take out the award for the Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science after completing the first year of the Master’s course only if they decide not to proceed to the second year of the Master’s course.
Professional recognition
Satisfactory completion of the course meets the professional level requirements for membership of the Australian Computer Society.
Course structure
The duration of the course is two years full-time or the equivalent part-time and requires the completion of 240 credit points. Students are required to enrol in one of the following two course options:
Option 1 with major coursework thesis. In addition to CSE3SDM (15 credit points) and CSE4PRG Programming Project (30 credit points), students complete eight coursework units (including up to four level 1, 2 or 3 units and at least three level 4 Information Systems Specialisation units from the lists below) (120 credit points), each involving about 20 hours of lectures and associated practical work, together with a major coursework thesis (CSE5THA and CSE5THB) worth 90 credit points. In the full-time course eight units are studied during the first year, the remainder being undertaken in conjunction with the completion of the major coursework thesis during the second year. The thesis is expected to take eight to nine months of work and must be written up as a minor thesis. For approval to enrol in this thesis students must achieve a 65% average grade in the first year of the masters by coursework program (eight units). A pass in both the coursework units and the coursework thesis is required to qualify for the degree.
Option 2 with a minor coursework thesis. In addition to CSE3SDM (15 credit points) and CSE4PRG Programming Project (30 credit points), students complete ten coursework units (including up to four level 1, 2 or 3 units and at least three level 4 Information Systems Specialisation units from the lists below) (165 credit points) together with a minor coursework thesis (CSE4THA and CSE4THB) worth 60 credit points. In the full-time course eight units are studied during the first year, the remainder being undertaken in conjunction with the completion of the minor coursework thesis during the second year. The minor coursework thesis will be taken over two semesters. For approval to enrol in this thesis students must achieve a minimum 60% average grade in the first year of the masters by coursework program (eight units). A pass in both the coursework units and the minor coursework thesis is required to qualify for the degree.
NOTE: Students with an average grade less than 60% in the first year of the program do not qualify for a major coursework thesis or a minor coursework thesis and will not be able to continue their enrolment in the Master of Information Systems. A transfer to a Master of Information Technology or Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science will occur.
Seminar Program
The seminar program is an integral part of the Master of Information Systems degree. The program covers ethical, professional, and social issues relevant to the information technology industry in an interactive tutorial delivery mode. Tutorials are held throughout the year and attendance at four tutorials within the duration of the course is a hurdle requirement of this program. Students who have not met this hurdle requirement will not qualify for their degree and will not be permitted to graduate.
Core units (45 credit points)
| Teaching period | Unit name | Unit code | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | System Design and Methodologies | CSE3SDM | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Programming Project | CSE4PRG | 30 |
Level 1, 2 and 3 units – Information Systems Specialisation (a maximum of four units may be chosen)
Some units may have prerequisites
| Teaching period | Unit name | Unit code | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Artificial Intelligence - Logic and Reasoning | CSE3ALR | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Database Fundamentals | CSE2DBF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Database Management Systems | CSE3DMS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Intelligent Multimedia Systems | CSE3IMS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Intermediate Network Engineering | CSE3INE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Internet Client Engineering | CSE2ICE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Metrics, Quality and Reliability | CSE3MQR | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Network Engineering Fundamentals | CSE2NEF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | System Testing and Quality | CSE2STQ | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Artificial Intelligence - Fundamentals | CSE2AIF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Computational Intelligence | CSE3CI | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Professional Environment | CSE3PE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Network Engineering Fundamentals | CSE2NEF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Networks Systems and Web Security | CSE3NSW | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Object-Oriented Application Development | CSE3OAD | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Object-Oriented Programming using C++ | CSE1CPP | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Operating Systems | CSE3OSS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | System Design Engineering Fundamentals | CSE2DES | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Web Applications Engineering | CSE3WAE | 15 |
Level 4 units - Information Systems Specialisation (a minimum of three units must be chosen)
Some units may have prerequisites.
| Teaching period | Unit name | Unit code | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Advanced Databases | CSE4ADB | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Advanced System Design | CSE4ASD | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Decision Support Systems | CSE4DSS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Advanced Software Engineering Project A* | CSE4PRA* | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Web Services Engineering | CSE4WSE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Quality and Reliability | CSE4AQR | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Data Mining | CSE4DMI | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Entrepreneurship | CSE4ENT | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Software Engineering Project B | CSE4PRB | 15 |
| Plus any other level 4 unit that is also available to students enrolled in the Master of Computer Science degree. | |||
Management stream
Up to a maximum of three units may be taken. These units may be selected from units at the Master’s level available in the Faculty of Law and Management. Units are also available through the Graduate School of Management.