Master of Computer Networks
Course code/s: SMCN - Melbourne
This course is not available to commencing students from 2011
The principal objective of this program is to train ICT professionals in the specialisation of computer networks. The duration of the course is a maximum of two years of full-time study or the equivalent of part-time study.
Upon completion of this course students should possess:
- strong skills in the area of computer science and computer networks;
- an understanding of Pervasive and Mobile computing Networks;
- skills and abilities to plan and design Networks; and
- understanding of Wireless communication Networks and Network Security.
Admission requirements
Prospective students must:
- have completed a three-year undergraduate degree in computer science; or
- hold a four year engineering degree with a substantial computer science content, equivalent to a third year computer science course, and
- have completed a subject equivalent to CSE2NEF (Network Engineering Fundamentals).
Full-fee international students are required to have equivalent qualifications.
Students should note that they may take out the award for the Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science after completing the first year of the Masters course only if they decide not to proceed to the second year of the Masters 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 comprises ten coursework subjects (including up to four level 1, 2 or 3 subjects and at least four level 4 Computer Network Specialisation subjects selected from the lists below) (150 credit points), each involving about 20 hours of lectures and associated practical work, together with a major coursework thesis (CSE5THB) in the area of Computer Networks worth 90 credit points. In the full-time course eight subjects 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 subjects). A pass in both the coursework subjects and the coursework thesis is required to qualify for the degree.
Option 2 with a minor coursework thesis comprises 12 coursework subjects (including up to four level 1, 2 or 3 subjects and at least four level 4 Computer Network Specialisation subjects from the lists below) (180 credit points), together with a minor coursework thesis (CSE4THB) in the area of Computer Networks worth 60 credit points. In the full-time course eight subjects 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 subjects). A pass in both the coursework subjects 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 Computer Networks. A transfer to a Master of Information Technology or Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science will occur.
Students are permitted to enrol in the subjects of their choice if the prerequisite requirements are met. Students undertake a maximum of four level 1, 2 or 3 subjects and select the remainder from level 4 subjects. The elective subjects can be chosen from the lists appearing under the course entry for the Master of Computer Science – however, not all subjects offered are available every year.
Students must complete at least six Computer Network Specialisation subjects from the following lists:
Level 1, 2 and 3 Computer Network Specialisation subjects (a maximum of three subjects may be chosen)
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Intermediate Network Engineering | CSE3INE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Networks Systems and Web Security | CSE3NSW | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Operating Systems | CSE3OSS | 15 |
Other appropriate Level 1, 2 and 3 subjects in Computer Science may be selected, subject to approval by the course coordinator.
Level 4 Computer Network Specialisation subjects (a minimum of four must be taken)
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Real-Time and Fault-Tolerant Systems | CSE4RFS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Wireless Network Engineering | CSE4WNE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Communication Protocol Engineering | CSE4CPE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Network Engineering | CSE4ANE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Mobile and Pervasive Computing | CSE4MPC | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Performance Analysis of Computer Systems | CSE4PCS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Pervasive Network Design | CSE4PND | 15 |
Students select the remainder of their subject requirement from the following lists:
Level 1, 2 and 3 subjects (a maximum of four subjects may be chosen including the Level 1, 2 and 3 Computer Network Specialisation subjects)
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Advanced Games Programming Technology | CSE3AGT | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Advanced Graphics Programming | CSE3AGR | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Artificial Intelligence – Logic and Reasoning | CSE3ALR | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 or TE-W39-W51 | 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-1 | Network Engineering Fundamentals | CSE2NEF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | System Design and Methodologies | CSE3SDM | 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 | Games Programming Technology | CSE2GAM | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Metrics, Quality and Reliability | CSE3MQR | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Network Engineering Fundamentals | CSE2NEF | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Networks Systems and Web Security | CSE3NSW | 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 subjects
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Advanced System Design | CSE4ASD | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Decision Support Systems | CSE4DSS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Multi-agent Systems | CSE4MAS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Advanced Software Engineering Project A* | CSE4PRA | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | Web Services Engineering | CSE4WSE | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Databases | CSE4ADB | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Quality and Reliability | CSE4AQR | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Data Mining | CSE4DMI | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Decision Support Systems | CSE4DSS | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Entrepreneurship | CSE4ENT | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Advanced Software Engineering Project B | CSE4PRB | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | Programming Project | CSE4PRG | 30 |
* Students choosing CSE3SDM in their enrolment.
A selection of advanced level subjects from the Electronic Engineering department that are relevant to the Computer Networks area may be permitted, such as ELE5TDE. Students need to consult the course coordinator to enrol in these subjects.
Students may take out the award for the Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science after completing the first year of the Masters course, if they decide not to proceed to the second year of the Masters course.
Advanced standing
Advanced standing may be available for previous tertiary studies, for subjects completed equivalent to fourth year level or the completion of a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science. If advanced standing is granted for the first year of the Masters degree then second year subjects must be selected from the list of advanced subjects and no further level 1, 2 or 3 subjects may be taken.
Subject offerings may change according to available staffing resources and as a result of the ongoing process of evaluation and updating of content. Additional information on subjects is available from the School’s course handbooks.
Please note: Some of these subjects may not be offered in the current year. For a full description of subjects, including the subject name, subject code, credit points, campus/location, teaching period and availability, subject coordinator, class requirements, assessment, prerequisites and readings, please click on the appropriate Subject Code or refer to the Subject/Unit Database at www.latrobe.edu.au/udb_public.