Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2012

Master of Information Technology

Course code/s: SMIT - Melbourne

The Master of Information Technology degree aims to retrain graduates and prepare them for rewarding employment as information and communications technology professionals in the information technology industry.

This carefully constructed two year full-time course introduces students to important fundamental computer science topics such as programming, database systems and computer networks via the subjects studied in the first year and then enables students to proceed to advanced topics in software engineering, database systems, intelligent systems or computer networks. The course incorporates a software engineering team project and an elective minor research thesis. Students who already have knowledge of programming and data structures may move more rapidly to the advanced topics. The course is technically oriented, focusing on the skills needed to build and manage systems with less emphasis on, but without ignoring, how managers use technology. Students who have completed a minor research thesis at an appropriate level of achievement will have the necessary prerequisites to proceed to a Doctoral program.

Upon completion of this course students should possess:

  • a comprehensive understanding of core areas of Information Technology in the ICT industry;
  • skills and ability necessary to function effectively in project teams;
  • high level skills in developing software using high level languages; and
  • skills in applying object-oriented approach to system analysis, design and implementation.

There are nine core subjects which introduce students to:

  • fundamental and intermediate programming using Java
  • the fundamental IT-related mathematics
  • algorithms and data structures
  • system design engineering fundamentals
  • an industry project.

Admission requirements

To be eligible to enrol in the Master of Information Technology degree, prospective students must have completed a course equivalent to an Australian undergraduate degree.

Exemption or Advanced Standing for previous study

Exemption or advanced standing may be available for previous graduate studies. Students applying for exemption or advanced standing must provide details of the curriculum from the course handbooks together with a copy of their academic transcript.

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. Students are required to complete:

  • 240 credit points
  • the nine core subjects (135 credit points) listed below
  • a maximum of two Level 1, 2 or 3 subjects
  • a minimum of five Level 4 subjects

Core subjects (120 credit points)

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit points
TE-SEM-1 or
TE-SEM-2
Object-oriented Programming Fundamentals CSE1OOF 15
TE-SEM-1 or
TE-SEM-2
Intermediate Object-oriented Programming CSE1IOO 15
TE-SEM-1 Algorithms and Data Structures CSE2ALG 15
TE-SEM-1 Discrete Mathematics MAT1DM 15
TE-SEM-1 System Design and Methodologies CSE3SDM 15
TE-SEM-2 System Design Engineering Fundamentals CSE2DES 15
TE-SEM-2 Professional Environment CSE3PE 15
TE-SEM-1 Industry Project 4A CSE4PRA 15
TE-SEM-2 Industry Project 4B CSE4PRB 15
Level 1, 2 and 3 subjects (a maximum of two subjects may be chosen)

Most subjects have prerequisites.

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit points
TE-SEM-1 Advanced Games Programming Technology CSE3AGT 15
TE-SEM-1 Artificial Intelligence – Logic and Reasoning CSE3ALR 15
TE-SEM-1 C Programming for Engineers and Scientists CSE1CES 15
TE-SEM-1 Computer System Architecture CSE2CSA 15
TE-SEM-1 Computational Intelligence CSE3CI 15
TE-SEM-1 Database Fundamentals CSE2DBF 15
TE-SEM-1 Database Management Systems CSE3DMS 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 Testing and Quality CSE2STQ 15
TE-SEM-1 Visual Information Systems CSE3VIS 15
TE-SEM-2 Artificial Intelligence – Fundamentals CSE2AIF 15
TE-SEM-2 Games Programming Technology CSE2GAM 15
TE-SEM-2 Metrics, Quality and Reliability CSE3MQR 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 Web Applications Engineering CSE3WAE 15
Level 4 and 5 subjects

Some subjects may not be available every year and some may have prerequisites. Subject to approval, up to two subjects from other areas of the University can be taken (such as level 4 business subjects from within the Graduate School of Management).

Teaching period Subject name Subject code Credit points
TE-SEM-1 Advanced System Design CSE4ASD 15
TE-SEM-1 Bioinformatics Technologies CSE5BIO 15
TE-SEM-1 Communication Protocol Engineering CSE4CPE 15
TE-SEM-1 Decision Support Systems CSE4DSS 15
TE-SEM-1 Multi-agent Systems CSE4MAS 15
TE-SEM-1 Web Services Engineering CSE4WSE 15
TE-SEM-1 Wireless Network Engineering CSE4WNE 15
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Databases CSE4ADB 15
TE-SEM-2 Advanced Network Engineering CSE4ANE 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 Mobile and Pervasive Computing CSE4MPC 15
TE-SEM-2 Performance Analysis of Computer Systems CSE4PCS 15
TE-SEM-2 Pervasive Network Design CSE4PND 15
TE-SEM-2 Real-time and Fault-tolerant Systems CSE4RFS 15
TE-SEM-1 or 2 Thesis A** CSE5TSA 15
TE-SEM-1 or 2 Thesis B** CSE5TSB 30

** Students must acieve an average of at least 70% from the best 90 credit points of subjects completed in the first year of the program.

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.