James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Postgraduate studies in Information Technology are available at Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Masters levels in three distinctive fields of study: E-Business, Multimedia or Networking. A combined Masters degree involving Information Technology and Business Administration is also available.

The E-Business specialisation is designed to provide a mix of business and marketing skills, multimedia production and support skills and computer networking skills. It provides a path for business, commerce and other non-computer science/information technology graduates, as well as for CS/IT graduates, seeking to move into the IT/E-Business industry.

The Multimedia specialisation is designed to provide computer skills for multimedia content production and support. It provides a path for non-computer science/information technology graduates, as well as for CS/IT graduates, seeking to move into the multimedia industry.

The Networking specialisation is designed to provide the ‘convergent IP technology’ skills of computing, networking and software that underpin the operation of the on-line IP-based business world. It will provide an upgrade path for computer science/information technology graduates, seeking to move into the networking industry, as network designers, network administrators, system integrators, WWW designers and masters and intranet supervisors.

GRADUATE COURSES

Graduate courses in Information Technology include Graduate Certificate (12 units), Graduate Diploma (24 units) and Masters (36 units). The required units must be chosen in one of the fields of study, ie e-business, multimedia or networking (see Schedules below).

MASTER OF APPLIED SCIENCE (COMPUTER SCIENCE) BY COURSEWORK

The Master of Applied Science in Computer Science (MAppSc(CompSc)) course provides high quality, professional training at an advanced level for people who have a background in Computer Science and also for people who have training in another discipline but have significant professional experience in computing. Admission to the course requires knowledge equivalent to the completion of the subject CP2001. The MAppSc(CompSc) can be undertaken full-time (12-24 months) or part-time (24-48 months).

The course provides both breadth and depth in topic coverage. Students choose a variety of subjects to suit their specific requirements, including a minor project. (People wishing to undertake a major research project should consider the Masters by Research course.) Subjects from disciplines other than Computer Science, offered by this or other universities, may be included in the course if approved.

Upon successful completion of the course as specified, including attaining at least a Credit grade for the project, the MAppSc(CompSc) degree provides an option for students to transfer to a Master of Science by research and then perhaps to a PhD.

MASTER OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN NETWORKING, E-BUSINESS OR MULTIMEDIA BY COURSEWORK

The Master of Information Technology (MIT) is a suite of coursework programs, that address the known worldwide demand for graduates who are skilled in electronic technologies – computing, networking, multimedia and software technologies. They provide a practical career track into the exciting IT industry for graduates with three or four year degrees in all disciplines. The MIT programs suit those who have an interest in online technologies and an aptitude for computing and who may be seeking to redirect their careers into IT. These are professional, applied postgraduate programs and include preparation for Cisco (CCNA) and Microsoft (MCSE) industry certification examinations.

These MIT programs offer February and July entry, with full-time or part-time enrolment allowed. Three specialisations are available:

MIT(Networking), for computer science or information technology graduates;

MIT(Multimedia), for graduates with any three or four year degree; and

MIT(E-business), for graduates with any three or four year degree.

Normally, a MIT course takes 18 months of full-time study to complete the 36 credit points required. There is an option of early exit points with a Graduate Certificate (after 12 credit points, typically in six months) or a Graduate Diploma (after 24 credit points, typically in 12 months); enrolments in Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are also available. A ‘Fast Track’ mode is available for the MIT(e-business), which means that the course may be completed in 13 months, but ‘intensive mode’ subjects will need to be taken during semester breaks.

Entry into the MIT(Multimedia) and MIT(e-business) is available to graduates in any discipline who have completed CP1300 or an equivalent programming language skills subject. Those not meeting the CP1300 prerequisite may be allowed entry subject to satisfactorily completing a preliminary program in computer programming, which is available on-line (at any time of year) or in block mode (in July only). Non graduates who have an adequate combination of post secondary education and substantial relevant practical experience may also be granted entry on the approval of the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering eg an ‘adequate combination’ would be a two year post secondary full-time TAFE diploma, plus six years of full-time employment in a professional and creative role. All entrants need to satisfy the CP1300 prerequisite.

Entry into the MIT(Networking) is available to graduates with at least 12 units of level 3 computer science subjects (or equivalent eg 50% of a full-time level 3 in computer science) and who have completed the subjects CP1500 and CP2001 (or equivalent ie subjects in information systems, C++ programming and data structures) or who have equivalent practical experience approved by the Executive Dean. For graduates who do not have these prerequisites but who have completed CP1300 (or equivalent ie subjects in C++ programming or equivalent practical experience approved by the Executive Dean) an extended program is available to provide the prerequisites, increasing course length by six months.

A candidate must complete 36 units for Master or 24 units for Graduate Diploma or 12 units for Graduate Certificate, from one of the following fields of study. The prescribed course of study for each field follows:

Schedule

E-Business

Multimedia

Networking

For Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate and Master programs, the prescribed course of study for each field may be varied by the Academic Adviser or the Head of School to accommodate particular circumstances of individual students.

MASTER OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY – MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

The objectives of the course are to provide theory and practical skills in accounting, finance, management, marketing and operations management; and e-business technologies, multimedia, programming, networking and software.

Students should complete subjects to 48 units as follows:

GRADUATE DIPLOMA OF SCIENCE

The Graduate Diploma of Science in computer science enables graduates to undertake further studies in the background, principles and practices of computer science.

Students are required to successfully complete 24 units of coursework subjects comprising six core subjects and two electives.

Subjects successfully completed for this award may be credited towards a Master of Applied Science in computer science.