MASTER OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Entry-level postgraduate units (select four)

ICT506 Software Architectures
ICT518 Databases
ICT531 Systems Analysis and Design
ICT525 Computer Science Concepts OR ICT527 Data Communications
ICT529 Organisational Informatics
ICT539 Computer Security
ICT546 LAN Design and Implementation
ICT535 Advanced Business Data Communication

Required postgraduate units (select four)

ICT612 Human Factors in IT
The unit covers the human factors (human-computer interaction) aspects of Information Technology at a series of levels: individuals, groups, organisations, communities, and national/international. It discusses methods of design and evaluation used to produce efficient, effective and equitable user interfaces, multimedia products and World Wide Web sites. The unit also includes consideration of: computer-mediated communication; computer supported collaborative work; virtual groups; organisational modelling; social informatics; community information systems; cultural issues and ethics. It relates theoretical concepts to practical techniques, within the context of socio-technical methodologies.

ICT616 Data Resources Management
The information available in corporate databases is a significant strategic resource. This unit presents the terminology, principles, tools and techniques of data resource management technologies, and investigates how organisations use data, information and knowledge management as strategies to meet organisational goals.

ICT618 IT Project Management
This unit will cover the principles and practices of managing and developing large-scale software systems. Possible topics: Project planning, Project life cycles/models, standards, Project control, monitoring and plan adjustment, Time management, Risk Management, Project management tools, Software development process, Software development methodologies (including O-O), Software quality assurance, Programming in the large - component reuse, portability, adaptability, performance; group programming - version control, configuration management; Debugging and testing - tools and techniques.

ICT622 IT Strategy (for coursework focus program)
This unit recognises the highly dynamic nature of IT developments and its impact on strategic management. Techniques allowing changes to be understood, modelled and tracked in strategic IT management contexts are introduced. Topics: strategic ideas and thinking, strategic planning and analysis, IT organisational structure, IT governance, IT architecture, IT economy, IT human resource issues including outsourcing, change management and contract management.

ICT650 IT Research Methodologies (for research focus program)
This unit is designed to provide an introduction to research for students in information technology and information management areas. It will focus on issues in research methodology, including problem formulation, theory construction, research designs, measurement and validity. In addition the unit will cover identification of suitable information sources with an emphasis on the Internet as a research tool.

Specified electives (select four)

ICT608 Advanced Electronic Commerce Technologies
This unit provides an integrated approach to the study of electronic commerce embracing technology and management issues. Through an understanding of both, students can appreciate how to set up e-commerce management strategies in organisations. Areas of study include client-server concepts, management of e-commerce security and privacy, electronic payment systems, Business-to-Consumer and Business-to-Business e-commerce, and emerging e-commerce issues. The emphasis is on the management of technological developments. 

ICT610 Data Communications Strategies
This unit deals with the pivotal place of current and emerging data communications technologies in modern business enterprises and their use to gain strategic advantage. Strategic topics covered will include distributed systems, intranets, extranets, system security, information auditing and management of resources. Current and emerging technologies will be examined to be able to differentiate between technologies and particular advantages that they can bring to an organisation.

ICT614 Multimedia Systems
This unit will introduce state-of-the-art techniques used in the design and implementation of multimedia systems. Topics: software, hardware and network issues; different types of media; interface design and management; virtual reality environments; specification, design, implementation and management issues for the creation of multimedia systems.

ICT619 Intelligent Systems
This unit aims to give an overview of the application of techniques developed in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Soft Computing, and the theory and techniques used in intelligent systems. The emphasis is on business and management rather than scientific and engineering applications. Completion of this unit should enable students to evaluate intelligent systems and manage the application of various tools available for developing such systems. Topics: expert systems, artificial neural networks, fuzzy systems, genetic algorithms, data mining, case-based reasoning, intelligent agents and natural language understanding.

ICT617 Individual Study Project
The purpose of this unit is for students to study an advanced topic of current interest within the information technology research community that is of personal interest to the student but not available as a formal unit in the MScIT. Students will be in regular contact with their academic supervisor who is an active researcher in that area. Students submit a final report for assessment.

ICT651 IT Research Project I
Students wishing to enrol in this the IT Research Project I, will submit a proposal for approval by the Program Chair in consultation with an academic advisor. The purpose of this unit is to provide students with the skills, knowledge and experience to conduct research in computer science and/or information systems science. Students will be in regular contact with their academic supervisor. Students submit a literature review, several progress reports and a substantial final formal report for assessment. The project topic must address a critical issue in Information Technology.

ICT652 IT Research Project II
In this unit, students engage in data collection and analyses as they research the project they developed ICT651 IT Research Project I. Students will be in regular contact with their academic supervisor and submit a substantial final formal report for assessment.