Bachelor of Information Systems

There is no first year intake into this course after 2008.

The degree in information systems focuses on the design, specification, and creation of information systems, and on the human and organisational arrangements needed to use information systems to achieve organisational goals. To cover these increasingly interrelated topics, the course offers study in five key areas: information systems, information technology, organisations, analytical skills, and professional competencies.

The final first year intake into the Bachelor of Information Systems course was at the start of 2008. In addition to the information below, current BIS students should refer to other resources regarding course requirements and appropriate subject selection:

• Previous years’ handbooks (for each of the years that a student has been enrolled in the course).
• The course planning website of the Science Student Centre: http://www.science.unimelb.edu.au/current/planning/index.php

The description of the BIS course has changed over recent years. Students may complete this course as defined by the current structure or a structure detailed in a previous year's handbook, applicable to any year the student was enrolled in the course.

Course Requirements

Students must complete a minimum (and maximum) of 300 points of approved studies, comprising:

• 187.5 points of core subjects in information systems at first, second and third year level (or approved alternatives);
• 25 points of information systems elective subjects at third year level;
• a 12.5 point subject in a business-oriented discipline (see below for list of options)
• 75 points of elective subjects including at least 37.5 points at second or third year level;

Students may not undertake more than 112.5 points at first year level towards this course.

First year level Core information systems subjects

Please note: 600-151 Informatics 1: Practical Computing replaces 615-145, 600-152 Informatics 2: People, Data and the Web replaces 615-240, 800-101 Critical Thinking With Data replaces 615-160 and 316-130 Quantitative Methods 1 is an alternative replacement for 615-160.

Second year level Core information systems subjects

Please note: 600-206 Informatics 3: Content Management replaces 615-230

The following are only available by invitation of the Head of Department: 615-237, 615-245 and 615-251

Second year level Elective information systems subjects offered in 2010

Third year level Core information systems subjects offered in 2010

Please note: after 2010, the following subjects will only be available by invitation of the Head of Department: 615-346, 615-372, 615-315 and 615-355.

Third year level Elective information systems subjects offered in 2010

Business-oriented subjects

Select one business-oriented subject from this list.

Honours and Masters level studies are available as indicated at

http://www.science.unimelb.edu.au

• understand how people use information and information systems;
• understand the business value of information and information systems in organisations;
• understand the organisational settings in which information systems are used, including major business functions and processes;
• have familiarity with, and some experience in, studying large, complex information systems;
• understand, and be able to specify, the technical aspects of an information system;
• be able to build small information systems;
• be familiar with a range of techniques, standards, and tools for building and using large information systems in an organisational setting;
• be able to participate in imagining, designing, justifying, implementing, and managing large information systems;
• have professional competencies for effective work in organisations, including listening, writing, researching, analysing, presenting, and working in teams; and know how to operate ethically within society's legal framework.

Specific capabilities will be developed through work in the five key areas of the course.

1. Information systems
This is the central theme of the course: information systems collect, process, store, and distribute information so that it can be used to make decisions, to keep track of resources, and to plan for the future. Particular focus is placed on imagining, specifying, designing, justifying, building, implementing, managing, and using information systems to add value in organisations.

2. Information technology
An understanding of the potential of information technology to add value is essential to the successful implementation and use of information systems. Students will become familiar with computer hardware and software, telecommunications, databases and data structures, information technology architectures, and information technology infrastructures. Practical experience in these areas will help students learn how to assess the current and future capability of information technology.

3. Organizations
To implement information systems efficiently and effectively in organisations requires the ability to analyse and understand organisational functions, processes, environments, characteristics, and cultures. This organisational perspective on information systems, and its relationship to the technical perspective developed in the information technology theme, is a distinguishing characteristic of the Bachelor of Information Systems course.

4. Analytical skills
Effective design, development, and implementation of information systems in organisations requires a broad range of analytical skills, including data classification and modelling, information mapping and representation, systems analysis and design, and statistics. These and other analytical skills are essential for understanding, and communicating about, complex organisational situations and the potential and performance of information systems.

5. Professional competencies
Graduates will, in the course of their jobs, work with people across a broad spectrum of technical and business interests and skills. Success in these interactions will require a well-developed set of personal competencies, including listening, collecting and synthesising information, writing, presenting, and working in teams.