Master of Science (Information Systems)

The Master of Science - Information Systems is one of the research training streams of the Master of Science. The research training streams give students the opportunity to undertake a substantive research project in a field of choice as well as a broad range of coursework subjects including a professional tools component, as a pathway to PhD study or to the workforce.

• a comprehensive understanding of the process and practice of research in Information Systems;
• a sophisticated understanding of the Information Systems discipline;
• completed a substantial piece of original research; and
• the necessary skills for further advanced research in Information Systems (e.g. in doctoral studies)

Students must complete a total of 200 points over a two year full-time (or four year part-time) program comprising:

• 615-610 Research Methods in Information Systems as a core discipline subject of 12.5 points;
• between 37.5 and 112.5 points of elective discipline subjects;
• between 25 and 50 points of professional tools subjects; and
• a 50 point or a 100 point research project.

Core discipline subject (12.5 points)

Students must take the following subject:

• 615-610 Research Methods in Information Systems

Elective discipline subjects (between 37.5 points and 112.5 points)

Students must select three to nine approved coursework subjects from the list below:

IS Skills

In the following list 615-502 Fundamentals of Information Systems and 615-570 Database Systems and Information Modelling are most suited to students who have not completed an undergraduate degree in Information Systems and are an ideal introduction to some fundamental skills in this discipline.

• 615-502 Fundamentals of Information Systems
• 615-570 Database Systems and Information Modelling
• 615-680 Information Technology Infrastructure
• 615-681 Business Analysis Modelling and Design
• 615-671 Business Applications & Architectures
• 615-652 Emerging Technologies & Issues

IS Management

• 615-682 IS Project and Change Management
• 615-660 IS Strategy and Governance
• 615-683 Impact of Digitisation
• 615-695 Professional IS Consulting

• 615-659 Advanced IS Project Management
• 615-662 Advanced IS Change Management
• 615-692 Organisational Change for IS Managers (not available in 2010)
• 615-684 Models of IS Project Management

IT Service Provision

• 615-685 Managing In-House IT Service Provision
• 615-687 ICT Contract Law Basics (not available in 2010)
• 615-688 ICT Outsourcing Contract Management

Business Analytics

• 306-622 Business Intelligence (subject to approval from the Graduate School of Business and Economics)
• 325-692 Decision Analysis (subject to approval from the Graduate School of Business and Economics)
• 615-644 Data Warehousing

Interaction Design

• 615-636 Interaction Design and Usability
• 615-672 Pervasive Computing (not available in 2010)
• 615-656 Knowledge Management Systems or 615-691 Decision Support Using ICT (not available in 2010)
• 615-683 Impact of Digitisation

Where appropriate a student may complete up to two approved 200 or 300 level subjects. Students may also select approved postgraduate subjects from cognate disciplines (e.g. computer science, business information systems).

Professional tools (between 25 and 50 points)

Students must take at least 25 points (2 subjects) but no more than 50 points of Professional Tools subjects;

• 600-615 Thinking and Reasoning with Data
• 600-614 Business Tools: Money, People and Processes
• 600-622 Business Tools: The Market Environment
• 615-668 Critical Analysis in Science
• 615-505 e-Science
• 600-617 Systems Modelling and Simulation
• 600-618 Ethics and Responsibility in Science
• 600-616 Science in Context
• 600-619 Scientists, Communication and the Workplace

Research Project (50 points or 100 points)

Students will gain research experience in Information Systems (or cognate discipline) by completing a thesis (worth 100% of the overall score) and two oral presentations (hurdle). Students may complete a 50 point Minor Research Project or, with approval from the Course Coordinator, a 100 point Major Research Project.

Minor Research Project (50 points):

Students complete a thesis of no more than 12,000 words. This is the recommended path for most students.

Students may enrol in a combination of research project subjects as indicated below, over their two years of full-time study or over their four years of part-time study, to ensure they have completed a total of 50 points for the minor research project by the end of their course.

50 point Minor Research Project:

• 615-613 Information Systems Research Project Minor – 12.5 points
• 615-612 Information Systems Research Project Minor – 25.0 points
• 615-611 Information Systems Research Project Minor – 37.5 points
• 615-607 Information Systems Research Project Minor – 50 points

Major Research Project (100 points):

Students complete a thesis of no more than 22,000 words. This option can only be undertaken with approval from the Course Coordinator. Students may enrol in a combination of research project subjects as indicated below, over their two years of full-time study or over their four years of part-time study, to ensure they have completed a total of 100 points for the major research project by the end of their course.

100 point Major Research Project:

• 615-617 Information Systems Research Project Major – 12.5 points
• 615-616 Information Systems Research Project Major – 25.0 points
• 615-615 Information Systems Research Project Major – 37.5 points
• 615-614 Information Systems Research Project Major – 50 points

Discipline core

Discipline elective - IS Skills

Discipline elective - IS Management

Discipline elective - IS Project and Change Management

Discipline elective - IT Service Provision

Discipline elective - Business Analytics

Discipline elective - Interaction Design

Professional Tools

Research Project - Minor

Research Project - Major

Bachelor degree with a major in an appropriate discipline with at least an H3 (65%) average in the major or equivalent.

• have the ability to demonstrate advanced independent critical enquiry, analysis and reflection;
• have a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship;
• have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s);
• reach a high level of achievement in writing, research or project activities, problem-solving and communication;
• be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning;
• be able to examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a broad range of disciplines;
• have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment; and
• be able to initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces.