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Search : Index : Faculty of Science
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16. Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Information Systems (BSc/BIS)
16.1. Course objectives
16.2. Attributes of the Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Information Systems
16.3. Duration
16.4. Course requirements
16.4.1. Science component
16.4.2. Information systems component
16.4.3. Balance of points
16.4.4. BSc/BIS - computer science major
The combined Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Information Systems course provides a course of study for students who want to combine their training in a scientific discipline with the ability to imagine, design, build, and use information systems applications. As a knowledge-intensive discipline, science increasingly relies on these abilities as well as on specific content knowledge. The graduates of this course readily find employment across a spectrum of scientific careers, particularly those that involve the collection, analysis, reporting, and dissemination of data, and the technical and organisational skills to convert that data into useful information.
Upon completion of the course, students should:
have a broad knowledge of science across a range of disciplines, with a higher level of understanding in one or more of those disciplines;
understand how to use information technology, including hardware, software, databases and networks, as the technical foundation for other organisational systems;
have a solid theoretical grounding in both information technology and organisations;
have gained practical experience working both individually and in groups to turn scientific theory into practice;
be able to combine their knowledge of information technology and science to recognise opportunities for the use of information systems;
be able to locate, access, use, and add to the information necessary for the solution of scientific problems;
be able to place a value on the information created, by themselves as individual scientists and by the organisations of which they are a part, so that this information may be appropriately managed; and
be able to disseminate knowledge as required to their scientific peers, to the members of their organisations, and to the general public.
In science/information systems at the University of Melbourne, we expect to educate our students in the fundamental skills of transforming information into knowledge and using technology to manage knowledge in organisations. These outcomes are fully consistent with the University's general ambition for our graduates, and emphasise the transferability of the skills practised in the science and in information systems.
The Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Information Systems degrees aim to educate and train students in both science and information technology areas of study. Through their scientific training, these graduates have a broad knowledge of science across a range of disciplines, with a higher level of understanding in one or more of these disciplines. They also have an appreciation of the historical background and evolution of scientific concepts. They have the knowledge, skills and attitude to enable them to adapt to scientific, technological and social change and have a sense of intellectual curiosity and a desire for lifelong learning.
Through their training in information systems, these graduates also understand the issues involved in the design, specification, and creation of information systems, and the human and organisational arrangements needed to use information systems to achieve organisational goals.
Science/information systems graduates are particularly strong in their cognitive skills. They are able to:
synthesise and evaluate information from a range of sources and add new ideas to their existing knowledge;
observe, record and evaluate data or evidence appropriately;
classify and model data, and undertake information mapping and representation;
make effective use of information to identify and solve problems;
synthesise and integrate disparate elements into a meaningful whole;
analyse and evaluate the organisational environment and its impact on information systems;
undertake systems analysis and design;
implement information systems efficiently and effectively in organisations; and
analyse and understand the functions, processes, environments, characteristics, and cultures that give rise to a complete organisation.
These and other analytical skills are essential for understanding, and effectively communicating with others on issues relating to complex organisational situations and the potential and performance of information systems. As information systems graduates they will have the skills necessary to:
ensure that effective design, development, and implementation of information systems in organisations occurs;
comprehend the larger picture of how information systems collect, process, store, and distribute information so that it can be used to make decisions, keep track of resources, and plan for the future; and
imagine, specify, design, justify, build, implement, manage, and use information systems to add value in a wide variety of public and private organisations.
Graduates are familiar and comfortable working with computer hardware and software, telecommunications, databases and data structures, information technology architectures, and information technology infrastructures. They have practical experience in these areas enabling them to assess the current and future capability of information technology. They therefore know the potential of information technology to add value in an organisation, knowledge that is vital to the successful implementation and use of information systems.
Graduates in science/information systems are able to be creative in their approach to scientific or technology-related issues. They are used to formulating hypotheses which can be tested for validity. They can extrapolate from the known to the unknown and are comfortable working with analogues rather than needing to deal with literal situations.
The science and technology disciplines value clear reporting. Consequently, the science/information systems graduate has developed skills of efficient and effective communication of ideas and results, whether in the accepted modes of scientific and business report writing or through more informal oral presentations. Graduates recognise the need to present information and ideas in an effective written form that is appropriate to the purpose and the reader.
These graduates are adept at activity planning as well as the application of theory to practice. Some students will have found collaborative learning an efficient tool, while others will find their practical work enhanced by effective teamwork.
Through the need to manage the multiplicity of tasks (lectures, laboratory and assignment work) and the professional skills program these graduates have developed professional skills within their program of study. They:
are aware of the need to structure and manage time effectively and efficiently;
can retain balance and prioritise their activities;
can juggle several tasks simultaneously;
take responsibility for their own work, independently or within a group, and plan their schedule appropriately;
are able to interact effectively with people across the broad spectrum of technical and business interests and skills; and
have a set of personal competencies, including listening, collecting and synthesising information, writing, presenting, and working in teams, which are vital in any organisational context.
The Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Information Systems combined course usually requires five years of full-time study, and may also be taken part-time.
Students must complete a minimum (and maximum) of 500 points. Within the 500 points students must ensure that they satisfy the requirements of both the science component and the information systems component as specified below.
A minimum of 237.5 science points is required, which must include:
between 75 and 125 science points at the 100-level; and
completion of 50 points of a prescribed science major at the 300-level.
There are no specific requirements at the 200-level.
Information systems subjects (subject prefix 615-) cannot count towards the science component of the BSc/BIS.
Students who first enrolled in the BSc/BIS course before 1999 must complete the requirements set out above, with the exception that they do not need to complete a prescribed science major, but rather 50 science points at the 300-level of subjects of their choice.
Students should refer to Course planning information for the BSc, BASc and BSc combined courses for more information about majors and what constitutes science points.
A minimum of 212.5 points of information systems subjects is required, which must include:
175 points of core subjects or approved alternate subjects;
One business-oriented subject (12.5 points) chosen from the following:
306-108 Accounting Transactions and Analysis (note that this subject has prerequisites),
316-101 Introductory Macroeconomics (note that this subject has prerequisites),
333-101 Finance 1 (note that this subject has prerequisites),
25 points of information systems elective subjects at 300-level.
Core information systems subjects:
615-110 Foundations of Information Systems
615-140 Technologies for Information Systems
615-237 Telecommunications Concepts
615-240 Concepts in Software Development II
615-245 Systems Analysis and Design
615-346 Information Systems Architecture
(or 615-347 Business Systems Design)
In no case may students receive credit for both a core subject and its alternative.
Students select Faculty of Science subjects to complete the remaining 50 points. Subject selection requires the completion of prerequisites and, in the case of quota restricted subjects, the offer of a place in the subject.
Students are required to include 615-160 Tools of Analysis or any 100-level mathematics and statistics subject in the 50 points available.
BSc/BIS students intending to complete a science major in computer science are directed to undertake 433-171 Introduction to Programming. This subject exempts them from enrolling in 615-145 Concepts in Software Development. Similarly, at 200-level, these students undertake 433-254 Software Design, which exempts them from 615-240 Concepts in Software Development II. Students granted exemptions for 615-145 and 615-240 must select alternative information systems electives to complete the minimum 212.5 points of information systems subjects.
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