HUMA400 Honours Thesis A (Full–time)
20 cp
HUMA406 Honours Thesis B (Full-time)
30 cp
HUMA401 Honours Thesis A (Part–time)
10 cp
HUMA402 Honours Research Methods
10 cp
Prerequisites Entry into the Honours course
This unit is an interdisciplinary study of theory and practice of research and writing with a particular focus on research technique, literature searches, information technology and thesis presentation. Its objectives are to establish the principles of research; to introduce literacy skills central to independent research and to master the skills of thesis planning and writing.
HUMA407 Honours Thesis B (Part-time)
10 cp
HUMA408 Honours Thesis C (Part-time)
10 cp
HUMA409 Honours Thesis D (Part-time)
20 cp
Prerequisites Entry into the Honours course
Teaching Organisation The thesis will be prepared under the guidance of a supervisor appointed by the School Committee on the recommendation of the Head of School. The selection of a topic or general area of research should be discussed with appropriate staff well before the commencement of the academic year. An initial proposal for a research area is to be submitted to the relevant Head of School on the prescribed form no later than 1 December of the previous year. Students may be advised at this stage to discuss their proposals with particular staff members. A more detailed research proposal, set out according to Faculty guidelines, is to be submitted. At this stage, the Head of School will make a formal recommendation to the School Committee concerning the appointment of a supervisor.
The preparation and presentation of a thesis of 15,000 words related to a discipline in which a Major has been undertaken in the Pass degree and involving appropriate individual research supervised by staff appointed by the School Committee.
HUMA410 Honours Coursework A
10 cp
Prerequisites Entry into the Honours course
This unit allows students the opportunity to extend their studies in their chosen field. The discipline will be the same as for the student’s Honours thesis, however, the topic might be chosen from the broader discipline. The topic covered will be prescribed by the Coordinator of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours). This unit allows students to focus on a particular issue in greater detail than is possible in an undergraduate unit.
HUMA411 Honours Coursework B
10 cp
Prerequisites Entry into the Honours course
This unit allows students the opportunity to extend their studies in their chosen field. It will be a different course of study from that undertaken in Honours Coursework A. The discipline will be the same as for the student’s Honours thesis, however, the topic might be chosen from the broader discipline. The topic covered will be prescribed by the Coordinator of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours). This unit allows students to focus on a particular issue in greater detail than is possible in an undergraduate unit.
HUMA500 Professional Development: Special Study
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching organisation 2 hours of lectures for 12 weeks or equivalent.
This unit allows students to enrol in postgraduate level study for purposes of professional development reflecting the needs of a particular group or organisation and will generally have a focus on the mission and institutional identity of the group or organisation. It is intended to allow, at postgraduate level, a unit of professional development designed to meet a specific purpose and is normally undertaken by flexible delivery as non-award study.
INFO101 Fundamentals of Information Systems
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Incompatible COMP104 Computing Systems
Teaching Organisation 4 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.
This unit introduces students to concepts and skills that underpin the information systems that are used in business, industry and government. Concepts developed in the unit cover the fundamentals of information systems, computer systems, systems analysis and development, business information systems and the strategic impacts of information systems on commerce, industry, government and society. Concurrently students will gain competence in the use of major application software. The unit will provide a foundation for subsequent study in Business and Information Systems disciplines.
INFO102 Introduction to Data Analysis
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 4-6 contact hours per week for 12 weeks for a total of 60 contact hours.
This unit introduces some elementary statistical techniques essential for environmental scientists. It also develops associated knowledge and skills in modern computer statistical applications. Unit content will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the scientific method sampling and experimental design, and an introduction to data analysis.
INFO106 Programming Techniques 1
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 4 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.
The unit will focus on developing students’ ability to design and specify well-structured algorithms as a foundation for the development of their skills in the design, writing and testing of well-structured programs in a high-level, procedural language. Students will gain practical experience in the development of programming skills, developing an appreciation of the techniques, skills and effort required for the development of effective software applications.
INFO108 Communication Skills
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 4 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.
This unit will develop students' abilities in communication both as a foundation for their formal studies and for effective transition to the workplace. Included in the content will be the importance of effective communication, report writing, formal presentation styles and facility with software, which supports communication in the workplace. Effective communication skills for interpersonal and collaborative contexts in the workplace will also be developed.
INFO109 Programming Techniques 2
10 cp
Prerequisites INFO106 Programming Techniques 1
Teaching Organisation 4 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.
The unit builds on the concepts presented on Programming Techniques 1 and provides students with the opportunity to develop advanced programming skills using a high-level procedural language. The emphasis of this unit will be on the development of students’ procedural programming knowledge and skills with specific reference to the development of scientific and business applications.
INFO110 Operating and Hardware Systems
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 4 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.
This unit identifies the diversity of operating systems in current commercial use and provides a theoretical and practical overview of an appropriate selection of these operating systems. One major operating system (in the first instance, UNIX) will provide a focus for in-depth study. This unit will also provide students with knowledge of the principles of operation of PC-based computer systems focusing on hardware. It will also enable students to gain the practical, hands-on skills necessary to accomplish basic levels of fault-finding, system installation and set-up, and the customisation of PCs utilising workstation operating systems.
INFO111 Discrete Mathematics for Information Systems
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 4 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.
This unit presents selected topics in discrete mathematics essential to computing and information systems, and imparts practical skills in problem solving using mathematical methods. The methods are selected from the fields of discrete mathematics on the basis of their importance to the domains of computing and information systems. Mathematical models, based on abstract structures with well-established processes for constructing and manipulating them, are fundamental to computing.
INFO116 PC System Fundamentals
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 12 hours per week for 3 weeks or equivalent of small group tutorials.
This unit will provide students with knowledge of the principles of operation of PC-based computer systems focusing on hardware. It will also enable students to gain the practical, hands-on skills necessary to accomplish basic levels of fault-finding, system installation and set-up, and the customisation of PCs utilising workstation operating systems.
INFO117 Reasoning and Critical Thinking for Information Systems Professionals
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 4 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.
Critical thinking is recognised as one of education’s most valued outcomes. This introductory unit has been designed to explicitly develop students’ reasoning and thinking skills. Students will gain an understanding of how reasoning and critical thinking is applied in the information systems discipline. The unit will focus on developing students’ skills in reasoning and thinking; in particular, the use of these skills in problem analysis and their application to algorithm development and information systems problems.
INFO118 Business Information Technology
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation This unit is taught in the distance education mode and is presented in two parts. Part one consists of 12 topics presented over 12 weeks. There will be a new module (topic) every week. Each module consists of required reading, outcomes, key terms, summary or required reading and an assessment item. Part two consists of residential school sessions.
This unit introduces students to concepts and skills that underpin the information systems that are used in business. Concepts developed in the unit cover the fundamentals of information systems, computer systems, systems analysis and development, business information systems and the impacts of information systems on business and society. Concurrently students will gain competence in the use of major application software to solve business problems.
