Accreditation
The Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology is currently accredited with the Australian Computer Society at Professional level.
Admission
Assumed knowledge required: HSC Mathematics and any two units of HSC English.
Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
International applicants must apply directly to the University of Western Sydney via UWS International.
Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof can be found on the Universities Admissions Centre website (UAC).
Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and UWS.
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points which include the units listed in the recommended sequence below.
Recommended Sequence
Full-time - Start Year Intake
Year 1
Autumn session
Programming Fundamentals
As a first unit in computer programming, Programming Fundamentals covers basic computer architecture, basic data and file structures, concept of algorithms, programming constructs, programming language features and functions, program design, test design, basic documentation. A high level programming language is employed to solve problems in a structured manner.
Principles of Professional Communication 1
This unit provide students with an introductory understanding of a range of communication theories and practices necessary for academic work and professional success.
Systems Analysis and Design
This unit provides an introduction to systems analysis and design. Incorporating systems concepts, theories and methodologies, this unit provides students with elementary problem solving experience in computerised information systems. Students will gain the ability to derive systems requirements from problem definitions and to produce system models using process, data, object and network modelling. Design and implementation issues include, (but may not be limited to), elementary database design, input, output and user interface design and prototyping. Students are also introduced to roles and responsibilities in information systems development, selection of packaged solutions and the principles of software quality.
Statistical Decision Making
Statistical Decision Making introduces students to various statistical techniques supporting the study of computing and science. Presentation of the content will emphasize the correct principles and procedures for collecting and analysing scientific data, using information and communication technologies. Topics include describing different sets of data, probability distributions, statistical inference, and simple linear regression and correlation.
Spring session
Computer Networking
This introductory unit in computer systems networking covers basic networking topologies, Ethernet fundamentals, ISO OSI layers, routing, switching and sub-nets, the Internet architecture, networking protocols including TCP/IP, important networking devices such as repeaters, hubs, bridges, routers and gateways, basic management and security issues. This unit is also the first of three units which will prepare students for industry based networking certification.
Object Oriented Analysis
Analysing and modeling requirements using the object-oriented (OO) approach is the core strength of this unit. The Unified Modifying Language (version 2.0) is used as a modeling standard for creating OO models in the problem space. This unit consolidates and extends the knowledge gained by students in Introduction to Analysis and Design unit and applies it to practical OO analysis work through a case study.
Database Design and Development
The main purpose of this unit is to provide students with an opportunity to gain a basic knowledge of database design and development including data modeling methods, techniques for database design using a set of business rules that are derived from a case study and finally implementation of the database using a commercial relational database management system. The unit also examines a number of important database concepts such as database administration, concurrency, backup and recovery and security. At the same time student learning and intercommunication skills are enhanced by running tutorial presentations and group assignments.
And one elective
Year 2
Autumn session
Technologies for Web Applications
Building on material covered in Programming Fundamentals this unit introduces students to the basics of developing interactive and dynamic web applications from both the client and server perspective. The unit covers web site design, web site development, web page accessibility and usability, XHTML, CSS, client side and server side scripting, database interaction, web site promotion (SEO), legal issues and web security.
Programming Techniques
This unit builds on the programming foundation laid in the unit Programming Fundamentals. Utilising an object-oriented language it continues the development of programming skills and methodologies required for professional programming and for further study in later computing units. Topics covered include object-oriented programming techniques of encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism, programming concepts including pointers, references, multi-dimensional arrays, strings, file I/O, and abstract data types.
Computer Networks and Internets
This unit provides students with an in-depth understanding of the applications of computer networks and the concept of internetworking through the TCP/IP suite of protocols. Some of the network security threats along with their appropriate counter measures are also discussed. The main focus of the unit is on communication and network devices.
And one elective
Spring session
Web Systems Development
In this unit students will learn how to build a Web based information systems using programming, database, networking and web technologies that they have learned in other units. Students will learn about various web system architectures and development methodologies that can be used when developing web based information systems. Students will also learn about how to model, design and implement different aspects of Web based information systems.
Discrete Structures and Complexity
The fact that computers work at all in the way they do is due to the formal mathematical structure that is used in their design. The same holds for establishing important matters such as the reliability of our computer networks. This unit presents, in their computing context, a range of mathematical concepts that are essential for understanding a number of topics concerning computers: the ways they work, they ways they interact, and the ways we interact with them.
And two electives
Year 3
Autumn session
Human-Computer Interaction
A key component to the discipline of Information Systems is the understanding and the advocacy of the user in the development of IT applications and systems. IT graduates must develop a mind-set that recognizes the importance of users and organizational contexts. They must employ user-centered methodologies in the development, evaluation, and deployment of IT applications and systems. This unit examines human-computer interaction in order to develop and evaluate software, websites and information systems that not only look professional but are usable, functional and accessible.
Professional Development
This is a final year unit that builds on foundation and intermediate computing units to prepare students for professional experience. The unit covers the content in three modules as 1) Ethics and Professional Code of Conduct, 2) Project Management, and 3) Legal, Social, Environmental issues, Quality Assurance and IT Compliance. The content covered in these three modules are carefully designed to fill in the gaps in knowledge that is not so far covered previous units in preparing students for the challenging projects units and professional working life ahead. This unit is a pre-requisite to the capstone project, covered in Professional Experience Project unit.
Operating Systems Programming
This unit provides the knowledge of the internal structure and functionality of Operating Systems. An operating system defines an abstraction of hardware behaviour and provides a range of services more suitable for ICT application development than what raw hardware could deliver, in terms of convenience, efficiency and security. It is important that ICT Professionals have some understanding of how these services are realized. For ICT Professionals whose role includes supporting the operating system this unit provides the introduction to the relevant theory and practice.
And one elective
Spring session
Professional Experience
This unit acts as a single capstone unit and through the medium of a specific project, provides opportunities for students to experience the range of issues in requirements definition, analysis, design and implementation, relating to the development of a software product.
And three electives
Full-Time Mid Year Intake
Spring session 1
Computer Networking
This introductory unit in computer systems networking covers basic networking topologies, Ethernet fundamentals, ISO OSI layers, routing, switching and sub-nets, the Internet architecture, networking protocols including TCP/IP, important networking devices such as repeaters, hubs, bridges, routers and gateways, basic management and security issues. This unit is also the first of three units which will prepare students for industry based networking certification.
Object Oriented Analysis
Analysing and modeling requirements using the object-oriented (OO) approach is the core strength of this unit. The Unified Modifying Language (version 2.0) is used as a modeling standard for creating OO models in the problem space. This unit consolidates and extends the knowledge gained by students in Introduction to Analysis and Design unit and applies it to practical OO analysis work through a case study.
Database Design and Development
The main purpose of this unit is to provide students with an opportunity to gain a basic knowledge of database design and development including data modeling methods, techniques for database design using a set of business rules that are derived from a case study and finally implementation of the database using a commercial relational database management system. The unit also examines a number of important database concepts such as database administration, concurrency, backup and recovery and security. At the same time student learning and intercommunication skills are enhanced by running tutorial presentations and group assignments.
Programming Fundamentals
As a first unit in computer programming, Programming Fundamentals covers basic computer architecture, basic data and file structures, concept of algorithms, programming constructs, programming language features and functions, program design, test design, basic documentation. A high level programming language is employed to solve problems in a structured manner.
Autumn session 2
Technologies for Web Applications
Building on material covered in Programming Fundamentals this unit introduces students to the basics of developing interactive and dynamic web applications from both the client and server perspective. The unit covers web site design, web site development, web page accessibility and usability, XHTML, CSS, client side and server side scripting, database interaction, web site promotion (SEO), legal issues and web security.
Systems Analysis and Design
This unit provides an introduction to systems analysis and design. Incorporating systems concepts, theories and methodologies, this unit provides students with elementary problem solving experience in computerised information systems. Students will gain the ability to derive systems requirements from problem definitions and to produce system models using process, data, object and network modelling. Design and implementation issues include, (but may not be limited to), elementary database design, input, output and user interface design and prototyping. Students are also introduced to roles and responsibilities in information systems development, selection of packaged solutions and the principles of software quality.
Statistical Decision Making
Statistical Decision Making introduces students to various statistical techniques supporting the study of computing and science. Presentation of the content will emphasize the correct principles and procedures for collecting and analysing scientific data, using information and communication technologies. Topics include describing different sets of data, probability distributions, statistical inference, and simple linear regression and correlation.
And one elective
Spring session 3
Web Systems Development
In this unit students will learn how to build a Web based information systems using programming, database, networking and web technologies that they have learned in other units. Students will learn about various web system architectures and development methodologies that can be used when developing web based information systems. Students will also learn about how to model, design and implement different aspects of Web based information systems.
Discrete Structures and Complexity
The fact that computers work at all in the way they do is due to the formal mathematical structure that is used in their design. The same holds for establishing important matters such as the reliability of our computer networks. This unit presents, in their computing context, a range of mathematical concepts that are essential for understanding a number of topics concerning computers: the ways they work, they ways they interact, and the ways we interact with them.
And two electives
Autumn session 4
Human-Computer Interaction
A key component to the discipline of Information Systems is the understanding and the advocacy of the user in the development of IT applications and systems. IT graduates must develop a mind-set that recognizes the importance of users and organizational contexts. They must employ user-centered methodologies in the development, evaluation, and deployment of IT applications and systems. This unit examines human-computer interaction in order to develop and evaluate software, websites and information systems that not only look professional but are usable, functional and accessible.
Programming Techniques
This unit builds on the programming foundation laid in the unit Programming Fundamentals. Utilising an object-oriented language it continues the development of programming skills and methodologies required for professional programming and for further study in later computing units. Topics covered include object-oriented programming techniques of encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism, programming concepts including pointers, references, multi-dimensional arrays, strings, file I/O, and abstract data types.
Principles of Professional Communication 1
This unit provide students with an introductory understanding of a range of communication theories and practices necessary for academic work and professional success.
Computer Networks and Internets
This unit provides students with an in-depth understanding of the applications of computer networks and the concept of internetworking through the TCP/IP suite of protocols. Some of the network security threats along with their appropriate counter measures are also discussed. The main focus of the unit is on communication and network devices.
Spring session 5
Professional Experience
This unit acts as a single capstone unit and through the medium of a specific project, provides opportunities for students to experience the range of issues in requirements definition, analysis, design and implementation, relating to the development of a software product.
Three electives
Autumn session 6
Professional Development
This is a final year unit that builds on foundation and intermediate computing units to prepare students for professional experience. The unit covers the content in three modules as 1) Ethics and Professional Code of Conduct, 2) Project Management, and 3) Legal, Social, Environmental issues, Quality Assurance and IT Compliance. The content covered in these three modules are carefully designed to fill in the gaps in knowledge that is not so far covered previous units in preparing students for the challenging projects units and professional working life ahead. This unit is a pre-requisite to the capstone project, covered in Professional Experience Project unit.
Operating Systems Programming
This unit provides the knowledge of the internal structure and functionality of Operating Systems. An operating system defines an abstraction of hardware behaviour and provides a range of services more suitable for ICT application development than what raw hardware could deliver, in terms of convenience, efficiency and security. It is important that ICT Professionals have some understanding of how these services are realized. For ICT Professionals whose role includes supporting the operating system this unit provides the introduction to the relevant theory and practice.
And two electives
Majors
The following major is available only to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology
Networking
The following majors are available to only those students enrolled in the Bachelor of Computing and Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology courses
Advanced Programming
Computer Systems
The following major is available to all students except those enrolled in the Networks or Information Systems key programs within the Bachelor of Computing course, and the Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology course
Information Technology
The following major is available to all students except those enrolled in the Health Informatics key program within the Bachelor of Computing course
Health Informatics
The following major is available to all students except those enrolled in the Bachelor of Computing or the Bachelor of Computer Science or the Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology courses
Web Systems Development
The following majors are available to all students
Computational Decision Making
Entertainment Computing
Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining
Mathematics
Statistics
Sub-majors
The following sub-major is available only to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology
IT Support
The following sub-majors are available to only those students enrolled in the Bachelor of Computing or Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology courses
Applied Mathematics
Computer Systems
Formal Systems
Systems Administration
Systems Programming
Systems Security
Two sub-majors in Web Development are available, one for computing students, the other for non-computing students.
Computing students only (that is, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Computing or Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology courses):
Web Application Development (for Computing Students)
Non-computing students only:
Web Application Development (for Non-Computing Students)
The following sub-major is available to all students except those enrolled in the Bachelor of Computing (Networks)
Networking
The following sub-majors are available to all students except those enrolled in the Health Informatics key program within the Bachelor of Computing course
Health Information Applications
Health Information Management
The following sub-majors are available to all students
Computational Decision Making
Entertainment Computing
Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining
Mathematics
Statistics
Major and Sub-major elective spaces
Elective units may be used toward obtaining an additional approved major (80 credit points) or sub-major (40 credit points). UWS offers sub-majors in a range of areas including Sustainability and Indigenous Studies. Refer to the Unit Set Index.
Students can apply for these unit sets using the Course Variation Form
