UTS course code: C10150
UAC code: 609230
Testamur title: Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Diploma of Information Technology Professional Practice
Bachelor of Arts in International Studies
Abbreviation: BSc DipInfTechProfPrac BA
Program Leader: Dr W Brookes
Course fee: HECS (local); $9,350 per semester plus $2,200 in total for the DipInfTechProfPrac (international)
Total credit points: 252

Note: The Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Diploma in Information Technology Professional Practice, Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (C10150) was introduced in Autumn 2002. It replaces the pre-2002 undergraduate offering: Bachelor of Science in Computing Science, Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (C10144).

Overview
Course aims
Admission requirements
Advanced standing
Course duration
Course structure
Course program
Professional recognition
Other information

Overview

This course combines the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Diploma in Information Technology Professional Practice with the University's Bachelor of Arts in International Studies. Information technology is integrated with a major in the language and culture of another country.

Course aims

The information technology component of the combined degree aims to provide a sound education in all aspects of computing and information technology for students who intend to follow a career in the profession. It is intended that the course will provide a suitable background covering all aspects of computer science and information technology, short of the actual design and construction of hardware systems.

The International Studies component of the joint degree is designed to offer students the chance of gaining an in-depth understanding of a culture other than their own through academic and experiential learning. The program equips students with the ability to make progress towards acquiring sufficient language skills to study and live in this culture as well as encouraging an appreciation of the diversity of ways of seeing and practices of others, and promoting empathic understanding of other cultures in general. It fosters an awareness of and sensitivity towards the needs and values of people and cultures of other countries in international, cultural and local contexts.

Admission requirements

This course is offered to both local and international students and to both current school leavers and non-current school leavers.

The number of students admitted each year is limited to a strict quota based on the availability of resources.

For local current school leavers, selection into the course is based on the HSC UAI or equivalent. There are no prerequisites for entry, however the assumed knowledge is Mathematics and any two units of English, with Mathematics Extension 1 and English Advanced recommended.

For local non-current school leavers, selection into the course is based on prior study and previous work experience. The Faculty may consider the Limited UAI and will consider a compulsory Personal Statement.

Any applicant wishing to transfer from another university must apply as a non-current school leaver in competition with other applicants.

International applicants apply through the UTS International Office, but are assessed by the Faculty. Applicants are required to have a competitive Pass in a recognised matriculation examination equivalent to the Australian Year 12 qualification, and to meet or better the University's IELTS criteria.

For details of entry requirements including IELTS criteria, contact the UTS International Office on:

telephone 1800 774 816 (within Australia)

telephone +61 3 9627 4816 (outside Australia)

or visit their website at:

www.uts.edu.au/international/

Advanced standing

For the information technology component, refer to the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Diploma of Information Technology Professional Practice.

Course duration

The course is of six years' duration and students spend the fourth year of study at a university overseas. The fifth and sixth years may be completed part time.

Course structure

The structure of the six-year course is derived from the combination of the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Diploma of Information Technology Professional Practice with the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies.

All arrangements currently in force for both the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Diploma of Information Technology Professional Practice and the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies apply equally to the combined degree program.

To graduate, a student is required to have completed 252 credit points: 156 credit points in Information Technology and 96 credit points in International Studies.

There are a substantial number of prerequisites for the Diploma of Information Technology Professional Practice. In this combined degree program the Diploma may be undertaken part time in Years 5 and 6, or full time in one of these years. To gain credit for the Diploma in Information Technology Professional Practice, students are required to obtain an approved, full-time job within the information technology industry.

International Studies component

The Bachelor of Arts in International Studies requires undergraduates to study a major – a region or country – over a minimum of three years. In Sydney, students study Language and Culture for at least two years, followed by a period of study overseas.

In the International Studies program, students study one of the following countries or majors: Canada (Québec), Chile, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Latino USA, Malaysia, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland and Thailand. There are two other majors available that permit students to pursue programs of study about and in countries where other arrangements have not already been made. The Heritage major permits students with significant prior knowledge of a particular language and culture to continue their study in countries such as Croatia, Greece, Hong Kong, Korea, Poland, Russia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam and others. The Independent Study major is available where a language is taught in Sydney and a program of In-country Study can be arranged.

Australia and the Asia–Pacific is only available as a major to international students. International students may access one of the other majors offered provided that the country they choose as their major is able to grant them a visa to study there. This needs to be determined prior to commencing subjects within the major. If a visa cannot be granted, then it is not possible to undertake the chosen major.

Students are admitted to the International Studies program with no guarantee of entry to a specific major, although every effort is made to meet students' preferences. The Institute reserves the right to allocate places in majors according to its resources and arrangements with overseas universities.

Each major includes 32 credit points (four 8credit-point subjects) of instruction in Language and Culture; 8 credit points of study of Comparative Social Change; 8 credit points of study of Contemporary Society; and 48 credit points (two semesters) of study at a university or institution of higher education in the country of the major.

There are no prior language requirements for the International Studies component of this combined degree, except for programs within the Heritage major.

Arrangements for In-country Study

Students are required to complete all appropriate subjects in their combined degree, including four consecutive semesters of study of Language and Culture before proceeding to In-country Study.

The Institute for International Studies makes arrangements for students to spend two semesters of In-country Study at an institution of higher education in the country of their major. The costs of tuition at overseas universities and of travel between Sydney and the student's place of study are paid by UTS, except in cases where a scholarship has been awarded to a student with provision for these costs. Visa fees are also paid by UTS, and students are covered by the UTS Overseas Insurance Policy. Students undertaking the Heritage or Independent Study major may be required to bear some of the tuition costs at the overseas university. During their In-country Study, students continue to be enrolled at UTS and to pay HECS for their study.

Students must pay the costs of accommodation and other living expenses during their period of In-country Study. Students should be aware that the living costs vary from country to country and that in some countries living costs are high.

The In-country Study is the key component of the International Studies program. It provides a unique opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the language and culture of another country through a learning program at a host university, through involvement in the life of the local community and through project work which is supervised by the Institute. Each student's individual study program depends on their level of language competence and the subjects and other learning experiences that are available at the host university. All students who undertake Incountry Study must agree to the Institute's Conditions of Participation for In-country Study. Any study undertaken at the host university during the two semesters of In-country Study is part of the In-country Study experience. Students may not credit any subjects completed at their host university during the period of In-country Study towards the professional component of their combined degree.

Course program

Year 1

Autumn semester
31465 Object-oriented Programming 6cp
31466 Principles of Distributed Computing 6cp
31467 Networking 1 6cp
31468 Information, Classification and Control 6cp

Spring semester
31469 Object-oriented Design 6cp
31470 Distributed Computing Architecture 6cp
31471 Networking 2 6cp
31472 Introduction to Collaborative Systems 6cp

Year 2

Autumn semester
31473 Data Structures and Procedural Programming 6cp
50140 Comparative Social Change 8cp
971xxx Language and Culture 1 8cp
xxxxx Elective 6cp

Spring semester
31474 Database Fundamentals 6cp
972xxx Language and Culture 2 8cp
xxxxx Elective 6cp

Year 3

Autumn semester
31475 Requirements Engineering 6cp
973xxx Language and Culture 3 8cp
xxxxx Elective 6cp

Spring semester
31476 Systems Development Project 12cp
974xxx Language and Culture 4 8cp
976xxx Contemporary Society 8cp

Year 4

Autumn semester
977xxx In-country Study 1 24cp

Spring semester
978xxx In-country Study 2 24cp

Year 5

Autumn semester
31xxx IT sub-major stream 6cp
xxxxx Elective 6cp

Spring semester
31478 Project Management and Quality Assurance 6cp
31xxx IT sub-major stream 6cp

Year 6

Autumn semester
31479 Information Technology Professional and Society 6cp
31480 Strategic Information Technology Planning Project 6cp
31136 Preparation and Review of IT Experience 6cp
31137 IT Experience 1 0cp

Spring semester
31xxx IT sub-major stream 6cp
31xxx IT sub-major stream 6cp
31138 Review of IT Experience 6cp
31139 IT Experience 2 0cp

English language testing

Despite the technical nature of some aspects of information technology, English language proficiency is an important factor in the successful academic study of information technology and for a successful career in the information technology industry.

In recognition of this, all students enrolling in the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology are required to undertake an English test administered by the English Language Study Skills Assistance (ELSSA) Centre. The results of this test indicate three possible courses of action.

1. The student's English proficiency is considered adequate: the student is allowed to enrol normally in first-year subjects.
2. The student's English proficiency is considered inadequate: the student is strongly recommended to undertake the subject 31034 Advanced Communication for IT.

   31034 Advanced Communication for IT is recognised as one of the four electives that comprise the course. It is undertaken in the first year of study. The student's program of study is adjusted to maintain an acceptable workload.

3. The student's English proficiency is considered poor: the student is strongly recommended to undertake English support classes with the ELSSA Centre before undertaking the subject 31034 Advanced Communication for IT.

   31034 Advanced Communication for IT is recognised as one of the four electives that comprise the course. It is undertaken in the first year of study following English support classes with the ELSSA Centre. The student's program of study is adjusted to maintain an acceptable workload.

Students who do not sit this test and students who fail to follow the Faculty's recommendation receive a letter to confirm this fact. The letter is lodged in the student's file as a record that he or she has chosen not to follow the Faculty's recommendation and that the student takes full responsibility for that decision.

Industrial experience

Diploma of Information Technology Professional Practice

Full-time students normally undertake the Diploma of Information Technology Professional Practice and Industrial Training after completing Year 4.

Refer to the Diploma of Information Technology Professional Practice entry.

Professional recognition

Holders of this degree are eligible for professional-level membership of the Australian Computer Society.

Other information

For further information on the information technology component of the combined degree, see the course outline for the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Diploma of Information Technology Professional Practice.

Queries regarding the International Studies component of the course should be addressed to the Institute itself on telephone (02) 9514 1574.

Combined degree students are required to confirm, during the University pre-enrolment and enrolment period, the subjects they intend to take for the year with the Institute at 10 Quay Street, Haymarket, Sydney.