UTS course code: C10153
UAC code: 605005
Testamur title: Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Innovation
Abbreviation: BSc
Program Leader, Innovation Programs: Associate Professor Graeme Sheather (Faculty of Business); Program Leader, BSc in IT Innovation: Dr Wayne Brookes (Faculty of IT)
Course fee: HECS (local)¹
Total credit points: 144

Footnote:
1. This course is not offered to international students.

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

Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Innovation is one of four related technology innovation courses offered at UTS. The innovation program embodies a transdisciplinary team-based approach to course curriculum and delivery that is designed to provide graduates with the ability to develop and commercialise technology-based initiatives.

The course offers students the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in information technology and the know-how to apply this knowledge in the context of any organisation. Students study across major areas of computing and information technology, learning how to develop and commercialise new IT technologies and initiatives. The course combines the study of information technology with the key ideas of innovation, business, capital management and sustainability, and students learn the fundamentals of making ideas work.

Course aims

The overall course aim is to combine an in-depth study of IT and computing with the knowledge of how to develop and commercialise new technologies and initiatives in the field of information technology.

The entrepreneurial component of the program aims to equip students with an entrepreneurial attitude and appropriate business skills to transform new ideas, knowledge and technologies into new products and processes. This enables graduates to bring to industry a greatly improved capacity to manage risk and to create an environment conducive to innovation.

The information technology component of the program aims to provide a sound education in all aspects of computing and information technology for students who intend to make a career in the profession, as well as providing a pathway to Honours, postgraduate study and a research career. The electives provide for further specialisation within the computing and information technology discipline and/or further innovation studies.

Graduates are committed to lifelong learning built on the foundations provided by their course of study.

The course provides a sound study of information technology and its applications together with related business skills that enable graduates to take a leading role in the entrepreneurial activities of an organisation. Graduates are also equipped to start up their own companies.

Admission requirements

This course is only offered to local students.

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.

Advanced standing

Students who have previously undertaken a course of study at a university or another recognised tertiary educational institution may be eligible for subject exemptions if subjects previously studied are deemed by the Faculty to be equivalent to core subjects in the degree.

The study must have been completed no earlier than three years before commencement of studies at UTS, i.e. students commencing in 2004 must have completed their previous university studies in 2000 or later. Students must be able to demonstrate that their knowledge is current.

To be eligible for subject exemptions, students must have completed relevant study at the appropriate level before commencing their current course. Students should note that eligibility for advanced standing does not guarantee a place in the course for which that advanced standing is available.

Note that exemptions are not normally granted for elective subjects.

Students are required to apply for exemptions at enrolment in their first semester of study. Exemptions are usually processed immediately following enrolment.

Insearch UTS, Diploma of Information Technology

Students entering the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Innovation who have graduated with a Credit average from the post-2003 Diploma of Information Technology or a Diploma in the field of business at Insearch may be eligible for advanced standing. Contact the Program Leader for details.

TAFE NSW

Students who have completed a TAFE NSW Diploma of Information Technology may be eligible for advanced standing in the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Innovation. Contact the Program Leader for details.

Other universities

Students who have completed appropriate subjects at a recognised university may be granted advanced standing at UTS for subjects previously undertaken at the other institution. Students applying for exemptions on the basis of subjects completed at institutions other than TAFE should apply at enrolment, and will be required to supply English language versions of official academic transcripts, as well as copies of detailed subject outlines that include at least the subject descriptions, lists of textbooks and assessment methods.

Private colleges

Students who have completed a course at a private college are not eligible for any advanced standing in the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Innovation.

Course duration

The Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Innovation is three years, full time. The course consists of six academic semesters of full-time study, and a minimum period of eight weeks of industry experience.

This course is not offered in part-time mode.

Course structure

The Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Innovation requires students to complete 144 credit points which consist of 126 credit points of core subjects and 18 credit points of electives.

The course consists of two streams: the Disciplinary Stream and the Entrepreneurial Stream.

The Disciplinary Stream in Information Technology consists of 72 credit points of core Information Technology subjects and 18 credit points of elective subjects.

The Entrepreneurial Stream consists of 48 credit points of subjects introducing basic concepts in entrepreneurship, innovation, information technology, business and sustainability. Also in the Entrepreneurial Stream, students undertake a 6-credit-point Capstone Project which involves drawing on scientific, innovation, and venture capital expertise in the University and its partners. Subjects in the Entrepreneurial Stream are drawn from several faculties.

Course program

Typical full-time program

Year 1

Autumn semester
D 31465 Object-oriented Programming 6cp
D 31466 Principles of Distributed Computing 6cp
E 31060 Information Systems Principles 6cp
E 24108 Marketing Foundations 6cp

Spring semester
D 31469 Object-oriented Design 6cp
D 31470 Distributed Computing Architecture 6cp
E 48210 Engineering for Sustainability 6cp
E 22107 Accounting for Business 6cp

Year 2

Autumn semester
D 31473 Data Structures and Procedural Programming 6cp
D 31467 Networking 1 6cp
E 25311 Financial Management for New Enterprises 6cp
E 24307 Electronic Business 6cp

Spring semester
D 31474 Database Fundamentals 6cp
D 31475 Requirements Engineering 6cp
D xxxxx IT Innovation elective 6cp
E 21193 Introduction to Corporate Strategy 6cp

Summer session
E 31062 Entrepreneurial Experience 0cp

Year 3

Autumn semester
D 31476 Systems Development Project 12cp
D xxxxx IT Innovation elective 6cp
E 21227 Innovation and Small Venture Management 6cp

Spring semester
D 31479 Information Technology Professional and Society 6cp
D 31478 Project Management and Quality Assurance 6cp
D xxxxx IT Innovation elective 6cp
E 21126 Capstone Project in Business Planning 6cp

D = Disciplinary Stream subject
E = Entrepreneurial Stream subject

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 Innovation 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 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 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.

Electives

Students must complete a minimum of 18 credit points of electives. A list of approved electives for the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Innovation course is available from the Faculty of Information Technology.

At least 6 credit points of electives must be undertaken in information technology and comprise 'advanced study'.

Students wishing to enrol in subjects not included on the approved list should seek the approval of the Program Leader. Students may undertake subjects outside the University only if no comparable subject is offered by the University.

Students should note that subjects in other faculties may be worth varying amounts of credit points and that a student's total elective credit points may exceed 18 but must be at least 18. However, once a student has completed a sufficient number of credit points to fulfil the elective requirements, that student is not permitted to enrol in additional elective subjects.

Sub-majors

Students in the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Innovation may choose to use their electives to form a sub-major. The elective restrictions for this course mean that only one sub-major is currently available, as shown below.

Sub-major in Electronic Commerce (SMJ02062)

31467 Networking 1 (IT Innovation core) 6cp
31749 Internet Commerce 6cp
plus two of the following
31336 Internet Middleware Programming 6cp
31337 Advanced Internet Technologies 6cp
31606 Virtual Communities 6cp
31750 Intelligent Agents in Java 6cp
31950 Networked Enterprise Design 6cp

Projects

In lieu of one elective subject, students may take one 6-credit-point project. In many cases, these projects may be completed over Summer session or mid-year breaks, if desired.

A list of projects nominated by various staff members is accessible from the Faculty of Information Technology website, and details are available from the Faculty Student Centre or Projects Coordinator. Every project must be supervised by an academic staff member. Students who have their own ideas for projects may approach relevant staff members to be their supervisors and must also see the Projects Coordinator for approval. The supervisor must complete a Project Registration form, accessible from the website listing available projects.

Students may not use work done in the normal course of duties during entrepreneurial experience/industry training as a project.

Projects are also available through the UTS Shopfront:

telephone (02) 9514 2900

www.shopfront.uts.edu.au

As a general guide, a student doing a 6-credit-point project is expected to spend a minimum of 150 hours on the project.

Industrial experience

Students normally undertake a minimum of eight weeks of entrepreneurial experience in Summer session between the second and third years of study. Students are linked with industry partners who provide industrial experience in the information technology industry in an environment conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship. The goal is to provide a period of targeted industrial experience that is structured to link with the subjects studied at university and reinforce students' learning in a workplace setting.

For details of arrangements for entering the entrepreneurial experience, students should contact the Program Leader, Innovation Programs.

Assessment

Grading of awards

The Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Innovation degree is awarded at the levels of Pass, Credit and Distinction.

Students who have completed at least 144 credit points and have an average raw mark of 50 per cent or greater, qualify for a Pass degree.

Qualification above the Pass level is based on the weighted average mark of core subjects, excluding the first-year subjects. For a degree with Distinction, no failures in core subjects over the entire course are permitted. For a degree with Credit, only one failure in core subjects over the entire course is permitted.

The grading of qualifying students is carried out on an individual basis by the Faculty's Examination Review Committee. The Examination Review Committee is provided with the following information on each qualifier: