Information systems focuses on identifying organisational requirements for applications and acquiring effective systems solutions, whether custom designed and built or selected and implemented, to meet the requirements. Skills involve the design, development and maintenance of large database applications for business, as well as the identification, purchase and implementation of packaged software addressing business problems. It does not require in-depth knowledge of computer programming but rather in-depth specialised knowledge of databases and software used in business. 

Customise your degree

Foster your passion and shape your career through complementary study areas.  As well as choosing a major area of study, your course includes a second study area, which can be either a second major or double minor.

A second major can complement your major area of study, giving you the opportunity to develop a significant depth of knowledge and skills in two discipline areas.

IT Second Major

• Computational and Simulation Science combines the study of science and mathematical models with the use of computers to provide quantitative analysis and visualisation in order to gain insight to the solution of scientific problems from a range of scientific application areas. Computational and Simulation Science second major graduates will be in demand, to apply the latest computing and computational techniques to specialist application areas.
• Data Science provides the necessary skills to be a data scientist including statistical methods and data visualisation, computational tools for and data management techniques for large datasets, and high-performance computing resources and techniques.  This unique skill-set in statistics and computing will allow you to cope with sophisticated models applied to complex and/or large datasets.  

You might prefer to expand the breadth of your studies by adding to your major with two minors. You can choose from the information technology discipline, or you can broaden your studies by completing minors that offer general knowledge and insights in study areas from across the university.

IT Minors

• Business Process Management is a systematic approach to making the workflow of the organization more effective.  You will learn how to discover, analyse, model, improve, automate and monitor various business processes.
• Enterprise Systems are large scale application software packages that support business processes and information flows across departments. This minor develops the knowledge and skills required in supporting Enterprise Systems within the modern organisation.
• HCI develops the knowledge and skills to engage in human-centred design activities involving emerging technologies in order to create new forms of human-computer interaction.
• Intelligent Systems an introduction to the field of robotics and intelligent systems technologies to students interested in careers in this area. Students will develop knowledge and skills to specialise in developing physical and virtual intelligent systems.
• Mobile Applications develops the knowledge and skills to design, develop and distribute applications or games delivered as a Mobile Application. It examines the role and application of ubiquitous and mobile technologies to the individual and enterprises.
• Social Technologies develops the knowledge and skills to engage in innovation processes using current and emerging social media. It examines the role and application of social media to the individual, social entities and enterprises.
• Software Development develops the knowledge and skills to enable students to develop sophisticated software systems in a variety of environments and problem domains.
• Technology Innovation provides students with a broad set of skills to engage in innovation processes for technology intensive environments which can be applied in a corporate or start-up setting. In addition, students will develop competencies related to design and business.
• Computational and Simulation Science provides students with knowledge of modelling, simulation and visualisation as used in a range of scientific application areas.
• Information Systems develops skills in working with people, data, business processes, and technology in finding innovative ways of making these more effective and efficient.
• Computer Science provides students with both practical skills in IT system development plus an understanding of the basic principles underlying modern computing technologies, and an appreciation for how such principles help us design and assess IT systems.
• Programming develops the knowledge and skills to be able to design and build software systems for a variety of environments and problem domains.

IT Extension Minors

• Data-centric Computing develops the knowledge and skills needed to specialize in developing better and novel data-centric systems using a variety of tools, techniques and theories.
• Networks and Security develops the knowledge and skills involved in contemporary electronic communications infrastructure, concentrating on fundamental networking technologies and information security principles.

Information systems graduates have skills in design, systems thinking, stakeholder engagement and modelling and abstraction which positions them to work as business analysts and information systems consultants, solving a range of organisational problems.

Depending on your choice of study areas, opportunities also exist in business process management, social media and mobile application development and in careers as information technology innovators within enterprises, consulting companies or in your own start-up.

Study choice areas available can also lead to careers as domain experts, chief technology officers, chief information officers, managers, executives, entrepreneurs or researchers. Graduates have the opportunity to achieve the highest levels of their profession. 

Professional recognition

This program is ACS accredited, giving eligibility for ACS membership, recognition by ACS for certification and migration skills assessment, and international recognition by signatories of the Seoul Accord.

Possible careers

• Business Analyst
• Business process analyst
• Consultant
• Enterprise architect
• Entrepreneur
• IT project manager
• Solution architect
• Systems Analyst