Faculty of Business > Programs > Graduate Diploma Programs > GradDipIT

• Program Summary
• Program Aims
• Program Objectives
• Admission Requirements
• Program Structure
• Residential Schools
• Program Fees
• Enquiries
• Recommended Enrolment Patterns

Key
HECS = Higher Education Loans Scheme
PELS = Postgraduate Education Loans Scheme
RTS = Research Training Scheme
ANZ = Australia and New Zealand Students
INT = International Students

The Graduate Diploma of Information Technology provides professional qualifications in computing for graduates from disciplines other than Computing or Information Systems. The program includes basic studies in data and systems analysis, together with more specialised areas of study in four majors, Computer Software Development, Information Technology Management, Information Systems, and e-Technologies.

The Graduate Diploma of Information Technology is a vocationally oriented program emphasising the resolution of technological problems leading to the effective management and analysis of information in both private and public sectors. Graduates should have a strong understanding of relevant major academic disciplines and possess knowledge and skills in problem resolution that will enable them to work effectively in their chosen area of specialisation.

Achievement of the objectives of the student's area of specialisation will result in a graduate of high academic standard who is capable of competing for employment in a chosen professional area and pursuing career development in that or other related areas.

The objectives of the Graduate Diploma of Information Technology are to enable graduates to:

• acquire specific knowledge and skills in information technology which are relevant to their disciplines and careers;
• become better problem-solvers and innovative thinkers, who are able to learn new skills independently and efficiently and consequently to succeed in a competitive professional environment;
• identify information needs appropriate to their area of specialisation, and apply the techniques required to gather and interpret such information;
• demonstrate skills in the analysis and determination of technological issues at management level;
• identify, analyse and solve problems in one or more areas of technology by selecting and using either quantitative or qualitative techniques appropriate to the resolution of technological problems;
• satisfy academic admission requirements for membership of relevant professional bodies; and
• understand the ethics of their profession and the need for a commitment to that profession.

Entrants to the Graduate Diploma of Information Technology are required to:

• hold a bachelor's degree or a three year diploma from an Australian university or hold a degree of a recognised university or an approved equivalent qualification; and
• have introductory knowledge of computing as detailed below according to the chosen major.

NB: Any currently held qualification must not be in information systems/computing.

Applicants must provide clear evidence to the Director, USQ Australian Graduate School of Business that they have the relevant prerequisite knowledge. Please note that it is not necessary for students to have actually completed these courses. Students need only provide evidence that they have the stipulated knowledge, wherever it has been acquired. Applicants without the necessary entry knowledge may:

• undertake self study or other studies/training programs to an equivalent standard, or
• complete the relevant courses (CIS1000 and CIS1001, enrolled under program code SING Single Courses offered by Continuing Education at USQ).

Students who do not meet these knowledge pre-requisites are encouraged to purchase the CIS1000 and CIS1001 course materials from the USQ Bookshop for private study. The USQ Bookshop has special provision for students in this situation to purchase these materials.

Alternative Entry

Applicants who hold the equivalent of an Australian, two-year, post year 12 qualification and who have had a minimum of two year's full-time equivalent relevant and appropriate work experience as determined by the Director, USQ Australian Graduate School of Business, will be permitted to enrol in the Certificate in Business. Upon successful completion of four 2000 or 3000 level Information Systems courses, applicants will be eligible for admission to the Graduate Diploma of Information Technology.

Only the Computer Software Development Major may be completed on-campus at Wide Bay. Other majors in the program may be completed via external mode.

The program consists of eight courses each of one unit. There are two core courses (CIS2000, CIS2002) to be taken by all students with the remaining six courses to be undertaken in one of the major areas of study. No exemptions will be granted for previous study.

Voluntary residential schools may be offered in some courses in this program. Students are advised to check details in the Introductory Books for their courses.

International Students

International students pay tuition fees. For details about international student fees, refer to the Fees and Charges section of this Handbook: http://www.usq.edu.au/handbook/2003/feecharge.html

Fee-Paying Postgraduate Domestic Students and Post-graduate Education Loans Scheme (PELS)

For those Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and permanent residents of Australia who pay tuition fees, details about postgraduate fees, are in the Fees and Charges section of this Handbook http://www.usq.edu.au/handbook/2003/feecharge.html . Australian citizens and permanent residents of Australia may be able to defer their postgraduate fees through the tax system. For details about this Postgraduate Education Loan Scheme (PELS) refer to the PELS section of this Handbook: http://www.usq.edu.au/handbook/2003/feecharge.html

Initial enquiries should be directed to the Program Administrators: Toowoomba telephone (07)4631 1277 or email studybus@usq.edu.au ; Wide Bay telephone (07)4120 6179 or email

Because the courses of study in this program commence at second level, it is assumed that students enrolling have completed certain introductory studies.

Each major has assumed prerequisite knowledge of the material covered in the introductory courses:CIS1000 Introduction to Computing and CIS1001 Introduction to Business Programming

These courses examine the role of information systems in business. Topics covered include fundamental concepts of computer hardware and software, data storage and processing. Students are also introduced to practical word processing, spreadsheeting and database programming using Windows based software packages.