The Bachelor of Information Technology (Digital Health Systems) (Honours) requires four years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time).

The course is offered by the School of Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics, within the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Admission requirements

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.

Students must achieve a credit level average or better at the end of third year in order to be eligible to continue to the fourth year Honours degree program in Information Technology (Digital Health Systems).

Course aims

The course has been designed to provide graduates with:

  • a strong foundation in both the theoretical and the practical aspects of digital health systems and information technology generally
  • a strong, practical understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities and a commitment to them
  • well developed written and oral communication skills
  • an ability to critically analyse and evaluate complex health information and solve problems
  • an awareness of social, economic, cultural and environmental aspects of digital health systems
  • the ability to work professionally as an individual and as a member of multi-disciplinary teams
  • preparation for future management roles as an information technology professional.

The course provides the foundations that will underpin ongoing professional development, preparing graduates for further study or for a career in a computing related field or in other areas where the range of skills and knowledge acquired is needed or desirable.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the award, students will be able to:

  • proficiently use professional skills and knowledge in the systematic development of complex computer-based health-related systems
  • apply their skills and knowledge in a professionally responsible manner
  • communicate effectively with computer scientists, information technology and health professionals and the wider global community using a wide range of communication technologies
  • work professionally as an individual and in a team
  • develop computer-based solutions appropriate to the social, political, cultural, economic and environmental contexts in which they are applied
  • engage in the process of continuing learning needed to retain the necessary level of professional skills and knowledge in the area of digital health systems
  • contribute successfully to project management.

On completion of the Bachelor of Information Technology (Digital Health Systems) (Honours), students will be eligible for professional membership of the Australian Computer Society. Accreditation through the Health Information Management Association of Australia (HIMAA) is also being sought.

Program of study

To qualify for the Bachelor Information Technology (Digital Health Systems) (Honours), a student must complete 144 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Students achieving a credit level average or better at the end of the third year will be eligible to continue to the fourth year honours degree program. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement will exit with the Bachelor of Information Technology on completion of 108 units.

Students who have completed 108 units according to the first three years of the program may choose to exit with the Bachelor of Information Technology.

Core - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

COMP1001  Fundamentals of Computing  (4.5 units)
COMP1101  Fundamentals of Information and Communication Technology  (4.5 units)
COMP1102  Computer Programming 1  (4.5 units)
HLTH1003  Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Care  (4.5 units)
HLTH1305  Health Practitioner Practice 1  (4.5 units)
HLTH1306  Health Practitioner Practice 2  (4.5 units)

Plus either
STAT1122  Biostatistics (4.5 units)  OR
STAT1121  Data Science (4.5 units)
Plus either
ENGR1401  Professional Skills (4.5 units)  OR
HLTH1304  Communication and Interprofessional Practice  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising:

COMP2731  Software Engineering 1  (4.5 units)
COMP2741  Application Development  (4.5 units)
COMP2761  Database and Conceptual Modelling  (4.5 units)
ENGR2782  Computer Networks and Operating Systems  (4.5 units)
HLTH2101  Critical Social Analysis of Health (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units taken from Table C  AND
4.5 units taken from Table D

Core - Year 3 topics

36 units comprising:

COMP3732  Enterprise Cloud Systems  (4.5 units)
COMP3751  Interactive Computer Systems  (4.5 units)
COMP3792  Information Technology Practicum* ( 9 units)
ENGR3704  Project Management for Engineering and Science  (4.5 units)
ENGR3750  Workplace Preparation (0 units)

Plus 4.5 units of topics taken from Table C: AND
9 units taken from Table D

Core - Honours year topics

36 units comprising:

COMP7730A  Digital Media Honours Thesis  (4.5/18 units) 
COMP7730B  Digital Media Honours Thesis  (4.5/18 units) 
COMP7730C  Digital Media Honours Thesis  (4.5/18 units) 
COMP7730D  Digital Media Honours Thesis ^^  (4.5/18 units)  

Plus 9 units taken from Table A chosen from those labelled as Computer Science / Information Technology (Group C) AND
9 units taken from Table D at Level 7000 or above.

* With the permission of the Director of Studies and with the agreement of the industry partner, the practicum topics may be extended by six months by enrolling in the topic COMP3741 Extended Industry Experience. COMP3741 Extended Industry Experience does not attract fees or HECS payments. Note that under the Fair Work Act, students enrolled in 0-unit Industry Experience topics must be in receipt of appropriate remuneration from the industry partner. Evidence of appropriate remuneration must be demonstrated before enrolment is permitted in the topic. International students, please be aware that your student visa conditions restrict you from undertaking the topic within Australia. Please see the topic coordinator for further details.

^The honours grade awarded is determined in accordance with the University's Assessment Policy and Procedures and is calculated from the Weighted Average Mark of all topics at level 7000 and above taken as part of the degree as follows:

85 ≤ WAM - Honours First Class (H1)
75 ≤ WAM < 85 - Honours Second Class Division A (H2A)
65 ≤ WAM < 75 - Honours Second Class Division B (H2B)
50 ≤ WAM < 65 - Honours Third Class (H3)

Where a student has satisfied all requirements for the course but has achieved a WAM of less than 50, the WAM will be deemed 50 for the purposes of calculating the honours classification.

^^ Students must undertake the Honours Thesis topics over a minimum of two semesters.

Table D - Digital Health Topics

These are being developed but will include topics that cover:

Casemix/DRG/ICD10
Data Mining / Exploratory Data Analysis
Decision Support Systems in Medicine
Electronic Medical Records
Health Analytics
Health Informatics
Health Information Systems
Health Ontologies
Health Systems Security
Public Policy and Financing Medicine in Australia
Telemedicine Technology
other HISA topics
other HIMAA topics