Qualification Regulations
Part I
These regulations are to be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates.
Part II
Admission
1. Admission to the Degree of Master of Information Sciences requires that the candidate will:
(a) meet the University admission requirements as specified; and will either
(b) have been awarded or qualified for the Bachelor of Information Sciences or an equivalent qualification, having achieved a B- grade average or higher over the qualifying 300-level majoring courses; or
(c) have been awarded or qualified for a Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification, having achieved a B- grade average or higher over the 300-level majoring courses, and have at least two years’ relevant professional experience demonstrated via a portfolio, and an interview at the discretion of the University; or
(d) have been awarded or qualified for the Bachelor of Information Sciences with Honours or the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Sciences, or the equivalent qualifications, having achieved a B- grade average or higher over the qualifying 700-level courses.
Qualification requirements
2. Candidates for the Degree of Master of Information Sciences shall follow a parts-based programme of study, which shall consist of courses totalling at least 180 credits, comprising:
(a) Part One and Part Two as defined by the Schedule to the degree; and including:
(b) at least 60 credits from Part Two;
(c) any compulsory courses listed in the Schedule for the Qualification;
(d) attending workshops, block courses, tutorials or laboratories as required.
Specialisations
3. The Degree of Master of Information Sciences is awarded without a subject.
4. Notwithstanding Regulation 3, the following subjects and joint subjects are available in accordance with transitional provisions outlined in Regulation 11: Computer Science; Information Technology; and Software Engineering.
Student progression
5. In cases of sufficient merit, the Degree of Master of Information Sciences may be awarded with Distinction or Merit.
6. For progression to Part Two, candidates must have maintained a B- grade average or higher in the Part One courses.
Completion requirements
7. The timeframes for completion as outlined in the General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates will apply.
8. Candidates may be graduated when they meet the Admission, Qualification and Academic requirements within the prescribed timeframes; candidates who do not meet the requirements for graduation may, subject to the approval of Academic Board, be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Sciences should they meet the relevant Qualification requirements.
Unsatisfactory academic progress
9. The general Unsatisfactory Academic Progress regulations will apply.
Transitional provisions
10. Subject to the Maximum Time to Completion and Abandonment of Studies provisions specified in the Part I qualification regulations, candidates enrolled in a subject or joint subject prior to 1 January 2022 may complete that subject or joint subject by fulfilling the requirements of Schedule B. These transitional arrangements expire 31 December 2024.
Schedule for the Master of Information Sciences
Course planning key
- Prerequisites
- Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
- Corequisites
- Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
- Restrictions
- Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.
Key terms for course planning
- Courses
- Each qualification has its own specific set of courses. Some universities call these papers. You enrol in courses after you get accepted into Massey.
- Course code
- Each course is numbered using 6 digits. The fourth number shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).
- Credits
- Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.
- Specialisations
- Some qualifications let you choose what subject you'd like to specialise in. Your major or endorsement is what you will take the majority of your courses in.
Part One
Professional Pathway (120 credits) or Research Pathway (60 credits)
Computer Science courses
Course code: 159709 Computer Graphics 15 credits
Graphics devices. Interactive graphics systems. Drawing algorithms. Lines and polygons. Curves and surfaces. Representation of 3-D objects. Perspective. Techniques for visual realism. The course will include practical programming work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159731 Studies in Computer Vision 15 credits
Selected advanced topics including: low level digital image processing, 2D/3D image processing, image transforms, pattern recognition.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159735 Studies in Parallel and Distributed Systems 15 credits
Selected advanced topics including: Parallel computing; network security; client-server computing; compression; web applications; wireless and mobile computing.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159736 Studies in Operating Systems and Architecture 15 credits
Selected advanced topics including: Concurrency; scheduling; API programming; real-time and embedded systems; fault tolerance; computer architecture; HDLs.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159740 Studies in Intelligent Systems 15 credits
Selected advanced topics including: knowledge-based systems; AI; agents; natural language processing; search and constraint satisfaction.
View full course detailsData Science courses
Course code: 158739 Data Mastery: Scripting, Databases and Data Privacy 15 credits
An introduction to the field of analytics, including the process of identifying an analytics problem in context, identifying sources and acquiring data, preparing data for analysis to address the problem. Emphasis is placed on developing programming skills relevant for data processing and data retrieval from databases. Special attention is given to privacy, security and ethical considerations surrounding data, and to communication of results.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158755 Data Science - Making Sense of Data 15 credits
A study of the science of drawing knowledge and insights from data, including the concepts and techniques of data mining, machine learning and natural language processing. The course covers both theoretical and practical aspects using a range of software tools and algorithms.
View full course detailsCourse code: 161762 Multivariate Analysis for Big Data 15 credits
Research methods suitable for the analysis of big datasets containing many variables. The fundamentals of data visualisation, customer segmentation, factor analysis and latent class analysis with examples taken from business and health fields. Emphasis will be placed on achieving a conceptual understanding of the methods in order to implement and interpret the outcomes of multivariate analyses.
View full course detailsCourse code: 161777 Practical Data Mining 15 credits
A practical approach to data mining with large volumes of complex data; prepare, cleanse and explore data; supervised and unsupervised modelling with association rules and market basket analysis, decision trees, multi-layer neural networks, k-nearest neighbours, k-means clustering and self-organising maps, ensemble and bundling techniques, text mining; use of leading software tools; business examples and research literature.
View full course detailsInformation Technology courses
Course code: 158736 Advanced Machine Learning 15 credits
A review of advanced machine learning algorithms that use deep learning to extract knowledge from enterprise data. The course includes a practical component in which students adapt and apply deep learning algorithms to practical data sets.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158738 Implementation and Management of Systems Security 15 credits
Security and privacy are important features of information systems, in particular with the case of free access, as in Web-based services or E-commerce systems. The goal is to restrict the access of information to legitimate users only. For this purpose techniques from cryptography and information theory have to be studied.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158740 Location Systems: Spatial Databases, Tools and Applications 15 credits
This course will develop knowledge and skills in the use of geographic information science in an interdisciplinary context. Students will learn how to work with clients to identify requirements, model and collect data and create a location-based web application. A range of areas and a variety of different uses of geographic information will be covered using open source tools. An interdisciplinary group project will form part of the course.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158741 Location Data: Mapping, Analysis and Visualisation 15 credits
This course will develop knowledge and skills in the processing, analysis and visualisation of data that has a location on the earth. Location data is more and more readily available, and students will learn how to transform and integrate data from multiple sources, consider the impact of data uncertainty and privacy, and perform appropriate analysis for environmental, social and economic applications. Different data collection methods will be discussed, and a range of open source tools will be used.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158750 Information Sciences Research Methods 15 credits
A study of information science research, its methods, practices, social context and relationships to other fields of study. Research skills including research design, literature evaluation, data collection, data analysis and publication are practised in this course.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158751 Object-Oriented Software Development - Theory and Practice 15 credits
A study of the object-oriented paradigm applied to software development and database design. The course includes practical work with an object-oriented analysis and design method, a UML CASE tool and an object-oriented programming language.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158757 User Interface Design and Evaluation 15 credits
Focuses on the design and evaluation of human-computer interfaces (HCI) for computerised information systems covering: task analysis, the process of design, the use of rapid prototyping in HCI design, and formative and summative usability testing, as well as the integration of user interface design techniques into the SDLC. The approach is hands-on.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158780 Information Technology Project Part 1 15 credits
An in-depth study of Information Technology research, exploring both research methods and project execution. This course provides a practical approach to the principles and practices of academic research, and incorporates a full execution of the preliminary parts of a project life cycle, including the proposal, literature review, methodology and pilot study.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158781 Information Technology Project Part 2 15 credits
A continuing study of information sciences research, exploring both research methods and project execution. This course provides a practical approach to the principles and practices of academic research, and incorporates a full execution of the latter parts of a project life cycle, including the research practicum, analysis of results and reporting of conclusions.
View full course detailsBusiness courses (Choose no more than 30 credits from)
Course code: 152700 Organisation and Management 30 credits
A study of the theories of management and their application within organisations.
View full course detailsCourse code: 156700 Essentials of Marketing 30 credits
An introduction to the theory and practice of marketing. This course assumes no previous background in marketing.
View full course detailsCourse code: 157701 Health Information Management 30 credits
A study of the management of information and information systems relevant to the planning and delivery of high-quality healthcare.
View full course detailsPart Two
Professional Pathway (Choose 60 credits from)
Course code: 158888 Information Technology Professional Project 60 credits
Candidates will undertake a practical and/or research IT project including some or all of the following: requirements engineering, product modeling, user interface design and evaluation, systems security, software testing, and quality assurance. This may be conducted either individually or in groups and assessment may be in a variety of ways including written and oral presentations and software demonstrations.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159870 Research Report 60 credits
Course code: 159888 Computer Science Professional Project 60 credits
Candidates will undertake a practical and/or research project including the design and production of a significant software application. This may be conducted either individually or in groups and assessment may be in a variety of ways including written and oral presentations and software demonstrations.
View full course detailsResearch Pathway (Choose 120 credits from)
Course code: 158897 Thesis 120 Credit Part 1 60 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158898 Thesis 120 Credit Part 2 60 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159897 Thesis 120 Credit Part 1 60 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159898 Thesis 120 Credit Part 2 60 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsSchedule B: Master of Information Sciences Available under Transition Arrangements
Computer Science (180 credits)
No new enrolments
This qualification is not accepting new enrolments.
Computer Science Part One
Course code: 158736 Advanced Machine Learning 15 credits
A review of advanced machine learning algorithms that use deep learning to extract knowledge from enterprise data. The course includes a practical component in which students adapt and apply deep learning algorithms to practical data sets.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158751 Object-Oriented Software Development - Theory and Practice 15 credits
A study of the object-oriented paradigm applied to software development and database design. The course includes practical work with an object-oriented analysis and design method, a UML CASE tool and an object-oriented programming language.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158755 Data Science - Making Sense of Data 15 credits
A study of the science of drawing knowledge and insights from data, including the concepts and techniques of data mining, machine learning and natural language processing. The course covers both theoretical and practical aspects using a range of software tools and algorithms.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159709 Computer Graphics 15 credits
Graphics devices. Interactive graphics systems. Drawing algorithms. Lines and polygons. Curves and surfaces. Representation of 3-D objects. Perspective. Techniques for visual realism. The course will include practical programming work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159731 Studies in Computer Vision 15 credits
Selected advanced topics including: low level digital image processing, 2D/3D image processing, image transforms, pattern recognition.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159735 Studies in Parallel and Distributed Systems 15 credits
Selected advanced topics including: Parallel computing; network security; client-server computing; compression; web applications; wireless and mobile computing.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159736 Studies in Operating Systems and Architecture 15 credits
Selected advanced topics including: Concurrency; scheduling; API programming; real-time and embedded systems; fault tolerance; computer architecture; HDLs.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159740 Studies in Intelligent Systems 15 credits
Selected advanced topics including: knowledge-based systems; AI; agents; natural language processing; search and constraint satisfaction.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159794 Project 15 credits
Course code: 159795 Project 15 credits
Computer Science Part Two
Professional Pathway (60 credits)
Course code: 159888 Computer Science Professional Project 60 credits
Candidates will undertake a practical and/or research project including the design and production of a significant software application. This may be conducted either individually or in groups and assessment may be in a variety of ways including written and oral presentations and software demonstrations.
View full course detailsResearch Pathway (120 credits)
Course code: 159897 Thesis 120 Credit Part 1 60 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159898 Thesis 120 Credit Part 2 60 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsInformation Technology (180 credits)
No new enrolments
This qualification is not accepting new enrolments.
Information Technology Part One
Course code: 158736 Advanced Machine Learning 15 credits
A review of advanced machine learning algorithms that use deep learning to extract knowledge from enterprise data. The course includes a practical component in which students adapt and apply deep learning algorithms to practical data sets.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158738 Implementation and Management of Systems Security 15 credits
Security and privacy are important features of information systems, in particular with the case of free access, as in Web-based services or E-commerce systems. The goal is to restrict the access of information to legitimate users only. For this purpose techniques from cryptography and information theory have to be studied.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158739 Data Mastery: Scripting, Databases and Data Privacy 15 credits
An introduction to the field of analytics, including the process of identifying an analytics problem in context, identifying sources and acquiring data, preparing data for analysis to address the problem. Emphasis is placed on developing programming skills relevant for data processing and data retrieval from databases. Special attention is given to privacy, security and ethical considerations surrounding data, and to communication of results.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158740 Location Systems: Spatial Databases, Tools and Applications 15 credits
This course will develop knowledge and skills in the use of geographic information science in an interdisciplinary context. Students will learn how to work with clients to identify requirements, model and collect data and create a location-based web application. A range of areas and a variety of different uses of geographic information will be covered using open source tools. An interdisciplinary group project will form part of the course.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158741 Location Data: Mapping, Analysis and Visualisation 15 credits
This course will develop knowledge and skills in the processing, analysis and visualisation of data that has a location on the earth. Location data is more and more readily available, and students will learn how to transform and integrate data from multiple sources, consider the impact of data uncertainty and privacy, and perform appropriate analysis for environmental, social and economic applications. Different data collection methods will be discussed, and a range of open source tools will be used.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158750 Information Sciences Research Methods 15 credits
A study of information science research, its methods, practices, social context and relationships to other fields of study. Research skills including research design, literature evaluation, data collection, data analysis and publication are practised in this course.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158751 Object-Oriented Software Development - Theory and Practice 15 credits
A study of the object-oriented paradigm applied to software development and database design. The course includes practical work with an object-oriented analysis and design method, a UML CASE tool and an object-oriented programming language.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158755 Data Science - Making Sense of Data 15 credits
A study of the science of drawing knowledge and insights from data, including the concepts and techniques of data mining, machine learning and natural language processing. The course covers both theoretical and practical aspects using a range of software tools and algorithms.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158757 User Interface Design and Evaluation 15 credits
Focuses on the design and evaluation of human-computer interfaces (HCI) for computerised information systems covering: task analysis, the process of design, the use of rapid prototyping in HCI design, and formative and summative usability testing, as well as the integration of user interface design techniques into the SDLC. The approach is hands-on.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158780 Information Technology Project Part 1 15 credits
An in-depth study of Information Technology research, exploring both research methods and project execution. This course provides a practical approach to the principles and practices of academic research, and incorporates a full execution of the preliminary parts of a project life cycle, including the proposal, literature review, methodology and pilot study.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158781 Information Technology Project Part 2 15 credits
A continuing study of information sciences research, exploring both research methods and project execution. This course provides a practical approach to the principles and practices of academic research, and incorporates a full execution of the latter parts of a project life cycle, including the research practicum, analysis of results and reporting of conclusions.
View full course detailsNo more than 30 credits from
Course code: 157701 Health Information Management 30 credits
A study of the management of information and information systems relevant to the planning and delivery of high-quality healthcare.
View full course detailsCourse code: 157748 Advanced Management, Analytics, and Decision Making 30 credits
A comprehensive study of the techniques and issues involved in using data to support organisational decision making.
View full course detailsCourse code: 157749 Technology Innovation Management 30 credits
Initiate and develop innovative opportunities within the technology sector.
View full course detailsInformation Technology Part Two
Professional Pathway (60 credits)
Course code: 158888 Information Technology Professional Project 60 credits
Candidates will undertake a practical and/or research IT project including some or all of the following: requirements engineering, product modeling, user interface design and evaluation, systems security, software testing, and quality assurance. This may be conducted either individually or in groups and assessment may be in a variety of ways including written and oral presentations and software demonstrations.
View full course detailsResearch Pathway (120 credits)
Course code: 158897 Thesis 120 Credit Part 1 60 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158898 Thesis 120 Credit Part 2 60 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsSoftware Engineering (180 credits)
No new enrolments
This qualification is not accepting new enrolments.
Software Engineering Part One
Course code: 159709 Computer Graphics 15 credits
Graphics devices. Interactive graphics systems. Drawing algorithms. Lines and polygons. Curves and surfaces. Representation of 3-D objects. Perspective. Techniques for visual realism. The course will include practical programming work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159731 Studies in Computer Vision 15 credits
Selected advanced topics including: low level digital image processing, 2D/3D image processing, image transforms, pattern recognition.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159735 Studies in Parallel and Distributed Systems 15 credits
Selected advanced topics including: Parallel computing; network security; client-server computing; compression; web applications; wireless and mobile computing.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159736 Studies in Operating Systems and Architecture 15 credits
Selected advanced topics including: Concurrency; scheduling; API programming; real-time and embedded systems; fault tolerance; computer architecture; HDLs.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159740 Studies in Intelligent Systems 15 credits
Selected advanced topics including: knowledge-based systems; AI; agents; natural language processing; search and constraint satisfaction.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159794 Project 15 credits
Course code: 159795 Project 15 credits
Course code: 158736 Advanced Machine Learning 15 credits
A review of advanced machine learning algorithms that use deep learning to extract knowledge from enterprise data. The course includes a practical component in which students adapt and apply deep learning algorithms to practical data sets.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158738 Implementation and Management of Systems Security 15 credits
Security and privacy are important features of information systems, in particular with the case of free access, as in Web-based services or E-commerce systems. The goal is to restrict the access of information to legitimate users only. For this purpose techniques from cryptography and information theory have to be studied.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158739 Data Mastery: Scripting, Databases and Data Privacy 15 credits
An introduction to the field of analytics, including the process of identifying an analytics problem in context, identifying sources and acquiring data, preparing data for analysis to address the problem. Emphasis is placed on developing programming skills relevant for data processing and data retrieval from databases. Special attention is given to privacy, security and ethical considerations surrounding data, and to communication of results.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158740 Location Systems: Spatial Databases, Tools and Applications 15 credits
This course will develop knowledge and skills in the use of geographic information science in an interdisciplinary context. Students will learn how to work with clients to identify requirements, model and collect data and create a location-based web application. A range of areas and a variety of different uses of geographic information will be covered using open source tools. An interdisciplinary group project will form part of the course.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158741 Location Data: Mapping, Analysis and Visualisation 15 credits
This course will develop knowledge and skills in the processing, analysis and visualisation of data that has a location on the earth. Location data is more and more readily available, and students will learn how to transform and integrate data from multiple sources, consider the impact of data uncertainty and privacy, and perform appropriate analysis for environmental, social and economic applications. Different data collection methods will be discussed, and a range of open source tools will be used.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158750 Information Sciences Research Methods 15 credits
A study of information science research, its methods, practices, social context and relationships to other fields of study. Research skills including research design, literature evaluation, data collection, data analysis and publication are practised in this course.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158751 Object-Oriented Software Development - Theory and Practice 15 credits
A study of the object-oriented paradigm applied to software development and database design. The course includes practical work with an object-oriented analysis and design method, a UML CASE tool and an object-oriented programming language.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158755 Data Science - Making Sense of Data 15 credits
A study of the science of drawing knowledge and insights from data, including the concepts and techniques of data mining, machine learning and natural language processing. The course covers both theoretical and practical aspects using a range of software tools and algorithms.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158757 User Interface Design and Evaluation 15 credits
Focuses on the design and evaluation of human-computer interfaces (HCI) for computerised information systems covering: task analysis, the process of design, the use of rapid prototyping in HCI design, and formative and summative usability testing, as well as the integration of user interface design techniques into the SDLC. The approach is hands-on.
View full course detailsSoftware Engineering Part Two
Professional Pathway (60 credits)
Course code: 159888 Computer Science Professional Project 60 credits
Candidates will undertake a practical and/or research project including the design and production of a significant software application. This may be conducted either individually or in groups and assessment may be in a variety of ways including written and oral presentations and software demonstrations.
View full course detailsResearch Pathway (120 credits)
Course code: 159897 Thesis 120 Credit Part 1 60 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 159898 Thesis 120 Credit Part 2 60 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsLooking for a previous version of this regulation?