INF5004W :: Master of Commerce in Information Systems Coursework

Program Requirements and Student Deliverables 

Final Mark composition for the Masters Degree in Information Systems by Coursework and Dissertation

Overview

The following are the components and weights of your final mark.

(1)   You will do 4 technology evaluations; your best three will count for marks.

(2)   You have the following three methodology deliverables:

1. Thesis proposal

2. Literature survey

3. Research Methodology

(3)   You will have to present at least two seminars

Due dates

Technology evaluations: 1 per term.

• 1^st term: choose your own technology
  due date: 10-Mar
  2^nd term: TBA
  due date: 20-May
  3^rd term: XML tools (browsers / editors) OR development environments / tools / platforms (e.g. Delphi, JADE, Visual Studio)
  due date: 21-Aug
  4^th term: choose your own technology
  due date: 24-Nov
   

Thesis-related deliverables

Markers will be the convenor and/or your supervisor

• Thesis proposal due date: 1-June

• Lit survey due date: 17-July

• Methodology due date: 1-August

• Progress report due date: 29-Sep

Dissertation

Officially this requirement is a "mini-dissertation", which might imply something less than a dissertation. The major psychological distinction between a full and a mini-dissertation is that in a masters by dissertation only the acceptance of the dissertation by the external reader is the complete criterion, whereas in the Master in IS, there are "marks" for exercises, seminar presentations, essays and the dissertation. The other difference is that the coursework prepares the student to write the dissertation and the student can profit from interaction with other students.

Hence the dissertation, while officially occupying a position of lesser importance in the program than in more traditional, British-style dissertation only masters degrees, becomes more of a planned, strategic initiative rather than the whole ball of wax. In that sense it is "mini." However, it must meet significant criteria of (1) originality, (2) intellectual rigour, (3) contribution, (4) clear writing and (5) currency. In addition, because we are an applied discipline, the dissertation must also have (6) practical implications for IT/IS practice either by practitioners, managers, entrepreneurs or administrators.

There is no real length requirement, although 100 pages would be a typical length; 200 pages would be very unusual, but certain methodologies (such as grounded theory) might require voluminous quotations from research respondents. Your dissertation will be read by at least two appropriate external examiners who will be either academics or senior practitioners.  In recent years it has been our practice to send the dissertations to at least one overseas reader.  Several of the dissertations have received distinctions.  We aim for excellence.

Course requirements

A mark of 50% on each of the Teaching and Dissertation components is the minimum requirement for a pass. Distinction will be awarded for a combined mark of 75% or more; but only if at least 75% is obtained on the dissertation and at least 70% on coursework.