Bachelor of Science Honours in Information Technology

Purpose

The primary Purpose of the qualification is to produce graduates who are equipped with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to register and practise as autonomous and socially responsible Information Technology (IT) professionals, in accordance with the regulations and standards as set down by the Information Technology Association of South Africa (ITA) and Computer Society of South Africa (CSSA). Furthermore the graduate should be equipped with advanced research and academic knowledge and technical skills that have applicability in the field of IT. The broad objective of the qualification is to provide a solid knowledge-base of database administration and mining, project management, business analysis and objects, research methodology, professional practice in Information Technology, and programming.

Rationale

The primary aim of the qualification is to provide responsible Honours level learners with an advanced level of understanding of specialised academic related topics in Information Technology, grounded in a fundamental body of computing and Information Systems (IS) knowledge; who are well trained and competitive in the job market and who are motivated to continue learning and further the development of their skills throughout their professional careers.

Towards this end, the qualification

- Emphasises the ethical responsibility of IT professionals to

> Be knowledgeable and up-to-date in their understanding of data administration, software development, project management, and research on new or evolving technologies and techniques.

> Continually improve and re-examine their knowledge of information technology issues among industry clientele.

> Know their limitations and seek consultation, supervision or referral as appropriate.

• Focuses on improving and expanding knowledge and skills. The qualification emphasises the importance of research, continuing education and informed interpretation of new findings and approaches. All modules stress the value of critical thinking, reflection, intellectually independent scholarship and the appreciation for staying current with professional research and thoughtfully evaluating its relevance and general applicability.
• Prepares learners academically for the highly competitive job market. Through the stringent academic qualification and research experience graduates of the qualification will be highly competitive in the job market.
• Encourages interaction between members of industry and faculty in related academic areas such as Software Development, Project Management, Data Administration and Data Mining, Business Oriented Service Architecture, and Soft Skills Development in IT.
• Encourages graduates to grow into individuals who embody the ethical dimensions of justice and beneficence and to conduct themselves in a way that befits good citizenship and fosters the greater good of the profession and South Africa in particular, and Southern Africa and the rest of Africa in general.

It is assumed that learners are competent in IT software and hardware and have knowledge of IT at NQF Level 7.

Recognition of Prior Learning

The principles of Recognition of Prior Learning are subscribed to, and will be implemented in a flexible manner. The principle of flexible and open access, will, however, be offset against the provision so that this is not to the detriment of the potential learner and that his/her chances to succeed are reasonable.

Through evaluation by a specifically constituted Recognition of Prior Learning committee, learners' competencies will be assessed to determine whether they are eligible for access to, advanced placement in, or have provided evidence that the stated competence of the qualification has been achieved through experience that complies with the stated specified outcomes.

Learners may also be given credit through Recognition of Prior Learning for individual modules if they can produce a portfolio of evidence or undergo any other recognised means of assessment that shows that they meet the outcomes and associated assessment criteria specified for that module.

Access to the Qualification

The admission criteria are

• A Bachelor of Science: Informatics, Bachelor of Science: Internet Communication, or Bachelor of Science Computer Science Degree from MGI.

Or

• A Bachelor of Science: Information Technology or Bachelor of Science: Information Systems Degree or relevant Bachelor of Science: Information and Communication Technology Degree from any other registered tertiary education institution.

Mature Age applicants or applicants with non-South African school-leaving qualifications or with previous tertiary experience will be considered individually by the Faculty Head, through a process of Recognition of Prior Learning.

The qualification comprises seven compulsory core modules. These are

• Information Systems IVA - Project Management Methodologies, 14 credits.
• Software Development IVA - Advanced PDA Java Software Development, 13 credits.
• Computer Science IVA - Business-Objects Service-Oriented Architecture, 25 credits.
• Database IVA - Data Administration and Data Mining, 14 credits.
• Soft Skills Development for the IT Professional, 14 credits.
• Research Methodology, 15 credits.
• Research Project, 30 credits.

Individual learners are required to develop a research proposal for approval by the Faculty. Before the Bachelor of Science Honours: Information Technology Degree will be awarded learners will be required to conduct relevant research and produce a research report which meets the criteria outlined by the Faculty.

1. Demonstrate advanced theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to perform effectively in a career in the field of Information Technology.
2. Demonstrate an appropriate knowledge base as preparation for further learning.
3. Conduct research on a relevant topic in IT.

Critical Cross-Field Outcomes

• Identify, analyse, formulate, and solve convergent and divergent problems, creatively and responsibly in fields related to Information Technology and Information Systems.
• Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, community, and contribute to the group output in tasks growing out of the fields related to Information Technology and Information Systems.
• Manage and organise own activities and life responsibly and effectively, including own studies and career.
• Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information as required in pursuit of the qualification.
• Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentation, in sustained discourse.
• Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health and well-being of others, in community, national and global contexts.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation, and by acknowledging their responsibilities to those in the local and broader business community.
• Plan and execute a research project using acceptable scientific methodologies and to show a complex level of engagement of their results with professional literature in the field.

The first set of Associated Assessment Criteria apply to the first two Exit Level Outcomes and are applied in an integrated manner through the modules, and the second set applies to the Research Exit Level Outcome.

Set One

• Demonstrate understanding of the principles involved in project management methodologies.
• Distinguish between the different project management methodologies and how each of those methodologies can be applied in an organisation or corporate environment.
• Demonstrate understanding of project management methodologies and how the methodologies differ from each other.
• Demonstrate understanding of platform components.
• Demonstrate understanding and use of current relevant Application Programming Interface (API) documentation, making use of relevant application software.
• Demonstrate knowledge of Small Mobile Device Technologies and Consumer Embedded Device Technologies.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the Fundamentals of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and apply Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) principles to present platform components and environment.
• Demonstrate understanding of the Consumer environment and of Middleware.
• Integrate the assembly environment and demonstrate knowledge of Asset management.
• Develop a Service infrastructure and monitor Applications.
• Demonstrate knowledge of web service protocols.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of data mining.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the use of Decision Support Systems in an organisation and how those systems can help an organisation gain a strategic advantage.
• Demonstrate understanding of the differences in database design for a Data Warehouse.
• Demonstrate understanding of the principles involved in soft skills and be able to implement them successfully.
• Distinguish between the different types of soft skills and how each of those soft skills can be applied in an organisation or corporate environment.

Set Two

• Demonstrate understanding of the research process in practice and differentiate between qualitative and quantitative research approaches.
• Search electronic databases for information and construct an own research question, and through analysis of the problem and the evaluation of previous research construct a feasible research proposal.
• Write a literature review according to academic writing criteria and demonstrate understanding of ethics in business research.
• Explain the use of various data collection methods, develop a sample plan, construct an own questionnaire, demonstrate understanding of different levels of measurement and scales and analyse data statistically.
• Write up and present research outcomes.

Integrated Assessment

Midrand Graduate Institute practices an integrated system of assessment, in terms of which learners are assessed on an on-going basis. Both formative and summative assessment methods are used. Learners are required to complete class tests, assignments (including practical work and projects) and examinations, the results of which count towards the final mark for each module. The components of the final mark are determined separately for each module.