Bachelor of Information Technology/Bachelor of Laws (Dual degree)

at University of Wollongong - Wollongong Campus Australia

Mechatronic engineering is the combination of mechanical, electrical and computer technologies. Industrial robots are a famous example of mechatronic engineering: computer-controlled mechanical arms capable of performing manual labour with greater strength, speed and efficiency than a human.

The reality is computer control of systems is so commonplace in homes, business and industry that nearly everyone uses a mechatronic system every day, from washing machines to central air-conditioning, cameras and computer printers.

A Mechatronic engineer's skill for combining and refining elements to improve the whole makes them valuable in fields such as digital electronics, manufacturing, information technology and robotics.

This degree
You will study a common first year allowing you to learn more about engineering and its different fields before deciding which discipline to study. The common first year provides you with sound fundamentals in mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry, computing, engineering science and communication, mechanics, materials and fluids. You then focus on your chosen major study from second year.

Your degree includes a 12-week hands-on industry placement. You may gain credit for relevant work experience, either in Australia or overseas, by participating in our Professional Options Program.

Engineers work in a variety of industries, for example: construction, mining, resources, aeronautical, electronics, engineering management, telecommunications, power generation and distribution, renewable energy, aerospace, water resource management, robotics and manufacturing, railroad and shipbuilding.

What you will study
As an engineering student at UOW you will have access to fully-equipped laboratories and the latest computer-aided software that is used in modern industrial workplaces. Our engineering students are trained through practical learning experiences including:

• Laboratory experiments
• Problem based learning
• Computer simulations
• Teamwork assignments
• Industrial case studies
• Project management
• Site visits to industry

The Master of Supply Chain Management gives professionals working in logistics, supply chain management, and operations management the skills to manage the flow of materials and information within and between organizations and other relevant stakeholders.

You will learn how to diagnose existing processes and supply chains and how to implement a supply chain strategy within an organization. Skills and capabilities are developed on topics such as forecasting, sales, and operational planning and procurement to name a few.

The Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours) is an alternative final year option for students who have demonstrated excellence in the first three years of the Bachelor of Primary Education or the Bachelor of Primary Education (Dean’s Scholar) degree.

This degree is a nationally accredited qualification for employment as a Kindergarten to Year 6 teacher in the public and independent school systems. You will learn through on-campus classes, online learning and school and community placements.  The extensive professional experience program involves placement in schools from the second year of the degree allowing you to learn by observation and apply your skills in the classroom early in your degree. 

During your study you will have opportunities for rural professional experiences, to study overseas with UOW's international exchange and study abroad partners, and to join international cultural immersion programs.

What you will study
In the final year of your degree, you will have the opportunity to be involved in a research project of your own choice or interest or work with a Primary Education academic as part of your research. All students will receive supervision throughout their research project and will be required to complete a thesis or other form of research dissemination detailing their research project, their methods and their findings. Participation in the Honours program can lead to further research opportunities as a postgraduate student.

A Bachelor of Creative Arts at UOW encourages you to immerse yourself creatively, critically and practically. The Creative Industries is one of the fastest-growing, most dynamic sectors in the world.

In the digital age, writing is becoming more and more central to the way we communicate with each other. The Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing) teaches skills and strategies so your writing is strong and clear. It helps you express ideas in imaginative ways that will impact your readers. Creative writers work in a range of areas: poetry, editing, writing for multimedia, commercial and content writing, commercial theatre and performance, short stories and novels, or even in ways that combine or challenge these forms. Creative writers might write to entertain or to educate – but they’re always drawing on the human condition, exploring what it means to be human.

This course is designed to teach you to think about your story, image and scene. Creative writers draft and re-draft so their work is at its best, and this process is exciting.

What you will study
Core subjects will teach you the foundation for editing, writing across borders, genre and form, contemporary theory and research practice and you will explore social justice and children's literature.

You will work on a major project that will allow you to develop a significant piece of creative content on completion of your degree. Various artist and writer-in-residence programs take place throughout your degree and you will be encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities, facilitate public readings, perform your written work and pursue publication. There are opportunities to combine writing genres and explore the intersections between writing and other creative disciplines.

The study of Philosophy at UOW teaches you how to think, not what to think. As lovers of wisdom, philosophers are deeply, personally invested in their quest for truth and enlightenment. There are no questions that philosophers will not consider.  How should we live and treat others? Do our lives have meaning? Does science have all the answers?  In studying philosophy at UOW you will explore the most fundamental topics, ask the deepest questions and –rigorously and systematically– scrutinize the answers given by the best minds down the ages.

Studying for a UOW degree in Philosophy will train you in logic and argumentation. It will enlarge and enrich your conception of what is possible. You will acquire the intellectual discipline needed to challenge the assumptions that frame the way we think about the world and how we should behave in it. You will learn to bring philosophical considerations to bear on practical problems in order to make informed decisions about important issues such as:  social justice; free speech; global poverty; climate change, animal welfare; humane psychotherapy; education and expertise.

A philosophical education is valuable in just about any line of work. It develops your persuasive powers; critical thinking, problem solving abilities; and communication skills. A 2016 report by the Foundation for Young Australians reveals that these skills are in great demand today in professions that require people who can stand back and think with an open mind. Past UOW Philosophy graduates have found work in such diverse careers as: administration; art and design; business development; community and social services; consulting; education; entrepreneurship; healthcare; human resources; IT; legal; management; media; program and project research.

What you will study

Core subjects will teach you about: ethics, politics, mind, self, knowledge, science, and the relevance of philosophy to the wider world and the workplace. Elective areas of study include media; art and society; logic; the meaning of life; philosophy in film and literature; global and environmental ethics; bioethics; political philosophy; narrative psychology and selfhood; imagination and emotion; health and happiness; and Eastern philosophy.

The Graduate Certificate in Business is for those who want to advance their career, formalise their industry experience or up-skill and move into a business-focused role within their field. This course covers key business areas including accounting, financial management, organisational behaviour and marketing management.

The Graduate Certificate in Business caters for both professional and lifestyle commitments by giving students the choice to study on campus at Wollongong or Sydney CBD,

The Honours program is an alternative option for students going into the second session of third year from either the Bachelor of Health and Physical Education pass degree or the Bachelor of Health and Physical Education (Dean's Scholar) degree.

Students have the opportunity to be involved in a research project of their own choice or interest or work with a Health and Physical Education academic as part of their research. All students will receive supervision throughout their research project and will be required to complete a thesis detailing their research project, their methods and their findings. Participation in the Honours program can lead to further research opportunities as a postgraduate student.

Honours students are encouraged to:

• Make a contribution to theory, research and pedagogy of education
• Conduct independent research in the form of a thesis as well as other forums such as conference presentations and journal articles
• Seek out opportunities and apply knowledge in educational research that will contribute beneficially to educational research and practice
• Participate in the research culture within the School of Education

What you will study
You will study health and physical education subjects including movement skills, games and sports, rhythmic movements, mental health and sexuality, relationships, drugs and personal safety, curriculum and pedagogy (the method and practice of teaching), anatomy and physiology, biomechanics and educational foundations.

You will also study broader complementary subjects including Aboriginal Education, Information and Communication Technology, Learners with Exceptional Needs, Educational Research, Communication, and Risk and Behaviour management.

The Honours year requires students to learn to conduct educational research in ways that are intellectually honest, with professional integrity and knowledge and enactment of appropriate ethical standards; and become aware of changing conditions and situations in research settings.

Cyber security is about how we develop secure computers and computer networks, to ensure that the data stored and transmitted through them is protected from unauthorised access or to combat digital security threats and hazards. As we conduct more of our social, consumer and business activities online, there is a corresponding increase in the demand for ICT professionals to manage our digital environment and economy.

Cyber security has been identified as one of the strategic priorities in Australia to meet the demands of law enforcement, national and state governments, defence, security and finance industries. Jobs of the future will be in all of these areas ensuring there is national capability to maintain and build our essential services and stop them from being disrupted, destroyed, or threatened, and that our personal information is not communicated, shared, visualised or analysed without our permission.

In the Cyber Security major you will study technical and political concepts of current topics of cyber security, such as blockchain, cryptocurrency, multimedia security, Internet of Things (IoT) security, obfuscation and reverse engineering. You will learn penetration testing skills for defensive purposes and be prepared for ethical hacking certification.

This degree
Computer scientists focus on the theoretical foundations and practical approaches to computation and its applications. They design methods and tools and write programs for computer applications. These applications can be in areas such as computer systems to control machinery, information management and big data, applications for mobile devices, stock market trend analysis, game design, visualisation of chemical reactions, neural network design, computational geometry for robot navigation, patient monitoring in hospitals, and much more.

You will be able to choose your major in your second year after studying a common core of subjects that links our computer science, IT and information systems degrees. Find your strengths and interests as you study the fundamentals of computer science and IT: programming, problem solving, network and communications, web technology, data management, system analysis, human–computer interaction, and project management. You’ll also complete a final-year capstone team project.

You can choose to study a double degree with Engineering, Mathematics, Science, Creative Arts or Business. These programs of study will provide you with a broad experience of technology using various industry products such as Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, SAP and Cisco.

What you will study
You will learn to identify and counteract malicious activity conducted by hackers using advanced analytic capabilities and techniques. Examples include key areas such as penetration testing and white hat/ethical hacking. You will learn to recommend appropriate mitigation strategies a business should implement to enhance its network security. You will study subjects in ethical hacking, system security, cryptography and secure applications, and corporate network security.

Machine learning is an essential approach to analysing and extracting useful information from a wide range of big data; it provides the fundamental tools for big data analytics. There are numerous applications requiring professionals with advanced skills in machine learning and big data. These applications include image recognition, computer vision, speech recognition and natural language processing, intelligent robotics, smart cars, automation, online search and recommendations, financial trading and risk management, healthcare, and personal and public security.

The Master of Computer Science (Machine Learning and Big Data) focuses on preparing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) professionals with a Bachelor degree in Computer Science or Information Technology for the challenges of rapidly advancing ICT technologies. This degree will be a valuable asset if you are seeking to further your career in managerial roles related to information technology. It can also prepare ICT professionals for entry into research degrees: Master of Philosophy and PhD.

This degree

The Master of Computer Science gives graduates the ability to solve complex real-world problems by integrating computer science methods with effective management strategies, and by developing and deploying computer applications.

What you will study

You will study subjects in Machine Learning Algorithms and Applications, Big Data Analytics and Computer Vision Algorithms and Systems. You will acquire the ability to solve complex real world problems and meet the demands of society for big data scientists and specialists in a wide range of fields. You will be able to put theory into practice with an individual capstone project.

A Bachelor of Computer Science – Bachelor of Laws from UOW equips you with a comprehensive legal education: a world-class degree that provides a thorough grounding in the law, as well as a real-world focus on the essential practical skills and the social and ethical context in which the law operates.

Combining Law with Computer Science allows you to understand and shape how the law functions within a technical context. This double degree combines the practical, problem-solving skills of Computer Science and programming with the high-level analytical, research and communication skills of Law. This will enable you to acquire specialist knowledge and skills across the continually changing landscape of Information Communication & Technology (ICT).

We believe that practical experience is a vital part of your legal training. We are the only law school in New South Wales that requires you to complete a legal internship, providing highly valued industry experience.  We are committed to social justice and providing a legal education that engages with the complexities of law's intersection with society.

Innovative technologies, such as cloud computing, big data, AI, machine learning, and block chain, are reshaping the world we live in. Huge amounts of data have been gathered as a direct result of the rapid advances made in technologies such as digital sensors, biomedical and healthcare devices, Internet of Things and data storage. Electronic data breaches and their legal consequences have become a significant problem in all industries.

This double degree delivers a practical and contextual legal education that prepares graduates not only for traditional careers in the legal profession but also for a wide range of careers in government, business and community organisations – as leaders, innovators and problem solvers.

What you will study

The Bachelor of Laws degree covers the prescribed areas of knowledge for future admission to the profession as well as including a choice of electives. Additionally, an integrated skills program equips graduates with experience in areas such as legal research, interviewing, legal drafting, advocacy and negotiation. Opportunities also exist to undertake subjects by way of an international exchange.

In the Bachelor of Computer Science you will study a common core of subjects that links our computer science, IT and information systems degrees. There is an opportunity to specialise in a major at the Wollongong campus from your second year of study by choosing one or more of the following majors offered in the Bachelor of Computer Science:

• Big Data
• Cyber Security
• Digital Systems Security
• Game and Mobile Development
• Software Engineering