Master of Networking and Systems Administration

What is this course about?

CSU's Master of Networking and Systems Administration incorporates preparation for the world’s most popular industry certifications from major IT vendors including Cisco and Microsoft.

This course is ideal for those who aspire to move into senior positions within the networking and internetworking industry. The Master of Networking and Systems Administration was developed in close consultation with the information technology (IT) industry and provides advanced study in the design, implementation and management of computer networks.

Why study this degree?

The Master of Networking and Systems Administration features a unique blend of academic and industry-based content. This course is designed and delivered with study flexibility in mind.

More reasons to study this degree

Find out where this course can take you

Industry streams

Students can choose from one of the following industry streams:

Microsoft Networking
Cisco
Linux
Microsoft Database Administrator
Oracle

More information about the available Industry Streams

Course structure

This course consists three core subjects, three elective subjects, and an industry-based elective stream.

The Graduate Certificate in Networking and Systems Administration consists two subjects chosen from a restricted pool of CSU subjects and two subjects selected from one of the industry-based elective streams.

More information about the course structure

Graduation requirements

To graduate with the Master of Networking and Systems Administration, students must satisfactorily complete 96 points, which includes the completion of the relevant industry stream certificate (for which credit of 48 points is given).

To graduate with the Graduate Certificate in Networking and Systems Administration, students must satisfactorily complete 32 points, which includes the completion of 16 points of relevant industry stream subjects and 16 points of university subjects.

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.

Why study this degree?

Flexible offering

Available by distance education, the Master of Management (Information Technology) is designed and delivered with study flexibility in mind. You can choose between full-time and part-time study options to fit in with work and lifestyle commitments.

You could choose to study one subject per session or, following consultation and approval from your Course Director, complete up to four subjects per session allowing you to fast track your degree completion.

Industry streams

Students will choose one of the following five industry streams:

Stream A: Microsoft Networking

Students in this specialisation will study content from a range of industry and vendor certifications, including Microsoft, VMWare and EC-Council.

Stream B: Cisco

Students in this specialisation will study content from a range of industry and vendor certifications, including Cisco, VMWare and EC-Council.

Stream C: Linux

Students in this specialisation will study content from a range of industry and vendor certifications, including SUSE Linux, VMWare and EC-Council.

Stream D: Microsoft Database Administrator

Students in this specialisation will study content from a range of industry and vendor certifications, including Microsoft, VMWare and EC-Council.

Stream E: Oracle

Students in this specialisation will study content from a range of industry and vendor certifications, including Oracle and ITIL.

Career opportunities

As a graduate you will be qualified for career opportunities in a number of different areas within the industry. Career options are broad and include the following:

network administrator
network engineer
systems administrator

Credit / pathways

Master of Networking and Systems Administration

Applicants who have already achieved the relevant industry certifications will be awarded up to 48 points (six subjects) credit for the industry certificate subjects. Complete the IT Masters Eligibility Form to receive feedback on the level of credit you may be eligible for.

Graduate Certificate in Networking and Systems Administration

Applicants who have already achieved the relevant industry certifications will be awarded up to 16 points (two subjects) credit for the industry certification subjects. Complete the IT Masters Eligibility Form to receive feedback on the level of credit you may be eligible for.

To apply for credit, candidates are required to submit with their application for admission a certified transcript of industry certification results. Please note that no credit is available for university subjects (i.e. ITC coded subjects) in these courses, however it may be possible to substitute a different university subject where similar material has been previously studied. Please contact the Course Director for more information.

More information about credit and pathways.

Master of Networking and Systems Administration

The Master of Networking and Systems Administration consists of six core subjects (48 points) and an industry-based elective stream (48 points).

Core subjects

ITC506 Topics in IT Ethics
ITC511 Networking Concepts 1
ITC512 Networking Concepts 2

Elective subjects (choose 3)

ITC513 Wireless Networking Concepts
ITC520 Information Systems Strategy
ITC563 IT Management Issues
ITC593 Network Security
ITC596 IT Risk Management
ITC514 Network and Security Administration
ITC597 Digital Forensics

Note: 1) If you have covered through previous study the networking concepts contained in ITC511 and/or ITC512 (ie CCNP or Cisco Networking Academy Program) and can provide evidence of this then you have the option of choosing substitute subjects in place of these. Please contact the course coordinator for more information.

Note: 2) Students who study the Linux stream will be required to choose ITC597 as one of their elective subjects.

The industry elective streams are listed below. Some of the subjects which comprise these streams correspond to specific industry certifications from various vendors. It is necessary to pass the associated industry examinations to pass these subjects. Please note that the content of the industry subjects is dynamic and often updated by industry vendors as technology advances. It may not be viable for CSU to offer all industry subjects. Where this is the case, credits can be obtained by passing the associated industry certification exams.

The current list of subjects offered as credit only appears below in the summary for each industry stream. For the most up to date information on the status of all industry subjects, please go to www.itmasters.edu.au

Students will choose one of the following 5 industry streams:

Stream A: Microsoft Networking
Stream B: Cisco
Stream C: Linux
Stream D: Microsoft Database Administrator
Stream E: Oracle

Stream A: Microsoft Networking stream

Core Industry Subjects (4 subjects):

ITI535 Network & Operating Systems Essentials
ITI536 Supporting a Network Infrastructure
ITI537 Implementing & Administering Network Directory Services
ITI538 Desktop Operating Systems

Elective Industry Subjects (choose 2):

ITE513 Forensic Investigation
ITE516 Hacking Countermeasures
ITE521 Hardware and Software Essentials
ITE523 Virtualization
ITI539 Mail Server Implementation & Administration
ITI540 Enterprise Administration
ITI541 Configuring Application Platforms
ITI577 IT Service Release, Control and Validation
ITI578 IT Service Operational Support and Analysis
ITI597 IT Infrastructure Library Foundation
ITI598 Implementing and Maintaining SQL Server
MGI522 Developing Solutions

Stream B: Cisco stream

Core Industry Subjects (4 subjects):

ITI521 Interconnecting Network Devices
ITI522 Building Scalable Internetworks
ITI523 Building Multilayer Switched Networks
ITI525 Troubleshooting Internetworks

Elective Industry Subjects (Choose 2):

ITE513 Forensic Investigation
ITE516 Hacking Countermeasures
ITE523 Virtualization
ITI526 Designing Enterprise Internetworks
ITI527 Internetworking Expert
ITI581 Network Security Fundamentals
MGI522 Developing Solutions

Stream C: Linux stream

Elective Industry Subjects (choose 6)

ITE513 Forensic Investigation
ITE516 Hacking Countermeasures
ITE521 Hardware and Software Essentials
ITI503 Linux Fundamentals
ITI504 Linux Administration
ITI505 Managing Linux Enterprise Servers
ITI506 Linux Enterprise Security
ITI507 Novell Administration
ITI508 Managing Desktop Resources
ITI577 IT Service Release, Control and Validation
ITI578 IT Service Operational Support and Analysis
ITI597 IT Infrastructure Library Foundation
MGI511 Project Management Fundamentals
MGI512 The Project Lifecycle
MGI513 Enterprise Project Management
MGI522 Developing Solutions

Stream D: Microsoft Database Administrator stream

Core Industry Subject (1)

ITI598 Implementing and Maintaining SQL Server

Elective Industry Subjects (choose 5)

ITE513 Forensic Investigation
ITE516 Hacking Countermeasures
ITE523 Virtualization
ITI535 Network & Operating Systems Essentials
ITI536 Supporting a Network Infrastructure
ITI537 Implementing & Administering Network Directory Services
ITI538 Desktop Operating Systems
ITI539 Mail Server Implementation & Administration
ITI540 Enterprise Administration
ITI541 Configuring Application Platforms
MGI522 Developing Solutions

Stream E: Oracle stream

Core Industry Subjects (4 subjects)

ITI584 Introduction to Oracle SQL
ITI585 Database Administration Fundamentals 1
ITI586 Datbase Administration Fundamentals 2
ITI588 Programming with PL/SQL

Elective Industry Subjects (choose 2)

ITI577 IT Service Release, Control and Validation
ITI578 IT Service Operational Support and Analysis
ITI597 IT Infrastructure Library Foundation
MGI511 Project Management Fundamentals
MGI512 The Project Lifecycle
MGI513 Enterprise Project Management
MGI522 Developing Solutions

Exit with a Graduate Certificate

Students who have completed 32 points of the subjects in the Master degree will be eligible to graduate with the award Graduate Certificate in Networking and Systems Administration if terminating their study prior to completion of the Master degree. The requirements of this Graduate Certificate are that students have successfully completed two subjects from the pool of CSU of subjects offered in the Master of Networking and Systems Administration, and two subjects selected from the same industry-based elective stream.

Graduate Certificate in Networking and Systems Administration

The Graduate Certificate in Networking and Systems Administration consists of four subjects (32 points) that satisfy the following conditions:

1. Students must successfully complete two subjects from the pool of CSU subjects offered in the Master of Networking and Systems Administration (see the Restricted List of CSU subjects below)
2. Students must complete two subjects selected from the same industry-based elective stream from those available in the Master of Networking and Systems Administration. The available streams are
- Microsoft Networking stream
- Cisco stream
- Linux stream
- Microsoft Database Administrator stream
- Oracle stream

Restricted List of CSU subjects

ITC506 Topics in IT Ethics
ITC511 Networking Concepts 1
ITC512 Networking Concepts 2
ITC513 Wireless Networking Concepts
ITC514 Network and Security Administration
ITC520 Information Systems Strategy
ITC563 IT Management Issues
ITC593 Network Security
ITC596 IT Risk Management
ITC597 Digital Forensics

Industry-based Elective Streams

Stream A: Microsoft Networking stream

ITE513 Forensic Investigation
ITE516 Hacking Countermeasures
ITE521 Hardware and Software Essentials
ITE523 Virtualization
ITI535 Network & Operating Systems Essentials
ITI536 Supporting a Network Infrastructure
ITI537 Implementing & Administering Network Directory Services
ITI538 Desktop Operating Systems
ITI539 Mail Server Implementation & Administration
ITI540 Enterprise Administration
ITI541 Configuring Application Platforms
ITI577 IT Service Release, Control and Validation
ITI578 IT Service Operational Support and Analysis
ITI597 IT Infrastructure Library Foundation
ITI598 Implementing and Maintaining SQL Server
MGI522 Developing Solutions

Stream B: Cisco stream

ITE513 Forensic Investigation
ITE516 Hacking Countermeasures
ITE523 Virtualization
ITI521 Interconnecting Network Devices
ITI522 Building Scalable Internetworks
ITI523 Building Multilayer Switched Networks
ITI525 Troubleshooting Internetworks
ITI526 Designing Enterprise Internetworks
ITI527 Internetworking Expert
ITI581 Network Security Fundamentals
MGI522 Developing Solutions

Stream C: Linux stream

Stream D: Microsoft Database Administrator stream

ITE516 Hacking Countermeasures
ITE523 Virtualization
ITI535 Network & Operating Systems Essentials
ITI536 Supporting a Network Infrastructure
ITI537 Implementing & Administering Network Directory Services
ITI538 Desktop Operating Systems
ITI539 Mail Server Implementation & Administration
ITI540 Enterprise Administration
ITI541 Configuring Application Platforms
ITI598 Implementing and Maintaining SQL Server
MGI522 Developing Solutions

Stream E: Oracle stream

ITI577 IT Service Release, Control and Validation
ITI578 IT Service Operational Support and Analysis
ITI584 Introduction to Oracle SQL
ITI585 Database Administration Fundamentals 1
ITI586 Datbase Administration Fundamentals 2
ITI588 Programming with PL/SQL
ITI597 IT Infrastructure Library Foundation
MGI511 Project Management Fundamentals
MGI512 The Project Lifecycle
MGI513 Enterprise Project Management
MGI522 Developing Solutions

Enrolment pattern

Master of Networking and Systems Administration

Students may commence the course in Calendar sessions 1, 2 or 3. Note: The enrolment pattern below is divided by calendar sessions for the various intakes. The recommended session enrolments appear under each Calendar session enrolment and are distinguished by session number. Each session number represents Calendar session 1 or 2 depending on the course commencement session. As an example, for a student who follows the enrolment pattern and who commences the course in Calendar Session 2, 2011, session 1 refers to Calendar session 2 2011, session 2 refers to Calendar session 3 2011, etc.

All Streams

Calendar Session 1 intake

Session 1

ITC511 Networking Concepts 1
[ ] Industry stream subject

Session 2

ITC512 Networking Concepts 2
[ ] Industry stream subject

Session 3

[ ] Restricted Elective*
[ ] Industry stream subject

Session 4

[ ] Restricted Elective*
[ ] Industry stream subject

Session 5

[ ] Restricted Elective*
[ ] Industry stream subject

Session 6

ITC506 Topics in IT Ethics
[ ] Industry stream subject

Calendar Session 2 intake

Session 1

[ ] Restricted Elective*
[ ] Industry stream subject

Session 2

[ ] Restricted Elective*
[ ] Industry stream subject

Session 3

ITC511 Networking Concepts 1
[ ] Industry stream subject

Session 4

ITC512 Networking Concepts 2
[ ] Industry stream subject

Session 5

ITC506 Topics in IT Ethics
[ ] Industry stream subject

Session 6

[ ] Restricted Elective*
[ ] Industry stream subject

Calendar Session 3 intake

Session 1

[ ] Restricted Elective*
[ ] Industry stream subject

Session 2

ITC511 Networking Concepts 1
[ ] Industry stream subject

Session 3

ITC512 Networking Concepts 2
[ ] Industry stream subject

Session 4

ITC506 Topics in IT Ethics
[ ] Industry stream subject

Session 5

[ ] Restricted Elective*
[ ] Industry stream subject

Session 6

[ ] Restricted Elective*
[ ] Industry stream subject

* Restricted Electives are:

Graduate Certificate in Networking and Systems Administration

There is no prescribed enrolment pattern. Students may choose the order in which they undertake subjects depending on subject availability and the meeting of any prerequisites. Students must, however, enrol in at least two CSU subjects and choose two industry-based subjects from the same industry stream. Students are only permitted to enrol in subjects that are contained within the course structure of the Master of Networking and Systems Administration.

Admission requirements

Graduate Certificate in Network and Systems Administration

For entry to this course, applicants will need one of the following:

a bachelor level computing degree or equivalent; or
at least three years experience in a professional IT role

Master of Network and Systems Administration

For entry into this course, you will need:

a bachelor level computing degree from a recognised Australian tertiary institution (or a qualification deemed to be equivalent)

Applicants seeking entry to the Masters degree on the basis of IT work experience are encouraged to first apply through the Graduate Certificate of Networking and Systems Administration. On completion of the Graduate Certificate, entry to the Masters will be guaranteed, with full credit for subjects completed.

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

English language proficiency

The University has minimum requirements for English language proficiency prior to entry to our courses. Some courses also have a requirement for a higher entry or exit level of English proficiency. More information on English language requirements.

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Australian and New Zealand students

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Admission code: Master - OBNS
Graduate Certificate - OBCS

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International Students

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Admission code: Master - JBNS
Graduate Certificate - JBCS

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Contact a Recruitment agent in your country who can answer your questions about CSU as well as help with the student visa application process.

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Doctor of Information Technology

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