Bachelor of Information Sciences – BInfSc

at Massey University

Structure of the Bachelor of Information Sciences

First year for a full-time student usually consists of 8 courses.  Take electives** to get the total number of courses to 8.  Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.  You can change your major up until the start of your second year and it is a good idea to keep your options open by taking courses such that you are ready to move on to several different majors.  In the first year of study, you should take the following courses:

1. 158100 Introductory Concepts for Information Technology
2. 158120 Fundamental Information Technologies
3. 247112 Science and Sustainability for ICT (or 247113)
4. A Statistics course (161111 Applied Statistics or 161122 Statistics)
5. 159.100 Programming for Engineering and Technology or 159101 Technical Programming I
6. A second programming course (159102 is required for Computer Science, Data Science, Software Engineering).*  Or you could take an elective.**
7. A Mathematics course – (160105 or 160102 or 160101 is required for Computer Science, Data Science, Software Engineering).*  Or you could take an elective.**
8. 157151 or an elective course from any subject.**
    

* Ensure that you have selected the correct courses for your major: Computer Science, Data Science and Software Engineering require [159100 or 159101], [159102]  and a maths course. Information Technology and Information Systems may require 157151 Living and Working with Technology, and do not require the second programming course or the maths course.
 

** Elective courses: Any course from any subject (including the courses listed above). Some elective courses may be available in Summer School.  If you are interested in taking a minor subject there may be required 100-level courses for that minor.
 

In the second year, you must take at least four 200-level courses for each major.  In the third year, you must take at least four 300-level courses for the major and also take 158345.  Double majors or minors will require additional courses.

Year one
 

• 247112 Science and Sustainability for ICT
• 159100 Programming for Engineering and Technology or
• 159101 Technical Programming I 
• 161111 Applied Statistics or
• 161122 Statistics
• 159102 Technical Programming II 
• 160101 Calculus or 160102 Algebra or
• 160105 Methods of Mathematics or Elective
• 158100 Concepts for Information Technology or
• Elective
• 158120 Fundamental Information Technologies or
• Elective
• 157151 Living and Working with Technology or
• Elective

Year two
 

• 200-level major course
• 200-level major course
• 200-level major course
• 200-level major course
• Elective or
• 200-level major course
• Elective or
• 200-level major course
• Elective
• Elective

Year three
 

• 158345 Professionalism in the Information Sciences
• 300-level major course
• 300-level major course
• 300-level major capstone course or
• Elective (depending on major)
• Elective or
• 300-level major course
• Elective or
• 300-level major course
• Elective
• Elective

Entry requirements

Admission to Massey
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
 

Specific requirements

There are no specific entry requirements for this qualification, outside of university admission regulations. 

If you have excellent achievements in NCEA and prior programming experience (through the successful completion of courses and participation in competitions like STAR, NCSS or the ACM SPPC) you will be considered for direct entry into second-year computer science courses. You may also be eligible to participate in software development projects.

English language requirements
To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.

Fees and scholarships

Fees, student loans and free fees scheme
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.

There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.

Careers and job opportunities
 

There is a huge demand for people with information sciences skills.

Massey Bachelor of Information Sciences graduates continue to find employment even during global recessions when graduates in other fields struggled.

Today there are more employment opportunities in information communication technology (ICT) than any other sector in New Zealand. The same often applies internationally. 

Employers often require graduates to sit practical tests in addition to interviews. The Massey emphasis on applied knowledge and skills enables Massey graduates to perform well in these tests.

Careers for Information Sciences graduates:
 

• software developer
• software architect
• software engineer
• analyst-programmer
• systems programmer
• systems analyst
• business analyst
• software tester
• user requirements engineer
• database developer or administrator
• networks and systems administrator
• project manager
• data scientist
• web developer.