New degrees offered for designers of "cyberspace"

The University of Queensland will introduce a new Master of Information Environments degree next year, to complement the Bachelor of Information Environments which is being offered for mid-year entry this year.

Information environments are the networked computer systems that groups use to share information and work together.

Course director Professor Simon Kaplan said graduates of the information environments courses at the new University of Queensland Ipswich campus would be the architects of "cyberspace".

Professor Kaplan said the three-year Bachelor of Information Environments and the three semester Master of Information Environments courses, the first of their kind in Australia, focused on leading-edge information technology.

"In the future, people in different locations will work and play together seamlessly. People will not think about working on 'the computer', rather they will be living, working and playing in an information environment," he said

"The Bachelor of Information Environments (BInfEnv) course focuses on the design, development, and evolution of new information environments. Graduates of the Bachelor of Information Environments course will redesign how people interact with computers and computational devices.

"The Master of Information Environments (MInfEnv) is designed for students who have a background in a discipline other than Information Environments, yet wish to acquire skills is this rapidly advancing field. "

Professor Kaplan said the courses were structured around core areas including a studio stream, a design stream, information environments stream and an IT stream.

"Both in Australia and overseas, career opportunities for Information Environments graduates are excellent and should improve as demand in the information environments area grows," he said.

"Graduates will find employment in industry, business, government, defense, health, education, media and other areas."

To join the Bachelor of Information Environments program this year, students can apply through QTAC for entry. (The QTAC code is 751009.) Entry requires Senior English and Mathematics B or a grade of HA in Mathematics A.

For the Master of Information Environments program from next year, students require a bachelor degree in any discipline with excellent results from a recognised University.

For further information, visit the web site, send us an email or telephone: (07) 3365-2445 or (07) 3381-1122.

Media: Further information, ring Professor Simon Kaplan, telephone 07 3365 2445.