Inherent requirements for computing and information technology programs
Our computing and information technology programs have inherent requirements you must meet to be able to graduate.
Inherent requirements are core activities, tasks or skills that are essential to a program or course. They apply to the following programs:
- Bachelor of Computer Science and associated dual programs
- Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours)
- Bachelor of Information Technology and associated dual programs
- Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours)
- Master of Computer Science and Master of Computer Science (Management) and the associated graduate certificate and diplomas
- Master of Cyber Security and associated graduate certificate and diplomas
- Master of Data Science
- Master of Information Technology and associated graduate certificate and diplomas
- Master of Interaction Design and associated graduate certificate and diplomas
What you need to do
If you plan to apply for one of these programs, carefully read through the inherent requirements.
If you think you may experience any problems meeting them, contact a Student Adviser to discuss your needs and whether any reasonable adjustments can be made.
The inherent requirements must be read in conjunction with other information, including the program requirements and Australian Computer Society publications such as:
- UQ Student Integrity and Misconduct
- Code of Professional Ethics – Australian Computer Society
- The ICT Profession, Professionals and the ACS Body of ICT Knowledge – Australian Computer Society
The following programs are accredited by the Australian Computer Society and must also comply with their accreditation standards:
- Bachelor of Computer Science and associated dual programs
- Bachelor of Information Technology and associated dual programs
- Master of Data Science
- Master of Information Technology
- Master of Interaction Design
Context | Computing professionals (Computer Science, Information Technology, Cyber Security and Data Science) are governed by codes, guidelines and policies where they are both accountable and responsible for ensuring professional behaviour in all contexts. |
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What you need to demonstrate |
The student will:
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Why this is required |
Compliance with relevant academic and professional standards, regulations, codes and guidelines facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students, and/or the people they engage with. This ensures the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of the individual is not placed at risk. Understanding and applying key ethical and conduct principles are requirements of computing and IT professions broadly, ACS and other International professional standards bodies. |
Scope for reasonable adjustments | Reasonable Adjustments must not compromise codes and standards or result in unethical behaviour. |
Example ways to meet the requirement |
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Context | Compliance with the current scope of practice, University and workplace health and safety requirements and procedures are required for the safety of students, staff and others. |
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What you need to demonstrate | The student will at all times demonstrate safe practice behaviours in academic, laboratory, fieldwork and professional settings. |
Why this is required | Compliance with current standards of practice, workplace health and safety regulations are required to provide safe environments for students, staff and the wider public. |
Scope for reasonable adjustments |
Reasonable adjustments must always support safe practice. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. |
Example ways to meet the requirement |
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Professional and behavioural stability
Context | Behavioural stability and adaptability, and self-awareness, are necessary to effectively and sensitively function and adapt in educational and professional contexts of computing and IT practice. |
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What you need to demonstrate |
The student will:
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Why this is required |
Within computing and IT professional practice, it is required to work constructively in culturally and socially diverse settings, and to deal with challenging issues, timelines, ambiguously defined problems, and diverse teamwork settings. Behavioural stability is required to work individually and in teams in changing and unpredictable environments. Computing and IT students will be exposed to demanding situations and community responsibilities, and will be required to have behavioural stability to manage these events objectively and professionally |
Scope for reasonable adjustments |
Reasonable Adjustments must support stable, effective, and professional behaviour in both academic and computing and IT practice settings. Reasonable adjustments must enable the ability to work in teams and adapt to unpredictable environments. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. |
Example ways to meet the requirement |
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Interpersonal skills
Context | Positive interpersonal engagement is required to work effectively and thoughtfully, and to build relationships in community and educational settings. This requires respectful communication with others, including the ability to listen, display and respect empathy, build rapport and gain trust to ensure meaningful and effective interactions with people with whom you engage. |
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What you need to demonstrate |
The student will:
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Why this is required | Professional computing and IT practice requires effective, sensitive and confidential engagement with clients and work colleagues, and the ability to engage with people from diverse backgrounds and abilities, in various contexts. |
Scope for reasonable adjustments |
Reasonable adjustments must enable appropriate levels of interpersonal engagement and behaviour. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. |
Example ways to meet the requirement |
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Context | Computing and IT practice is regulated by legislative and professional standards to enable the safe delivery of services. |
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What you need to demonstrate |
The student will:
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Why this is required |
Knowledge, understanding and compliance with legislative and professional regulatory requirements are necessary to facilitate effective, responsible and accountable computing and IT practice in order to reduce the risk of harm to self, the environment and the broader community. Compliance with these professional regulations and the Australian Law ensures that students are both responsible and accountable for their practice. |
Scope for reasonable adjustments | Reasonable adjustments must always be consistent with legislative and regulatory requirements. |
Example ways to meet the requirement |
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Verbal communication
Context | In English-speaking environments, effective verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to develop and maintain trusting relationships. It allows you to perform effectively in both academic and complex professional computing and IT environments, and is an essential requirement to enable the delivery of projects and services. |
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What you need to demonstrate |
The student will:
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Why this is required |
Adequate communication with engineers and team members is necessary for the safe execution of projects and the delivery of services. Effective communication is necessary for building successful teams and professional relationships. Timely, accurate and effective delivery of instructions is critical to professional service delivery. |
Scope for reasonable adjustments |
Reasonable adjustments must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity and accuracy issues. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. |
Example ways to meet the requirement |
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Non-verbal communication
Context |
Effective non-verbal (social) communication is fundamental to interactions with colleagues and staff. It needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic, honest and non-judgmental. Non-verbal communication includes eye contact, gestures, facial expression, speaking volume, tone of voice, proximity and verbal turn-taking. |
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What you need to demonstrate |
The student will:
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Why this is required |
The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building rapport in academic and professional relationships. Displaying consistent and appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, being mindful of space, time boundaries and body movements and gestures promotes the trust and respect necessary to develop effective professional relationships. Being sensitive to individual differences displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships. The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues is essential for safe and successful execution of various computing and IT projects. |
Scope for reasonable adjustments |
Reasonable adjustments must enable the recognition of initiation of or appropriate response to, effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. |
Example ways to meet the requirement |
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Written communication
Context | Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental responsibility with professional and legal ramifications. |
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What you need to demonstrate |
The student will:
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Why this is required |
Construction of written text-based assessment tasks to reflect the required academic standards of the discipline are necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter for professional engineering practice. Written assessment tasks reflect the required academic standards necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter for professional practice. Accurate written communication, including record keeping, is vital to provide consistent and professional projects and service delivery. |
Scope for reasonable adjustments |
Reasonable adjustments must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy, accessibility, transferability and portability to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in both academic and computing and IT practice settings. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. |
Example ways to meet the requirement |
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Knowledge acquisition and cognitive ability
Context | Consistent and effective knowledge and cognitive skills must be demonstrated to provide safe and appropriate computing and IT services. |
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What you need to demonstrate |
The student will:
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Why this is required | Effective delivery of computing and IT projects and services is based on comprehensive technical knowledge that must be sourced, understood and applied appropriately. |
Scope for reasonable adjustments |
Reasonable adjustments must ensure a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. |
Example ways to meet the requirement |
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Literacy (language)
Context | Competent English language and literacy skills are essential for learning processes and effective professional delivery of computing and IT services. |
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What you need to demonstrate |
The student will:
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Why this is required |
The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey messages is fundamental to ensure effective delivery of computing and IT projects and services. The ability to read, decode, interpret and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental for effective delivery of computing and IT projects and services. |
Scope for reasonable adjustments |
Reasonable adjustments to address literacy issues must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply and communicate accurate information. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. |
Example ways to meet the requirement |
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Numeracy
Context |
Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential for the safe and effective delivery of computing and IT projects and services. |
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What you need to demonstrate | The student will demonstrate the ability to correctly interpret and apply data, measurements and numerical criteria in a range of contexts. |
Why this is required | Competent application of numeracy skills is essential in computing and IT to facilitate the effective delivery of projects and services. |
Scope for reasonable adjustments |
Reasonable adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to interpret and apply concepts and processes appropriately in a timely, accurate and effective manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. |
Example ways to meet the requirement |
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Visual
Context | Adequate visual acuity can be required for some computing and IT tasks. Visual acuity refers to the extent to which a person can see or interpret visual information, which may also include colour vision. |
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What you need to demonstrate | The student will demonstrate sufficient visual acuity to undertake the required range of tasks including, but not limited to, reading and comprehending information presented in a variety of standard formats such as reports, electronic documents and drawings (hand sketches and computer generated). |
Why this is required |
Sufficient visual acuity is necessary to demonstrate the required range of skills, through the performance of relevant tasks and assessments while maintaining consistent, accurate and safe care to self and others. Visual observations, examination and assessment are fundamental to some safe and effective computing and IT practice. |
Scope for reasonable adjustments |
Reasonable adjustments should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety of self and others and a capacity to provide safe computing and IT services. These adjustments may include, but are not limited to, adaptive equipment, assistive technology, practical assistant personnel or modifications to the task which do not impact upon the academic knowledge and skills required to complete it. If students have been deemed legally blind or have a medical condition that may impact vision, it is recommended they discuss their condition with UQ Diversity, Disability and Inclusion Services (DDIS). |
Example ways to meet the requirement |
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Aural (hearing)
Context | Competent aural communication is an essential requirement to develop and maintain trusting relationships and to perform effectively in an academic and complex professional environment. It also allows you to solve problems and communicate knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter effectively. |
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What you need to demonstrate |
The student will:
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Why this is required | Aural communication skills are an essential requirement to develop and maintain trusting relationships and to perform effectively in both academic and complex professional environments. |
Scope for reasonable adjustments |
Reasonable adjustments to address the effects of hearing impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise effective and timely reception of, and response to auditory inputs. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. |
Example ways to meet the requirement |
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Context |
Computing and IT practice requires mental performance at a consistent and sustained level to meet individual needs over time. Completion of tasks in a timely manner and within a designated period, where required, while maintaining consistency and quality of performance, is required. This could include cognitive (mental) performance such as concentrating for a particular length of time. |
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What you need to demonstrate |
The student will:
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Why this is required | Sufficient mental endurance is an essential requirement needed to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period to provide appropriate computing and IT services. |
Scope for reasonable adjustments |
Reasonable adjustments must enable consistent and sustained performance over a given period. Adjustments will be considered in relation to the student’s circumstances and capacities. Strategies such as rest breaks may be used to support performance for on-campus learning contexts. It is recommended the student discusses the potential use of these strategies during work off-campus with UQ Diversity, Disability and Inclusion Services (DDIS). Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with a Student Adviser. |
Example ways to meet the requirement |
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Need more information?
If you're not sure what an inherent requirement means, contact the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology.
Adapted from Inherent Requirements © Western Sydney University, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial Share Alike 4.0 International licence.