Linux the focus of new Australian Masters degree
Novell said in a statement the course would be the only postgraduate-level qualification which would include the achievement of Novell Certified Linux Engineer (Novell CLE) status as a key requirement.
"Students will study for their Masters degree via a mixture of distance education coupled with hands-on practical training courses with Novell's leading IT training provider Excom Education," Novell added.
The degree will formally be a stream of CSU's Master of Networking and System Administration, which currently allows students to choose streams from Microsoft and Cisco as well as pathways not specific to a vendor.
Students in the other vendors' streams complete popular certifications such as the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) or Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP).
The Masters degree in general is made up of primarily technical subjects, with applicants needing an undergraduate degree and at least two years experience in the IT industry, but students will also need to demonstrate other skills: all streams list a "Topics in IT Ethics" subject.
In Novell's statement, Excom's managing director Paul Koukounaras said there was a strong local demand for Linux certification.
"In the past 12 months, we have experienced unprecedented demand for Novell's Suse Linux training courses and certifications, from both Linux and traditional Novell IT professional," he said.
Novell said it would offer scholarships to help launch the new degree, which will be first offered in CSU's Trimester 2 -- starting in mid-2006.