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The aim of this module is to equip students with a grounding in foundations of computing. It underpins many aspects of computer science related degree programmes and introduces you through regular lectures and labs to computer systems (devices), computer networks (networks), and ethics in computing. You will gain knowledge of the underlying concepts and principles associated with computing and be exposed to the theoretical and practical aspects including data representation, computer components, desktop virtualization, mobile computing, traditional PCs and cloud services.

This block module runs over seven weeks of teaching time with the following delivery pattern:

Lecture: 40 hours

Seminars and practicals: 72 hours

Self-directed study: 140 hours

Assessment: 48 hours

The Python programming module has no pre-requisites; it is designed for learners with no prior programming experience and avoids all but the simplest mathematics. As well as covering the basics of how one constructs a program from a series of simple instructions in Python, this module aims to teach you the basics of programming computers using Python. You will be introduced to fundamental theories and related concepts of the Python programming language; the module will help the learner develop a sufficiently rich and detailed, generally applicable background and hands-on practical knowledge. Learners will solve problems, explore real-world software development challenges, and create practical applications

This block module runs over seven weeks of teaching time with the following delivery pattern:

Lecture: 40 hours

Seminar and practicals: 72 hours

Self-directed study: 136 hours

Assessment: 52 hours  

This module introduces the skills on data analytics and basic quantitative techniques for data collection, summary and presentation. You will develop an understanding of basic concepts associated with the analysis and interpretation of statistical data within a business and organisational context.

The module will allow students to understand and present financial data within a business and organisational structure. You will be able to apply financial mathematical techniques to simple but real-life scenarios to make decisions. The module will also introduce the formulation, solution and interpretation of linear programming models and cover network models and project management.

This block module runs over seven weeks of teaching time with the following delivery pattern:

Lecture: 24 hours

Seminar: 24 hours

Practical: 24 hours

Self-directed study: 180 hours

Assessment: 48 hours

This module gives an insight into the many tasks that must be carried out during the analysis and design stages of an information system development project. It provides a practical introduction to the techniques used at different stages of a project. It also illustrates how these tasks fit together within the overall project framework, and how they can be managed to ensure that the aims of the project are met.

This block module runs over seven weeks of teaching time with the following delivery pattern:

Lecture: 24 hours

Seminar: 24 hours

Practical: 24 hours

Self-directed study: 104 hours

Assessment: 60 hours

This module seeks to extend your skill and knowledge of both the selected language and wider program related concepts e.g. object-oriented development, frameworks and APIs.

A common feature of modern software development is the requirement to interact with and use existing libraries and frameworks. You will be exposed to modern frameworks and APIs to build software. In addition, you will be encouraged to use collaborative tools such as GitHub. 

By the end of the module you will be expected to write code that interacts with a pre-existing API/Framework to implement some appropriate business functionality.

Please include learning, teaching and assessment activity hours for the module in this section. The below is an illustrative example for a 15 credit module. 

Lecture: 24 hours 

Practical: 48 hours

Collaborative Activities: 40 hours 

Revision: 40 hours 

Consolidation: 148 hours

Aims to teach key concepts and techniques for designing and evaluating interactive systems to achieve successful human computer interactions.

Designing successful interactive systems involves understanding and applying the key principles of designing usable systems, but also understanding the characteristics of the user populations, the nature of their tasks and environments.

Developing interactive systems involves confronting ethical problems, not least in the need to allow for the requirements and capabilities of users. Testing and evaluating prototypes of interactive systems is a critical part of building systems without major usability problems and achieving a good user experience. For this reason, modern system development methodologies plan usability testing and iterative development of a sequence of prototypes into the development process.

Lecture: 40 hours

Tutorial: 12 hours

Practical: 12 hours

Out-of-class activities: 12 hours

Self-directed study: 176 hours

Assessment: 48 hours

In an emerging digital world, data is essential to all aspects of human life. What is of more importance, is how data is efficiently stored, retrieved, and presented in a way that makes sense using appropriate database management systems (DBMS). This module will take you through the fundamentals of DBMS, shedding light onto the two broad categories of DBMS: relational (structured) and non-relational (unstructured) databases. You will understand the business and technical motivations behind the use of specific DBMS for managing information in specific situations.

Whilst unstructured DBMS will be discussed at introductory level, the module will provide more detailed understanding of structured DBMS, such as relational DBMS design principles, data modelling using Unified Modelling Language (UML), entity relationship diagrams, and manipulating data using Structured Query Language (SQL). The relational database design may be related to business scenarios. You may also be expected to make modifications to pre-prepared databases through redesign allowing them to reflect on the implications.

This block module runs over seven weeks of teaching time with the following delivery pattern:

Lecture: 20 hours

Tutorial: 10 hours

Practical: 10 hours

Self-directed study: 60 hours

Assessment: 40 hours

The module will investigate the importance of Information Security in the context of Information Systems. The module will be investigating the challenges to application and system developers in relation to the requirement for secure design and implementation. The module is a foundation of security foundations as required in terms of requirements analysis and the design of software. The module will be providing a theoretical framework in providing security solutions with reference to secure application development. 

Learning, teaching and assessment activity hours for the module:

Lecture: 15 hours 

Seminar: 30 hours

Self-directed study: 55 hours

Assessment: 50 hours

The module will take the form of a taught project module allowing students to draw up the specification, documentation and early prototype for a constrained system. You will be encouraged to work in teams providing opportunity to experience modern techniques such as Agile/Scrum development. Although no specific language is explicitly named for the module it would be wise to select a family of languages / development environments that allow student to demonstrate a range of modern technical skills.

The assessment will be designed to encourage collaboration, peer learning, and formative feed-forward assessment.

The module will include supporting materials introducing concepts and practice relating to agile development. It is expected that students will use an appropriate set of tools for collaboration for example GitHub.

Practical: 48 hours

Lecture: 24 hours

Collaborative activities: 40 hours

Revision: 40 hours

Consolidation: 148 hours

An understanding of application architecture is an important part of the implementation of a wide range of modern technologies, including web, mobile and desktop development. This module will look at the issues surrounding the implementation of appropriate architecture e.g. security and programming considerations. It will take a hands-on approach allowing students to build software that address many of these issues.

The aim of this module is to provide students with the essential knowledge to critically evaluate IT decisions that are made at managerial level. Students will explore the implications of digital transformation, and the changing roles of the C-Suite to accommodate global changes in the business environment. The role of IT and different solutions available to a business, based on their need will be discussed; for example, enterprise systems, cloud-based systems, and business intelligence/analytics solutions.

With the growing role of data and emerging technology, students will also explore the importance of strategic, tactical and operational decision-making and the role of business analytics in supporting the business problem solving process. Finally, students will also explore and understand the ethical implications of IT, which influence the decisions around how IT is designed, implemented and used in an organisation.

Practical: 30 hours

Lecture: 30 hours

Reading (suggested reading is part of seminar work): 20 hours

Collaborative Activities: 30 hours

Reflection: 30 hours

Self-directed study: 50 hours

Consolidation: 60 hours

Assessment: 50 hours

The Final Year Project enables students to undertake an individual project on an approved topic of interest, that addresses significant Computing and Information Systems related problems relevant to the programme of study. The project provides an opportunity for you to integrate many of the threads of your programme of study and to extend your work beyond the taught elements through with research and self-learning.

Lecture: 8 hours

Online interactive workshop: 8 hours

Supervisor meetings: 5 hours

Self-study: 219 hours

Assessment*: 60 hours

The gaps in the socio-economic wellbeing of developed, developing and underdeveloped countries often indicate how they use emerging technologies for solving problems. As Information and Communication Technology (ICT) evolves, it offers a wide range of opportunities for closing these socio-economic gaps, particularly, from a developing country viewpoint. This module will expose you to issues that influence the adoption, implementation, uptake, and sustainability of ICTs (Information and Communication Technologies) in developing countries.

Lectures: 50 hours

Seminars: 30 hours

Reading: 40 hours

Collaborative: 20 hours

Reflection: 40 hours

Revision: 40 hours

Assessment: 80 hours

There continues to be a growth of databases holding personal and other sensitive information in multiple formats including text, pictures and sound. The scale of data collected, its type and the scale and speed of data exchange have all changed with the advent of ICT. Whilst the potential to breach privacy continues to increase organisations are subjected to a considerable amount of legislation governing privacy and data protection. This module examines the balance between maintaining business effectiveness, legal compliance and professional practice in the field of IT/IS.

The module will:

Address the legal, social and technological aspects of privacy and data protection.

Consider privacy enabling technologies and privacy invasive technologies.

Identify and evaluate the role of the computer professional in providing privacy and data protection.

Lecture: 40 hours

Seminar: 90 hours

Self-directed study: 90 hours

Assessment: 80 hours

This module provides you with further training on the essentials of advanced database management and programming, developing your ability to differentiate between relational databases and non-relational databases.

It develops the skills to choose a suitable database for an application from a business perspective to meet stated requirements using realistic scenarios and the ability to analyse semi-structured data and to choose an appropriate storage structure. It develops skills in database design and data retrieval using a variety of complex data structures and NoSQL programming including aggregation methods.  In addition, the module considers advanced concepts and database theory such as concurrency and recovery, ACID properties, distributed database systems, replication and the CAP theorem. It is important to understand these concepts in order to choose the most appropriate database for an application and to understand the implications. 

Practical: 20 hours

Lecture: 40 hours

Online learning: 60 hours

Reading (suggested reading is part of seminar work): 60 hours

Reflection: 60 hours

Revision: 60 hours

Aims to demonstrate a clear understanding of the theoretical principles and methodological approaches to Artificial Intelligence (AI). It will provide a theoretical perspective to the computational theory and practical experiences of those principles and techniques.

This module will cover the history of AI, basic principles of neural and evolutionary computation, search and problem solving. The techniques used in this module will provide you with a clear understanding of what problems can be solved, or not, with a computer.

Lecture: 40 hours

Online learning: 60 hours

Reading (suggested reading is part of seminar work): 60 hours

Reflection: 60 hours

Revision: 60 hours