BSc (Hons) Computing and Information Systems

Course detail
This course provides a thorough grounding in Computer Information Systems through the modules that make up the qualification title. Where ever possible and applicable, students will be encouraged to build upon their employment in fulfilment of the assessments.

You will be encouraged to develop all the skills and knowledge you need to become a computing professional, including:
software frequently used in organisations such as Java and Oracle
the theory, practice and applications of computing and information systems
how these systems function in continuously changing environments within a variety of organisations.
Year one (Level 4) modules
Skills for the Information Systems Professional (SISP)
Developing a Digital Identity
Computing Architecture
Fundamentals of Software Development
Analysing Information Systems
Negotiated Work Project Based Learning.
Year two (Level 5) modules
Database Design and Management
Object Oriented Software Development (OOSD)
Rich Internet Applications
Professional IT Level 5
User Requirements Specification
Group Project
Network Management.
Year three (Level 6) modules
Project Preparation
IT Industry
Advanced Databases
Computer Security
Project
Applied Software Engineering
IS Project Management.
Module summaries

Year one (Level 4) modules
We welcome students from all backgrounds, so the first year is designed for students with different levels of computing experience and skills. These six modules are intended to lay strong foundations for the rest of the course.

This year is similar to a number of our computing courses, giving you the flexibility to transfer to another course in your second year.

Computing Architecture
The aim of this module is to teach the fundamental principles of computer architecture which will enable students to write more efficient code by understanding how computers works beyond the statements of their high-level language.

In addition this module will provide students with the knowledge required to undertake subsequent modules.

Skills for Information Systems Professionals
This module aims to introduce you to a range of study skills and problem solving skills to allow you to engage effectively on your course. The content will include the basic tools and techniques for managing small scale projects, techniques for effective group work, effective presentations, research, as well as giving you an introduction to PDP and employability. In addition, approximately half of the module will be spent on acquiring skills in quantitative methods and basic modelling techniques to lay the groundwork for later modules.

Analysing Information Systems
This module aims to introduce the student to the concepts of systems and the way that computerised information systems support business. It will describe different ways that systems are categorised and compare the types of information system used for managing business information. It will also give students an introduction to a range of techniques used in systems analysis.

Developing a Digital Identity
In this introductory module, you will create a digital online artefact (ie: website). Along the way you will learn the basic principles and practical skills of good design and apply them in an appropriate layout that visually communicates your own online identity. In building your site, you will use popular web development software and gain background knowledge of the underlying technologies such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Fundamentals of Software Development
This module introduces basic principles of interactive software design. The software will be developed using a visual, integrated development environment (IDE). The emphasis will be on developing professional looking sustainable software applications including the use of open source libraries. There will be opportunity to design and develop simple menu driven applications controlled by the usual GUI (Graphical User Interface) components such as buttons, menus, etc. The building of these ‘event driven’ artefacts will introduce you to Objected Oriented Programming techniques.

Negotiated Work Project Based Learning
The ability to take responsibility for the management of one’s own learning is increasingly sought after within all types of organisations. In the fast developing field of information technology / computing all IT professionals can expect to have to undergo further learning and professional development in their careers.

This Level 4 module will allow you to identify, agree, plan and develop your own learning in the field of information technology / computing. This will be undertaken within either a work or university project based environment. You will achieve such learning by way of agreed learning activities, their practical implementation and personal reflection of the processes and outcomes.

The practical implementation may include the
Analysis, design, development and/or evaluation of
An artefact, process, system or model
Relevant to the practical and professional implementation of IT solutions in the widest context and the learning environment at level 4.

Skills relating to developing and thinking through solutions to unfamiliar problems will be developed.

Year two (Level 5) modules
In your second year we will build on the knowledge you will have gained in year one.

Modules include:

Professional IT Level 5
Information Technology (IT) systems courses open up a wide variety of potential career paths often with very different skills paths. To function effectively, professional IT practitioners need not only have the appropriate technical knowledge, skills and experience, but also a broad understanding of the context in which they operate. This module offers a good grounding in the relationship between technological change, society and the law, and the powerful role that computers and computer professionals play in a technological society.
The module gives students an expanded opportunity to understand the range of professional opportunities and to begin to chart their potential careers.

User Requirements Specification
This module aims to provide the student with a good understanding of user requirements principles and specification. This is accomplished by introducing the student to various requirement elicitation techniques including the current practice of adopting a socio-technical approach for scenario based design. All phases of the process will be described, critically analysed and exemplified. The student is introduced to key elements of requirement specification techniques and their practical exposition will be executed through the use of low fidelity prototyping scenarios.

On completion of this module the students will have understood the way in which user requirements gathering and early prototyping techniques are used within the general practice of software engineering. In addition to the lecture session, you will be given practical/tutorial sessions where you will complete the seminar exercise to build your portfolio, and, if necessary, obtain help from a tutor.

Object Oriented Software Development
This module covers the essential concepts concerning the object oriented design and object oriented programming, including encapsulation, inheritance, associations and multiplicities; implementation for sequence diagrams; design patterns for object oriented based applications are covered and implemented.

On completion of this module students will have developed object oriented applications and implemented the key elements.

Module contents:
Concepts behind object oriented modelling: class diagrams, sequence diagram
Software design for: class instantiations, multiplicities and associations, generalisation, realizations, encapsulation and message passing
Patterns: Factory, Singleton, MVC
Object Relational Mapping (ORM)
Object serialization and persistence
Objects and threads.
Database Design and Management
This module aims to introduce students to the main principles and techniques involved in designing, implementing and managing relational databases. The module will examine database environments, database analysis and design techniques and methodologies. It will also give an introduction to database security and transaction management and will look at some of the current issues in the area of database management systems. Oracle will be used to explore the capabilities of SQL and to construct a small relational database.

Network Management
The role of networking within organisations, large and small, private or public, is an ever-evolving communications media that has become engrained within senior management strategies and commercial success.

The module focuses on the management aspects of computer-based networks. The content looks at network architecture, OSI model and associated protocols, network assembly, security, administration and management network roles and functions.

Rich Internet Applications
The development and delivery of application software is now not limited to targeting a specific operating system or device. Utilising web technologies, we can now deliver a full application using a web browser as a platform. This module investigates the technologies and programming languages involved in the development of client-side and server-side applications.

Group Project
This module consolidates knowledge gained in L4 and L5 modules and to develop new skills and knowledge in IS systems development and business processes. You will work in groups to specify, design, build and test a computer based information system to meet the needs of a 'real life' business case study.

Working in teams is an important skill for the world of IT in business and you will be working in a way that is close to the real work situation, using an Agile approach. Throughout the project you will be introduced to the main principles underpinning software engineering through a series of lecture and workshops. The remainder of the time on the module will be spent on project implementation in groups, monitored by a member of staff.

Year three (Level 6) modules
In your third year, you will study a range of specialised and advanced topics, and undertake a major project where you apply the skills you have gained during the course. As computing is a fast-moving area, the options can change over time. Typically, the modules we offer at this level include:

Project Preparation
This module provides the opportunity for you to identify an appropriate research and/or development exercise which addresses an academic issue. It will enable you to identify an in-depth investigation of a topic of particular interest to you in the field of computing and information systems. The investigation may include a literature survey of the topic, selection of appropriate software and/or systems and the identification of the methodology that would be used in the project itself.

Project
This module provides the opportunity for you to carry out an appropriate research and/or development exercise which addresses an academic issue. It will enable you to undertake an in-depth investigation of a topic of particular interest to you in the field of computing. The investigation may include the development of software and/or systems analysis following a standard methodology and may be associated with work done for an organisation as part of an internship or placement.

IT Industry
This module aims to provide an understanding of the roles and activities of a modern IT function and to critically review the roles and activities and to set the other modules in the context of the modern IT Industry. It deals with the organisation of both the industry and a typical large IT function, together with the skills in managing an IT function including in-sourcing and outsourcing, partnering, sub-contracting and systems integration. Students will gain an appreciation of the IT marketplace and how the skills acquired in other modules are applied and fit together in the business context.

Advanced Databases
This module extends students’ existing knowledge of databases developed in the Level 5 module by examining the technologies, design and application of a range of post-relational databases and systems, including no SQL and new SQL databases, data warehousing, data mining and XML databases.

Information Systems Project Management
This module has been designed to develop practical understanding that will enable students to undertake successful IS project management activities upon their completion of their degree. It focuses upon the management of IS projects, including their implementation. Nonetheless, some of the concepts, methods and issues that are introduced and discussed apply as well to the management of other types of projects and many other types of organisational activities such as managing task forces and committees. Students will be exposed to key IS project management topics including time, cost, risks and human management techniques. Particular attention will be given to 'fast-cycle' projects management, ie:, those associated with e-Commerce project management. In short, the emphasis will be on the knowledge associated with IS project. The module is also designed to be highly interactive, and therefore required a high level of pre-class preparation, and in-class participation. Groups discussions, class exercises, and individual assignments will be utilised to simulate the real experiences that IS project managers encounter.

Applied Software Engineering
This module covers various life-cycle issues concerning the development of large-scale commercial projects. There is evidence that software project failures are on the increase, which is a worrying trend. Software engineering techniques will be investigated which are aimed at reducing this unacceptable failure rate.

Computer Security
This module addresses many important issues concerning security in computer systems. The relevance and topicality of this subject area to the computer and business industries is beyond dispute. Annual cost estimates of security breaches vary but undoubtedly run into billions of pound worldwide. Ever more sophisticated techniques are available to both the attacker and the defender as they play out a 'deadly' game. Surprisingly, non-malicious security 'accidents' account for a larger proportion of cost than malicious incidents.

The recent explosive growth of internet-based e-commerce has only added to security problems. Mobile phone technology has become more capable and offers attackers more opportunities to breach the security of enterprises and people, likewise wireless access using WiFi has added further security vulnerabilities.

The syllabus will invite the student to identify and analyse a range of security issues and strategies from the perspective of both attack and defence.