MSc Information Systems Engineering

MSc Information Systems Engineering
(in affiliation with University of Sunderland, UK)

Introduction
MSc Information Systems Engineering is a Masters programme aimed at individuals with a degree qualification (or equivalent) in a non-computing related discipline. The programme provides the necessary theoretical and practical skills to be able to carry out a masters-level project in designing and implementing IT systems. It assumes little or no experience in the topics covered and consequently teaches students 'from scratch'. It is a broad-based course covering the understanding of how IT systems are developed within modern organisations, and provides the abilities to develop such systems both as an individual and as part of a team.

The MSc Information Systems Engineering focuses on databases and dynamic web development and shares common modules with the MSc in IT Application Development which has a strong focus on network development and e-commerce issues from a business perspective, thus allowing you to choose the specific direction of your future career.

Programme Aims
This Masters programme is designed to provide non-computing graduates with advanced skills and knowledge in the application of IT systems development. The overall aims of the programme are: Provides understanding of the processes and techniques as well as the knowledge and technical skills needed to specify, design, implement, document and support an effective IT system, either alone or as part of a team.

Promotes a critical awareness of the natures, roles and limitations of computer-based IT systems and the technologically advancing environments in which they exist. Develop and enhance the skills and knowledge of students so that they can contribute at a high level to the creation and adoption of a systematic, professional and quality approach to IT systems development. Provide students with the skills and knowledge to make a significant contribution to IT and information systems research activities.

Work Experience
During the project phase of the programme students have an opportunity to undertake a project which solves a real world problem. Many external clients sponsor such projects and students are actively encouraged and supported to find their own client and sponsor.

Teaching and Assessment
Various methods of teaching and learning are employed in the course, for example, lectures, group work, directed reading, research, discussions, seminars, tutorials, and practical laboratory sessions.

Assessment is based on individual written reports and research papers, practical assignments, and the project.

Course Content
Successful completion of the taught modules and an individual project will qualify the student for the MSc degree. Intermediate awards of Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma are available for students who do not wish to, or are unable to complete the full MSc. The modules are:

1.Research, Ethical, Professional and Legal Issues:
Nature of research,types of research, research process and its management, ethical issues in research. Outlining research problems and developing research questions. Research methods, qualitative and quantitative approaches. Literature surveys and critical analysis and evaluation of sources. Data collection and data analysis. Critical evaluation and appraisal of published work and data sets. Recognition of appropriate and inappropriate use of approaches and statistics. Writing a technical paper, use of graphics, the publication process, reviews and the role of the reviewer. The use of peer review and appraisal. Presenting work orally and by other appropriate means. Structuring a research report and dissertation. Professional, ethical and legal issues that relate to the relevant programme of study. For example, critical examination of: the BCS code of conduct, the ACM code of Ethics, and the UK Data Protection Act).

2. Techniques for Information Systems Analysis:
Information gathering (interviews, observations etc), soft systems approaches to problem understanding (e.g. rich pictures, CATWOE, root definitions) Object oriented techniques for analysis (e.g. use cases, sequence diagrams, activity diagrams), Systems level understanding and modelling using structured techniques (such as data flow diagrams and entity-relationship diagrams). Requirements definition and specification. Discussion of how the techniques fit in terms of development paradigms. Discussion of how the techniques map onto one another .

3. Web Interaction Design:
HCI Fundamentals: Context, Design and Evaluation; Context of use research: user, stakeholder, task, activity and environment studies; Information and Activity Structure; Usability Engineering: goal setting, inspection methods and user testing; Design Guidelines: navigation, page layout, interaction and media design, accessibility.

4. Web Development:
The software/web engineering process. Professional World Wide Web development and design. Client and server-side applications. The HyperText Mark-up Language (HTML), its evolution and current status. Scripting languages. Site management and configuration. Web server installation and configuration. XML and advanced technologies for web engineering and e-commerce.

5. Object-Oriented Development:
Classes and objects, data attributes, operations. Object roles and relationships. Implementation of objects and class structures in an OO Language (OOL) e.g. Java. OOL constructs. Design and implementation inheritance in an OOL. OOL classes. Software design using interaction diagrams, state diagrams. Testing. Design Patterns. Testing OO Systems.

6. Database System Development:
The aim of this (double) module is to provide students with an ability to design and implement information systems using relational and advanced database technology. The module will cover: Data models (e.g. network, hierarchical, relational, object-relational, object-oriented), database theory, database administration, design techniques and implementation using appropriate tools, use of Data Definition Language and Data Manipulation Languages, database security, database integrity, transaction management and concurrency control, client-server systems, distributed databases, internet database technologies and connectivity, XML, database warehousing and data mining, software engineering approaches to database design and management (e.g. UML), advanced database security, performance issues (benchmarking, query optimisation, advanced query processing), database system organisation, temporal databases, data streaming, database integration and interoperability.

7. Dynamic E-Commerce Technologies
Professional World Wide Web development and design. Database driven websites. Examples, and overview of data handling issues. Accessibility. Types of database used. Issues in Engineering dynamic web application systems. Different Dynamic application development environments (ASP.NET and PHP). Programming using a dynamic web language. Web based application development tools. Structured breakdown and problem solving. Engineering modular component web systems. Good programming practice. * A generic award of a Postgraduate Certificate in Computing is available for those students who gain a minimum of 60 M-level credits from any of the taught modules within the programme (excluding the project).

8. Project