MSc Software Engineering

Course detail
This course is suitable for you if you have a background in IT and want to specialise in software engineering. It helps you build the skills needed to work with modern software systems in an industrial context, and to develop an appreciation of all features of commercial software engineering. You will use industry-standard technologies, and have the opportunity to specialise in topics ranging from software project management to implementation techniques.

This is an indicative listing of modules for the course:
Advanced Topics in Software Engineering
UML Component Modelling
Data architecture
Knowledge Management
Research Methods
Dissertation
Learning and Professional Development (LPD)
Employability Skills and Employment (ESE)
Distributed Application Development (optional)
Project Management (optional)
Human-Computer Interaction for Information Systems (optional)
Mobile application Development (optional)
Enterprise Architecture (optional)
Security Management (optional)
Advance Rich Media (optional)
Advanced Topics in Software Engineering
Here you will gain an understanding of the latest techniques and principles of modern software engineering. This is a research-oriented module, which gives you the opportunity to discuss and evaluate the latest published papers in the field, and to present a seminar on the work. Together, all the seminars presented on the module will give you a thorough grounding in current software engineering approaches.

UML Component Modelling
This module introduces the concepts and techniques needed to support component-based development. Modern distributed architectures rely increasingly on software components to construct and deploy applications, and here you will cover the conceptual framework underpinning application assembly from components, and the supporting software processes. You will gain practical experience in modelling component specifications and consider future development in this area.

Data Architecture
Data Architecture describes how data is processed, stored, and utilised in an information system. There has been an explosion in the quantity and variety of data generated by organisations, programs and sensors. Much of this data is not fully structured but contains valuable information to uncover, like emerging opinions in social networks, search trends from search engines, consumer purchase behaviour, and patterns that emerge from these huge data sources. These developments mean traditional stand-alone applications are no longer suitable to process and analyse the amount of information available.

The aim of this module is to cover some of the developments in the broad range of 'Big Data' problems. The module will give a student hands on experience with various types of large-scale data and information handling, and start by providing a solid understanding of the underlying technologies.

Knowledge Management
In this module, you will explore the widely accepted theories and frameworks for knowledge management - and their application in technologies and learning organisations. On completion, you will understand the way knowledge from these diverse disciplines is used within the development of Decision Support Systems (DSS).

Research Methods
This module gives you the skills to acquire and distil knowledge, preparing you to carry out applied research in the area of information systems, and in computing in general. You will learn to use appropriate data collection and statistical methods and tools to support your research ideas.

Dissertation
With this module, you have the opportunity to carry out an original piece of research, adding to existing knowledge and demonstrating an ability to select, define and focus on an issue at an appropriate level. You will also develop and apply relevant methodologies to analyse your topic areas, and to develop recommendations and logical conclusions in the context of existing work in the area. Your dissertation can be the design and implementation of a complex software application, a literature-focused study, or a research-focused empirical study.

Distributed Application Development
In this module, you will learn how to apply software engineering skills, using mainly Java as the programming language, to develop distributed applications. You will cover both Java programming and distributed application architecture content. There is a particular focus on emerging technologies, such as service orientated architectures and business process management toolsets.

Human-Computer Interaction for Information Systems
This module is about human aspects of the analysis, design, implementation, evaluation and use of interactive information systems; and with the study of socio-technical phenomena surrounding it.

It considers the interplay between human users, designers, developers and organisations; as such it has a multidisciplinary content with its basis in psychology and human factors as well as in user interface and interaction design.
The module will cover HCI processes concerning the entire IS lifecycle, not just the screen design stage.

Mobile Application Development
This module has been developed in conjunction with industry to provide hands-on experience developing software for mobile devices. An open source approach to software development will be used throughout the module. Students will gain experience using relevant industry standard tools to support their work.

Enterprise Architecture
Successfully managing IT on the enterprise level is getting increasingly important, but due to the size, complexity and sheer amount of information systems this can be challenging for organisations. Enterprise architecture is a discipline that provides for enterprise wide business and IT alignment.

This module focuses on recent paradigms that have impact on how organisations manage their information systems in order to achieve business and IT alignment from an enterprise point of view. The module will review some of the enterprise architecture principles, frameworks and methods.

Advance Rich Media (optional)
This module provides the students with essential theoretical and practical skills to develop a multimedia database application based on theoretical and practical underpinnings of advanced user interface design.

The module recognizes the importance of framing the problem of human-computer interaction broadly enough so as to help students (and practitioners) avoid the classic pitfall of design divorced from the context of the problem.

Security Management (optional)
This module provides an introduction to assuring the security of systems, networks, data and user identities, which is an essential aspect of organization and information systems. New threats are emerging as digital technologies permeate into most aspects of work and social life and in transactions between parties opening potential for fraud, deception and corruption.

Advanced Rich Media (optional)
This module provides you with essential theoretical and practical skills to develop a multimedia database application. Your application will be based on theoretical and practical underpinnings of advanced user interface design. The module recognises the importance of framing the problem of human-computer interaction broadly enough so as to help students (and practitioners) avoid the classic pitfall of design divorced from the context of the problem.

Data Architecture (optional)
Data Architecture describes how data is processed, stored, and utilised in an information system. There has been an explosion in the quantity and variety of data generated by organisations, programs and sensors. Much of this data is not fully structured but contains valuable information to uncover, like emerging opinions in social networks, search trends from search engines, consumer purchase behaviour, and patterns that emerge from these huge data sources.

These developments mean traditional stand-alone applications are no longer suitable to process and analyse the amount of information available. The aim of this module is to cover some of the developments in the broad range of 'Big Data' problems. The module will give you hands on experience with various types of large-scale data and information handling, and start by providing a solid understanding of the underlying technologies.