COURSE IN DEPTH
Year One
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
Computer Systems
20 credits
Within the Computer Systems Module, you will gain knowledge and experience of computers and computer hardware. This module presents a holistic view of how computer systems work and it also provides the underpinning knowledge required:
- For the design of computer architecture
- To show how software interacts with hardware
- To apply electronics principles
- To use number systems for computer technology
Information Retrieval
20 credits
In the modern business environment, the use of data to generate information to improve business processes, generate sales, reduces costs and generally give the customer a more engaging experience is becoming more important than ever. Having the people with the skills and knowledge to process this data to maximise its benefits is essential.
This module aims to provide students with the essential skills, underpinning knowledge and confidence to be able to manage the processing of data to generate useful information, a vitally important core IT topic (information storage and retrieval) that is found in every business in the world and as such provides extremely good transferable skills. The module introduces the student to information retrieval skills and knowledge of the fundamentals of information storage.
Innovation Project
20 credits
This first-year project allows you to develop and cultivate a creative mind-set through collaborative innovative practice, allowing you to bring together knowledge and imagination to construct a viable product. It is an opportunity to express your ideas, skills and talent to the wider community of innovative practice.
The project provides you with an opportunity to be part of a thriving community of innovators that practices connected learning. This is facilitated by putting you into inter-disciplinary project teams supported by innovation mentors, advisers and academics; culminating in you exhibiting your work to an international panel of experts.
Business Information Modelling
20 credits
This module focuses on the challenge, what are the information needs of organizations that information technology needs to support in the changing international business context? Information technology (IT) is ubiquitous in organizations capturing, creating and communicating data between internal business systems and enabling global communication between external parties such as suppliers and customers.
The module starts by focusing on two fundamental questions that underpin IT: What is information? And why do organizations need information? The specific information that an organization needs is then explored in this module together with the source and characteristics of the data needed to provide the information identified. Structured approaches to analysing and designing information systems are outlined, introducing different ways of modelling and communicating the business information needs.
Information Networks
20 credits
The module gives students the opportunity to learn and reflect on the knowledge and skills required for a networked information system that is optimised and secure.
This module builds on the previous IT knowledge and reviews the requirements from a network engineering context. The research challenge is to investigate how an organisation can provide authorised users access to data on demand without compromising data security?
Application Development
20 credits
The information needs of an organisation and the ability to provide information by designing innovative applications is essential to drive innovation and growth in the modern global organisation.
This module is intended to introduce you to current development tools and techniques, providing the skills required to develop applications that meet the rapidly changing needs of organisations. The module will explore key internet technologies, protocols and programming languages required to create working applications that meet the requirements of the user. You will engage in lab sessions to apply programming principles in order to solve problems. You will also develop interactive applications involving both server side and client-side data processing.
Year Two
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
Enterprise Systems
20 credits
The shift in operating conditions and the ever-changing business environments has led many organisations to adopt Enterprise Systems (ES) as a mechanism to gain competitive advantage, improve productivity, and facilitate real-time decision-making. The primary objective of implementing these systems was to address the maintenance issues of legacy systems, reduce development risk, provide timely access to information, and improve business efficiency. However, there are a number of instances, where organisations have failed to realise these benefits and end up running into costly implementation, increased maintenance, and operational challenges.
This module will develop your core skills and knowledge to support organisations in the management of ES and redesigning of the business processes...
Foundations of Database Systems
20 credits
This module provides a thorough grounding in all aspects of: conceptual data modelling (entity relationship models), relational theory and relational algebra, CASE tools for designing a database and its interface, database design and normalization. It also looks at SQLPlus to for querying data in a relational database system. The module will make use of practical sessions to practice database design theory and apply the techniques to producing a quality database design.
Smart Systems
20 credits
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of connected computing devices, electromechanical, digital machines, objects with the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. It is estimated that by 2020 there will approx. 50 billion IoT devices. This module will provide knowledge and skills for the research, synthesis and evaluation of solutions incorporating internet communication systems and devices that can be used to make informed and wise decisions.
In this module you will build on the foundations of networking, maths, programming, and computer hardware modules you studied during level 4 to further investigate and apply relevant techniques. It will complement and support your other level 5 modules, in particular, the HCI, Project, networking, infrastructure and virtualisation content.
Ethical and Professional Context of IT
20 credits
This module aims to equip you with the relevant skills and knowledge which are required for the role of the IT professional. The module will provide you with an understanding of the general principles and concepts underlying ethical theories and the relevance of IT when applied to it.
This module examines the role of different ethical theories and explores the relationship between theory and practice within computing / business contexts. The module will familiarise you with different ethical theories (normative, deontological, processional codes) relevant to the IT / business. The module will also help you to appreciate the integration and inter-relationships of different perspectives in ethical theory which contribute to the applied area of business.
Human-Computer Interaction
20 credits
In this module will you will focus on combining theoretical concepts around user experience design with practical “hands-on” approaches widely used in industry and academia to create effective interactive experiences. Current technology developments involve humans using information centred applications, both physically and cognitively. With the advent of ubiquitous computing and connected products, digitalisation has enabled information architectures that are not solely focused in software based applications, but also in tangible computing devices. In this context, you will learn about the user-centred design process that places a core emphasis on designing products and applications for “people”.
In particular, you will learn techniques for gathering and understanding a target audience’s requirements, the importance of universal design and accessibility, methods for undertaking rapid prototyping, core principles around aesthetics and visual design, and a range of techniques for designing, running, and analysing user evaluations.
IT Innovation
20 credits
This module focuses on the challenge, how can organisations and society harness the opportunities of emerging information technology? The rate of advancement of information technology (IT) continually challenges organisations to assess the potential opportunities and risks that emerge from technological-driven change.
The aim of the module is to encourage you to explore the latest developments in IT and understand the processes of IT innovation in order to formulate a proposal for your final project. There are three strands to the IT Innovation module: environmental scanning, theories of innovation and technological adoption, and problem formulation.
Year Three
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
Consultancy and IT Management
20 credits
This module enables you to gain an understanding of the processes, scope and role when providing guidance or advice in a professional consulting capacity. It will also assist you if you join a larger organisation with the aspiration to become a leader and manager. The module provides awareness on the wider consulting profession and practice, the consulting role in computing and the management of client relationships. The focus will be to analyse and evaluate the frameworks, processes and techniques applied by computing consultants, managers and leaders.
Data Intelligence
20 credits
Data intelligence is the field of applying intelligent computational methods on data generated by organisations to inform the decision making process. It is inevitable in the digital economy to make use of the data captured by and about the business entities. Data can be modelled using descriptive models that help us better understand the customers and/or can be used to build predictive models that inform our decision making in all aspects of the business (e.g., directed marketing through more accurately predicting those that will respond positively to marketing materials).
In this module, for the research challenge how to find out what the data is saying, the students will have hands-on experience on how to apply data intelligence techniques to construct descriptive and predictive models, informing decision making. By the end of this module, students will be able to interpret the results generated by different data intelligence techniques, and consequently use these interpretations to recommend business decisions.
Strategic, Information Systems Alignment
20 credits
This module focuses on the challenge, how can information systems align with business strategies to enable organisations to successfully sustain and develop their positions in the global digital economy? Information, information systems (IS) and information technology (IT) are valuable organisational resources that must be effectively managed to help the organisation achieve its objectives. Strategic alignment directs the development of IS and the deployment of IT to provide continued support to the attainment of business objectives.
This module explores how to formulate a robust IS strategy that enables an organisation to harness the value of its information resource to support attainment of the organisation’s strategy.
Information Security
20 credits
The module explores the information security principles that underpin the management of an organisation’s information systems.
The module will look in detail at information security management architecture and design, risk management, business continuity, and embedding information security within the organisational culture for the longer term. Students examine the key information security principles, concepts, theories, standards and frameworks. The module aims to develop a sound basis on which to the students can design and deliver information security strategies for implementing and managing organisation’s information security requirements.
Individual Honours Project
40 credits
The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and research-informed project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. In agreement with your supervisor, you will decide upon your topic which will take the form of a practical outcome (artefact) with accompanying contextual material. The main consideration when choosing your topic is that it must be aligned to the programme you are studying, and you should consider the relevance of this topic to your future academic or professional development.
At this level, you will be expected to work independently but you will receive additional one-to-one support from your supervisor, who will be familiar with your chosen topic area. As you progress on the module, extra support will be available and this may take the form of group seminars, workshops and online materials that will help to develop your project.
