Course structure
Foundation year core modules
Agile Development Project
This module gives you the opportunity to undertake a programming project. Working in small teams, you design, develop and demonstrate a software solution that relates to an agreed requirements specification.
Computational Thinking
Algorithms are considered to be at the heart of computing and are critical to developing computer-driven applications. Designing algorithms requires you to think like a machine, using computational thinking to construct procedures to implement as computer programmes.
This module introduces you to the fundamental building blocks of algorithms through classic puzzles and recreational games. You develop your knowledge of design principles and your proficiency in creating algorithmic procedures by cultivating your ability to think computationally in solving puzzles and creating routines for playing simple, computer-enabled games.
Information Systems Development
This module introduces you to the analysis, design and development of simple information systems. You learn the tools, techniques and methods associated with information systems development, such as gathering requirements, modelling requirements, designing data models and implementing a solution.
Introduction to Mathematics
This module introduces the relevant mathematical notations and techniques if you are preparing to study a technical computing degree at undergraduate level. The emphasis is on developing the skills that enable you to understand technical specifications of computing devices.
Topics include the number systems prevalent in computing, algebraic manipulation and equation solving, and the concept of functions – both algebraic and graphical formulations.
The module is delivered through lecture and tutorial sessions. Worked examples illustrate how each mathematical technique is applied. Problem-solving tutorial exercises give you the opportunity to practise each skill or technique.
Introduction to Programming
This module is ideal if you have little or no experience of programming – it uses tools that are easily available, easy to use and familiar to anyone who has used a computer.
You learn how programming language constructs are applied to different problems of increasing complexity. All programming solutions are executed in a web browser although the module is not specifically targeting web development.
Year 1 core modules
Information Security and Cybercrime
You cover a range of issues relating to information and computer security, including systematic approaches to managing security risks, elementary cryptography, how computers are used in the execution of crime, and how such crimes are investigated.
Network Architecture
Network Architecture provides a thorough understanding of the role of Computer Networks in modern society. Network design principles are introduced; current trends in network usage are explored, including the increased demand for bandwidth, the demand for mobile and wireless solutions and the bandwidth divide.
You cover all the essential skills necessary to design and implement networks in a LAN environment and gain hands-on experience using key network devices including cabling, switches and routers on a wired and wireless network. Network and computer security issues are explored, along with ethical and professional issues relevant to network design.
Network Scripting
Network Scripting provides you with the must-have skills of computing professionals: knowledge of multiple open source computing environments, open source implementation basics for both the Linux operating systems and its applications.
You develop and expand your knowledge of Unix-like operating systems, through remote administration of a Linux virtual server, and develop skills in Linux file system manipulation, networking and shell scripting as well as competence with the Linux environment.
Python Programming
You are introduced to the fundamental concepts of software development through the Python programming language.
You look at key aspects of the software development process including designing solutions, writing application code, developing documentation and formal approaches to testing.
Secure Data Acquisition
The module will explore issues of data representation and data quality, information architectures and scale. The principles and techniques of information security and governance will be introduced.
Systems Design and Databases
Successful, robust and user-friendly systems or applications begin with a requirements analysis and detailed design. You are introduced to the concepts and techniques of systems analysis and design, enabling you to break down and simplify complex systems and represent them visually using industry-standard approaches such as Unified Modelling Language (UML). In industry, the resulting models are used to communicate designs to developers and stakeholders prior to implementation.
You learn to design and implement fully normalised relational databases as part of an information system. Using data modelling techniques you define how the system stores data and interacts with it. You implement your design using Structured Query Language (SQL): Data Definition Language for creating tables, and Data Manipulation Language for accessing the data.
You develop professional practice and transferrable skills essential for industry, including project management."
Year 2 core modules
CIS Cyber
You will work within a small team to plan, design and build a secure network within a small team. Each team will be required to design, implement and document a secure network, including installation of physical servers running a variety of operating systems.
You will be guided on how to incorporate security from the design stage onward and introduced to techniques on how to assess the security of existing networks. The module requires a professional approach, informed by current industry practice, to plan a successful development project.
Ethical Hacking
Ethical hackers are skilled in finding and exploiting technical vulnerabilities in networked devices whilst behaving in a professional and responsible manner. They act lawfully to assist organisations in identifying and resolving security weaknesses and vulnerabilities within their networks. In this module, you learn how to perform and document ethical hacks, and explore the key concepts of ethical hacking, including penetration testing, attack vectors and models and vulnerability analysis. You also explore industry standard hacking tools and learn how to use them in an ethical manner.
Information Security Management
This module develops a detailed understanding of information and network security concepts and principles as well as the tools and configurations available to defend your network technologies. You will identify and discuss secure infrastructure needs for business requirements, including cloud-based systems. Cryptographic techniques and systems are analysed and compared. The module will emphasise the professional, ethical and legal compliance considerations required of a computer security professional.
Network Infrastructures
Your knowledge of advanced networks will be further developed in this module. You will also develop an understanding of how switches are interconnected and configured to provide network access to LAN and WAN users, including the integration of wireless devices.
The module begins with design and configuration of a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) before consideration of various WAN technologies used to connect small- to medium-sized business networks. The final topic investigates how a virtual private network allows a computer to pass data across shared networks while still benefiting from the functionality of the private network.
Server Administration
You will be exposed to a range of network server administration concepts, principles and practices, which will enable you to understand the key principles of monitoring and managing server storage. This will include identifying the types of cloud solutions and the adoption measures needed for each, together with the technical challenges and the mitigation measures involved in cloud computing.
You will learn how to monitor and troubleshoot servers as well as developing your understanding of essential services such as file and print services; and network services and applications.
Further study will develop your ability to identify secure server configuration to meet business requirements, to critically analyse and compare different server solutions and identify the best solution for the business. You will also be able to identify how to operate ethically in order to implement and test a secure infrastructure to meet an appropriate business requirement.
Optional work placement year
Work placement
You have the option to spend one year in industry learning and developing your skills. We encourage and support you with applying for a placement, job hunting and networking.
You gain experience favoured by graduate recruiters and develop your technical skillset. You also obtain the transferable skills required in any professional environment, including communication, negotiation, teamwork, leadership, organisation, confidence, self-reliance, problem-solving, being able to work under pressure, and commercial awareness.
Many employers view a placement as a year-long interview, therefore placements are increasingly becoming an essential part of an organisation's pre-selection strategy in their graduate recruitment process. Benefits include:
· improved job prospects
· enhanced employment skills and improved career progression opportunities
· a higher starting salary than your full-time counterparts
· a better degree classification
· a richer CV
· a year's salary before completing your degree
· experience of workplace culture
· the opportunity to design and base your final-year project within a working environment.
If you are unable to secure a work placement with an employer, then you simply continue on a course without the work placement.
Final-year core modules
Computing Project
You complete a large scale piece of work, under the supervision of an academic staff member. You produce a substantial artefact relating to the computing field, and complete your report and viva consisting of a presentation, demonstration and discussion of the artefact.
You are guided to develop an appropriate sense of work-discipline coupled with a professional outlook. You take responsibility for the planning and execution of an extended piece of work including the consideration of associated legal, social, ethical and professional issues. You are able to explore in depth a chosen subject area, and thereby demonstrate your ability to analyse, synthesise, and creatively apply what has already been studied on the programme while demonstrating critical and evaluative skills and professional awareness.
Enterprise Server Management
You explore the administration of network operating systems, the configuration of core network services and securing of network resources. You look at the management of local and remote users, groups and system resources; the installation, configuration and management of core network services; the investigation of current network management security issues and measures to mitigate against risk. You gain awareness of legal, ethical and professional issues around server management.
Information Governance
You identify the goals of information governance, from protecting the needs of the stakeholder to ensuring the transparency of processes and how these link together to support data governance principles such as integrity, transparency, auditability, accountability, standardization and change management.
You study a range of governance topics including law, regulations, and compliance; security governance and risk management; security for cloud architectures and issues around 3rd party data storage.
Security Analyst
Gain a detailed knowledge of the security techniques required for internet-connected systems and understand the mind-set of attackers and how they apply tools and techniques to compromise online systems. You review the latest tools and techniques for both attacking and defending computer systems and consider cybercrime, electronic social engineering and penetration testing to reflect what is happening in real world cybercrime and other online events.
Specialist Networks
You investigate developing or emerging network technologies in areas such as automotive, sensor, industrial and robot – in light of this, module content will change and adapt in line with the latest advancements and developments in the computer networking field.
You follow a research based approach and undertake a significant amount of self-directed investigation and use a variety of appropriate network and internet resources to explore cutting edge research developments in specialist computer networks.
