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Databases And Computer Networks

Computer systems are being an integral part of our daily life. This unit introduces some of the basic concepts and applications of computer systems. These include an overview of a single computer’s architecture, the structure of networked computers and the organisation of data leading to a fundamental grounding in Computing is developed.

Principles Of Programming And Data Structures

Programming as well as the knowledge of commonly used data structures are fundamental skills for all computer science practitioners. In this unit we will transmit the programming skills required for a professional career in all computer science aspects. In particular, the aims of this unit are:

1. To develop programming skills using a high level programming language.
2. To explore the process of analysis, design, implementation and testing of systems.
3. To apply knowledge in respect of modelling to real world problems and implement them using a programming language.
4. To evaluate, critique and synthesise existing approaches to software development.
5. To present commonly used data structures

Fundamentals Of Computer Science

This unit has two elements, the first is aimed at your professional development and the second introduces you to the practices of the computer science industries and related emerging technologies.

Firstly, this unit will equip you with the skills needed to cope with the demands of your course (which are also important to employers) and to help you to become more ‘self-aware’ learners. It will also teach you to develop an awareness of the expectations and professional requirements of your chosen industry within Computer Science.

The second element of the unit will lead you to develop your fundamental skills of computer science, and the ability to use them in practise. Furthermore, by exposing students to state-of-the-art applicable emerging technologies, this section will equip every student with a solid and forward vision of Computer Science.

Mathematics And Concepts For Computational Thinking

Computational thinking is a basis for solving computer related problems.

This unit help you to develop the concepts of the computational thinking through converting theoretical knowledge of mathematics into practical skills of decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction and algorithms which considered as the cornerstones of the thinking.

The concepts of the computational thinking will be applied to implement suitable solutions for developing software applications using a high-level programming language (such as Python).

Decision Support Systems And Data Mining

This unit will develop practical skills in the design and implementation of data mining and decision support solutions. The unit covers the main theoretical concepts of data analysis and knowledge representation such as probabilistic reasoning, regression modelling, decision trees, artificial neural networks, optimisation, logic inference, and planning. These technologies are typically used to optimise business solutions. The unit aims to:

• give students understanding of the main strategies of data analysis, optimisation, and knowledge representation
• develop student's skills in using widely-available software (e.g. MS Office) products for business applications
• give students the theoretical bases and practical skills of
• probabilistic inference, classification, decision trees, artificial neural networks, rule mining, and optimisation
• give students understanding how data mining technologies are used to solve business problems.

Systems Development And Modern Database Practices

The unit appreciates the need for an integrated analysis and design approach specifically for the deployment of real world information systems that comprise data centric (database) systems. The unit has been designed to support inclusion and engagement throughout the whole design and development process, from requirements specification, analysis and design to initial working prototype, including user acceptance aspects. Students are guided in their selecting a path through the vast array of different solution spaces (approaches, methods and tools like SSM, RAD, Agile, Extreme, UML, etc.) On this basis, the unit will give a student an understanding of the design and implementation demands for various types of database / data centric systems through continuous engagement via exercises covering the entire software development life cycle. The unit covers the practical creation and interrogation of RDBMS databases using Structured Query Language (SQL). Additionally, it encompasses areas including the development of databases using the Web technologies. The aim is to offer students an in-depth understanding of RDBMS centric information architectures, to inform them of current trends / platforms and to develop techniques to encourage them to apply their skills using industry standard tools/ platforms. Overall the unit provides both a theoretical and practical preparation for the final year individual project, enabling students to study the implications of using IT to develop a realistic solution to a given problem for a selected functional area of a given organization.

Information Security

This unit provides students with the theoretical frameworks, foundations, and practical skills underpinning information security and related areas. The unit introduces students to the requirements and techniques for risk identification and assessment, and the elements of information security from business operational and technological perspectives. It provides students with the fundamentals of governance and compliance, threats, threat mitigations, the development of secure and resilient systems, and cybersecurity operations.

The unit aims to cover aspects of the industry professional certification CompTIA Security+.

Mobile Application Development

This unit will introduce students to mobile devices and applications. Students will learn about the tasks that mobile application development team will carry out. Students will also learn how to do the tasks using different methods and technologies to deliver mobile design, implementation and evaluation.

Essentially the unit will detail the development of mobile computing, explain user interaction design methods and theories, and then go on to describe the differences in software development between mobile application programming and web application programming, and develop applications that incorporate both programming methods to efficiently construct a single application task.

Research Methodologies And Emerging Technologies

This unit is designed for you to prepare for your honours project utilizing your subject experience from the first two years of your study. You will also asked to contextualize your project idea within current or emerging technologies, typically underpinned by academic publications and to do systematic market research that will equip you with a sound strategy on how to implement your honours project.

Agile Project Management

The material in this unit is carefully designed to meet students’ needs and requirements for their programme of study along with essential project management skills for their future employment. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of tools, techniques, methodologies and processes in the field of project management which encapsulate both modern and traditional approaches as an essential preparation for the dissertation stage. The unit also draws on expertise from other departments within the university including library services, the careers and employability service and the English language centre to support students in the best possible way.

Undergraduate Project

Whether you go on to further study or into employment one of the most important skills expected in an Honours Graduate is the ability to work autonomously.  This unit is an ideal vehicle for the development of that skill.

You will typically implement the project proposal developed during the unit CIS013-3 Research Methods and Emerging Technologies (an alternative approach will be agreed with the unit coordinator and your project supervisor if you haven’t successfully completed CIS013-3 yet). 

Although you will be working independently, you are expected to arrange regular meetings with your supervisor to guide and support you.  You will apply coherently your technical, analytical, practical and managerial skills during your project development.

The project is an important opportunity to expand your experience in an area which is of close relevance to the course that you are studying (e.g. Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, and Computer Games Development).  Your project may be of relevance to a future employer, and will demonstrate your interest and ability in the chosen area.  As such your project topic should be aligned with your career aspirations.

The following aims are addressed in particular:

• To provide you with an opportunity to work autonomously on a sustained piece of work.
• To develop your ability to manage a project from start to finish.
• To develop your ability to identify problems, analyse the requirements and produce and evaluate solutions.
• To develop your ability to work to the relevant academic and professional standards.

Business Analytics

Analytical skills are highly demanded for making risk-aware decisions and maximising efficiency of business within the reality of market uncertainties. The subject knowledge and skills will allow students to reliably quantify the uncertainties existing in business and develop data-driven models to efficiently solve analytical tasks in areas such as: Credit scoring, Marketing, Retail analytics, Pricing, and Product design. The offered analytical technologies are based on intensive computational methodologies, such as Monte Carlo simulation, Bayesian decision making, and model aggregation, which are available in data analytical software using R language.
The unit aims to provide students with:

• advanced data analytical strategies of solving business tasks
• benefits of computationally intensive methodologies used for making risk-aware decisions
• knowledge and skills of performing experiments required for finding efficient business solutions
• validation and comparison of developed solutions on real data
• optimising decision models.

English Language Foundation

This unit focuses on your ability to understand and use the English language accurately when you read, speak, listen and write. We will concentrate on the English you need for undergraduate level study in your chosen subject area, covering grammar, subject area vocabulary and the four language skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking.

A key element of the unit is the grammar of the language, and particularly the verb tense system in English, because your ability to use the verb tense system accurately will be extremely important when you come to write essays and reports. This unit will focus in particular on the grammar of the language.

We will also focus on reading, listening and speaking skills in the context of your chosen subject area. Beginning with short texts, we will practise each skill and practise it again, so that gradually you will see, hear and feel that your command of the language is improving. 

A recurring focus of the unit will be your acquisition of 'learner autonomy'. This means your ability to acquire the language yourself, without needing a teacher's help. This is important because from next year you will not have an English teacher to help you. So we will consider and practise strategies to help you gain confidence in your own ability to increase your knowledge of and ability to use the language, including for instance guessing meaning of difficult words, deciding which words are important in a text, recognising differences between formal and informal language, and other strategies, so that as the first semester continues, you begin to feel more confident in your use and experience with the English Language.

Academic Skills Foundation

When you begin your undergraduate level studies, you will be expected to have knowledge of and ability to use a large range of 'study skills'. You will also be expected to have some knowledge of the subject area you will  be studying. This unit deals with both of these aspects of your preparation for undergraduate level study. 

All of the academic skills are practised in English, so you will use your developing acquisition of the language from the partner unit 'English Language Foundation' to practise and gain mastery of these skills. You will also use your language and study skills as you learn the foundation of your subject area, putting the skills into practice as you learn.

Developing English Language Skills

This unit builds on the progress you made during its partner semester 1 unit 'English Language Foundation' and increasing your level from that which you had achieved by the end of semester 1. 

We will recycle the tense system in English and other elements of the grammar system, but you will  now learn how to use other aspects of the grammar, including the passive voice, as well as linking words and phrases and devices which enable you to write longer sentences but retain grammatical accuracy. 

You will notice that we gradually introduce more specialist language that you need in preparation for your degree and we will expect you to use and develop the skills that you gained in the previous units so that you are able to work more independently.

Academic Skills Development

This unit builds on the skills learnt and practised in its partner semester 1 unit 'Foundation Academic Skills'. We will add more skills to the list, including summarizing and synthesising, argumentation, critical thinking and referencing and citation skills, as well as several others and practise and test them in the same way as with the semester 1 unit.

We will also investigate the research skill and you will learn how to prepare a research proposal and conduct a literature review, and how to plan a research project, learning about the research tools available and how they can be used to conduct research in your chosen field. 

You will continue to broaden your knowledge of key current issues and theory in your chosen subject area, and apply the critical thinking and argumentation skills you acquire in this unit to argue for and against propositions you have studied in the form of in both essays and presentations and in seminar situations, ensuring that you are ready to step up to your chosen undergraduate course with a base level of subject area knowledge from which to continue your academic development as you progress to level 4 study.

Academic Study Skills 2

This unit is designed to help you develop important academic study skills that you will use throughout your university study, as well as preparing you for when you enter into or return to employment.  This is part two of two linked units, which enable you to plan, build and practice your knowledge and skills acquisition gradually, it introduces and develops presentation skills, and professional development planning.

Principles Of Technology 2

The aim of this unit is to enable students to develop an understanding of the theory, practices and underlying technologies associated with the working principles, design and performance analysis of various technologies, in particular those relating to ICT systems. The is the second unit of two related parts and you will cover robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), UX Design, Cyber Security, Software Development and the associated data security and ethical dimensions of application design.