BSc (Hons) Computer Information Systems

Alex completed his BSc (Hons) Computer Information Systems degree and immediately gained employment as an IT Marketing Manager for a company that runs national professional development training for teachers. He started on an extremely competitive salary and a company share scheme. In his job Alex is involved in a wide range of business operations, from designing and optimising business processes to managing special projects. Acting as both IT and Marketing Manager allows him to add value to many business operations by utilising the most appropriate technology in the most appropriate situations.

Level One

Information Systems
In this module you will raise your awareness of the nature, purpose and structure of organisations in their many forms. You will explore the composition of organisations and how they operate to yield purpose. Systems tools and methodologies are investigated as a way of understanding organisational structure and dynamics. Problems are a natural occurrence in this context and you will be introduced to problem solving, examining the notion of abstraction, decomposition, modelling and representation as a means to frame and understand problems and solutions.

Computer Systems
This module introduces you to computer hardware, the history of computer, data representation and manipulation at the byte level, basic machine instructions, the operation of the fetch-execute cycle, the characteristics of main and cache memory, I/O control and the inner working of disk storage. This module also presents the most popular hardware architectures and provides a basic introduction to microcontrollers.

Introduction to Web Technologies
This module introduces the basics of web-site design and development from first principles, including fundamental web technologies such as HTML and CSS. Students will develop and implement an interactive web-site, incorporating simple server-side functionality. Web quality and standards issues, as well as usability and accessibility, will be covered in detail.

Software Development
You will learn the concepts and practice of simple computer programming, and also cover quality and testing issues. Following on from this fundamental base, you will extend your knowledge of computer programming enabling you to create systems consisting of multiple classes and objects. Fundamental principles of discrete mathematics are also explored and developed

Problem solving
Problems are a natural occurrence in an organisational
context and this module introduces students to problem
solving from a mixture of theoretical and practical
underpinnings. The module examines the principles of
abstraction, decomposition, modelling and representation as
a means to frame and characterise problem scenarios, and
as tools to understand potential solutions. The module
concentrates on problem-solving strategies and in particular
the vocabulary through which these strategies are articulated.
This type of vocabulary is explored as a representational
device for capturing organisational behaviour and form.

Social Computing
The module will cover the role of social computing in established areas such as blogs, email, instant messaging, social network services, wikis, mash-ups and social bookmarking, as well as in emerging areas such microblogging, mobile social software (MoSoSo) services, and persuasive and locative technology. The module will discuss the growing popularity of social software and Web 2.0 technology, the application of social network analysis to such technology, and the sense that all of this can have a profound and sustained impact on everyday life.

Introduction to User Interfaces
This module introduces the basic concepts and practice in
the design of user interfaces for interactive applications.
Students will be introduced to the basic principles of
interaction design, and prototyping, and will implement a
simple interactive system.

Level Two

Group Project
Working in a team of people on a single project which lasts for both semesters of the year, you will tackle a significant problem. It will be up to the members of the group to design, specify, and implement a significant artefact which is directly relevant to your course. You will apply skills and knowledge drawn from all aspects of the course, and you'll find this a challenging and rewarding experience.

Business Processes
Information Systems are the life-blood of business activity, they enable things to happen and they can equally disable, if poorly designed. You will learn how data, transformed into information can make processes work more effectively and efficiently. You will understand how the various different business processes work together to help achieve business goals.

Database Systems
This module explores the issues in the design, implementation and use of database technologies which requires the student to develop a conceptual view of database theory and then transform it into practical implementation of a database application.

Human Computer Interaction
In this module you will develop an appreciation of the importance of human factors and user-centred approaches in the development of technological systems. [analysis, design, implementation and evaluation of technological systems]. You will be introduced to the physiological, psychological and cognitive issues relevant to human-computer interaction and user interface design.

Networks & Networked Systems
This module considers basic computer communications and networking with an emphasis on the Internet Protocol. The module builds upon the level 1 introduction to computer networks and basic communication principles. You will examine the Internet Protocol as a model for intercommunication in modern network implementations. Additionally you will explore fundamental design features of a Network Protocol and the need to implement security in the modern Internet.

Project Management
This module considers management, practices and techniques applicable to computing and technology projects. Industry standard management methodologies are studied and students will also explore the importance of effective management in delivering successful software projects. Skills and knowledge gained from this module will help support students during the course of their group project work.

Level Three

Project Preparation
This module provides you with the skills necessary to conduct an independent study project. The output of this module will form the foundation for the Project module. At the conclusion of this project you will have formed a clear understanding of the aims and objectives of your final year project.

Professional Practice
The module helps you to develop an understanding of the basic cultural, social, legal, and ethical issues inherent in the discipline of computing; and to promote personal professionalism in the workplace.

Project
This module provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to work independently on an in-depth project with an implementation element that builds on your established knowledge, understanding and skills. You will normally be expected to demonstrate your ability to apply practical and analytical skills, innovation and/or creativity, and to be able to synthesise information, ideas and practices to provide a problem solution. Self-management is a key concept here, as is your ability to engage in critical self-evaluation.

Business Intelligence
Business Intelligence (BI) refers to technologies, applications, and practices for the collection, integration, analysis, and presentation of business information. The purpose of module is to understand the issues involved in the use of these ‘tools’ and how they might be applied to support better business decision making

Optional Modules
Students should select one option from the following:

Advanced Software Engineering (30 CATS)
Mobile and Distributed Computing (30 CATS)
Entrepreneurship and Innovation (30 CATS)

Placement Year (Optional)
The BSc (Hons) Computer Information Systems degree is optionally available in a sandwich mode variant. If you take the sandwich mode degree, you take a year out in industry between levels two and three, gaining invaluable industrial experience. Sandwich students, in general, tend to do well in the final year, and may find they have enhanced job prospects.

BSc (Hons) Computer Information Systems aims to provide students with an education and learning experience that will equip them to operate on graduation as autonomous computing professionals. The programme aims to instil knowledge and to develop critical and intellectual abilities applicable to problem solving and solution specifying in technologically and socially diverse environments.

The curriculum takes as its objectives the study of information, systems, people and technology: a collection of foci which pervade the curriculum, providing developmental strands that offer continuity of learning experience through all levels of study. BSc (Hons) Computer Information Systems is distinctive in that it addresses an emerging gap between the design and implementation of information systems and the management, support and integration of such systems into business activity. The juxtaposition in the curriculum of theoretical and applied emphases seeks to develop practitioners who are able to make real contributions within a systems development context. Much text on Information Systems relates to what ought to happen rather than what often does happen in organisations. Technology is often portrayed as a panacea which will ‘fix’ all business related problems. However, the number of unsuccessful IT projects clearly demonstrates that this is not the case.

BSc (Hons) Computer Information Systems distinguishes itself by contrasting “popular theory” with “real theory”. It takes a critical perspective on theory in practice and provides frameworks to analyse business systems in terms of real potential and actual performance. The exit profile of a graduate in this degree is someone who has a realistic perspective on issues in business and management, who also understands the capabilities of computing as a resource and can translate business needs into computing applications. The exiting graduate will be ideally placed to follow a career as a hybrid manager of computer related information systems; they will be able to communicate in business language to business people and technological language to technologists.

An increasingly large number of jobs in the IT industry are concerned with business integration of information systems, thus the award provides excellent employment opportunities for graduates. They prepare you for a wide variety of careers including:

• Computer systems programmer
• Computer systems analyst
• Computer software engineer
• Business process analyst
• Business process engineer and re-engineer
• Information manager
• Information systems manager
• Corporate IT specialist (marketing, networks, communications).

For further information and funding your study please see our Fees & Funding pages.

Fees and Funding