Computer Science (Networks) BSc (Hons)

About the course

One of a range of degrees from the Undergraduate Programme at the School of Computer Science

Distinguishing Features

Our Computer Science (Networks) degree has a technology and software development focus to provide you with in-depth technical skills and knowledge plus the chance for some specialization in later years. This makes you stand out to employers whilst still keeping the broad computer science base that most are looking for.

This degree focuses on computer systems and software development and their place in a networked environment. You will learn about tools and services for constructing distributed applications and will have an appreciation of how improvements in network technology affect the systems that rely on it.

Year 1

All students study the same four modules in the first half-year (semester), giving you a thorough grounding in key areas of academic and professional computing including computation, programming, databases/ data structures and multimedia.

In the second semester, three of the modules you study will be specific to the Computer Science theme: on programming, networks and computer systems.

The fourth module is an option, chosen from the other theme or one of two further modules.

Year 2

In the second year, you will expand on your knowledge of programming and networks, while developing practical skills and professional awareness in systems development. You study four double modules that are taught over both semesters. Three of the modules will be specific to the Computer Science theme and the fourth is an option.

Final Year

In the final year (Year 4 on a sandwich course, Year 3 if full-time; shown as Year 4 in the Course Structure tab), you extend your knowledge and professional awareness, with in-depth study in your specialist area.

In the first half-year (semester) you study two core single (15 credit) modules, and two options shown with an "A" in the list from the Course Structure tab. In the second semester you continue with two of these (shown with a "B") plus a core double (30 credit) module project.

The core Professional Issues module examines the issues affecting IT Professionals, enhancing your value to employers. For this specialist degree, there is a defined pair of core modules: Computer Network Protocols and Architecture A & B. For the options, you initially choose two from the list of those offered for the Computer Science theme. If you wish, one of them can be taken from the list for our BSc Information Technology.

The project is a substantial piece of practical or investigative work that will enable you to apply your academic studies in a specific context. You choose the topic from a wide range of suggestions, or you can propose it yourself.

Other Opportunities

In additional to your formal studies, we offer a number of optional activities, currently including certification classes for Cisco (CCNA1-4), research seminars, and participation in national student competitions such as the Microsoft Imagine Cup and Robocup Soccer.

Why choose this course?

• With our BSc (hons) Computer Science (Networks) degree you add a specialism in networking to a broad base in computer science, with a focus on technology and software development.
• Prepare yourself for a career in the IT industry through a mix of academic, professional and practical work, with opportunities for industry certifications and a paid placement year.
• Study at a highly-regarded, well established computer science department with excellent facilities, strong links to both business and research, and a track record of graduate success.
• Also consider other degrees in our range: you can choose between two themes and have the opportunity to specialize or to retain flexibility.

Study routes

• Sandwich,

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Careers

Several thousands of UH computer science graduates have moved into a wide range of careers; many are now in senior positions in the UK and throughout the world.

Initial job roles have included programmer, software developer, business analyst, software engineer, webmaster, database administrator, network designer, and technical consultant.

This particular degree title provides you with the skills needed to prepare for a career as a developer of network applications, a network administrator or security consultant.

Teaching methods

Classes consist of lectures, small group seminars, and practical work in our well-equipped laboratories. We use modern, industry-standard software wherever possible. There are specialist facilities for networking and multimedia.

In addition to scheduled classes, about 16 hours per week in Year 1, you will be expected to spend the same amount of time in self-study taking advantage of the extensive and up-to-date facilities. These include the Learning Resource Centres, open 24x7, with 1,500 computer workstations and wifi access, Studynet our versatile online study environment accessible on and off campus, and open access to our labs.

Work Placement

You have the opportunity to undertake an optional professional placement for your third year. We encourage you to take advantage since research has shown that on average placement students have a greater chance of finding good employment after graduation and achieve higher grades in their final year.

Work placements are spent in a paid job relevant to your degree. You apply in the second year, with support from the University using our extensive contacts with employers.

Recent placement students have worked at large organisations such as Xerox, Chevron-Texaco and Microsoft. Others have worked for small companies, perhaps family-run or near home.

Professional Accreditations

British Computer Society (BCS) accreditation applied for

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

• Programming Principles

  This module is primarily concerned with developing basic skills necessary to produce computer-based solutions to simple problems in a high level language. The emphasis will be on basic programming principles : the structure and syntax of a program in the given programming language, variables and data types, operations and the evaluation of expressions, control structures (sequence, selection, iteration and subroutine call),modularisation(including procedures/functions). Program code will be expected to perform according to specification, be readable, maintainable and well designed. Although the given problems will be relatively simple, there will also be an appreciation of how simple solutions can be used in the solution of more complex problems. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students.

• E-Media Design

  There is a long tradition on computer science programmes of teaching about the relationship between data structures and algorithms. Data these days are commonly images, animations, sounds and video, as well as text and numerical characters, and the ways of putting these data together are more varied than ever before. Yet the choice of data construct still depends on the processes you intend to use on that data and the processes you can apply depend on the choice of data structure. On this module, we will examine what motivates design decisions, the importance of creating systems that are fit for their intended purpose and enable students to make straightforward design decisions of their own. Students are referred to the document entitled 'Information for Students' that is issued each year to students on the module for a more detailed description of the syllabus. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students.

• Programming and Program Design 1

  This module is concerned with developing further the skills necessary to produce a computer-based solution to more complex specified problems in a high level language. Students will gain an appreciation of some of the issues in program design and will be given the opportunity to make informed decisions in their practical work based on some of the principles of good program design. There will also be emphasis on professional issues such as adequate testing, use of de-bugging techniques and documentation. Program code will be expected not only to meet given specification, but also to be readable, maintainable and well designed. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students.

• Systems Requirements

  This module focuses on the rationale, processes and outputs of requirements engineering activities. This requires students to focus on how organisations ensure that systems meet the requirements of all their stakeholders by using appropriate software engineering techniques. This approach will be used to cover the various processes such as eliciting, modelling, and validating requirements. At the elicitation stage this could include individual techniques such as bench marking and interviewing. Other techniques such as the use of prototypes or scenarios will be considered in the context of multiple processes, for example both modelling and validating requirements. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students.

• Principles of Network Systems

  Computer networks underpin almost every form of computing application, so it is important to appreciate the principles of operation these networks. But computer networks are also extremely complex and hard to understand. This module looks at network applications, and the requirements that different kinds of application demand of the underlying network, and how those requirements may be characterised. It then looks at the performance of networks, and why the network so often seems to be a bottleneck in computer applications. This will lead us into an increasingly detailed examination of what happens when network applications are executed, and introduce some of the more important terminology and principles of the subject. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students.

• Professional and Academic Skills for Computer Science and Information Technology

  The module will comprise a set of practical exercises, supported by a set of lectures and meetings with tutors. The practical exercises are intended to provide students with opportunities to tackle challenging tasks in Computer Science or IT. These tasks will require students to practice and develop their technical, organizational and professional skills, and to develop their knowledge and understanding of professional and ethical issues. In the meetings with tutors students will be encouraged to discuss issues arising from the lectures and practical exercises and the way this module relates to the other modules they are studying, to gain feedback on the work they have done, and to help them plan for the future. Lectures will be used to 'set the scene' for the practical exercises, to identify relevant professional and study skills, and to introduce students to the professional and ethical standards to which they are expected to adhere.

• Foundations of Computation

  This module aims to introduce students to a number of principles that underlie computation and computer-based systems, and how they may be modelled. Both the static and dynamic aspects of systems are considered, with computation being viewed both in functional terms, and as a series of state transitions defined over abstract or virtual machines. The module is intended to provide students with a clear concept of a formal approach to the modelling and specification of computational systems, and to introduce basic formalisms of importance throughout computing. The module will also seek to illustrate some of the ways in which the use of formalisms in modelling and specification can aid those involved in the design, development and operation of computer-based systems.

• Data Driven Systems

  This module provides an introduction to database systems. It takes a practical approach using example applications or case studies. It then builds on this application experience to cover questions of why and how databases are designed and used. This will include practical experience of using a database management system, in particular of using simple SQL to query a database, and thus facilitating the view of the database as part of a larger system. Later in the module underlying formalisms will be studied but from an application-down standpoint -to inform understanding rather than as a subject for study in its own right. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students.

Optional

• Principles of AI and Artificial Life

  This module provides an introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Artificial Life. A variety of recent AI and A-Life models, such as games playing, mobile robots and problem solving, will be used. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students.

• Computer Systems Architecture

  The module seeks to provide students with a basic knowledge and understanding of the underlying hardware and software components of typical computer systems, and how these interface. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students.

• Internet Technologies

  This module introduces the underlying infrastructure of the Internet and World Wide Web (WWW). In addition, students will examine how the client-server model works and how it is applied to Internet applications. To this end, students will implement straightforward static and dynamic web pages. Dynamic web pages may also include data retrieved from a database. This module includes basic concepts of: Internet Protocol (IP), TCP (Transfer Control Protocol), HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Internet Service Providers (ISPs), the Domain Name System (DNS), client-server model, mark-up languages, client-side programming and server-side programming. At the end of the course, successful students will be able to solve simple problems in the implementation and maintenance of applications for the Internet environment. Further details on how the learning outcomes of the module will be achieved will be described in the module information for students. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students.

• Business Information Systems

  This module will partly lead on from the databases module run in Semester A however its primary focus will be what types of systems are used in business, how they are used and how they might be built. A range of business systems will be explored both in terms of the business need for which they were developed and the sector and legal context. Some tools and techniques that might be used to assist with transferring the business needs to an application specification will be explored and a range of process models will be presented to match the varying requirements. Students will have an opportunity to develop their understanding of the process of building IS business applications skills through the requirements analysis phase for a given case study. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students.

• The Human, the Screen and their Interactions

  This module will provide students with an introduction to, and overview of, the process of the design, development and evaluation of interactive systems with a particular focus on human computer interaction. The intention is to enable students to understand the process, to carry this out in a collaborative team environment creating a small interactive system and to enable students to evaluate the effectiveness of the approach used. Students will use case study examples relating to a real world environment. Topics will include; user modeling, task analysis, methods for designing interfaces, evaluation methodologies, collaborative working and computer supported co-operative working. A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students.

Fees & funding

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

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Scholarships

• National Scholarship Programme

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Other financial support

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Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

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How to apply