| Module |
Credits |
Compulsory/optional |
|
Professional Issues
|
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
| This module covers the relationship between technological change, society and the law, emphasising the powerful role that computers and computer professionals play in a technological society. It also covers the professional codes and UK laws which are relevant to the disciplines of computer science and information systems, and provides students with an understanding of important ethical concepts and dilemmas of relevance to computer professionals. |
|
Investigative Methods for Computer Science
|
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
| Students working at, and beyond, Master’s level are expected to understand both generic and domain-specific investigative methods, and to be able to apply them in their work. This module explores a range of such methods and the uses to which they may be put, and helps students to enhance their proficiency in the skills that are expected of those working at postgraduate level.
Whilst some material will be presented in lectures, the module will be largely literature- and activity-based. It will place strong emphasis on self-management and will encourage students to reflect upon, and learn from, their own work. As the module progresses students will be expected to select an increasingly large proportion of the reading matter for themselves, so that they can tailor their learning to their individual needs. Particular emphasis will be placed upon the development of skills in the planning and management of individual investigative projects. |
|
Measures and Models for Software Engineering
|
30 Credits |
Compulsory |
| In this module advanced issues of software engineering theory and practice are examined. The range of software engineering products and processes making up a software project are measured and modelled.
Typical software engineering products explored in the module may include: user requirements, design documents, code etc. Typical software engineering processes explored in the module may include: testing, debugging etc. The aim of the module is to use the modelling and measuring of such products and processes to allow quantified decision-making during software development. The module offers students the opportunity to explore both the state-of-the-art and the-state-of-the-practice in software engineering. The module will examine the most up to date research findings about software engineering as well as investigate the current practices of many software engineering companies.
A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students. |
|
Programming for Software Engineers
|
30 Credits |
Compulsory |
| Software engineering places great emphasis upon the use, and re-use, of components that are tightly specified and thoroughly tested. This approach is supported by the provision of software frameworks within which programs can be developed. A software framework typically provides an Application Programming Interface (API) implemented as a set of libraries, and supported by a set of tools that may be used during development. But where do APIs, ABIs and software libraries come from? How do we decide what components are required? How are they designed and implemented? Who builds them? How do they go about it? How are they tested? How can we be sure that they work? What effect does the design and implementation of APIs and software libraries have upon the performance of systems that employ them? This module attempts to address these and other issues associated with the design, construction and use of software frameworks. |
|
Software Engineering Practice and Experience
|
30 Credits |
Compulsory |
| This module gives students the opportunity to extend their understanding and experience of software engineering practice. It offers students exposure to the development and evolution of software. The module is very practical and is based around a substantial piece of software. The aim of the module is to enable students to develop software engineering knowledge and skills that are transferable to software companies.
The module covers each element of the software engineering process. It explores the use of overarching development approaches such as eXtreme Programing and Component Based Software Engineering. Leading edge practices are introduced such as using program slicing to find code faults.
Specialised software development approaches are investigated such as those required for application areas such as safety critical systems. Process models popular with industry, such as one of the SEI models, are also used and evaluated during this module.
A more detailed description of the module content is provided in the module delivery information for students. |
|
Software Engineering Masters Project
|
60 Credits |
Compulsory |
| The project is a showpiece opportunity for students to demonstrate what they know about current research and practices in software engineering and show off their skills in applying software engineering models, methodologies, measures and tools in order to conduct a practical investigation or tackle a particular software engineering problem.
The project is a self-directed piece of work, conducted with minimum online supervision that demonstrates the student’s ability to plan and manage a substantial piece of work, and steer their own efforts.
Students are expected to be thorough in their work, and, particularly, identify and tackle any difficult or challenging aspects of the problems they are trying to solve. It is not just the quantity, or even the quality of work that is considered when grading the project, but the level of difficulty and the scope of the problem being addressed. |
|
Preparation for Placement
|
0 Credits |
Compulsory |
| The module will explain the benefits of the Supervised Work Placement and encourage students to apply. It will support students in their application by informing them about the types of employer and job role available, helping them select the most appropriate for their strengths and weaknesses, and how employers conduct the recruitment process.
The module will assist students to make an application, throughout the entire process, via a series of lectures, seminars, individual guidance and online communication. This includes writing of CVs and letters of application, preparation for psychometric and other forms of assessment, and development of interview technique.
For those who are successful in securing a placement there will be further help in preparing for employment. |
|
Professional Work Placement for MSc Computer Science
|
0 Credits |
Compulsory |
| Supervised work experience provides students with the opportunity to set their academic studies in a broader context, to gain practical experience in specific technical areas and to strengthen their communication and time-management skills. It greatly assists them in developing as independent learners, so that they will be able to gain maximum benefit from the learning opportunities afforded by their future study programme. It gives them opportunities, according to the nature of the placement experience, to acquire the basis of technical expertise in specialist areas, which they may be able to enhance through study after completion of the placement, especially in the final project. |
|
Team Research and Development Project
|
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
| Students working at, and beyond, Master’s level are expected to understand both generic and domain-specific investigative methods, and to be able to apply them in their work. This module explores a range of such methods and helps students to enhance their proficiency in the skills that are expected of those working at postgraduate level.
Furthermore, this module involves working actively as part of a team of fellow students on a complex, multi-domain computing problem. Typically, the project can be a research project to answer a research question, a thorough empirical investigation of a specific topic, or a development idea from student themselves, or a virtual or real client. Each team would be expected to manage the project, to report regularly to their supervisor(s) on the progress of the project, and to collectively deliver a set of appropriate outputs from the project. The output(s) of the team project will typically be a computing product or system and its presentation together with appropriate documentation. |
|
Legal and Ethical Practice Exercise
|
15 Credits |
Compulsory |
| The module will involve a broad case study involving the provisioning of a system which adheres to ethical and professional guidelines and standards. This will be a team project.
One such case study might take the form of a large online platform where teams would have to create policies both for developers and users. The likely topics of those policies would be: issues involving sharing of user content, licensing of third party codes, moderation of content, consents from users relating to the tracking of user activity). The team would have to edit the platform such that all forms and submissions of user data are compliant with regulations particularly operative in the UK and the European Union. |
