Computer Science BSc (Hons)

In this module, you’ll be introduced to these programming fundamentals through an accessible and industry-favoured programming language. You’ll explore algorithms – what they are, why they’re important and how to use them – and you’ll combine this with your programming skills to write your own programs.

Any developer needs a fundamental understanding of the machine, with all its complex, moving parts. This module introduces you to these concepts, taking them from the concept of computation to the twitching transistors which drive its implementation. The concept of the Operating System (OS) is introduced which will empower you to begin your journey as a developer.

The technologies, ethics and laws behind database processes are a fascinating and fundamental element of software development in the twenty-first century.

In this module, you’ll explore all these concepts, mastering the elements of data handling, storage, and management which you’ll have to apply in later study.

Whenever we write software, we are writing algorithms and algebra – and to write them correctly, we need a firm grip of the maths which underpins them. In this module, you’ll gain that understanding, exploring subjects like set theory, algorithms and complexity, and logical arithmetic.

This module builds upon and develops the fundamental computer programming skills you developed in Concepts and Algorithms. You will be introduced to new ideas such as object-orientation, and designing reusable code, and you’ll explore them using another industry-favored programming language. You’ll be taught to structure your code in a way which makes it easy to follow, maintain, and extend, equipping you for the next stage of your software development studies.

The Integrative Project module adopts an activity led approach to learning, where you’ll work in a team to plan and execute a project related to your course. The project provides you a vital opportunity to consolidate and apply what you’ve learned during your first year of study, as well as develop new technical and team-working skills.

In this module you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of modern artificial intelligence concepts and applications. You’ll explore the differing definitions of just what ‘artificial intelligence’ means, and the legal and ethical issues which arise surrounding decision-making computer systems. Ultimately, you’ll build a portfolio of solutions that address artificial intelligence challenges, as you navigate areas such as knowledge representation, reasoning, and how human factors impact the field of AI.

You’ll be guided through some of the more challenging topics in computing such as formalisation of languages, models of computation, and the nature of computability.

Ultimately, this module aims to empower you to assess whether a problem has a computable solution – or one that you can compute before the sun expands to engulf the Earth.

Building on your programming and algorithms studies from the first year, this module expands your insights into advanced programming techniques and complex data structures. You’ll learn what terms such as ‘graph’ and ‘tree’ mean in computing, and how to use them in your own software development. You’ll become familiar with strategies to address the computational complexity of the problems you’re trying to solve, empowering you to write more sophisticated, and more efficient, software solutions.

What is an OS, and what does it do? These two questions are the focus of this module, where you’ll become familiar with the way the operating system you use every day is structured, why it’s structured that way, and how it works. Additionally, the module introduces the idea of networked computer systems and the accompanying security concepts, exploring topics such as cryptography, user authentication, socket programming and network protocols.

Picking up where Working with Data left off, the Data Science module equips you with the skills and tools you need to explore the world of Big Data. Using state-of-the-art software, you’ll explore concepts such as predictive modeling, data wrangling, sampling, and analysis. You’ll also explore the complex subject of data visualization, and how you can use visualization techniques to make the results of your data analysis understandable to every audience.

Focusing on the professional conduct of software development projects, this module introduces you to several industry-standard practices which underpin effective and efficient software engineering to meet the exacting quality standards. You’ll undertake a real-world software development project, evaluating and selecting the best tools for the task at hand while employing common professional practices such as configuration management and version control. You should develop an exhaustively tested, highly polished software deliverable to demonstrate your skills to prospective employers.

Our everyday lives have never been more integrated with our mobile devices and applications. In this module you’ll explore everything which goes into mobile application design, from the notion of RESTful APIs to continuous integration and analytics. You’ll demonstrate your understanding by using a development kit to build a portfolio of applications for mobile platforms.

Web APIs empower websites to access the data and services needed to deliver on modern user demands in terms of connectedness and accuracy. From weather patterns to GPS traffic data, APIs underpin it all. In this module, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to create your own API for use in web applications, using the latest, industry-standard technologies, and featuring an interactive web client.

This module dives into the subject of computer security in depth. You'll be introduced to the concepts and practical considerations of creating and evaluating secure computer systems. In addition to the technical issues involved, you’ll also explore security legislation and the regulations which apply to associated products and services.

Building on your existing knowledge of Artificial Intelligence, this module dives into the broad field of machine learning, one of the core building blocks of many AI systems and methods. You’ll look to learn the difference between supervised and unsupervised machine learning, what an artificial neural network is and when best to deploy one to solve a problem, and how to analyze the effectiveness of a wealth of machine learning algorithms when applied to actual data.

You will complete a project which is defined and driven by you, bringing your interests and learning together to produce a showcase for your skills. Working with an allocated subject specialist supervisor, the Project Discovery module is designed to equip you with the research and project management skills to define, propose and start work on, a substantial computer science project of your choosing.

Working with an allocated subject expert as supervisor, you will deliver a project dissertation together with a project artefact, usually an advanced piece of software. This module is designed to give you the experience to self-manage project development, evaluation and successful delivery to a self-defined brief, allowing you to produce a substantial piece of work that brings together your learning over the course of the degree.