Diploma level units
Mathematics
for business [2910001]
Linear and quadratic equations
and graphs. Functions and their applications in business
and economics. Systems of linear equations: their graphical
and algebraic solutions; supply and demand analysis. Matrix
algebra; solving a system of linear equations using matrix
methods. Linear programming using graphs. Differential
calculus: use of derivative for optimising economic functions.
Exponential and logarithmic functions. Integral calculus
and economic applications.
Assessment: One three-hour unseen written paper
and assessment of coursework.
Study
skills in English
The work should concentrate, at the higher levels, on
technical and IT usage, to include: accuracy and conciseness
in technical English; structure, format, etc. for technical
reports and theses;
comparing and contrasting other aspects of short reports
(such as for assignments) and long dissertations (such
as for projects); analysis of text sources; synthesis
of own points of view and those of others’ based on text
sources.
Level 1
Mathematics
for computing [2910102]
Number systems; sets and subsets; set algebra; symbolic
logic and logic gates; sequences; summations; elementary
counting principles; probability; relations and functions;
matrix algebra; systems of linear equations; introduction
to the theory of graphs and digraphs.
Assessment: One three-hour unseen
written paper.
Information
systems: foundations of ebusiness [2910108]
This unit cannot be taken with 2910105.
The challenge of applying IT successfully; basic concepts
for understanding systems commerce; business processes;
information and databases; communication, decision making,
and different types of information systems; product, customer
and competitive advantage; human and ethical issues; computer
hardware; software, programming and artificial intelligence;
networks and telecommunications; information systems planning;
building and maintaining information systems; information
system security and control; the future of information
systems; customer relationship management.
Assessment: One three-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Introduction
to Java and object-oriented programming [2910109]
Basic Types and Expressions; Assignment Statements; Loops
and Conditionals (Simple and Nested); Handling Simple
I/O; Objects and Classes; Methods with and without parameters;
Inheritance; Constructor Methods (and the use of 'new');
Method Overloading; Method Overriding; Arrays and simple
sorting; Basic File Handling; Try and Catch (Simple Exception
Handling); Implementing Simple Graphical User Interfaces;
Incorporating Applets in a Web page; Simple builtin Dynamic
Structures - Vectors; Types vs. Classes; Scope of Variables;
Code Layout and Documentation.
Assessment: One three-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Introduction
to computing and the internet [2910110]
This unit cannot be taken with 2910106.
Basic computing and communication skills. Fundamentals
of computing - hardware, software, architecture, operating
systems. Data storage, representation and transmission.
Fundamentals of networking and the Internet/WWW: technology,
protocols, standards and applications. Professional, legal
and social issues relating to the Internet and WWW.
Assessment: One three-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Level 2
Telecommunications
and computer communications [2910208]
To be examined for the last time in 2006 except for
re-sits. This unit cannot be taken with 2910222.
The basic building blocks in Computer Communications;
public telecommunications services; network security;
network topologies; Local Area Networks (LAN); Wide Area
Networks (WAN) and Value Added Networks (VAN); wireless
data transmission. Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN) and
Fibre Distributed Data Interface (FDDI); Open Systems
Interconnection (OSI); distributed systems; using data
communications for competitive advantage; network design
and management.
Assessment: One three-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Database
systems [2910209]
Introduction to Database Systems (motivation for database
systems, storage systems, architecture, facilities, applications).
Database modelling (basic concepts, E-R modelling, Schema
deviation). The relational model and algebra, SQL (definitions,
manipulations, access centre, embedding). Physical design
(estimation of workload and access time, logical I/Os,
distribution). Modern database systems (extended relational,
object-oriented). Advanced database systems (active, deductive,
parallel, distributed, federated). DB functionality and
services (files, structures and access methods, transactions
and concurrency control, reliability, query processing).
Assessment: One three-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Software
engineering and development [2910210]
Origins of software engineering. The need for software
engineering. Modelling the software development process.
Planning and management. Requirements analysis. System
design. Coding. Testing and maintenance. Software development
environments. Practical techniques and tools in software
development. Methodological approaches to software development.
Specific software development methodologies.
Assessment: One three-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Programming:
advanced topics and techniques [2910212]
Topics in the Logic, Functional and Object-oriented Programming
Paradigms. Design of algorithms and data structures using
Abstract Data Types within these paradigms.
Assessment: One three-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Data
communications and enterprise networks [2910222]
This unit cannot be taken with 2910208.
Prerequisites: 2910108; 2910109; 2910110
An introduction to data communications and computer networks
with different types of networks, their associated technology,
protocols and standards An introduction to the use of
enterprise networks in meeting business requirements and
in the design and management of these networks
Assessment: One three-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Level 3 (half-units)
Artificial
intelligence [2910310]
Knowledge representation, propositional and predicate
calculus; problem solving: state-space search; breadth-first
and depth-first search; planning; non-monotonic reasoning;
natural language; expert systems; philosophy of AI; Prolog.
Additional software requirements: Prolog is needed. Can
be SWI-prolog from http://swi.psy.uva.nl.
Assessment: One 2¼-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Neural
networks [2910311]
The artificial neuron; network architecture; perceptrons.
Single layer networks; supervised training in batch and
individual mode. Multilayer feedforward networks; backpropogation;
momentum. Counterpropogation networks; unsupervised training;
initialisation of weights. Statistical methods; Boltzmann
training. Feedback networks; Hopfields nets; energy; training.
Applications. Additional software requirements: recommended
that some neural nets software is obtained (eg MATLAB).
Assessment: One 2¼-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Software
engineering management [2910314]
This half unit aims to develop understanding and skills
in identifying the factors influencing software engineering
costs and in applying analysis techniques to software
engineering decisions. It includes the following topics.
Product and process attributes, metrics and measurements.
Estimation methods; effort estimation, schedule estimation,
effort/staffing/schedule tradeoffs, maintenance effort
estimation. Cost models (Putnam, Jensen, COCOMO). Nonparametric
methods of estimation. Software sizing, project risk engineering.
Software process modelling, process maturity framework.
systems safety. Software quality issues.
Assessment: One 2¼-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Human
computer interaction [2910315]
This half unit introduces the interdisciplinary area of
Human Computer Interaction (HCI). It covers the underlying
principles of psychology, computer science and ergonomics
that influence theory and practice of HCI design and usage.
It includes the following topics: models of human information
processing, organizational structures and sociotechnic
approaches to information system design; design principles
for dialogue management, issues of systems useability;
hypertext, natural language processing, virtual reality
and multi media applications.
Assessment: One 2¼-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Mathematical
techniques of operational research [2910316]
Modelling with linear programming; geometrical solution
to problems with two decision variables; the simplex method
including the problems with mixed constraints. Duality.
Theory of zero sum, two person matrix games. Introduction
to network algorithms including minimum connector problem;
shortest and longest path algorithms in acyclic graphs
and critical path analysis.
Assessment: One 2¼-hour unseen
written paper.
Accounting
information systems [2910317]
This half unit describes the accounting process and the
nature of Accounting Information Systems (AIS). It addresses
the following subject areas: the measurement of business
reality; the role of AIS in planning and control; product
costing, project costing and performance measurement.
It covers computer support for all of these areas and
also provides an overall conceptional framework for AIS.
Assessment: One 2¼-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Information
systems management [2910318]
An introduction to the various facets of Information System
Management to help students understand the importance
of non-technical issues. The importance of close integration
between business and IS planning will be stressed. The
following topics are included: information security and
safety critical systems; data protection legislation;
Computer Misuse Act and other relevant legislation. Ethical
and professional issues. Strategic planning of IS; evaluation
of IS investments.
Assessment: One 2¼-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Decision
support and executive information systems [2910319]
This half unit aims to study the nature of business decision
making in the context of the support that can now be provided
by information technology. The following topics are included:
the nature of decision making, the use of information
by the executive decision maker, the concept of decision
support, models of Decision Support Systems; review of
classes of software: text-orientated (WP, Outlining, Hypertext
etc.), data-orientated (spreadsheets, data managers, financial
management, quantitative analysis), graphics-orientated
(desk-top publishing, business graphics, presentation
managers), other products (eg. Expert System Shells, Executive
Information Systems (EIS), etc.); study of one product
and/or case study from each of the above classes; aims
and purposes of EIS, design framework and methodology,
case studies of actual systems.
Assessment: One 2¼-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Electronic
commerce [2910323]
This course is designed to familiarise students with current
and emerging electronic commerce, technologies using the
internet. Subject areas will include ‘Internet Technology
for Business Advantage’, ‘Web-based Tools for Electronic
Commerce’, ‘Electronic Payment Systems’, ‘Strategies for
Marketing’, ‘Sales and Promotion’, ‘Internet Security’,
‘International, Legal, Ethical and Tax Issues’.
Assessment: One 2¼-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Data
compression [2910325]
Minimum redundancy coding; data compression and information
theory; adaptive Huffman coding; arithmetic coding; statistical
modelling; dictionary-based compression; sliding window
compression; LZ278 compression; speech compression; graphics
compression; fractual image compression.
Examination: One 2¼-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Computer
security [2910326]
Passwords; access controls; symmetric and asymmetric encryption;
confidentiality; authentication; integrity; nonrepudiation;
availability; hash functions. Security for electronic
mail, IP, Web, databases, distributed systems. Standards.
Assessment: One 2¼-hour unseen
written paper and coursework.
Project
Project
[2910320]
Each student registered on or after 1September 2003 is
required to undertake an individual project. Project work
can be expected to take up at least 300 hours of a student’s
time. Additional software requirements: Internet access
is required to widen the scope of information sources.
This will also aid in obtaining some free- and share-ware.
Assessment: One 2¼-hour unseen
written paper and a report.
