Information Technology BSc Honours

This module provides you with fundamental knowledge and principles of computer hardware and operating systems in order to understand the structure and operation of modern computers.

The module aims to provide you with an understanding of the fundamental behaviour and components (hardware and software) of a typical computer system, and how they collaborate to manage resources and provide services in scales from small embedded devices up to the global internet.

The module will focus on the understanding of concepts, theory and associated terminology of two core components: ‘Computer Architecture’ and ‘Operating Systems and Networks’. Practical hands-on laboratory experiments will be used to illustrate the application of theory and concepts.

The lab work ranges between using C code, Batch, Bash and Python. This will allow you to develop a range of programming skills that will support your knowledge and skills not only in this module but in future studies as well.

In any modern business environment, data is used to store, preserve, search, retrieve and display information to improve important business processes. It is essential that you have the skills and knowledge to develop information systems. This module provides a comprehensive introduction to database technology, a core IT skill required in many IT disciplines and an extremely good transferable skill.

The module introduces you to database design, implementation and manipulation knowledge and skills. Once mastered, these skills will provide a firm foundation for higher-level academic study or a rewarding career in many IT related areas such as data analytics.

The aim of this module is to develop your knowledge and enthusiasm for current technologies that are deployed in modern, creative business settings, taking in current and potential future developments.

The module will adopt a practical lab based, case study approach to enable you to develop your knowledge of the design and use of technology in real world settings and to be aware of likely future developments in computing and IT and of the possible social impacts of those developments.

It will draw in current and future computing systems including pervasive, mobile and robotic systems, smart homes, smart cities and will consider both the drivers for technological development and the constraints on that development.

This module introduces computer programming techniques, with an emphasis on concepts that are relevant to a wide range of programming languages. There is a strong focus on practical work and this may require you to work together in pairs and small groups.

You will learn how to solve problems through the design, enhancement and implementation of computer programs, and you will develop the ability to document, test and debug programs.

You will also be introduced to fundamental concepts of programming, data structures, algorithms and object oriented programming, and be encouraged to work individually and discuss in groups in a series of highly interactive and progressive activities.

This module will enable you to explore the relationship between crime and culture. You'll gain an understanding of how media and popular culture represent and engage with crime, deviancy and justice issues. You'll consider issues such as race and crime, terrorism, suppression of the media, and societal understanding and acceptance of state narratives concerning violence and war.

This module will provide you with an understanding of the nature of data, its transmission, storage and how this leads to policies in business and strategies for ensuring data integrity and business continuity. In order to develop a real understanding of this area, you will learn how to analyse and use packet sniffing tools and explore how dictionary and brute force attacks are carried out.

Secondly, we look at the wide range of data that may be available to a business and look at how this can be captured, analysed and used to make decisions. This will involve developing some skills in statistical analysis and use of commonly available tools, in addition to consideration of ethical issues and ensuring that appropriate data is analysed to support business goals.

The final section of the module explores how machine learning approaches can support users and businesses by analysing data and making recommendations. You will develop skills in using existing toolkits to implement some machine learning algorithms and understand the potential of machine learning in addition to risks.

The aim of this module is for you to gain knowledge of professional project management in the context of your degree and future profession.

You will use your newly acquired professional project management knowledge to participate in a ‘real world’ group project, relevant to your level of study.

The module will focus on all aspects of professional practice including project management. In addition, you will study ethical, legal, regulatory, organisational and business issues in order to further your employability within the computer and networking world.

This module will give you practical experience with the development of dynamic websites using HTML, CSS, PHP and JavaScript. You will learn how to store client-side data and get first-hand experience with the server-side storage of data using databases.

You will also obtain a deeper understanding of the operation of large-scale websites, such as Facebook and Google, and the security, privacy and legal issues that affect web applications.

This module aims to provide a firm grounding in business systems analysis and design using the Unified Modelling Language (UML) to model information systems, and the Unified Process (a disciplined approach to assigning and managing tasks and responsibilities in a development environment).

The module covers a range of topics including (i) Information Systems modelling and associated development lifecycle issues, (ii) application of Information Systems modelling techniques to real-life scenarios and (iii) Ethical, Professional and Legal issues concerning the design of Information Systems.

Part I of this module will provide you with an opportunity to gain practical level experience of Operating System management techniques in a realistic and flexible environment. Access is provided to a 64-bit Linux Enterprise system to promote active learning and reinforce lecture material.

Part II of this module provides you with the basic skills needed to learn both the practical and conceptual skills that build the foundation for understanding basic networking.

You will gain an understanding of the “layered” approach to networks by examining the OSI and TCP/IP models in detail as well as an introduction to switching and routing.

The module aims to develop your employability skills by achieving the set of agreed learning outcomes using a Three Way Negotiated Learning Agreement. The module develops a range of skills specific to the individual workplace.

This practical experience module provides the means for you to link academic work with the 'real world', facilitating the embedding of transferable and graduate skills necessary for future career paths and employment.

You will reflect upon areas of knowledge relevant to the placement learning experience and develop personal knowledge through a review of your learning, with the opportunity to enhance your self-expression, communication, self-reliance and co-operation.

This module provides you with the opportunity of choosing and working on a project that reflects your interests and aims and outcomes of your programme. It should constitute a practical problem-solving project relevant to your programme of study.

The primary aim of the module is to consolidate and deepen your understanding of material taught on your programme, to exercise professional judgement, to undertake individual research and to conduct an investigation and/or develop a product, process or application relevant to the focus of your programme.

It provides you with the opportunity of engaging in significant system development, the typical output of which represents the solution of a problem akin to those that you as a fledgling professional practitioner are likely to encounter in future employment.

The module intends that your choice of individual project will provide you with a significant opportunity to reflect on your learning progress and to develop your learning for life-long and career development.

This module is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills related to designing, securing, operating, and troubleshooting enterprise networks.

This module also covers wide area network (WAN) technologies, introduces software-defined networking, virtualisation, and automation concepts that support the digitalisation of networks.

Extensive labs emphasise hands-on learning and practice to reinforce the skills to configure and troubleshoot enterprise networks.

The module reflects the job skills and responsibilities that are associated with professional-level job roles such as network engineer, systems engineer, network support engineer, network administrator, and network consultant.

The aim of the module is to introduce you to a range of AI theories and techniques, including the most commonly used. You will also have the opportunity to implement these newly learnt techniques, and to extend your own development skills.

This module aims to develop a deep understanding of the latest web-based app programming techniques, frameworks, and methodologies used by the industry to develop the next generation software that can be deployed on any mobile devices (both Android and iOS).

The module will investigate, develop, and deploy latest programming language standards that are fundamental to app development and currently being widely employed in industry.

Modern programming frameworks will be introduced to provide the essential software architecture for large-scale software development and the ability to target either the Android or iOS platform.

The module will cover the three most important components of a complete mobile app: front end, back end, and system administration.

This module aims to develop your understanding of the techniques and approaches used to capture, store and analyse data generated by organisations for purposes of business intelligence. In a digital age it is important for businesses to make use of data captured about its entities. You will learn about information retrieval, data presentation, pattern recognition techniques and data models that can be used in business intelligence applications. Descriptive data models can be used to gain a better understanding of overall organisation and predictive data models inform the decision making in all aspects of the business.

Interactive technologies are developing continually, and new devices that offer novel ways of interacting with computer-based systems are constantly finding their way into our homes, workplaces and lives. In this module, you will encounter and study a range of innovative and emerging interaction technologies.

The module affords an opportunity to become familiar with the technologies and devices themselves as well as ways of analysing their applicability for particular uses and situations, and approaches evaluating their use.

By understanding how computing devices and products are used and studying the ways that usage changes over time, you will gain a critical awareness of the processes by which interactive products gain in popularity and become successful.

After completing the module, you will therefore be better equipped to anticipate and select the successful interaction technologies of the future, analyse situations of use and potential users, design using the latest interaction technology, and evaluate novel and innovative designs.

This module aims to equip you with the underlying concepts and theory in interactive media manipulation. In doing this, you will develop skills in synthesis and modification of media, hardware controllers, data visualisation and sonification.

By understanding the relationship between cognitive psychology and our mathematical treatment of media data, you will develop a strong theoretical foundation with which to explore this area.

You will be programming using a wide range of languages and explore a wide range of paradigms for completing various media-based tasks including the design and development of interactive artefacts.

As we are dealing with media and its presentation, there are strong links to the digital arts and you are expected to explore their creative side in addition to the computing skills required.

Background reading will provide you with a historical and philosophical context for reflecting on their own practice and that of their peers.

This module aims to provide you with the ability to apply key skills in information systems to the business management domain. The module also aims to enable you to obtain important aptitudes towards using information technology solutions such as business intelligence (e.g. data analytics), digital technology solutions (e.g. smart environments) and modern forms of communication (e.g. social networks) to improve business processes. You will acquire knowledge in a number of topics aligned to the following key areas: (i) information systems and business intelligence (in particular the development, management, application and implementation of information systems and their impact upon organisations, (ii) communications (in particular the comprehension and use of relevant communications for application in business and management, including the use of digital tools) and (iii) digital business (in particular the development of strategic priorities to deliver business at speed in an environment where digital technology has reshaped traditional revenue and business models).

During this module, you will gain understanding of underpinning concepts and practical techniques relevant when considering humans, both in the organisation of design and design processes, and as a way of incorporating a user perspective in the design of products and services.

The module also includes analysis of user experience, the characteristics of users and their tasks, and the technical, organisational and physical environment in which products or systems may operate.

Many modern websites store and process large amounts of data. Typical examples are property search websites, price comparison websites and financial websites.

This module aims to give you the ability to download, store and process large quantities of data and build websites based on this data using advanced JavaScript frameworks.

At the end of the module, you will have gained advanced skills with Java, JavaScript, web development and big data, which are highly sought after skills.

The module will focus on the teaching of computer science within the secondary school (age 11-16) setting. You will observe, analyse and prepare materials for teaching practice. You will then start to apply your knowledge of computing to teaching practice.

During this module, you will develop an understanding of the Teachers’ standards, therefore supporting your preparation for application of initial teacher training courses. You will complete reading on education pedagogy to critically analyse practice.

The module will also support your development of public speaking.

You will be studying at our leafy north London campus in Hendon and be taught in our Ritterman, Hatchcroft and College buildings.

Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study.

We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

Typical weekly breakdown

During your first year, your weekly timetable will typically consist of:

• 4 hours of lectures
• 2-3 hours of tutorials
• 5-6 hours of supervised practicals
• 1 hour per fortnight of one-to-one meetings
• 1 hour of group work
• Up to 1 hour of support from a Student Learning Advisor
• Up to 2 hours of additional drop-in classes, timetabled as required.

Independent learning

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework, presentations and exams.

Teaching vs independent learning

Here is an indication of how you will split your time:

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Our excellent teaching and support teams will help you develop the skills relevant to your degree from research and practical skills to critical thinking. Our Sheppard Library is open 24 hours a day during term time. And we offer free 24-hour laptop loans with full desktop software, free printing and Wi-Fi to use on or off campus, even over the weekend.

You will be studying at our leafy north London campus in Hendon and be taught in our Ritterman, Hatchcroft and College buildings.

Whether you are studying full or part-time – your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study.

We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

Typical weekly breakdown

During your first year, your weekly timetable will typically consist of:

• 4 hours of lectures
• 2-3 hours of tutorials
• 5-6 hours of supervised practicals
• 1 hour per fortnight of one-to-one meetings
• 1 hour of group work
• Up to 1 hour of support from a Student Learning Advisor
• Up to 2 hours of additional drop-in classes, timetabled as required.

Independent learning

Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework, presentations and exams.

Teaching vs independent learning

Here is an indication of how you will split your time:

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Our excellent teaching and support teams will help you develop the skills relevant to your degree from research and practical skills to critical thinking. Our Sheppard Library is open 24 hours a day during term time. And we offer free 24-hour laptop loans with full desktop software, free printing and Wi-Fi to use on or off campus, even over the weekend.