INFO400 Advanced IT Coursework Unit
10 cp
Prerequisites Entry into the BIS (Honours) course
Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent. In exceptional circumstances the Course Co-ordinator, with reference to the Honours Committee, may vary the coursework unit to fit within a workplace research environment.
This unit builds on a student's knowledge in the relevant discipline area. Students undertake advanced coursework in a unit, which is closely related to their intended area of research. With the prior approval of the Course Co-ordinator this unit may be undertaken at another institution.
INFO403 Honours Proposal (Full-time)
10 cp
Prerequisites Entry into the BIS (Honours) course
Teaching Organisation The proposal will be prepared under the guidance of a supervisor appointed by the School Committee on the recommendation of the Head of School. Normally the supervisor will be the same person appointed to do the thesis with the student.
This unit will introduce students to the construction of a valid research proposal, which addresses an identified problem. Students will be gain experience in the preparation of research proposals through writing and presenting their Honours research proposal in their chosen domain.
INFO404 Honours Thesis (Full-time)
40 cp
Prerequisites Entry into the BIS (Honours) course
Co-requisites INFO403 Honours Proposal (Full-time) or INFO405 Honours Proposal (Part-time)
Teaching Organisation The thesis will be prepared under the guidance of a supervisor appointed by the School Committee on the recommendation of the Head of School. Normally the supervisor will be the same person appointed to do the proposal with the student.
This unit introduces students to independent research and thesis writing. Students will have direct experience in the research process from the formulation of appropriate research questions, research design, data collection, analysis and detailed reporting of research findings in order to prepare and publish a thesis based on original research.
INFO405 Honours Proposal (Part-time)
10 cp
Prerequisites Entry into the BIS (Honours) course
Teaching Organisation The proposal will be prepared under the guidance of a supervisor appointed by the School Committee on the recommendation of the Head of School. Normally the supervisor will be the same person appointed to do the thesis with the student.
This unit will introduce students to the construction of a valid research proposal, which addresses an identified problem. Students will be gain experience in the preparation of research proposals through writing and presenting their Honours research proposal in their chosen domain.
INFO406 Honours Thesis A (Part-time)
10 cp
INFO407 Honours Thesis B (Part-time)
10 cp
INFO408 Honours Thesis C (Part-time)
20 cp
Prerequisites Entry into the BIS (Honours) course
Co-requisites INFO403 Honours Proposal (Full-time) or INFO405 Honours Proposal (Part-time)
Teaching Organisation The thesis will be prepared under the guidance of a supervisor appointed by the School Committee on the recommendation of the Head of School. Normally the supervisor will be the same person appointed to do the proposal with the student.
This unit introduces students to independent research and thesis writing. Students will have direct experience in the research process from the formulation of appropriate research questions, research design, data collection, analysis and detailed reporting of research findings in order to prepare and publish a thesis based on original research.
INFO502 Systems Analysis and Design
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 4 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.
This unit focuses on the discipline of developing information systems in organisations, and imparts skills by which students can perform Systems Analysis and Design (SAD) of information systems. Specifically this unit will examine: General Systems Theory as the source of vocabulary and principles behind systems work; the responsibilities, activities and methodologies of Information Systems developers; Systems Analysis and Logical Modelling; Systems Architecture - costs and implementation options; and Systems Design - the conversion of logical models into physical specifications. The material covered in this unit will be further developed in the following subjects: Object Oriented Systems Development, Database Design 1, Project Management, Decision Support Systems, End User Support.
INFO504 Database Design 1
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 4 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.
Database management systems play a significant role in the storage and provision of information for business and industry applications. This unit reviews the evolution of database design techniques and database systems. Students examine the processes involved in the design, development and implementation of database applications, providing an enhanced context for technological innovation within organisations.
INFO506 Programming Techniques 1
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 4 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.
The unit will focus on developing students’ ability to design and specify well-structured algorithms as a foundation for the development of their skills in the design, writing and testing of well-structured programs in a high-level, procedural language. Students will gain practical experience in the development of programming skills, developing an appreciation of the techniques, skills and effort required for the development of effective software applications.
INFO509 Programming Techniques 2
10 cp
Prerequisites INFO506 Programming Techniques 1
Teaching Organisation 4 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.
The unit builds on the concepts presented on Programming Techniques 1 and provides students with the opportunity to develop advanced programming skills using a high-level procedural language. The emphasis of this unit will be on the development of students’ procedural programming knowledge and skills with specific reference to the development of scientific and business applications.
INFO510 Operating and Hardware Systems
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 4 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.
This unit identifies the diversity of operating systems in current commercial use and provides a theoretical and practical overview of an appropriate selection of these operating systems. One major operating system (in the first instance, UNIX) will provide a focus for in-depth study. This unit will also provide students with knowledge of the principles of operation of PC-based computer systems focusing on hardware. It will also enable students to gain the practical, hands-on skills necessary to accomplish basic levels of fault-finding, system installation and set-up, and the customisation of PCs utilising workstation operating systems.
INFO514 Project Management
10 cp
Co-requisites INFO502 Systems Analysis and Design
Teaching Organisation 4 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.
This unit provides the opportunity for students to develop an integrated perspective on materials, financial and human resource management issues involved in the implementation of information technology projects. In particular, it is intended to extend students’ awareness from technology-centred concerns to include an understanding of the personal and interpersonal skills required for successful project management. This approach is consistent with the course’s overarching aim to educate information systems professionals who are not only technically competent, but who are sufficiently sensitive to human resource issues and organisational structures to be able eventually to support the successful management and implementation of information technology projects.
INFO516 Reasoning and Critical Thinking for Information Systems Professionals
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 4 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.
Critical thinking is recognised as one of education’s most valued outcomes. This introductory unit has been designed to explicitly develop students’ reasoning and thinking skills. Students will gain an understanding of how reasoning and critical thinking is applied in the information systems discipline. The unit will focus on developing students’ skills in reasoning and thinking; in particular, the use of these skills in problem analysis and their application to algorithm development and information systems problems.
INFO517 Ethics and Informatics
10 cp
Prerequisites Nil
Teaching Organisation 3 hours per week for 12 weeks or equivalent.
The discipline of ethics can be described as a systematic reflection on the morality of human actions. Its inclusion in the BIS course as a separate unit emphasises the importance of a considered ethical view of the professional practice of informatics, and of its social impacts. This unit examines some contemporary theories of ethics and their application to the work of informatics professionals.
