Year 1

• Professional Issues in Information Systems Practice (Core Module)
• Computer Networks
• Database Systems
• IT Project Management

Duration:
Diploma: One Academic Year
After this course: Join UK University for BSc


Total Number of Modules:
One Year: 4 modules

Prerequisite: Certificate in IT(Level 4)

Entry Requirements:
GCSE or equivalent or two years of IT work experience.
Plus TOEFL or IELTS

Information Technology

This module covers the following topics: systems analysis and design, database systems, data analysis and management, systems and organisations.

Aims:
• To develop an awareness of the nature and use of information and information systems in an organisational context
• To introduce the various techniques used within systems analysis and design
• To foster an appreciation of the different types of methodologies used in the system development process
• To provide an introduction to database management systems

Objectives:
• Show an understanding of the flow of information within organisations
• Understand the differing types of information
• Propose practical solutions to given analytical problems
• Demonstrate the effective use of a chosen methodology through requirements analysis and fact finding techniques
• Display an awareness of systems development tools and techniques
• Become conversant with system design issues
• Develop awareness of the basic ideas behind using a computer to store and manipulate data
• Display knowledge of data analysis and modelling techniques
• Discuss various database management architectures
• Demonstrate an awareness of Human Computer Interaction and the use of multimedia and hypermedia
• Suggest suitable testing strategies and implementation techniques

Prior Knowledge Expected:
None

DATA MANAGEMENT
The nature of information; its acquisition, presentation, storage and management
Characteristics of data; data capture and collection
Data processing and data modelling
Simple statistical measures; mean, mode, median, standard deviation
Tabular representation of data; histograms, interpolation
Requirements analysis and prototyping
Fact finding methods
Security, integrity and control
File management; organisation and access methods
Database design issues; entity modelling, normalisation, logical/physical mapping
Database architectures and types of database management systems
Functions of database management systems and database administration
Introduction to multimedia and hypermedia

SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DESIGN
The systems development life-cycle and its implications for software design, coding, testing, implementation and support
Prototyping and systems development tools
Structured systems analysis and design techniques
Hard and soft system methodologies
Rapid application development and prototyping techniques
Object-oriented modelling
Human computer interface (HCI) design aspects

ORGANISATIONS
The flow of information in an organisation
Basic idea of management functions and structure of business and other organisations
Personnel and social considerations in the consideration of new systems
Management of computer systems, staffing, maintenance, project management and scheduling

Software Development

This module covers the following topics: systems analysis and design, database systems, data analysis and management, systems and organisations.

Software Development
Programming, using many styles and languages, provides solutions to a wide variety of scientific, engineering and business problems. Programming is a core skill that will be used throughout a computer practitioner’s career. It is a skill acquired largely by practice and experience. Learning how to program requires a disciplined and structured approach in order to encourage good practice and to assist in the development of easily maintained systems. This module introduces candidates to the fundamental concepts of programming with the emphasis being laid on the whole of the software development process.

Aims:
• To stress the importance of good design, documentation and usability
• To emphasise skills in problem solving and algorithm specification rather than just writing syntactically correct code
• To introduce a systematic approach to algorithm development which will assist in subsequent programming and system design modules
• To introduce candidates to the environment in which software is developed and to the tools that assist in this process

Objectives:
• Distinguish between systems software and application software
• Understand the phases of software development
• Be able to develop and understand algorithms
• Be able to develop code from algorithms in a visual or 3rd generation high level programming language
• Be able to follow 3rd generation high level code and apply modifications to it
• Develop competence in the techniques of systematic problem analysis, program construction and documentation
• Gain an understanding of the basic concepts of good user-interface design
• Be able to test and document programs
• Gain an understanding of the principles of multiple module program construction
• Understand the need for compilers, interpreters, code generators
• Develop a knowledge and understanding of a range of fundamental algorithms

Prior Knowledge Expected:
None

FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF THE PROGRAMMING PROCESS
Concept of an algorithm
Development and semi-formal specification of algorithms, based on a simplified computer model
Development of code from an algorithm
Understanding of sequential and parallel processing

PHASE-SPECIFIC ISSUES OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
Development tools such as code generators, design modelling or test generators
Development techniques such as modular programming, defensive programming or recursion
Approaches to software build, such as evolutionary prototyping or 4GL development
Objectives and principles of testing and test-case specification
Testing and debugging strategies including dry-running, white-box and black-box
Styles of software documentation, such as for users or support personnel
Content of software documentation such as GUI descriptions or maintenance details

INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING CONCEPTS
Types: numeric and non-numeric, elementary and derived, subtypes, and expressions such as assignments, input/output
Control structures: selection and iteration
Subprograms: procedures and functions
Data structures: Arrays (1- and 2-dimensions), linked lists using pointers; implementation of queues, stacks and lists. Concept of data abstraction
Sorting and searching algorithms: comparative effectiveness with respect to computation and storage of scanning versus indexing methods

FILES: SEQUENTIAL, INDEX-SEQUENTIAL AND RANDOM ACCESS
Comparative effectiveness of storage and retrieval for applications such as batch processing or on-line query or both

INTRODUCTION TO CONCEPT OF USER-INTERFACE DESIGN
User requirements and characteristics of user interfaces; principles and techniques of dialogue control, navigation and selection

ROLE AND NEED FOR SYSTEM SOFTWARE
System software and its relation to application software

CASE STUDIES IN PROBLEM SOLVING/ALGORITHM ANALYSIS

Computer Networking and Technology

This module provides a foundation for all professional computer personnel in computer technology and related topics, in particular the areas of: number systems, hardware, operating systems, systems software, networks and system performance measurement.

Aims:
• To develop an understanding of the principles underlying the construction of computer systems
• To introduce the fundamental building blocks of all digital computers and the operating principles of computer peripherals
• To evaluate critically the performance data quoted for computer systems

Objectives:
• Use Boolean algebra and other digital design techniques to construct the basic circuits such as adders used to build computers
• Use low-level instructions and addressing modes to construct a simple program
• Read the technical specification of a PC system, interpret the performance indicators, and explain their significance to non-computer personnel
• Appreciate the importance of the memory hierarchy of a computer system and its peripherals
• Describe the operating principles of commonly used peripheral devices, their characteristics and performance
• Understand the role of compilers and similar system resources
• Use the Internet to find information on the performance of computer systems and trends in computer systems
• Understand the way in which digital information is transmitted across networks, the characteristics of data paths and the need for modulation

Prior Knowledge Expected:
None

FUNDAMENTALS
Number representation (e.g. binary, hexadecimal) and the conversion between bases
Representation of negative numbers, fractional numbers, and floating point numbers
Gates: AND, OR, NAND, NOR, EOR, inverter
Sequential logic elements: D flip-flops, RS flip-flops, JK flip-flops
Simple logic circuits: Full adder, multiplexer, shift register, counter
Boolean algebra, simplification of logic equations, truth tables

PROCESSOR ARCHITECTURE
The concept of a stored program and the fetch/execute cycle
Structure of the CPU at the level of registers, buses, and functional units
Instruction formats (one-, two-, and three-address formats)
Typical computer instructions (data movement, arithmetical and logical, flow control)
Trends in processor technology
Information storage: The memory hierarchy from cache to secondary storage
The operation of both magnetic and optical storage devices, their performance and characteristics
The characteristics and performance of peripherals; for example, display devices, printers, keyboards etc
Input/output techniques: peripheral polling and interrupt driven I/O

INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEMS AND SYSTEM SOFTWARE
The human interface
Multitasking: interrupts, concurrency, scheduling, memory management
System software: Internet browsers, email systems, security products (e.g. anti virus software)
System performance and its evaluation: definition, measurement and benchmark

NETWORKS
Communication principles: characteristics of transmission media, Ethernet, Wi-Fi and wireless technologies
Protocols for data transmission: ISO 7-layer model for OSI
The data link layer and typical protocols
Communications equipment: modems, routers and bridges
The Internet
Malware: viruses, worms, Trojan horses, spyware and their effect on system reliability and performance
Future trends in computer communications