Undergraduate study in Computing and Information Systems (CIS):
BSc, Diploma and Work Experience Entry Route
Syllabus
Additional study (Diploma only)
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.
Foundation level (Diploma only)
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.
Level 1 units
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 e-business [2910108]
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]
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 units
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.
Graphical object-oriented and Internet programming
in Java [2910220]
The course aims to give students an insight into the object-oriented approach to the design
and implementation of software systems. The course also considers specific features of the programming
language Java, in particular, graphical interfaces and event driven applications. The second part
of the course is intended to give students the necessary background to understand the technical
software aspects of how computers communicate across the internet. Students will be introduced
to the underlying principles of client-server computing systems and will gain the required conceptual
understanding, knowledge and skills to enable them to produce simple web-based computing systems
in Java.
Assessment: One three-hour unseen written paper and coursework.
Data communications and enterprise networking [2910222]
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.
Software engineering, algorithm design and analysis
[2910226]
This course unit provides an introduction to software engineering, algorithm design and
analysis. The main topics include: Software design in UML: use cases, class modelling, objects
and links, aggregations and dependencies, activity diagrams, state-charts; Principles of good software
design, software development lifecycle, the role of design and modelling in software development;
Software verification and validation; Project management and planning; Case studies and software
horror stories. Abstract data types, design patterns, algorithmic issues, complexity theory, the
application and implementation of common data structures in Java.
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://hcs.science.uva.nl/software.html
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.
Interaction design [2910348]
This course examines the notion of 'interaction with technology' with a focus on the design
concepts of modern user experience design and production. It begins with a grounding in the specification,
design, prototyping and evaluation of advanced interactive systems, with an introduction to HCI
and a short history of the field. An overview of design approaches follows. Human/user attributes
and requirements, and interaction paradigms, looks at the human in HCI and available types of interaction.
Usability requirements/usability engineering are discussed in the context of a number of specific
design approaches and techniques, requirements and issues. Design guidelines and standards, accessibility
requirements, and issues involved in designing for specific populations (globalization and internationalism)
follows. Finally, information on current interaction design questions and approaches for new and
emerging technologies and paradigms provides an exposition of real-world applications and sectors
where Interaction Design is relevant.
Assessment: One 2¼-hour unseen written paper and coursework.
Operations research and combinatorial
optimisation [2910352]
The course offers a modern and computationally-oriented introduction to discrete optimisation.
The theory of matroids is covered in detail as providing a deep and coherent approach to the principles
of optimisation. The more advanced topic of matroid intersection is given a novel treatment using
symbolic computation which focuses on the underlying concepts while maintaining a strong link to
computing science. This leads on to a consideration of algorithmic and computational complexity
and to the theory of linear and integer linear programming.
Assessment: One 2¼-hour unseen written paper and coursework.
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 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.