Computer Science MSci/BSc (Hons) with foundation year

Whatever software we’re developing, we need to understand the fundamentals of programming to build it – that’s as true for an interactive website as it is for a smart-phone app. In this module, you’ll be introduced to these fundamentals through an accessible and industry-favoured programming language. You’ll explore algorithms – what they are, why they’re important, and how to use them – and you’ll combine this with your programming skills to write your own programs.

Compulsory

To apply, extend or enhance information systems, any developer needs a fundamental understanding of the machine, with all of its complex moving parts. This module introduces you to these concepts, taking you from the concept of computation to the twitching transistors which drive its implementation.

CPU architectures, memory hierarchies, efficiency, networking and security are all explored. Additionally, the concept of the Operating System is introduced which, combined with the other topics studied, empowers you to begin your journey as a developer.

Compulsory

Databases are fundamental to modern, digital life – whatever we’re doing, we’re either generating, using, sharing or erasing data. The technologies, ethics and laws behind these processes are a fascinating and fundamental element of software development in the 21st century.

In this module, you’ll explore all of these concepts, mastering the elements of data handling, storage, and management which you’ll have to apply in later study.

Compulsory

Fundamental to all programming is the notion of mathematics. Whenever we write software, we are writing algorithms and algebra – and in order to write them correctly, we need a firm grip of the maths which underpins them. In this module, you’ll gain that understanding, exploring subjects like set theory, algorithms and complexity, and logical arithmetic.

Don’t be intimidated, though! Everything is explained from first principles, and you’re supported throughout your mathematical studies by Coventry University’s maths support service.

Compulsory

This module builds upon and develops the fundamental computer programming skills you developed in Concepts and Algorithms. You will be introduced to new ideas such as object-orientation, and designing reusable code, and you’ll explore them using another industry-favoured programming language. You’ll be taught to structure your code in a way which makes it easy to follow, maintain, and extend, equipping you for the next stage of your software development studies.

Compulsory

The Integrative Project module adopts an activity led approach to learning, where you’ll work in a team to plan and execute a project related to your course. The project provides you a vital opportunity to consolidate and apply what you’ve learned during your first year of study, as well as develop new technical and team-working skills.

You’ll be given a high degree of autonomy during the project, assuming responsibility for all aspects of its conduct. Everything from organising group meetings and distributing tasks and work packets, to reflecting on their progress. There is no defined end goal; students are free to take the project as far as they can.

Compulsory

In this module you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of modern artificial intelligence concepts and applications. You’ll explore the differing definitions of just what ‘artificial intelligence’ means, and the legal and ethical issues which arise surrounding decision-making computer systems. Ultimately, you’ll build a portfolio of solutions that address artificial intelligence challenges, as you navigate areas such as knowledge representation, reasoning, and how human factors impact the field of AI.

Compulsory

The Theory of Computation module dives into the mathematical heart of programming. You’ll be guided through some of the more challenging topics in computing such as formalisation of languages, models of computation, and the nature of computability. Ultimately, this module empowers you to assess whether a problem has a computable solution – or one that you can compute before the sun expands to engulf the Earth.

Compulsory

Building on your programming and algorithms studies from first year, this module expands your insights into advanced programming techniques and complex data structures. You’ll learn what terms such as ‘graph’ and ‘tree’ mean in computing, and how to use them in your own software development. You’ll become familiar with strategies to address the computational complexity of the problems you’re trying to solve, empowering you to write more sophisticated, and more efficient, software solutions.

Compulsory

What is an OS, and what does it do? These two questions are the focus of this module, where you’ll become familiar with the way the operating system you use every day is structured, why it’s structured that way, and how it works. In addition to this, the module introduces the idea of networked computer systems and the accompanying security concepts, exploring topics such as cryptography, user authentication, socket programming and network protocols.

Compulsory

Picking up where Working with Data left off, the Data Science module equips you with the skills and tools you need to explore the world of Big Data. Using state-of-the-art software, you’ll explore concepts such as predictive modelling, data wrangling, sampling, and analysis. You’ll also explore the complex subject of data visualisation, and how you can use visualisation techniques to make the results of your data analysis understandable to every audience.

Compulsory

Focusing on the professional conduct of software development projects, this module introduces you to several industry-standard practices which underpin effective and efficient software engineering to meet the exacting quality standards. You’ll undertake a real-world software development project, evaluating and selecting the best tools for the task at hand while employing common professional practices such as configuration management and version control. You should develop an exhaustively tested, highly polished software deliverable to demonstrate your skills to prospective employers.

Compulsory

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

Choose two from the four following modules:

• Mobile Application Development - 20 credits
  Our everyday lives have never been more integrated with our mobile devices and applications. In this module you’ll explore everything which goes into mobile application design, from the notion of RESTful APIs to continuous integration and analytics. You’ll demonstrate your understanding by using a development kit to build a portfolio of applications for mobile platforms.
• Web API Development - 20 credits
  Web APIs empower websites to access the data and services needed to deliver on modern user demands in terms of connectedness and accuracy. From weather patterns to GPS traffic data, APIs underpin it all. In this module, you'll be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to create your own API for use in web applications, using the latest, industry-standard technologies, and featuring an interactive web client.
• Parallel and Distributed Programming - 20 credits
  All computing systems in the modern world are parallelised and heterogeneous – even your smart watch has multiple cores. Parallel programming and distributed programming share a great many commonalities in terms of what they represent, and how problems they solve are tackled. In this module, those similarities, alongside the key differences, will be explored in detail. You’ll be empowered to deploy computational solutions at every level, from the cloud, to your own PC, taking full advantage of all the silicon at your disposal.
• Advanced Programming Paradigms - 20 credits
  In this module, you’ll explore programming paradigms that you haven’t encountered elsewhere in your course. You’ll be introduced to the concepts of functional programming and logic programming and learn why they’re completely different to your existing knowledge of programming functions and logic. And you’ll be introduced to new programming languages to enable your exploration of these exciting new ideas.

Optional

You’ll first encounter the concept of computer security when you learn about Operating Systems, but this third-year module dives into the subject in-depth, as required by the British Computer Society’s accreditation criteria. Developed by our Cybersecurity specialists, this module introduces you to the concepts and practical considerations of creating and evaluating secure computer systems. In addition to the technical issues involved, you’ll also explore security legislation and the regulations which apply to associated products and services.

Compulsory

Building on your existing knowledge of Artificial Intelligence, this module dives into the broad field of machine learning, one of the core building blocks of many AI systems and methods. You’ll look to learn the difference between supervised and unsupervised machine learning, what an artificial neural network is and when best to deploy one to solve a problem, and how to analyse the effectiveness of a wealth of machine learning algorithms when applied to actual data.

Compulsory

In your final year, you will complete a project which is defined and driven by you, bringing your interests and learning together to produce a showcase for your skills. Working with an allocated subject specialist supervisor, the Project Discovery module will equip you with the research and project management skills to define, propose, and start work on a substantial computer science project of your choosing.

Compulsory

Working with an allocated subject expert as supervisor, you will deliver a project dissertation together with a project artefact, usually an advanced piece of software. The Dissertation and Project Artefact module is designed to give you the experience to self-manage project development, evaluation and successful delivery to a self-defined brief, allowing you to produce a substantial piece of work which brings together your learning over the course of the degree, which you can be proud of.

Compulsory

Computer vision (CV) is the field which allows our smartphone to identify where to focus an image, or a social media app to identify the face of someone in a photograph. In this module, you’ll be introduced to the models, algorithms and hardware involved in building CV applications from scratch using commonly employed APIs. Crucially, you’ll be taught how to select the right tool for the job, depending on the purpose of the CV problem you’re trying to solve.

Compulsory

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) represent an important and popular machine learning approach that attempts to model the function of the human brain. Successfully used in a wide range of applications, including image processing and medical diagnosis, ANN-based software solutions are ubiquitous throughout modern computing. In this module, you'll be introduced to the biological basis of the ANN, the concepts used in neural networks, and their application to solving real-world problems.

Compulsory

This exciting module introduces you to two advanced topics in artificial intelligence: evolutionary computing, and fuzzy logic. Evolutionary systems are an approach to AI which draws inspiration from natural selection in the world around us. Fuzzy logic, by contrast, is a mathematical modelling system inspired by a special school of set theory which is well-suited to handling uncertainty.

Compulsory

A growing field of interest within computing, ethical hacking (sometimes called penetration testing) is a fundamental part of many companies' security strategies, testing the vulnerabilities of their systems. In this module, you'll learn the latest ethical hacking techniques and gain practical experience in selecting and applying the most suitable tools and techniques for a given situation.

Compulsory

This module explores another advanced topic in cybersecurity - the secure design and development of computer systems. You'll learn about the security controls used to prevent, detect and recover from security violations, as well as how to formally analyse systems to evaluate their compliance with security and safety requirements.

Compulsory

The GPU in a modern PC is a highly efficient chip consisting of hundreds of cores, optimised for parallel execution of increasingly sophisticated instructions. While those instructions generally relate to graphics, commonly-employed APIs empower us to use those computational resources to solve other problems. In this module, you'll learn how to identify if a task is well-suited to GPU deployment, how to restructure tasks to take advantage of the GPU's architecture, and how to build these software solutions yourself.

Compulsory

In this module, you will identify a topic suited for a substantial piece of research into an area connected to the discipline of computer science. You'll exercise and extend your skills in gathering, understanding and critically evaluating literature; assessing and acting on relevant ethical and legal issues; and applying planning processes for the undertaking of a significant piece of work. This will culminate in the production of a well-structured project plan.

Compulsory

Building on the literature survey and planning developed as part of the Preparation module, you will undertake the project proper in this module. Supported by a member of academic staff, you will develop your solution to the chosen challenge, gather primary research data regarding your solution, and document the project's scientific conduct and outputs.

Compulsory