Computer Networks - BSc (Hons) / MSci

Within the Computer Systems Module, you will gain knowledge and experience of computers and computer hardware.

This module presents a holistic view of how computer systems work and it also provides the underpinning knowledge required:

• for the design of computer architecture
• to show how software interacts with hardware
• to apply electronics principles
• to use number systems for computer technology

The module gives you the opportunity to learn mathematical concepts and methods and critically reflect on how they relate to computing and communication systems. You will develop core mathematical and statistical skills which are fundamental in computing and technical work in general. You will be expected to solve mathematical and statistical problems on paper and on a computer.

This introductory computer programming module provides the underpinning knowledge and practice for computing students to design, build and test software components. The module will make use of practical sessions primarily to allow you to apply programming principles and constructs in order to creatively solve problems by means of developing small programs. Module content and assessment enables learners to acquire programming skills in a modern imperative language.

The module provides the opportunity to learn and critically reflect the skills required in building and designing basic networks and their requirements within a network infrastructure. This module builds on the underpinning knowledge and theory of networking systems.

The module consists of:

• Subject specific lectures/laboratory sessions to introduce knowledge and skills relevant to network and information systems, along with communication architecture
• Lectures/laboratory sessions to introduce principles and techniques for information communication within a network and ensuring effective communication
• Global view on information system communication.

In this module, you learn how modern operating systems are the glue that bind computer hardware and networks together and how they manage the user experience for individual computers and wider networks. We will focus on the function and purpose of operating systems, with a focus on hands-on practical skills. We will build on learning from your networking, programming and computer systems modules, enhancing and extending skills in all these areas. You will make heavy use of Open Source Software, demonstrating what can be achieved with this huge publicly shareable resource on a very limited budget.

This first-year project allows you to develop and cultivate a creative mind-set through collaborative innovative practice, allowing you to bring together knowledge and imagination to construct a viable product. It is an opportunity to express your ideas, skills and talent to the wider community of innovative practice.

The project provides you with an opportunity to be part of a thriving community of innovators that practices connected learning. This is facilitated by putting you into inter-disciplinary project teams supported by innovation mentors, advisors and academics; culminating in you exhibiting your work to an international panel of experts.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of connected computing devices, electromechanical, digital machines, objects with the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. It is estimated that by 2020 there will approx. 50 billion IoT devices. This module will provide knowledge and skills for the research, synthesis and evaluation of solutions incorporating internet communication systems and devices that can be used to make informed and wise decisions.

Within the module Server Systems, you will learn that servers are the engines that deliver the data of the worldwide Internet and cloud revolution. In this module you will learn how to design, configure and troubleshoot servers to provide both the data and network services required in modern networks. You will spend a lot of time actually configuring and troubleshooting servers in this module to give you the hands-on skills required by industry. This will be backed up by theory delivered via videos and reading and short lectures.

This module builds on your foundational programming knowledge and skills developed during the Level 4 Computer Programming module to extend and focus these towards the area of network engineering. It provides an essential skillset for network engineers to manage and develop networks/networking applications. This aids the management of complex networks by allowing the automation of regular tasks and the potential reduction of human error when configuring multiple devices.

This module allows you to examine network technology, applications and protocols to enable you to gain a thorough understanding of the developments in this area. Routing and switching will be investigated theoretically and practically using a variety of different network operating systems and devices. The module content builds on the networking technologies introduced previously, and focuses on developing design and implementation skills relevant to achieving industry certification applicable to small and medium enterprise networks.

In this module you will have the opportunity to learn and critically reflect on the skills required for Network Technologies. This module builds your knowledge and underpinning theory for the networking modules and you will review the requirements from a small to medium scale network deployment engineering context.

This module forms part of the Research and Enterprise strand that runs through each programme curriculum from level 4 to 7. It builds on the core concepts, which were introduced to you at level 4 in the practice based computing related modules and the underpinning role innovation plays in this.

As you have chosen to major in developing your technical capability, knowledge and skills required for you chosen career path, this module is designed to draw upon your technical learning framework through Reflection, Evaluation, Entrepreneurialism and Management (REEM). REEM forms the principles of this module allowing you to explore and to further build on your strengths and achievements to pursue excellence in a professional context.

A Data Centre (DC) is the Infrastructure supporting the Application Ecosystem (AE). It is a facility that centralises an organisation's IT operations and equipment, as well as where it stores, manages, and disseminates its data. Data centres house a network's most critical systems and are vital to the continuity of daily operations.

In this module, you will learn how to:

• Research case studies
• Design and develop a solution to meet a business client needs
• Troubleshoot a solution
• Analyse industry standard Data Centre systems and technologies
• Present your findings.

This module enables you to gain an understanding of the processes, scope and role when providing guidance or advice in a professional consulting capacity. It will also assist you if you join a larger organisation with the aspiration to become a leader and manager.

The module provides awareness on the wider consulting profession and practice, the consulting role in computing and the management of client relationships. The focus will be to analyse and evaluate the frameworks, processes and techniques applied by computing consultants, managers and leaders.

The module gives you an opportunity to learn and critically reflect on the skills of wireless network design. This module builds on the knowledge and underpinning theory from the networking modules and reviews the requirements for a secure wireless network communication system.

The module consists of:

• Subject specific lectures/workshops to introduce knowledge and skills relevant to wireless networking and the corresponding state of the art technologies.
• Lectures/workshops to introduce principles and techniques for secure communication within a wireless network and ensuring security of data in transit.
• Global view on information security and the changing requirements for information and data communication security.

In this module, you will learn how to:

• Research case studies,
• Design and develop a solution to meet a business client needs,
• Troubleshoot a solution,
• Analysing modern infrastructure technologies used in industry,
• Present your findings.

This module prepares you for industry by guest lectures, industry talks, industrial visits and real life case studies. The case studies and assessments have been designed in collaboration with practising IT Consultants and IT Architects.

The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and research-informed project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. In agreement with your supervisor, you will decide upon your topic which will take the form of a practical outcome (artefact) with accompanying contextual material. The main consideration when choosing your topic is that it must be aligned to the programme you are studying, and you should consider the relevance of this topic to your future academic or professional development.

At this level, you will be expected to work independently but you will receive additional one-to-one support from your supervisor, who will be familiar with your chosen topic area. As you progress on the module, extra support will be available and this may take the form of group seminars, workshops and online materials that will help to develop your project. 

In this module, you will explore the latest developments in:

• Cloud Technologies,
• Framework of cloud based infrastructures.

You will also get an insight into Cloud Computing systems such as:

• Amazon EC2 and S3,
• Microsoft Azure,
• Google AppEngine,
• Google’s MapReduce,
• Yahoo’s Hadoop,

All underpinned by theory and practical applications to maximise the chances of adoption success.

The module, gives you an opportunity to learn and critically reflect on the skills of advanced network routing techniques, information distribution and network security within a global context. This module builds on a pre-requisite basis of networking knowledge and underpinning theory, and reviews the requirements for a secure and robust international network communication system.

Software Defined Networking (SDN) has emerged as the next major evolution in switch design and network management. This module is concerned with the theoretical and practical aspects of the SDN concept and how it is applied to data networks.

You will develop knowledge in the role of the data and control planes, and the advantages / implications of separating these, as found within SDN. This module will help the students to assess the current state-of-art of this area and design/construct implementable solutions.

This module will provide you with the opportunity to explore the latest developments in IT and understand the processes of IT innovation. The theoretical backdrop to adopting innovations will be discussed and practical applications discussed to maximise the chances of adoption success.

Approaches to technology forecasting and the factors affecting whether organisations should adopt a leader or follower stance will be discussed. A range of modelling tools will be introduced to enable you to assess the potential impact of new technologies on organisations and to prepare adoption strategies.

The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and research-informed group project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. In agreement with your supervisor, your group will decide upon your topic which will take the form of a practical outcome (artefact) with accompanying contextual material. The main consideration when choosing your group’s topic is that it must be aligned to the programme you are studying, and you should consider the relevance of this topic to your future academic or professional development.

You will be expected to work as part of a group but you will receive additional support from your supervisor, who will be familiar with your groups chosen topic area. As you progress on the module, extra support will be available and this may take the form of group seminars, workshops and online materials that will help to develop your project.