This course brings together the traditionally distinct disciplines of computing and design.
Graduates will be able to produce technically competent interactive web sites, animations, still images and video using appropriate technology.
In addition, the multimedia content produced will have a strong visual impact and use visual communication to convey messages appropriate to client requirements.
Students on this course enjoy the challenge of studying two disciplines while learning how their combined impact results in a product of greater value than either discipline could deliver on its own.
The course website includes examples of student work and gives more details about this particular programme.
This course is aimed at those who wish to specialise in the development of new software.
Software Engineers develop the software tools and systems that underpin modern industry such as financial networks, traffic management and business critical technologies.
However, before developing any new product, the software engineer must understand what the system is required to do (requirements).
They must then decide how to achieve these requirements (design a solution) before writing the code to implement that design.
The software developed must then be tested to ensure it operates correctly.
Each stage of this process offers many challenges and hence a career in Software Engineering can be extremely rewarding.
The Computing Science course allows students to study a broad range of technical topics in computing such as programming, databases, networks and operating systems.
Students can choose to graduate with the general title of Computing Science or, assuming they undertake the appropriate optional modules at the latter stages of the course, can choose to indicate to potential employers their particular area of interest by having this named after the main title.
The following specialisms are currently offered:
The ICT course is aimed at those who wish to study computing and the application of information technology systems in business.
Students will study topics such as web programming and related technologies, information systems in organisations and information asset management.
Graduates from this programme will be equipped with skills for the development, maintenance, evaluation and management of information systems in the context of IT departments in public or private sector organizations.
BSc (Hons) Computing Systems (2012)
Want to study a degree in computing but cannot commit to full time study? Then this new and innovative part-time programme is aimed at you, allowing students to complete the course in (a minimum of) four years and a semester.
Students will typically attend every Wednesday (afternoon and evening) during the traditional academic year (October-May). In the summer, the teaching changes to "block mode" (typically two 3-day sessions) in order to facilitate students' summer commitments such as family holidays etc. After 4 years of this mode, students will then undertake an independent project which can be completed in 1, 2 or 3 academic semesters, depending on the amount of time a student can devote to the activity.
The course is centred around software development with students gaining experience not only of actual programming but also broader aspects of software development such as user interface design, databases and software development processes and techniques. These aspects build upon solid foundations in areas such as hardware and networks. Students will also develop specific sofware development skills in mobile technologies and web systems.
BSc (Hons) Computing and Information Systems (2012)
Many applicants already hold a Foundation Degree or a Higher National Diploma but wish to "top-up" their qualifications to honours level.
While this can be done in full-time mode on the courses listed above, the Computing and Information Systems programme is specifically designed for such students to top-up in part-time mode over 3 years, allowing them to work alongside their studies.
This top-up route covers topics such as programming, Human-Computer Interaction and information asset management.
Students on this course enjoy the challenge of studying two disciplines while learning how their combined impact results in a product of greater value than either discipline could deliver on its own.
The course website includes examples of student work and gives more details about this particular programme.
As with the BSc (Hons) Computing Science course, the MSc Computing allows students to reflect their particular area of interest depending on the options selected.
The following specialisms are currently offered in addition to the generic award of MSc Computing
Topics covered on the course include distributed systems, engineering process improvement, reliable software development and databases for structured and semi-structured data.
Students therefore study selected topics in more depth than would be covered on an honours degree and also enhance their ability for both independent thinking and learning by engaging with current research literature.
The Healthcare Informatics course is aimed at graduates who are working in the health sector and wish to develop specialist skill and understanding of the application of ICT in healthcare.
Topics covered include Emerging Healthcare Technologies, Decision Support Systems and Information management in health and social care.
Students can gain a Masters degree in 3 years of part-time study or a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma after 1 or 2 years (also part-time) respectively.
Bursaries may be available to applicants who are currently employed by HSCNI.
A PhD (Doctoral studies) allows a student to study in depth a particular topic of computing and/or mathematics that is of interest to him or her.
Having read widely from books and scientific journals about the selected topic, the student will then identify a problem within the topic area that remains unresolved and will develop a solution.
The PhD student will therefore contribute to knowledge and hence could potentially result in commercial products.
PhD study is undertaken in a similar manner to a final year project in that the vast majority of the work is carried out independently but is supported by a supervisor.
Typically the PhD topic will be associated with research that is being undertaken within the School, so potential PhD students are advised to look at the School's research pages and then contact Professor Hui Wang for further information.