This course is designed to follow on from ICT courses in schools and Sixth Form colleges. Topics include UX design, advanced databases, web and mobile programming and software development. We encourage you to apply for a year-long placement between the second and final years, although it is not compulsory. It’s a great opportunity to get paid to put your learning into practice and to extend your experience.
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Year 1 (national level 4):
Gain an overview of basic design principles of systems and software, including modelling principles and the use of tools, and design patterns. Investigates different software processes, data integration, project management and be introduced to software testing methods. Discover key concepts that will allow you to begin to break down programmatical application areas and begin to devise, document, test, develop and improve working solutions for a given problem.
Learn the basic principles of computer architectures. Gain an understanding of the underlying mathematics, operations and components used by computer architectures. Be introduced to the concept of operating systems and the types of hardware that can be attached to a computer to facilitate input and output. Explore in detail the considerations and tasks required to install, manage, and maintain computers both in stand-alone and virtual environments.
Learn the basic principles of programming. Develop your skills in logical analysis into formal representation within structured program code. Cover the core principles of computer programming that underpin all computer science disciplines. Focus on simple data storage and manipulation using the primary programming structures of sequence, selection, and repetition. Develop programs using industry standard techniques.
Be introduced to the fundamentals of client-server web-based development from a programming perspective. Learn key concepts that will allow you to start building dynamic web applications in response to business requirements. Develop web applications using industry standard tools and techniques and use of a range of programming, markup, and query languages.
Develop a sound knowledge of networking protocols and technologies, together with the techniques to install, configure and troubleshoot a network operating system. Acquire the skills to maximise network availability to all users. Learn about client server architectures and cloud computing paradigms.
Gain an insight into the various factors, strategies and approaches modern businesses use with digital technologies to support their business.
Year 2 (national level 5):
Learn key skills such as self-determination, planning and actioning of goals, time management, independent learning and team working.
This module has been developed with the support of the Institute of Coding, a network of employers, universities, training providers and professional bodies working together to create the skills needed for the digital economy. The module has been modified as a result of collaboration with a number of industry partners including SAGE and Adlink, to enhance industry relevant employability skills.
This module will move beyond the basic object oriented concepts associated with simple classes and objects to cover a series of more sophisticated object-oriented ideas, including ‘inheritance’ and ‘polymorphism’.
Design, develop and manage database systems within organisations. Focus on understanding common relational database theory, analysis, design, development and management processes. Learn to develop databases using SQL within the Oracle environment, before going on to develop extended database functionality including stored procedures, stored functions, cursors and triggers. Gain knowledge of ways in which SQL can be embedded within typical programming languages and systems for developing large scale database applications.
Gain the specialised skills necessary to develop applications for IoT devices within real-world contexts, including the use of robotics and sensors. Focus on programming, network connectivity, configuration and deployment of IoT devices in simulated and practical environments. Use industry-standard tools to acquire, interpret and visualize data retrieved from them. Consider science, HCI and security techniques.
Investigate techniques that organisations use for performing simple data analytics for a range of business applications. Gain an understanding of how analytics can enhance business processes and improve decision making, in areas such as marketing, customer relationships, sales and forecasting.
Final year (national level 6):
Core modules
Undertake advanced study, including a literature review, in order to research and develop to completion a substantial piece of work that demonstrates the range of skills you have acquired. You will also submit a dissertation that describes and evaluates the problem and solution. Past examples include an Android audio application, a Trojan detector and a network monitoring tool.
Learn how traditional and newer data models and database technologies support real-world demands of data. Investigate various data architectures and how they can represent structured and unstructured data in traditional and Big Data systems; methods for designing, developing and maintaining these data systems; and tools for data access and analysis including Data Analytics tools and how they are used in areas such as Data Science.
Understand the principles of Data Science to determine the benefits of utilising Big Data sets in organisational settings. Develop techniques and use tools for Business Intelligence in a variety of contexts, developing management strategies for their use within an organisation. All topics in this module are considered taking into account professional, ethical, social and legal constructs.
Study principles and practices that ensure users gain the most appropriate experience when interacting with computer-based software and hardware systems.
Gain the knowledge and skills that will enable you to explore and exploit business opportunities for software enterprises.
Undertake a work-based placement to support computing in a school or equivalent learning environment.
Develop knowledge and understanding of delivering maximum value to a business in its use of IT and IT processes.
Sunderland has a good reputation with employers. 93.4% of our graduates are in employment, further study or training within six months of graduating, according to DLHE 2016/17 (based on full-time, first degree, home leavers). The top type of job gained by our graduates is ‘information and communication technology professional’.
Our graduates have gone on to become web programmers, IT managers, information analysts and software developers. Employers that have taken on our graduates include Sage, British Airways and the NHS. Other graduates have started their own businesses or become software contractors earning over £50,000 a year.
Insurance-Single: 300 GBP/year
