Postgraduate Courses in the
School of Computing Sciences
MSc Applied Informatics
Introduction
The course is designed to develop the business skills needed to identify business problems and formulate solutions and at the same time develop sufficient technical expertise to enable graduates from the course to implement those solutions effectively.
Who is The Masters Degree For?
Graduates in any non-computing discipline who intend to make a career in commerce, industry or the public sector, utilising their existing professional knowledge and skills combined with new skills in business and technical computing.
The course provides a thorough grounding in the theory and practise of developing information systems for strategic business advantage. The course is therefore suitable for graduates from either a technical or business background. The applied informatics professional needs both technical and business skills and the course is designed to enhance existing skills and develop new ones.
Entry Requirements
The normal minimum entry requirement is a lower second class honours degree, or equivalent such as the Polish Magister or Engineer status. The degree or equivalent may be in a technology, science, engineering or business subject but, it is expected that candidates are able to demonstrate an ability to absorb both technological and strategic business ideas. Recent Computer Science graduates are not normally eligible for the course.
Students will be expected to be fluent in spoken and written English as this is the language of instruction and assessment.
Course Structure
The course runs for 12 months, usually commencing in September and the academic year is divided into 3 semesters of fifteen weeks each. Students study 4 modules (as outlined below) in each of the first two semesters and undertake the project during the third and final semester. The first two semesters are taught in Poland whilst the project component of the course can be undertaken at any one of four participating institutions.
| Semester Module Title |
|
Semester 1 Systems Analysis Computer Systems Networks Software Engineering |
|
Semester 2 Systems Design Advanced Database Systems Advanced Networks Advanced Ineractive Systems |
|
Summer Period Project |
Course Syllabus
Semester One
This module covers the theory and practice of systems analysis. The complete analysis life cycle is covered in lectures and practised in tutorials. Extensive use of case studies will be made to facilitate the application of the techniques learnt. Computer Assisted Software Engineering tools will be used to support the analysis task. Specifically the following areas are covered: Strategic project selection, feasibility studies, detailed process and data analysis and determining the requirements of the proposed system.
This module examines the fundamental architecture of computer systems which are used to support business functions. Some of the specific topics covered are as follow:
- Factors in system performance: processor and ALU performance, co-processors, memory usage.
- Processor performance enhancement techniques: CISC and RISC processors, cache memory.
- System configurations: personal computers, workstations, minis, distributed systems.
- Operating systems & user interface: shells and scripts, windowing systems, process management, etc.
- File management: file system, protection and security aspects, reliability. Systems programming.
This module covers the theory and practice of local, national and international networks. Some of the specific topics covered are as follow:
- Network Architecture: the ISO 7 layer reference model Data transmission: transmission media, synchronous and asynchronous transmission.
- Protocol techniques: sliding window, error detection and recovery and flow control.
- Local Area Networks: application areas, Medium Access Control and Logical Link Control layers.
- Wide Area Networks: X.25, Frame Relay, ATM protocols, Routing and congestion issues.
This module covers the role of software systems in commercial and industrial organisations. Student are taught the theory and practice of modern software engineering techniques. Some of the topics covered in this module are as follow:
- Software life-cycle: user requirements capture, analysis, design and programming.
- Programming: variables, assignment, data-types & their associated operations.
- Program structuring constructs: blocks, functions, procedures and higher level abstractions
- Input/output considerations: files and streams.
Semester Two
This module covers the theory and practice of systems design. Output from the systems analysis module will be used to illustrate the main stages of systems design. Extensive use of case studies will be made to facilitate the application of the techniques learnt. Computer Assisted Software Engineering tools will be used to support the design task. Specifically the following areas are covered: human computer boundary and interface design, process design using structure charts, data design and implementation of computer systems.
This module covers the theory and practice of modern powerful database systems. Specifically the following topics are covered:
- Data structures - impact on design & performance.
- Database theory and practice, developing advanced database systems using a 4GL.
- Database Management Systems, manipulating the database using SQL.
- Management of data as a strategic corporate resource.
Building on the semester 1 Networks module students undertake an advanced study of networking issues within a global context. Some of the topics covered in this module are:
- Network design considerations, performance measures, network management.
- Internetworking: addressing, functionality of bridges, routers and gateways.
- Integrated Services Digital Networks.
- Information superhighway, intelligent networks, wireless LANs, Personal Communications Networks.
This module covers the increasingly important area of human-computer interface and includes the following topics:
- Introduction to human-computer interaction.
- Prototyping approach to user interface design.
- Application of psychology to interface design, human learning.
- Usability, evaluation and quality assurance, approaches to evaluation, usability metrics.
- Human factors in multi-user systems.
Summer Period
The project continues the development of skills and knowledge necessary to enable students to apply computer technology in, and for the benefit of industry and commerce. As the project normally involves the design, implementation and evaluation of a system, students will have to assess, adapt and apply the latest technology to their particular project. Where possible projects are undertaken in association with an external organisation, eg. industry, commerce or the public sector.
Further Information
Location
The first two semesters of this course are delivered at Politechnika Gdanska, Poland. The third semester project may be undertaken at any one of four participating establishments:
- De Montfort University, UK
- Politechnika Gdanska, Poland
- Hogeschool Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Fuchhochschule Furtwangen, Germany
Assessment
Assessment of the taught modules consists of coursework and examinations.
The project assessment may vary according to the individual nature of
each project but typically includes, a project report, system
demonstration and or viva/presentation of the project. The final award of
MSc may be at 'Pass' or 'Distinction' level for exceptional candidates.
Students who do not meet the full requirements of the MSc award or who
leave the course without completing all assessed components may (subject
to the course regulations) be awarded a Post-Graduate Diploma.
Fees and Awards
The course has, in the past, been supported by a TEMPUS Joint European Project
award and whilst this funding is not currently available you are advised
to discuss funding with the course admissions tutor. Increasingly
students are self-financed or supported by industry.
For contact details, see foot of page.
![[ LIST ]](../icons/dmu-scrl.gif){kind=icon}
![[ TOUR ]](http://www.cms.dmu.ac.uk/People/iv/iv/tour/foot.gif)