BSc (Hons) Computer Science

This module will introduce the fundamentals of programming and object orientation, including the following basic ideas of programming, including variables, memory and assignment statements, control through conditional statements, loops, functions and procedures, objects and classes, instance variables and methods, arrays, user interaction, interaction between objects, inheritance, polymorphism.

This module is an introduction to the basic concepts essential in the design and implementation of client-side web-based applications; it will cover a basic introduction to the Web, followed by more detailed lectures and labs on current best good practice with technologies such as HTML5, CSS3 and Javascript.

This module teaches a basic understanding of a range of different elements of computer systems. This is a fundamental understanding that underpins both professional use of computer systems and further study in computer science. The broad overview provided in this course will support learning in a large range of topics in the degree and later modules will expand upon the topics covered here.

This module aims to help you understand, and to interact with, computer systems. You will learn how to use knowledge about computational processes to analyse and explain the behaviour of computer systems. The module will use the concept of a Notional Machine, an abstract representation of the functioning of a computer system, to help you to reason about computer systems and to predict their behaviour. You will also learn about typical computer system architectures, basic networking and network services such as databases.

This module introduces a number of classical problems in computer science. As a result of attending this module, students should have the ability and confidence to tackle new problems using a general and abstract approach to their algorithmic solution.

Problems discussed include converting numbers between bases, data conversion, string manipulation, text manipulation, generating random and prime numbers, encryption and decryption, parsing and unparsing, and game playing.

This module introduces fundamental numerical tools to support computational and algorithmic inquiry, and to enable effective computational experimentation.

You will:

• explain the need for different number systems
• understand what a prime number is and perform arithmetic modulo prime bases
• appropriately use combinations of trigonometric or special functions
• represent abstract locations in vector coordinate systems, and derive and apply transformation matrices

This module introduces fundamental logical tools to support computational and algorithmic inquiry and to assist effective computational reasoning.

This module will cover the technical fundamentals of computing techniques used in digital media with a particular focus on graphics.

Topics will include manipulating images for creative contexts, image processing, application of 2D and 3D geometry for animation and interaction, creating simple physics simulations.

Students will practice this knowledge through a series of practical and creative exercises, undertaken throughout the module. These will be undertaken using an appropriate programming environment with graphics capabilities.

This module is aimed at novice programmers who have learnt some basic programming techniques. The course builds on this knowledge by developing students’ ability to combine short segments of code to create larger projects.

Students will begin by developing their knowledge of object oriented programming through learning about principles such as encapsulation and abstraction. Students will be presented with existing programs which they will explore, debug and extend. They will choose one of these to develop into a final project for the module.

During this work students will apply taught techniques in organising, planning and evaluating their code. 

This module introduces students to Java for the first time whilst building on the programming techniques covered at level 4. Through learning about more advanced concepts within object-orientation students are able to design and implement large scale computer programs.

Topics covered include Types, Conditionals and Iteration, Methods, Exception handling, I/O, Classes, Inheritance and Abstract Classes. Throughout the module, there will be a focus on developing student skills in problem-solving through structured thought and familiarity with common resources such as IDEs, professional APIs and language specifications.

This module aims to expose students to the analysis and design of algorithms. In particular, students will learn how to classify algorithms in terms of their computational resource consumption, how to solve efficiently classical problems from computer science and how to apply design techniques to build new algorithms. 

This module will give students the opportunity to experience group work, in the context of projects to specify, develop, deploy and evaluate a computer based system. This module will take students through the entire process, from requirements gathering, user-centred design, proposal development, implementation and evaluation. Students will also assess their outputs from the perspective of multiple roles within an organization, and consider the potential impact of their system on customers, users and society at large.

This module focuses on the technology underpinning client-server applications. This includes relational database systems, mainly from a development perspective, offering an introduction to data modelling and database implementation in SQL and alternatives such as No SQL The focus is on applications of relational and non-relational databases and techniques relevant to the creation of dynamic web applications such as form handling and templating. It includes practical work related to programming client-server web applications with a focus on principles and up to date practices.

This module aims to expose students to standard data structures and algorithms for manipulating them. In particular, it will give students the chance to learn to choose appropriate data structures for solving problems.

This module builds on the knowledge developed in Java for Industry by introducing students to a broad array of methods and data structures available within the language. Topics covered include:

Polymorphism, Interfaces, Nested Classes, Data Structures, abstract data types, computational complexity, Generics, GUIs, Event-driven programming, concurrency, event-driven programming, software patterns

Students will develop their understanding of these through practical, lab assessed work and longer form home assignments.

This module extends on the knowledge developed in the module How Computers Work to introduce theoretical underpinning for further study in computer science. By taking this module, you will gain a broad understanding of many of the key topic areas in computer science and the fundamental concepts that underpin them. In the area of fundamental concepts, you will study binary representations and logic, complexity theory and theories of computation, finite state machines and Turing machines. These will be presented in the light of practical examples to illustrate how they are implemented in modern computer systems.

This module builds on data concepts and skills from Dynamic Web Applications by providing advanced level knowledge about working with data in web applications.

Topics include advanced issues related to data modelling and representation such as security, integrity and confidentiality and database implementation such as advanced querying in SQL and no-SQL databases. Students will undertake practical work related to programming client-server web applications with a focus on advanced topics such as REST APIs. Teaching and assessment will also engage with issues relating to the ethics of working with data.

Neural Networks are widely used techniques for modelling and classifying data. They are used in industry for data analysis applications such as image classification, speech analysis and regression tasks.

This module will provide you with specialised theoretical and practical knowledge of a range of Neural Network architectures that are appropriate for data-oriented tasks. This module is complementary to the Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence modules in the programme, focusing on the area of neural computation.  

You'll be introduced to the theory and practice of neural computation. You'll learn the principles of neuro-computing with Neural Networks widely used for addressing real-world problems such as regression, pattern recognition and time-series prediction. 

Provides a broad overview of topics in securing computer-based resources, especially the information stored on hardware and controlled by software. We explore core concepts of computer security, including attacks and control, and various techniques for the protection of computer-related assets. Covers topics including computer security, attacks and control, elementary cryptography, cryptosystems, security control models, security problems and protection in operating systems, in databases and data mining, and in networks, security management and administration, legal and ethical issues: patents, copyrights and trademarks, and prosecution.

Provides you with theoretical knowledge of basic and advanced machine learning algorithms and statistical techniques utilised in the process of discovery of hidden patterns in potentially large volumes of data. Practical data mining will be introduced through both algorithm implementation in Java and data mining software utilisation for knowledge discovery in data from various fields of activity.

A machine is artificially intelligent when it manages to perform a task that we thought, until the machine proved capable, required human intelligence. Afterwards, we recalibrate our definition of intelligence.

Ai is a broad field and includes many disciplines and ideas. But a new technique is taking over.
Machine learning, an AI technique, has been around for a while. A special machine learning practice known as Deep Learning is revolutionising AI. It is everywhere - or will be soon.

Simply, AI ≈ DL.

We will learn how to build DL programs - known as models - and train them on huge datasets. We will be using TensorFlow, Google's important DL resource. TensorFlow, in turn, is programmed using Keras, a high-level Python library. We will write Keras DL code in Jupiter notebooks and plot graphs with another Python library, matplotlib. Finally, our programs will rely on Python's special library for numerical calculation - Numpy

Physical Computing is of increasing interest to artists, musicians, choreographers and other creative practitioners for the creation of novel artworks and also for forms of computational interaction between these objects and people. There are many other applications of Physical Computing, for example in museums, ubiquitous and embedded computing, robotics, engineering control systems and Human Computer Interaction.

A physical environment may be sonic, tangible, tactile, visually dynamic, olfactory or any combination of these. In this module, you will learn how the environment, which is essentially continuous, can be monitored by analogue electrical and mechanical sensors. Computers, however, are digital machines programmed by software. One element which you will focus on, therefore, is the interface between the digital and the analogue.

This study will encompass basic physics, electronics, programming and software engineering. The practical objective of this module is the development of the skills you will need for designing and building interactive physical devices.