SECTION 2: Programme Overview: (Max 250 words per section) This section is aimed at providing a prospective or current student with a brief overview of the programme in answer to the specific questions and will form an element of the programme handbook. It is not intended to capture the detail of the programme design.
2.1
Why should I study this programme at Northumbria? This section should contain reference to the specific advantages or strengths of undertaking the programme at Northumbria. Reference should be made to any unique selling points in terms of students’ satisfaction, elements of the programme not typically included elsewhere, employment opportunities etc.
This MSc will provide you with a recognised postgraduate qualification in computing and information technology. It is designed for graduates with an undergraduate degree from any discipline who wish to study for a generalist broad-based qualification to further develop their knowledge, skills and careers. There is a need in the market for those with such qualifications and the programme can prepare you for a range of careers in computing, including management opportunities in computing. You can choose to study full time or study part-time via distance learning, which provides a flexible approach to study, including for those already in work.
You will take taught modules covering core areas of computing in programming, database design and building, systems analysis and design with UML, and computer networks and web development. The sixth module covers transferable skills in project management and research that supports your preparation for your project. Finally, you will take a major project which will allow you to specialise subject of interest to you. You will complete practical tasks based on real-life situations, accompanied by critical reflection, and will follow standard professional practice
If you study full time you will take three modules per semester for two semesters and then the MSc project module. If you study part-time by distance learning you will take three modules each year for two years, followed by the project module.
The specific advantages to you of studying this MSc include:
increased skills and knowledge to provide a better preparation for your career
the ability to adapt to new technologies and developments
the ability to critically evaluate current research and developments
the ability to see things in a wider context
increased career prospects
reinforcement of your own personal development
development of your individual growth needs
a qualification which is recognised and valued internationally.
This MSc has been designed in consultation with partners from industry, to ensure you learn up-to-date computing knowledge required by employers across the industry. It will provide you with broad knowledge and skills in the main areas of computing and information technology. On graduation you will be equipped with the technical skills and strategic approaches that will enable you to thrive in the workplace.
This programme will prepare you to meet the educational requirements for BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, Chartered IT Professional (CITP) registration.
This programme will develop your key skills in critical thinking, self-directed independent learning, developing imaginative solutions and their rigourous justification and evaluation. It will prepare you to build on your current career (if in employment) or to progress to new roles, equipped with a greater understanding of the nature, capabilities and limitations of computer systems.
2.2
How will I learn on this programme? This section should contain an overview of the learning and teaching philosophy of any approaches used, including the use of Technology to Enable Learning within, the programme. It should outline which research informed learning approaches will be used, and how the approaches may differ by level.(Reference: Northumbria Research Rich Learning Policy)
You will be provided with a wide range of learning opportunities. The variety includes methods for individual as well as group learning. You will be supported in your learning, where appropriate, via an electronic learning platform (eLP) that provides remote access to project and assignment information and learning materials for each module of study to support you exploration of the subject, as well as the University library facilities for explorative learning.
An appropriate learning strategy is used for each module, depending on the subject matter or the mode of delivery (full time or part time via distance learning). If you are studying full time, some modules will use lectures to introduce theories and concepts and will then have small group seminars and practical skills sessions in computing laboratories and classrooms. While if you are studying by distance learning you will achieve the same learning through materials held on the eLP and by directed reading. Deep learning is facilitated by applying theoretical concepts in practical ways in order to reinforce lecture topics and maximise “learning by doing”. Other modules follow a flexible learning approach where you will be provided with the appropriate materials and your lecturers will act as learning facilitators, supporting you in a flexible manner.
In seminars you will engage in student centred discussion and debate of major and emerging issues. Wherever possible case studies based on real-world problems from industry and business are used, and open-ended, complex and unpredictable problems are presented for analysis, solution and critical evaluation. You are encouraged to reflect on your own professional experience, and to make use of this where appropriate.
You are encouraged to make use of their own professional experiences throughout the programme - for instance, case studies and scenarios may be tailored, where appropriate, by you if you have relevant personal experience of the topic under study. You may undertake a final individual project which may be linked to a real world problem and an external client.
You are expected to become increasingly creative, reflective, independent learners and researchers, so directed and supported independent learning forms an important part of this programme. The development of these skills will be supported in each module, including in the module Research Methods and Project Management. This module is designed to help you know what is required when working at Masters’ level especially in relation to the individual project, but this can also be applied on other modules.
Additional support for distance learning students includes:
Learning materials, developed specifically for distance learning students, are made available on the electronic learning portal. A suggested schedule is also included but, within the set start and end dates of each module, you may work at your own pace and arrange your own schedule to fit your personal and work commitments.
A member of each module team is designated as the prime contact for distance learning students. This person can be contacted by email, phone, Skype, MSN Messenger. Each module also has access to a discussion board on the electronic learning portal.
As a distance learning students you are welcome to use any university facilities if your circumstances permit. This includes an invitation to attend the lectures or seminars timetabled for full-time students.
The university library offers a comprehensive facility to distance learning students – posting books and printing journal articles. A number of books recommended are available as eBooks.
2.3
How will I be assessed on the programme? This section should contain the programme philosophy, the purpose (and hence nature) of assessment tasks at each level, and how these will complement the learning and teaching philosophy in enabling the achievement of learning outcomes. It will also identify how formative assessment will occur, and how students will be supported in fully understanding the requirements and expectations of an assessment task, and how feedback will be given to enhance learning. (Reference: Northumbria Assessment and Feedback Policy.)
Your assessments are designed to help you develop the knowledge, understanding and skills required of a computer science graduate at postgraduate level (such as critical thinking, self-directed intellectual enquiry, reflection, independent learning and management) and to help you prepare for employment at that level or to progress to academic or research orientated careers. Assessments are designed to assess module and programme learning outcomes. A range of assessment methods are used across the programme.
Assessment is seen as an integral part of your learning process. Whilst learning and the measurement of learning will be linked closely to assessment, it is hoped that the learning environment and learning opportunities presented to you will encourage you to be motivated to learn for educational reasons, and not simply to pass summative assessments. The aim is to avoid surface learning and focus on the need for learning opportunities that elicit a deeper more reflective learning response.
In-class practice and feedback are incorporated into modules as appropriate and you are encouraged to participate in these activities to help you develop the skills, techniques and expectations of summative assessment. For each module assessment you will be provided with a description of the tasks required, including what you will be expected to do, and of the criteria that you will be assessed against.
Assessment methods may include, for example, reports, presentations, individual, group and project work. You will be provided with feedback on your summative assessment in a suitable way, for example in writing and / or verbally to help you understand what you did appropriately and where you could improve your work. Feedback is intended to help you reflect upon your learning and assessment and you should consider it to help you in future learning and assessment.
2.4
What option modules are available within the programme (how and when do I choose my options)? This section will include information on how students will be informed of options available, and how they be supported in making option choices.
Full Time and Distance Learning
There are no option modules on this programme. All students follow a ‘core’ set of computing modules. At the start of your course and during it you will be provided with details of the modules you will study, including the project module. The project provides an opportunity for you to focus your learning on a topic of your choosing and to deepen your knowledge of it.
2.5
How will I be supported pastorally on the programme? This section should contain information on what pastoral support is available for students on the programme, and how students may access the support.
Pastoral support on matters outside of teaching and learning is available from a number of sources across the University, including:
Programme Leader, who is responsible for managing and looking after the well-being of the year group/programme
Guidance Tutors, who are responsible for helping to monitor students’ academic progress and welfare
The Student Support Team – a dedicated team who act as a first point of contact for student queries and issues. The team can be contacted in person at the office or via telephone or email
Central student support services such as, the library and academic services, accommodation services, chaplaincy and faith service, careers and employment, Team Northumbria (sport), counselling, disability services, support for international students, study skills assistance
If you are studying at the London campus you will have access to the London based tutors and programme leader, as well as access to facilities at the Newcastle campus such as the library and academic services, chaplaincy and faith service, careers and employment counselling, disability services, and study skills assistance.
The next section under “Communication with staff” details different ways that communication with the staff mentioned in this section is facilitated.
2.6
How will I be supported academically on the programme? This section should contain information on what academic support is available to students on the programme. It should include details of how support at module level may be accessed outside formal scheduled teaching; how students will be guided in relation to their academic progress; and how faculty and university learning support may be accessed.
Support is provided by a range of academic and professional support staff for students at both the Newcastle and London (either directly at the London site or via email or telephone) campuses, including:
Module tutors - each module has a designated module tutor. The module tutor may have other staff working with them on the module. With the module team, they provide support for students including answering student queries and providing guidance in relation to the module, including its assessment and the student’s academic progress. You can seek support in-class and can also request it outside of class time via appointment (see ‘Communication with staff’)
Year Tutors and Programme Leader - who are responsible for managing and looking after the well-being of the year group/programme. This may include providing guidance about your academic progress where necessary
Professional support staff (including the Student Support Team) – the staff in the faculty office provide a first point of contact for a range of queries, including, for example, those concerning assessment submission, late submission / extensions, enrolment and visa related problems
Communication with staff – this is supported in a number of ways, including:
Email – you will be provided with a personal University email account and you should to use it when you need to contact members of staff. Members of staff also use the University email system as a means of contacting students
eLearning Portal (eLP) - this is used to providing you with specific information related to the modules you take, such as copies of lecture and seminar handouts, assignment briefings, instructions, and announcements
Appointments - members of staff operate an open door policy. However, as academic (teaching) staff may teach on many modules/programmes you are advised to make an appointment to see them. Where this may not be appropriate for distance learning students, members of staff can be contacted by other means, such as telephone and email.
For international students additional support is provided by welfare, immigration and funding advisers who provide assistance on a range of issues including: immigration/visas, working in the UK as an international student, finance, police registration and travel information. In addition, the University provides English language support.
2.7
How will I be involved in the programme? This section should contain information on how students’ views on their experiences will be collected during the programme, and how feedback on the views collected will be given. It should also contain general information on the types of roles available to students related to programme involvement. (Reference Student Engagement Policy)
Student - an open door policy and you are encouraged to provide feedback / ask questions etc., either informally or formally
Student representatives - students elect a representative(s) from the programme, to represent their views to staff, including at Staff Student Programme Committee meetings
Module evaluation - you are asked for feedback on each module that you study. This will be considered along with other sources of information such as external examiner comments as part of an annual process of module review. Feedback from the module teaching team on student views may be provided in a range of ways, including in-class and via Staff Student Programme Committees
Staff Student Programme Committee meetings – these occur once per semester and are a forum for discussing the programme, with input from student representatives and staff, and from other sources such as external examiners. This may include commenting on any issue relating to the operation of the programme, discussion of any planned developments and other relevant matters. Feedback on any matters raised will be provided in all students in the form of meeting minutes
Surveys – you are invited to complete these every year to help gauge you opinion on the programme and modules. Feedback on survey results may again be provided in a range of ways, including via staff student programme committees.
2.8
How will I be prepared for employment / further study on the programme? This section should contain information on the opportunities available to students to enhance their employment / future study prospects, e.g. placement, study abroad, live projects, work based learning / assessment. (Reference: Northumbria Employability, Enterprise & Entrepreneurship Plan)
Industry practice has strongly influenced the design of the programme, and the programme content will evolve in line with developments in the industry and in the subject as an academic discipline. The programme has been designed to meet the requirements of the QAA Subject Benchmark statement for computing and the requirements of the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional (CITP). You will be prepared to progress to full Chartered IT Professional (CITP) status after gaining the necessary professional experience.
The relevance and richness of the programme has been ensured by identifying employer needs. Staff research and industrial expertise informs the content of your modules. Key knowledge and skills for the computing professional are developed throughout the programme that supports career development.
The programme is designed to provide you with the expert knowledge and skills necessary for postgraduate level employment in computing and progression to further study and academic or research orientated careers if desired. Through your coursework, you will develop and apply these skills, including in researching and handling complex issues, planning, leading and managing project tasks, communication, team-working and critical reflection as well as computational skills.
The Universities Careers & Employment Service provide assistance to support graduate employment, including Career Guidance, CV checks, cover letter and application form assistance, and interview and assessment centres preparation.
