Loughborough university programme Specification Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence

Subject-specific cognitive skills:

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  Modelling: use the appropriate knowledge and understanding described above in the modelling and design of computer-based systems and intelligent machines for the purposes of comprehension, communication, prediction and the understanding of trade-offs.
  
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  Requirements, practical constraints and computer-based systems and intelligent machines in their context: recognise and analyse criteria and specifications appropriate to specific problems, and plan strategies for their solution.
  
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  Critical evaluation and testing: analyse the extent to which a computer-based system meets the criteria defined for its current use and future development.
  
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  Methods and tools: deploy appropriate theory, practices and tools, including engineering principles founded on appropriate scientific and technological disciplines, appropriate scientific principles and mathematical principles and notation, for the analysis, specification, design, implementation and evaluation of computer-based systems and intelligent machines.
  
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  Reflection and communication: present succinctly to a range of audiences (orally, electronically or in writing) rational and reasoned arguments that address a given information handling problem or opportunity.
  
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  Professional considerations: recognise the professional, moral and ethical issues involved in the exploitation of computer technology and be guided by the adoption of appropriate professional, ethical and legal practices.
  
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  Management techniques: use management techniques to achieve objectives within a computing context.
  

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  Show critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights in their chosen specialist area.
  
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  Deploy appropriate research techniques within their chosen field of specialism.
  
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  Apply the professional and management techniques within a commercial and economic context.
  

Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

The projects in the third and fourth years require students to understand and contribute to the building of complex computer solutions to realistic problems. This will require research and development, which students will undertake with guidance mainly from their project supervisor but also from the project coordinator in a series of lectures given throughout the duration of the project. In most cases the project will build on a foundation of knowledge obtained from other modules taken. The second year team projects also require students to research and apply their knowledge to produce complex systems relevant to an industrial computing environment. Guidance is given during the team projects module by a module team of lecturers and support staff. In modules with a laboratory content students are expected to investigate and learn possible solutions to problems with help being available from laboratory supervisors as required. In other modules the students are required to solve a variety of problems building on the knowledge acquired during the module and supporting modules.

MSci students are given additional research experience through the thesis project and additional professional and management experience through the group project and management modules in Part D.

Subject-specific practical skills:

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  use appropriate processes to specify, design, implement, verify and maintain computer-based systems, including working with technical uncertainty.
  
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  investigate and define a problem, identify constraints, understand customer and user needs, ensure fitness of purpose and manage the design process and evaluate outcomes.
  
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  evaluate systems in terms of general quality attributes and possible trade-offs presented within the given problem.
  
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  deploy effectively the tools used for the construction and documentation of computer applications, with particular emphasis on understanding the whole process involved in the effective deployment of computers to solve practical problems, including applying the principles of appropriate engineering, scientific and mathematical disciplines.
  
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  operate computing equipment effectively, taking into account its logical and physical properties.
  

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  Apply appropriate research techniques
  
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  Develop and apply new technologies
  
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  Show originality and innovation
  
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  Identify and manage cost drivers
  
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  Make general evaluations of commercial risk
  

Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

For MSci students, the group project and management of IT modules of the final year give experience of an industry based project to further develop practical and professional skills, including cost evaluation and risk, and the thesis project gives experience of research techniques and new technologies giving an opportunity to show originality and innovation. MSci final year students are also given practical leadership and managerial experience in working with first year teams.

Key/transferable skills:

On successful completion of these programmes, students should have the following skills:

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  The ability to make concise, engaging and well-structured presentations, arguments and explanations of varying lengths by using various media
  
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  The ability to work as a member of a development team, recognising the different roles within a team and different ways of organising teams.
  
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  Effective information-retrieval skills (including the use of browsers, search engines and catalogues).
  
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  Numeracy in both understanding and presenting cases involving a quantitative dimension.
  
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  Effective use of general IT facilities.
  
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  Communication skills in electronic as well as written and oral form to a range of audiences.
  
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  Managing one's own learning and development including time management and organisational skills.
  
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  Appreciating the need for continuing professional development in recognition of the need for lifelong learning.
  

Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved and demonstrated:

Many of these transferable skills will be acquired while developing the cognitive and practical skills associated with the programme.  Information retrieval skills are obtained while researching subjects for many modules, including project work. Numeracy skills will be acquired in the mathematical modules. General IT skills are obtained while developing software solutions and preparing presentations and reports. The management of one's own learning is achieved when balancing the workload within and between modules. The appreciation of the need for continuing professional development is achieved through the exposure of students to the latest technologies and methods in the final year. These skills are not directly assessed though graduating from this programme would not be possible without these skills being obtained. However, the ability to work in a team is directly considered in the marking of the Team Projects module and communication skill is directly considered in the marking of the final year project. In the Team Projects and the final year projects students are assessed on the demonstrations/ presentations they make.

4. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules, credits and awards:

The honours BSc consists of three academic years with an optional additional year in industry between Parts B & C leading to the supplementary award of Diploma in Professional Studies.

The MSci award is identical to the honours BSc programme (including the optional year in industry) but with an additional academic year consisting project work with some management work.

Full details can be found in the Programme Regulations at:

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/lps/progreg/year/1112/index.htm

5. Criteria for admission to the programme:

Admission to the programme is usually on the basis of ABB-AAB from three A levels for the BSc degree or AAB - AAA for the MSci Degree. In both cases Mathematics is required.

Other relevant qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

6. Information about assessment regulations:

Most modules are assessed by a mixture of written examination, coursework and some will include practical assessment.

Part A and Part B assessment is for progression to the second and third year respectively. Part A and B results are weighted 1:3 for the BSc degree in calculating final degree classification. For the MSci degree the weighting of parts B, C and D is 14:43:43 (approx 1:3:3) respectively.

Students follow modules weighted at 120 credits per year. In order to progress to the next year of the programme, or to be awarded a degree at the end of Part C, students must, each year, accumulate at least 100 credits (120 credits for MSci students). A pass mark of 40% is applied to each module.

Any student who fails to meet these module requirements has the automatic right of reassessment on one occasion only. Students who have achieved a minimum of 60 credits for the year can opt for reassessment in either the September following the end of the academic year or during the course of the following academic year. Students with less than 60 credits must wait until the following year to be reassessed. Students who are reassessed in the following year may choose to take the reassessment with or without tuition. Students who are reassessed with tuition are required to take both coursework and examination components of the module (and the new mark supersedes the original mark). Students who are reassessed without tuition may be allowed to carry forward the component which has been passed. The overall mark, averaged over coursework and examination, for reassessed modules is capped at 40%.

7. What makes the programmes distinctive:

In the last 3 years that the National Student Survey has run, the Department of Computer Science has consistently been at or near the top of the tables.

Three labs of around 50 computers each, provide support for student work. We are one of the first universities to adopt a triple-booting Windows/Linux/Macosx environment providing experience of all major platforms. The department maintains two student study room and is located very close to other amenities on campus. An Intranet provides access to all learning resources for our students, together with other information. Lectures and other sessions are presented in University supported pool rooms, all equipped to high standards, many with data projection facilities. All students are supported by a comprehensive support structure including Personal Tutors, Year Tutors, Programme Tutors and a Senior Tutor.

Our programmes support both three- and four-year taught variations leading to a bachelor (honours BSc) or masters (MSci) degrees with specialisation available through project work in both the 3rd and 4th years. In addition all students can undertake a sandwich year in industry, where the department provides support both during the year and in finding placement opportunities.

The programmes have been recently restructured. This has created an IT core that concentrates on key computing learning outcomes for all students, and a Computer Science specialist addition for single- honours programmes. The former allows the student to learn requirements analysis, system design and the creation of web-based systems. The latter concentrating on the foundations of computing, AI, graphics and advanced IT topics.

Development of our programmes has take place with input from the Department's Industrial Advisory Committee which meets regularly in order to keep our programme content up-to-date with the needs of industry. Several companies offer prizes to students as individuals and groups, the department also funds prizes for the best students.

Our programmes are regularly accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS) and our aim is for all programmes to receive accreditation by the BCS and the Engineering Council. Accreditation for the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence programmes will be sought during the next visit of the BCS which will take place in March 2008. On their most recent visit the QAA awarded the department the top possible grading for its programmes and their delivery.

The final year optional modules are based on the research strengths of the department's staff. This gives a set of modules truly reflecting the skills of the department. The quality of the Programme is endorsed by the external examiners who are consulted at each stage of the examination process who view and comment on papers, coursework and undertake viva voce examinations during their summer visit.

8. Particular support for learning

8.1 Departmental Support

The department has an integrated structure for the management, appraisal and planning of teaching and learning. This is comprised of the Teaching Coordinator (who manages the Learning and Teaching Committee and has overall responsibility for teaching matters); the Senior Tutor who is responsible for student welfare and arranges social events for the students to take part in; Programme Directors who have responsibility for the academic content and the general organisation of the course, and the academic welfare of the students); Year Tutors who monitor students performance and attendance; and Personal Tutors who are responsible for matters relating to academic welfare.

On the first day of their academic studies, students receive information from the department directing them towards the departmental intranet site which contains important information including the management structure of the department, programme and module specifications and general points relating to coursework and examination. The students are also assigned a personal tutor who is responsible for their personal welfare who arranges to see them during the first semester. Thereafter the personal tutor arranges to see their tutees at important times, such as after examinations, at the start of a new year or when problems have been raised in respect to the tutees by Year Coordinator, Programme Director or Teaching Coordinator.

The department runs its own computer labs specifically for the use of students on its own programmes. All material related to programme learning and administration is available on the departmental intranet. In addition, the department provides several study areas for student use during the semester.

8.2 University Support

For further information please see:

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  http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/templates/notes/lps/
  

9. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standards of learning

For information please see:

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/admin/ar/templates/notes/lps/

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