UNIVERSITYOFBRADFORD

FacultyofEngineeringandInformatics

SchoolofElectricalEngineeringandComputerScience

Programme/coursetitle:MScSoftwareEngineeringandInternetArchitecture

Awardingandteachinginstitution: / UniversityofBradford
Finalaward: / PGCert/PGDip/MSc[FrameworkforHigherEducationQualificationslevelM]
Programmetitle: / SoftwareEngineeringandInternetArchitecture
Programmeapprovedby:
Duration: / Flexiblepart-time
Dateproduced: / October2011
Lastupdated: / June 2015

Introduction

TheframeworkhasbeendevelopedbySkillset(theSectorSkillsCouncil(SSC)fortheCreativeIndustries),inconsultationwiththeHigherEducationFundingCouncilforEngland(HEFCE)andtheBritishBroadcastingCorporation(BBC).ItwillbedeliveredbyprogrammeteamswithintheEnglishSkillsetMediaAcademiestomeettheprofessionaldevelopmentneedsofmediapractitionersthrougharangeofpostgraduateshortcourses.

Theshortcoursemodulesinthisframeworkaredesignedtoserveascontinuingprofessionaldevelopmentforthoseinemployment,orwithrecentprofessionalexperience.TheyarenotintendedtobeaMastersconversionrouteforthosecomingdirectlyfromundergraduateprogrammes.

Theframeworkanditsmodulesandawardsaredesignedtobeofrelevancetotheemploymentneedsofbothstudentsandtheirorganisationsasstudentswillbeabletoselecttheirownpathwaythroughtheframeworkbyselectingfromtheavailablemodules,andtodevelopwork-basedprojectsaspartofassessment.

ThesePGCert/PGDip/MSc SoftwareEngineeringandInternetArchitectureawardsaimtodevelopthestudent’sspecialistknowledgeandunderstandingofsoftwareengineeringandinternetdesigninordertoenablehim/hertoactasacritical,knowledgeableandresponsiblepractitioner,capableofinitiating,developingandembeddingnewunderstandingsandtechniquesintohis/herprofessionalpractice.

ProgrammeAims

Theprogrammeisintendedto:

A1.providestudentswithasystematicunderstandingandacriticalawarenessofcurrentknowledge,issuesandopportunitiesattheforefrontofcontemporarytechnicalpractice;

A2.equipstudentswiththeintellectualtools,understandingsandtechniquestodealwithcomplexissuesbothsystematicallyandcreativelyinordertoimprovetheirworkingpractices;

A3.ensurestudentsdevelopinnovativeandcreativesolutionstoprofessionalwork-based problems,andcanprovideeffectiveleadershipwhereappropriate;

A4.developthequalitiesandskillsnecessaryforevidence-baseddecision-makingincomplexandunpredictablesituations;

A5.developtheindependentreflectivelearningabilitiesrequiredforeffectivecontinuingprofessionaldevelopment.

ProgrammeLearningOutcomes

Whenyouhavecompletedtheprogrammeyouwillbeableto:

LO1.Appraisetheapplicationofcontemporaryknowledgeandadvancedtechniquesattheforefrontofyourdiscipline.

LO2.Debatearangeofcontroversialissueswithinyourdiscipline.

LO3.Deviseinnovativesolutionstoarangeoftechnicalproblemsinsoftwareengineeringandinternetarchitecture.

LO4.Criticallyevaluateliteratureandresearchforitsvaluetoinformtechnicalpractice.

LO5.Criticallyevaluateyourownreflectiveandanalyticalskills.

LO6.Debatethestrengthsandweaknessesoftrendsincurrentprofessionalpractice.

LO7.Operateaccordingtoestablishedcodesofprofessionalpractice.

LO8.Practiceeffectivecommunicationskillswithinyourprofessionalcommunity.

LO9.Applyleadershipskillsinbothacademicandprofessionalcontexts.

Curriculum

ThisspecificationisforaMasterslevel/framework.Assuchitdoesnotcontainasetofcurriculummodulesaswouldatraditionalprogramme.

AllmodulesthatareincludedwithintheSkillsetportfolioarereviewedandupdatedannuallytoensureprofessionalrelevance.Thecurrentlistofmodulesisavailableon-lineat

ModuleCode / ModuleTitle / Type / Credits / Level / Studyperiod
CM-1071D / AdvancedDatabase Systems(PG) / Standard / 20 / M / Flexible
CM-0423D / AdvancedDatabaseTechniques / Standard / 20 / M / Flexible
CM-1033D / AdvancedSoftwareDevelopment / Standard / 20 / M / Flexible
CM-1072D / Data Mining / Standard / 20 / M / Flexible
CM-1064D / InternetSecurityandProtocols / Standard / 20 / M / Flexible
CM-1067D / MobileApplications / Standard / 20 / M / Flexible
CM-1066D / NetworkandProtocols / Standard / 20 / M / Flexible
CM-1052D / Security,PrivacyandDataProtection / Standard / 20 / M / Flexible
CM-0422D / WebEngineering(PG) / Standard / 20 / M / Flexible
CM-0424Z / Dissertation / Dissertation / 60 / M / Flexible

Students could choose EITHER Advanced Database Techniques* OR Data Mining* and Advanced Database Techniques* OR Advanced Database Systems (PG) but NOT BOTH.

PostgraduateCertificate

Thiswillconsistof60creditsfromthelistofSkillsetapprovedmodules,withatleast20fromthoseavailablefromtheSchoolofElectricalEngineeringandComputerScience.

PostgraduateDiploma

Thiswillconsistof120creditsfromthelistofSkillsetapprovedmodules,withatleast40fromthoseavailablefromtheSchoolofElectricalEngineeringandComputerScience.

Masters

Thiswillconsistof120creditsfromthelistofSkillsetapprovedmodules,withatleast40fromthoseavailablefromtheSchoolofElectricalEngineeringandComputerSciencemodulesplusthe60creditDissertationmodule.

Thecurriculummaychange,subjecttotheUniversity'scourseapproval,monitoringandreviewprocedures.

TeachingandAssessmentStrategies

Duetothemarketforthesemodules(professionals),learningandteachingmethodswillbebaseduponshort,intensiveclassroomactivitysupportedbyavarietyofon-lineresourcesandcommunicationinordertoensureaflexiblecoursedeliveryasrequiredbypractisingprofessionals. Lectures,seminarsandworkshopswillidentifyanddevelopnewsubject-specificskillsandsystematicunderstandingswhichstudentswillapplyaspartofwork-basedlearning.Inface-to-facesessionsconcepts,principlesandtheorieswillbeintroducedandexploredinlecturesandpracticedanddiscussedintutorialsbyworkingthroughexamples,withlabsessionstosimulatenetworksandprotocols.Theseskillswillbefurtherdevelopedthroughonlinelearningsupportedbyfeedbackandmasterclassesprovidedbyvisitingmediaprofessionals.Self-directedresearchbasedlearningisalsoakeyelementofsubjectskillsdevelopment.

Students,asissuitableatM-level,willbeengagedingroupdiscussionwithpeerswhichfocusesonexaminationoftheirownpracticeaswellascase-studies(drawnfrompracticeaswellasrecentresearch).Inthisrespect,studentswilllearnfrombothtutor-designedmaterialaswellastheirpeersinordertobuildavibrantanddynamiclearningexperience.Ahighdegreeoflearningwilltakeplaceindependentlywithineachstudent'susualprofessionalpractice.

Currentresearchiscriticallyevaluatedwithinmostmodulesviawrittencoursework.Allstudentsconductindependentresearchwheretheyevaluateexistingsolutionstoproblems,proposealternatives,implementsolutionstoproblemsandcriticallyevaluatetheworkcarriedout.Ideasarecommunicatedtofellowstudents,academicsandindustryspecialistsviapresentationsandreports.

MScstudentsundertakinga60creditdissertationareexpectedtocompleteworkfollowingadevelopedandapprovedspecification;carryoutappropriateresearchintheproblemdomain;demonstratecompetenceinselectingandapplyingappropriatetoolsandtechniques;analyse,designand,implementasolutiontothespecifiedproblem;andcriticallyevaluateandclearlypresenttheworkcarriedout.

Formsofassessmentwilldifferacrossmodules,butaredesignedtobestfittheoutcomesandbelinkedtotheprofessionalworkofthestudent.Includedinthisvarietyofsummativeassessmentarecriticalreports,actionplans,presentationsandtechnicalprojects.Formativeassessmenttakesplaceacrossmoduledeliveryviaanumberofapproaches:tutor/studenttutorialseitherinpersonorviaemail/phone/Web-basedvideochat,tutor/peergroupdiscussionandcritiqueofworkinprogressatkeystages.Summativeworkmayalsobepresentedforfinalcritiquetopeers.

AssessmentRegulations

TheProgrammedeviatesfromthestandardUniversityAssessmentRegulationsbynotoffering ‘merit’ or ‘distinction’ classificationsofdegree.Allawardswillbedesignatedas ‘pass’ degreesduetotheinclusionofmodulesfromotherinstitutions.

Besidesthis,theProgrammeconformstothestandardUniversityAssessmentRegulationsforPostgraduateProgrammeswhichareavailableatthefollowinglink:

AdmissionRequirements

TheUniversitywelcomesapplicationsfromallpotentialstudentsregardlessoftheirpreviousacademicexperience;offersaremadefollowingdetailedconsiderationofeachindividualapplication. Mostimportantinthedecisiontoofferaplaceisourassessmentofacandidate’spotentialtobenefitfromtheirstudiesandoftheirabilitytosucceedonthisparticularprogramme. Entrancerequirementsforeachprogrammewillvarybutconsiderationofyourapplicationwillbebasedonacombinationofyourformalacademicqualificationsandotherrelevantexperience.

Applicantsshouldhaveabasicsetofskillsandattributesrequiredtofulfillthedemandsoftheframework:

  • matureacademicknowledgeandskills,normallyatorabovehonoursdegreelevel,normallyinrelateddisciplines;
  • professionalexperienceinthecreativeindustries,normallytwoyearsormore.

Applicantsshouldconfirmtheirabilitytostudyatpostgraduatelevelbypresentingevidenceofanappropriateachievementatfirstdegreelevel,normallya2.1(UpperSecondClassHonours)orequivalent. Alternatively,forstudentswhodonothaveafirstdegree,equivalentintellectualmaturitythroughexperiencedemonstratedinportfoliosorrecordsofachievementand/orbytaskssetatinterview,confirmedbyemployerreference/swillbeconsideredoranycombinationofacademic,vocationalandexperientialqualifications,tobeconsideredusingRecognitionofPriorExperientialLearning (RPEL)principles.

ApplicantsmusthavearecognisedqualificationinEnglishlanguage.ApplicantswhosefirstlanguageisnotEnglishshouldpresentevidenceofEnglishlanguageproficiencyviatheCambridge/BritishCouncilEnglishLanguageTestingService(IELTS)withanaveragescoreof7.0andforeachcomponent6orabove,oranequivalentlevelofattainmentinanalternativetesttoIELTs.

Ifyouhavepriorcertificatedlearningorprofessionalexperiencewhichmaybeequivalenttopartsofthisprogramme,theUniversityhasprocedurestoevaluatethislearninginordertoprovideyouwithexemptionsfromspecifiedmodulescontainedwithinthecurriculum. Pleasetalktousifyoudonotfitthestandardpatternofentryqualifications.

TheUniversityofBradfordhasalwayswelcomedapplicationsfromdisabledstudents,andthesewillbeconsideredonthesameacademicgroundsasareappliedtoallapplicants. Ifyouhavesomeformofdisabilityyoumaywishtocontacttheprogrammeleaderbeforeyouapply.

LearningResources

TheJBPriestleyLibraryonthecitycampusandourspecialistlibrariesintheSchoolofHealthStudiesandtheSchoolofManagementprovideawideelectronicresourcestosupportyourstudies. Mostofourjournalsareavailableontheinternet(bothonandoffcampus),andyoucanalsoaccessyourUniversityemailaccount,personalinformationandcourse-relatedmaterialsthisway.Webuye-bookswhentheseexist.

Staffareonhandduringthedaytimetohelpyouifyougetstuck,andthereisa24/7IThelplineavailable.

SubjectlibrariansforeachSchoolcanprovideindividualguidanceinfindingtheinformationyouneedforyourassignment,andwillhelpyouorganiseyourreferencesproperly.

Whenyouareoncampus,youcanaccessourwiderangeofprintedbooksandothematerials,quietandgroupstudyspace,andstudentPCclusters,whichcanbefoundinallourlibrariesandelsewhereonthecampus. Manyoftheseareopen24/7. YoucanalsousetheUniversity'swirelessnetworktoaccesstheinternetfromyourownlaptop.

DistanceLearnerSupport

Moduleonlinesupport

E--learningwillbeacentralelementinthedeliveryofmoduleswithintheframeworkviaonlineviaforums,blogs(industryandacademic)andindustrypublications.Wherenecessary,studentswillbesuppliedwithlinkstorelevanton-linesourceseitherviaBlackboard,socialbookmarkingsoftwareorotherweb-basedcollaborativesoftware.Useofexternalresourcesandtechnology,suchsocialnetworksandinstantmessagingsystemswillfeatureinmodulesasappropriate.

Universityonlinesupport

TheUniversityco-ordinatesthesupporttodistancelearnersvieaWebsitewhichhasbeensetuptohelpDistanceLearnerstoaccessthewidevarietyofsupportthattheUniversityhastooffer,availableat:

Itcontainslinksto:

  • InductionMaterials
  • SupportwithyourStudies
  • DisabilityService
  • Counselling
  • CareerDevelopmentService
  • ITHelpandAdvice

Skillsetonlinesupport

Skillsetprovideawebsitededicatedtotheframework,listingallmodulesandacademiccontactdetailsforeachparticipatingMediaAcademy:

Thewebsiteprovidesfullinformationregardingtheframework.ThewebaddresswillbemadeavailableinallmodulehandbooksandonassociatedUniversitycoursewebsites.SkillsetalsohaveanadministratorinplacetoadviseandguideapplicantsandprovideaclearlineofcommunicationbetweenparticipatingMediaAcademiesandSkillset.

StudentSupportandGuidance

CourseTeam

Supportforyoupersonallyandinyourcourseofstudy,willbeprovidedbothbytheUniversityandtheCourseTeam. Youwillbeallocatedapersonaltutorwhoissomeonewithwhomyouwillbeabletotalkaboutanyacademicorpersonalconcerns. TheSchoolwillensurethatthereissomeoneavailablewithwhomyoufeelcomfortabletohelpandsupportyou. Youwillbeprovidedwithacomprehensiveseriesofhandbooksthatyoucanconsultonarangeoflearningissuesandyourcoursetutorswillbeavailabletoconsultonsubjectspecificqueries.

Students’ Union

WevaluethefeedbackprovidedbystudentsandcollaboratewiththeStudents’ Union,throughasystemofcourserepresentativesandformalstaffstudentliaisoncommittees,sothatanyissuesyouwishtoraiseareaddressedrapidly.

TheStudents’ UnionandtheUniversityofBradfordworkinpartnershiptoprovideconfidentialcounsellingandwelfareserviceswhereyoucangethelpwithanyaspectofyourpersonaloracademiclife. StudentFinancialandInformationServices(partoftheHub)willprovideyouwithinformationaboutadiverserangeofissuessuchascounciltax,personalsafetyandtouristinformation. InternationalStudentscanaccessarangeofadditionaladviceandsupportservicesthroughtheStudent’sUnion.

CareersandEmployability

TheUniversityiscommittedtohelpingstudentsdevelopandenhanceemployabilityandthisisanintegralpartofmanyprogrammes.SpecialistsupportisavailablethroughoutthecoursefromCareerDevelopmentServicesincludinghelptofindpart-timeworkwhilestudying,placements,vacationworkandgraduatevacancies.Studentsareencouragedtoaccessthissupportatanearlystageandtousetheextensiveresourcesonthewebsite

Discussingoptionswithspecialistadvisershelpstoclarifyplansthroughexploringoptionsandrefiningskillsofjob-hunting.InmostofprogrammesthereisdirectinputbyCareerDevelopmentAdvisersintothecurriculumorthroughspeciallyarrangedworkshops.

Thespecificprovisiononthisframeworkaimstoenhancethestudent'sworksothatwork-basedpracticecontributestotherequirementsofthemodules,andthenewlearningfeedsintoandimprovesworkingpracticeandthereforedevelopsemployability.

LearnerDevelopmentUnit

TheLearnerDevelopmentUnitprovidessupportinallaspectsofacademic,maths,numeracyandinterpersonalskills.AprogrammeofinteractiveworkshopsisdeliveredduringbothsemesterswhichcomplementstheindividualsupportavailablefromAdvisersandthewiderangeofinteractiveonlinematerials.

Disability

DisabledstudentswillfindasupportiveenvironmentatBradfordwherewearecommittedtoensuringthatallaspectsofstudentlifeareaccessibletoeveryone.TheDisabilityServicecanhelpbyprovidingequipmentandadvicetohelpyougetthemostoutofyourtimeatBradfordandisaplacewhereyoucandiscussanyconcernsyoumayhaveaboutadjustmentsthatyoumayneed,whethertheserelatetostudy,personalcareorotherissues.FormoreinformationcontacttheDisabilityServicebyphoning:01274233739orviaemail:

Universitypoliciesandinitiatives

Ecoversity

EcoversityisastrategicprojectoftheUniversitywhichaimstoembedtheprinciplesofsustainabledevelopmentintoourdecision-making,learningandteaching,researchactivitiescampusoperationsandlivesofourstaffandstudents.Thefacilitieswecreateforteachingandlearning,includingteachingspaces,laboratories,ITlabsandsocialspaces,willincreasinglyreflectourcommitmentstosustainabledevelopment.Staffandstudentparticipationinthisinitiativeiscrucialtoitssuccessanditsinclusionintheprogrammespecificationisaclearsignalthatitisattheforefrontofourthinkinginprogrammedevelopment,delivery,monitoringandreview.Formoredetailssee

TheMScSoftwareEngineeringandInternetArchitecturecourseaddressesaspectsoftheUniversity’sEducationforSustainableDevelopment(ESD)policyasitequipsstudentswithabilitytocontributetoalternativeapproachestodevelopmentbyadvancingsoftwareengineeringandinternet.Thetaughtmoduleshelpyoutodevelopunderstandingofsomeofsocialandeconomicconditionsofsoftwareapplicationsandinternetdevelopment.ThemoduleSecurity,PrivacyandDataProtectionprovidesscopefordevelopingethicalawareness,andyouarefreetoexplorefurtherethicalandenvironmentalissuesinyourMScDissertationmodule,shouldyouwishto.

FurtherInformation:

Forfurtherinformation,pleasechecktheUniversityprospectusorcontactAdmissions.

TheAdmissionsOffice
TheUniversityofBradford
RichmondRoad
Bradford,BD71DP
UK / TheAdmissionsOffice
SchoolofElectricalEngineeringandComputerScience
UniversityofBradford
HortonDBuilding
RichmondRoad
Bradford,BD71DP
UK
+44(0)1274233054
/ +44(0)1274234286

Thecontentsofthisprogrammespecificationmaychange,subjecttotheUniversity'sregulationsandcourseapproval,monitoringandreviewprocedures.

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