UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORDSchool of Computing Informatics and MediaDepartment of ComputingProgramme/course title: FDSc Enterprise in IT

Awarding and teaching institution: / University of Bradford
Final award: / Foundation Degree in Science [Framework for Higher Education Qualifications level I]
Programme title: / Enterprise in IT
Programme accredited by: / not applicable
Duration: / 2 years full time, or 4 years part time
UCAS code: / G420 FDSc/EIT
Subject benchmark statement: / Computing
Date produced:
Last updated: / June 2004
July 2010

Programme Aims

The computer is at the heart of the information society that characterises the 21st century. The University of Bradford’s School of Informatics already offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in computing, digital media, robotics, and cybernetics. Many of our graduates have formed their own businesses after completing their studies. The Foundation Degree in Enterprise in IT is aimed at candidates who know that they wish to set up in business on their own, and is designed to give you a head start in achieving this.

The FDSc Enterprise in IT is designed for students who wish to develop expertise in some of the tools, packages, and systems that allow us to communicate information across and around the planet. On this course you will study the basics of IT, alongside which you will study lifelong learning skills and work on your own personal, professional, and business development. The programme also offers a number of optional module choices, and periods of work-focused learning in both Stages One and Two, where you will be able to take the first steps towards setting up your own IT business.

The programme’s home in the School of Computing, Informatics and Media is the Department of Computing. In accordance with the University’s mission, ‘Making Knowledge Work’, the Department aims to provide excellence in a comprehensive range of studies with emphasis on both teaching and research, in the firm belief that the two are mutually dependent. With reference to teaching and learning, the Department aims to:

·  deliver a flexible programme of study in Enterprise in IT that reflects the requirements of modern industry, commerce and service sectors as well as areas of staff expertise;

·  provide a supportive, structured environment in which students are encouraged to develop independent learning skills;

·  develop subject knowledge and understanding, and provide training in discipline skills to enable graduates to pursue further programmes of study or to move directly into the third Stage of a BSc Honours degree in a related subject area;

·  develop personal transferable skills to enable graduates to pursue further programmes of study or careers in non-cognate fields;

·  promote educational opportunities for ethnic minorities, women, mature and alternatively qualified students, as well as school leavers and traditionally qualified students.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes indicate what you should know and understand, and be able to do on successful completion of the course. These have been developed with reference to the Computing subject benchmarks. As such, you will develop the following:

·  Knowledge and Understanding: of information technologies and the principles that underpin them, the principles of underlying hardware and software; knowledge of and competence in a range of programming and scripting languages and software applications packages, business environments and markets, business management and information skills, development and deployment of a business plan, lifelong learning skills, methods for effective self management.

·  Discipline Specific Skills: competence across the range of IT to ECDL level; ability to identify and analyse business opportunities, processes, and procedures, researching, writing, evaluation, and deployment of a business plan; depending on optional modules chosen, students may also develop skills in the following: programming in a major object-oriented language; scripting languages; multimedia and web interface and application development; computer networking and systems administration; image manipulation and desktop publishing; development of database systems

·  Personal and Transferable Skills: in data management and presentation; interpretation of information; IT and communication skills; creative and systematic problem solving; reflective and enquiring learning; effective project management; and personal management.

The Curriculum

The matrix of studies offered on the FDSc Enterprise in IT is detailed below. Units of study are normally a mixture of 10 and 20 academic credits; however the final work focused unit is 30 academic credits. Each year, or stage, of a foundation degree course comprises 2 semesters with 60 credits being studied in each semester.

Unit Code / Credit / Sem / Level /

Module Title

/ Core/
Option
CM0113L / 20 / 1&2 / 1 / Developing Professional Skills / C
CY0117L / 20 / 1&2 / 1 / Relational Databases / C
CM0116D / 20 / 1 / 1 / Software Development 1 / C
CM0211M / 10 / 1 / 1 / Introduction to Web Technologies / C
EM0227M / 10 / 1 / 1 / Principles of Design for Media / C
CM0202M / 10 / 2 / 1 / Foundations of Human Computer Interaction / C
MAN0118M / 10 / 2 / 1 / Organisational Information Systems / C
INF1001D / 20 / 2 / 1 / Enterprise Placement / C
LEDF201D / 20 / 1 / 2 / People and Organisations / O
MAN0601M / 10 / 1 / 2 / Information & Management Systems / O
MAN0713M / 10 / 1 / 2 / Marketing Management and Strategy / O
MAN0910M / 10 / 1 / 2 / Resource Planning / O
MAN0802M / 10 / 1 / 2 / Psychology at Work / O
EM0249M / 10 / 1 / 2 / Multimedia Design / C
CM0219M / 10 / 1 / 2 / Network Business / C
CY0212M / 10 / 2 / 2 / How to Run an SME / C
EM0240D / 20 / 2 / 2 / Multimedia Application Development / C
INF2001T / 30 / 2 / 2 / Enterprise Development / C

*NB – option availability is as follows: Stage 2, semester 1 – choose 50 credits from options.

Please note that, while every effort will be made to accommodate your choices, it may not be possible to permit every possible combination of optional modules, due to timetabling constraints.

The curriculum may change, subject to the University's course approval, monitoring and review procedures.

Assessment Regulations

Regulations regarding assessment, progression and the award of degrees are available at: http://www.brad.ac.uk/admin/acsec/taught_courses.html.

If you successfully complete the FDSc Enterprise in IT, you may apply for admission to other appropriate degrees of the University without loss of time. Admissions tutors will be able to advise you of the possibilities.

Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategies

The FDSc Enterprise in IT is designed to give you the opportunity to develop a range of skills appropriate to the area of study. It also has the capacity to acknowledge and build upon the knowledge and skills you may have acquired through previous learning experiences. Across the programme you will develop a full range of skills and competencies appropriate to the subject area or mode of learning which taken overall will enhance your capability to function as a self-directed learner.

A diverse range of teaching, learning and assessment methods will be used in the delivery of the course so as to meet the learning outcomes of individual modules. You will be particularly encouraged and supported to develop an autonomous style of learning. Direct reading and workbooks, reflective journals, problem-solving and project work, tutorials, work-focused activities, and student-led seminars will be a feature of delivery. Similarly, a wide range of assessment strategies will be implemented. All these strategies are used to facilitate an interest in lifelong learning and personal development

Work-focused learning is an important and integral part of the programme that requires you to demonstrate, through tutor-led guidance, the application of acquired knowledge/skills via a work-focused activity. There are three main periods of work-focused learning built into the programme’s modules, including INF1001D Enterprise Placement which requires you to work to an industry-based brief in a workplace environment, CY0212M How to Run an SME which requires you to produce a business plan based on your previous research and experience, and INF2001T Enterprise Development which requires you to produce a creative project in an industrial setting under the guidance of industry professionals and/or tutors with industrial experience.

In many cases, these elements will be work-located, i.e. the study will take place in a place of employment. Besides good relationships with relevant employees, the School of Computing, Informatics and Media contains the Informatics Innovation Unit and Simula Media Services. These carry out commercial work in the field of digital and creative enterprise, giving students the opportunity to carry out the work-located components whilst remaining close to the academic resources of the University. If you are already in employment, it may be appropriate to study the work-focused modules in your place of work.

Admission Requirements

Each year, Computing admits about 150 undergraduates to our awards. Offers are made following detailed consideration of each individual application. Most important in the decision to offer a place is our assessment of a candidate’s potential to benefit from their studies and of their ability to succeed on this particular course. Entrance requirements will vary but are set after consideration of each applicant’s academic background and achievements and all other relevant experience. A typical offer to someone seeking entry through the UCAS scheme would be 120 points, and this should include one 6 unit award. Applications are welcome from candidates with non-standard qualifications or who, lacking academic qualifications, have significant relevant experience.

Student support and guidance

All students admitted to the School of Computing, Informatics and Media go through a process of induction led by a senior member of staff. Afterwards, ongoing support for students is provided in the form of one-stop facilities located at the School of Computing, Informatics and Media Student Support Office (SSO) in Horton A2.09, open throughout the day during term, and in the mornings and afternoons outside term. Support for registered students also is provided 24/7 via the intranets of the School of Computing, Informatics and Media, Department of EIMC and the School’s Technical Support. The School uses the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to support students via their individual modules.

The School has a dedicated placements tutor who oversees students whilst on work placements, and students will be visited during their time in the work place to monitor their progress and provide support.

All students on the FDSc Enterprise in IT will be allocated a personal tutor who provides support and guidance on matters relating to your learning, teaching and academic progress. The Student Staff Liaison Committee gives the opportunity for you to give formal feedback to the Course Tutor and/or department about curricular issues and the general running of the programme. Besides offering support for academic aspects or student life, there are tutors within the School with special responsibilities for areas such as disability, equal opportunities and gender.

Further Information

For further information, please check the University prospectus or contact Admissions.

The Admissions Office
The University of Bradford
Richmond Road
Bradford, BD7 1DP
UK / The Recruitment and Marketing Office
School of Computing, Informatics and Media
The University of Bradford
Horton Building
Richmond Road
Bradford, BD7 1DP
UK
+44 (0)1274 233054
http://www.brad.ac.uk/courses/ / +44 (0)1274 235963

http://scim.brad.ac.uk/courses/ug/

Disclaimer

The details of this Programme Specification and information contained therein are subject to change in accordance with the University of Bradford’s course approval, monitoring and review procedures.

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