BSc (Hons) Computer Science with Foundation Year

This module aims to provide an introduction to technical computing and the application of computers in the implementation of simple algorithms.

This module aims to provide you with the mathematical knowledge, understanding and skills which are required to use mathematics as an analytical tool in engineering and technology subjects.

This module will introduce you to the software development process in order to be able to use a range of computer programming environment and their applications. You will also be able to develop problem solving skills in computing and wider engineering or technology areas.

This year long module supports you in developing the academic and practical skills needed to become an effective and independent learner. It includes regular contact with personal tutors, encouraging a smooth transition into the Higher Education environment.

This module enables you to identify the importance of information and how information can be transformed into developing logical designs in order to develop a working database. This database will manipulate data to produce meaningful information for the end user. You will participate in student-focused learning activities based on a combination of formal lectures and practical, experiential learning in laboratories, with supporting tutorials and seminars designed to reinforce and increase your learning experience.

This module provides you with the concepts, methods, techniques and experience to design, develop and manage digital multimedia productions. Lectures will concentrate on the necessary theory of these topics while hands-on practical sessions and workshops will develop the capabilities to design, create, produce and deliver media rich experiences.

The emphasis of this module will be on the underlying computing challenges of large-scale applications of the kind regularly featured in the general media. The intention is to demystify these applications and spark your interest in the underlying computing challenges and solutions. Lectures on contemporary applied computing topics will be complemented with lab sessions encouraging you to research information and develop high-level solutions to related problems.

In this module you are delivered programming and problem solving skills with no prior assumptions of programming experience. Given the importance of programming to computer science, this module will encourage you to study more specialised software development topics. You will gain an understanding of how software is developed and become familiar with a range of computer programming paradigms.

This module provides you with a basic knowledge in relation to the computing platform (hardware, operating systems, networks) upon which applications are developed and hosted. You will need this as support knowledge for subsequent modules at Level 5 and 6.

This module provides you with an opportunity to consider your future role as a computing professional. The tutorials and workshops will be used to develop strategies that you can use, providing opportunities for you to understand the field of Computing in a more effective way. You will develop your understanding of professionalism in computing, of working in the computing industry, and of the ethical frameworks and codes of conduct for the computing industry.

The module develops your ability to model data in various differing scenarios. You are initially required to manipulate and present data in spreadsheet based applications. Then, you are required to solve problems using a data modelling methodology (e.g. entity relationship models/normalisation), ultimately leading towards the construction of database based applications.

This module provides you with a strong foundation in the topics underpinning computer science. The module engages you with modelling systems and analysis techniques that are used to investigate and understand computing and software engineering problems. The intention is for you to develop a scientific and engineering ethos that will enable you to understand the science of computing.

This module introduces you to the skills required for developing technical computer science solutions in software as part of a development team. Each team will be fully supported by the delivery team. You will be expected to arrive at solutions yourself, acquire most of the necessary skills and knowledge yourself, and support your team members to strengthen cohesion and to arrive at solutions earlier.

Increasingly, much of the world's software is being run in a web browser. Software offered over the Web provides many sought-after benefits in software deployment: ease of implementation, universality and ubiquity of access, and availability of server-side data and services. This module seeks to endow you with the necessary knowledge and underpinning technologies to develop for the World Wide Web. You will learn techniques and technologies to develop web applications, hosted on a web application server, using a server-side programming language to dynamically generate standards compliant mark-up, driven from a data source. You will use design principles which abstract content from aesthetic and utilises client-side dynamism to enhance the user's experience, using industry standard toolsets and web-focused API.

The module has two main purposes. First, you will be equipped with adequate research skills and experience of working on subject-related research topics, to lead into your final year project. Second, this module works to enhance your professionalism, including teamworking, which boosts employability and your awareness of what is expected in an employment scenario.

In this module you will explore the operation of database systems through a scrutiny of modern RDBMS (Relational Data Base Management Systems), the SQL (Structured Query Language) and database connectivity APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). The module continues by exploring some of the managerial considerations of large-scale RDBMS. The module concludes by exploring the operation of emerging NoSQL (Not Only SQL) database systems. Overall, you will design relational databases, develop date driven applications, critically evaluate applications, and design appropriate non-relational databases.

This module introduces you to the methods for solving computational problems. It covers the modern theory of algorithms, focusing on the themes of efficient algorithms and intractable problems. You will gain an understanding of how to select and design data structures and algorithms to solve computational problems alongside developing an understanding of key concepts of complexity theory, illustrating their relevance to practical problems of algorithm design.

This module introduces you to the theory, methods, techniques and tools involved in the development of knowledge-based systems and intelligent systems. It will provide you with the knowledge, understanding and experience of the development process, tools and techniques used for producing knowledgebased and 'intelligent' systems.

This module introduces you to automata theory and formal language theory and emphasises real life application. Particular attention is paid to compiler design considerations using regular expressions and context free grammars. You will also investigate the limits of effective computation by studying undecidable problems.

The aim is to provide students with an extended period of work experience at an approved partner that will complement their programme of study at LJMU. This will give students the opportunity to develop professional skills relevant to their programme of study as well as the attitude and behaviours necessary for employment in a diverse and changing environment. This extended placement forms a key part of a sandwich degree. All placements need to be assessed and approved prior to commencement in line with the LJMU Placement Learning Code of Practice. The Code of Practice requires students to conduct themselves in a professional and responsible manner during the placement - failure to do so may lead to the placement being terminated prematurely. Placements are normally for one calendar year on a full-time basis. Split placements of a shorter duration may be permissible. There is an expectation that a minimum of 1200 hours will be spent in the workplace.

The aim is to provide students with an additional year of study at an approved overseas partner that will complement their programme at LJMU. This is an additional year of full-time study at an approved higher education institution. The modules to be studied must be agreed in advance, and must be appropriate for the student's programme of study. Assuming successful completion of this year, mark-bearing credit will be awarded by the Faculty Recognition Group. The grade conversion scale to be used will be made available in advance of the year abroad.

In this module you will explore the object oriented paradigm from analysis and design through implementation and testing to maintenance. The UML (Unified Modelling Language) is employed alongside OOP (Object Oriented Programming) to demonstrate key concepts, resulting in mature, fully functioning object oriented systems. You will apply principles and patterns to object oriented systems with test driven development and source control playing a supporting role. The module concludes by exploring the various architectures that object oriented systems may embrace.

This module familiarises you with common software security problems and vulnerabilities, and the methods, tools and techniques that can be used during software development to prevent them, including formal techniques. You will undertake a group software engineering task involving the application of secure software development lifecycles to a software development task. As part of this task, you will be expected to undertake a variety of roles as seen in a secure software development teams (i.e., developer, software tester, vulnerability researcher, report and documentation author, etc). You will be expected to complete a report that demonstrates an understanding of how software should be designed, implemented, and tested to reduce the risk of security vulnerabilities.

This module allows you to explore statistical techniques through practical, hands-on data analysis. You will develop a theoretical knowledge of statistical skills to solve data science problems and display solutions to data science problems by applying statistical theory using appropriate software applications.

This module provides you an overview of developing web applications for mobile platforms. It will illustrate the main platforms available for mobile-focused web development, drawing data from a variety of sources including other web services and databases. The module will conclude with an overview of alternative mobile development techniques, familiarising you with the fundamentals of native focused and cross-platform frameworks-focused mobile developments.

This module presents you with the opportunity to complete a substantial project in a chosen area relevant to your programme. The scope of what is an appropriate artefact varies between programmes and you will discuss this with your programme teams. This module will enable you to use rigorous development or scientific methods to produce an artefact, resulting in an oral and written report.

To equip the student with the tools to tackle complex real-world problems using Artificial Intelligence (AI). To investigate both the application of rigorous mathematical techniques for production as well as an evaluation and use of intellectual tools and ethical foundations to use, produce and appraise intelligent machines.This module will introduce the latest concepts, tools and techniques in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.

Massive amounts of data are being generated by modern digital systems and there is a demand for rapid and effective analysis and communication of the relevant data. This module covers topics related to interpreting and displaying data for visualisation alongside techniques to present various types of data in appropriate formats. You will use computer graphic techniques to develop data and information visualisation and be introduced to the theoretical concepts of graphical display, both 2D and 3D, leading to the practical development of visualisation solutions using relevant tools and techniques.

This module introduces you to Computer Science topics that are used or have significant potential to impact upon future applications in modern technology. This module will develop your understanding of how computer science concepts, tools and techniques are used in modern technology.

The aim of this module is to enhance your technical knowledge of systems development with an appreciation of the social-technical aspects of design. It covers the evolving area of User Experience (UX) design. This involves you using UX methods to design and prototype an interactive system and then validate your design against user requirements using UX evaluation techniques.

This module aims to develop your understanding of computer security and network defence. Through critically assessing a variety of security technologies for protection of computer networks, you will develop practical skills in the use of security countermeasure technologies and associated tools.

This module works with a growing area of database systems, that of the analytical database. The module begins by enabling you to explore the rapid growth of business intelligence data and the complex data models that are needed to support it. The module continues by exploring the platforms and processes that report such data through both web based and service oriented platforms.