Keele University Prospectus Undergraduate | 2016 | Page 74

COMPUTING AND MATHEMATICS

Computer Science
Overview

Computer Science is concerned with the application
of computing to a wide range of problems. Computer
systems are now vital to business, government,
science and society and there is much demand for
graduates with the professional understanding and
practical skills to harness software and hardware
technologies to solve real world problems and to
develop the systems of the future.
Both BSc single and dual honours Computer Science
courses are available. The single honours course
enables you to devote your studies full-time to the
tools, techniques and underpinning theories that
make the science and technology so innovative
and exciting. Both courses explore the theoretical
underpinnings of the discipline and place an
emphasis on practical computer programming and
software development.
For further information, please see
www.keele.ac.uk/ugcourses/computerscience
Dual and single honours Computer Science have
a common first semester and common entry
requirements. This retains a degree of flexibility of
choice during the first semester.
There are no specific subject requirements for entry
to Computer Science and no previous experience of
computer programming is assumed. The courses do
not involve an advanced level of mathematics and
any mathematical knowledge needed beyond GCSE
level is taught as part of the modules included in the
courses.

Course content

First year
Single honours Computer Science students typically
take all eight of the following modules and dual
honours students take the first three and chose
either the fourth, fifth or sixth:
Fundamentals of Computing introduces the core
concepts of the discipline.
Programming I introduces you to computer
programming. The module has a strong practical
element.
Requirements, Evaluation and Professionalism
develops skills in evidence gathering and
requirements engineering and addresses professional
and ethical issues.
Natural Computation introduces nature inspired
computation and the simulation and emulation of
natural phenomena and discusses novel computation
using natural phenomena and materials.
Information Systems and Interaction provides you
with an introduction to information systems and the
human-computer interface.
Computer Animation and Multimedia provides an
introduction to computer graphics, animation and
multimedia and appropriate programming skills.
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Systems and Architecture bridges the gap between
the theoretical organisation of computer hardware
and high level concepts such as programming
languages.
Cybercrime provides an understanding of the risks that
you will encounter in today’s electronic society and the
measures that may be taken to counteract them.
In keeping with the Keele ethos of multidisciplinary
study, single honours students can (but need not)
elect alternatives to either or both of the latter two
modules above; these alternatives may be chosen
from any discipline. Current choices include business,
law, management, mathematics, philosophy, music
and language modules.
Second year
Single honours Computer Science students typically
take all eight of the following modules and dual
honours students take the first and choose either the
second, third or fourth, as well as two of the latter four:
System Lifecycles and Design provides you with
knowledge of the techniques and processes to design
a system once requirements and analysis activities
have been completed.
Programming II teaches the use of data structures
and algorithms as a means of incorporating and
processing data and knowledge within programs.
Mobile Application Development provides a
background and a practical experience in mobile
application development, including HCI design
principles for mobile devices.
Database Systems provides theoretical knowledge
and practical experience in data modelling, database
design, implementation an d administration.
Computational Intelligence I provides an
introduction to evolutionary algorithms and neural
networks, their use in vision systems and robotics
and the similarities and differences between natural
and synthetic intelligent systems.
Web Technologies provides an understanding of
internet communication architectures (such as
client-server) and enables you to develop multi-tier
web applications.
Advanced Programming Practices provides an
understanding of object oriented programming,
advanced features of Java and their applications.
Virtual Worlds introduces you to virtual worlds,
showing how they can be used as an effective tool for
conducting business and delivering learning resources.
Single honours students can (but need not) elect
an alternative to the Virtual Worlds module, from
another discipline.