BSc (Honours) Computing and Design
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Degree
- Code
- B44
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Made up of
- 360 credit points
Description
Interactive products, such as mobile telephones, MP3 players and PDAs, are increasingly becoming a synthesis of hardware (product design) and software (computing). This honours degree in Computing and Design will develop both practical skills and academic understanding of the processes of design and innovation, with particular regard to computer-based technology.
It will develop:
- your abilities to design and evaluate innovative, computer-based products and plan their diffusion
- an understanding of the contexts in which user-centred design and innovation activities take place, and your ability to communicate design ideas
- the qualities that come with being a graduate in any discipline: specialist knowledge; intellectual self-confidence and independence; analytical ability; and the life-long learning skills needed to keep up with fast-changing technologies.
The design courses focus largely, though not exclusively, on product design. They will introduce ideas relating to user-centred design; sustainable design; and the design process. This complements the skills and knowledge offered by the computing courses. The computing courses include topics such as the fundamentals of computing; interaction design; and artificial intelligence.
Planning your studies
If you’re new to study or to the OU, we recommend that you start with a course at Level 1. For this degree, this would mean starting with either Data, computing and information (M150) or Networked living: exploring information and communication technologies (T175). You should successfully complete your Level 1 study before moving to Level 2. As well as contributing credit points that count towards your degree, this Level 1 work will give you a firm foundation for future study.
There is no time limit for obtaining the required credit points for this qualification; however, you should note limitations on individual courses as mentioned below. You must include at least 120 points from OU courses that have not been counted in an OU diploma or other first degree you have been awarded. If you have graduated with an OU BSc degree without honours this requirement is reduced to 60 points.
Career relevance and employability
This honours degree in Computing and Design will equip you for a wide range of possible careers. It will prepare you for a specialist career in the computing or engineering industries. For example, people specialising in product design or interaction design are employed to design computing and information systems, including mobile communications devices, in ways that promote their acceptance and effective use.
Employers recruiting people with the skills this degree develops include developers of software and information technology, communications and engineering companies, and many large organisations in the public and private sector.
Globalisation is having a significant impact on the shape of the UK labour market in computing. The proportion of employees with specialist, high-value added, design skills is expected to increase and non-specialist design and development work will move 'off-shore'. This degree is designed to anticipate the continuance of this industry-wide trend and provide the industry with graduates who can contribute to the specialist branches of computing that are most likely to remain UK based.
The degree is also suitable for students already employed within the manufacturing and creative industries wishing to update their knowledge and skills.
For planning your next career steps, visit the OU Careers Advisory Service.
Suggested routes to the degree
You can take a number of different routes towards your qualification. The route illustrated below is a route many students are using, or have already successfully followed.
Please bear in mind that other routes are available – see the full course list for all options.
Courses
For this 360-point honours degree you require:
120 points from the following compulsory courses:
| Level 1 compulsory courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | Oct 2010 |
|
30 | Oct 2010 |
| Level 2 compulsory course | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
60 | Feb 2011 |
And 30 points from the following optional courses:
| Level 2 optional courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | Oct 2010 |
|
30 | Oct 2010 |
And 150 points from the following compulsory courses (your choice of project topic must relate to M364 or M366):
| Level 3 compulsory courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | Feb 2011 |
|
60 | Feb 2011 |
|
30 | Feb 2011 |
|
30 | Feb 2011 FINAL |
To complete the 360 points needed for an honours degree, the remaining points up to a maximum of 60 points can be from any OU undergraduate courses. You must ensure that you have the required number of points at each level.
We recommend you study 60 points from the following courses, as they are of particular relevance to this degree.
- Understanding systems: making sense of complexity (T214)
- Exploring psychology (DSE212)
- Software development with Java (M256)***
- Putting Java to work (M257) and either
- Team working in distributed environments (M253) or
- Design and the Web (T183) or
- Robotics & the meaning of life: a practical guide to things that think (T184)
- Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century (U101)
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses T205, T209
*If you have completed the discontinued courses M206 and MT262, you may count MT262 as a replacement for M150.
** If you have completed M206 and wish to count it towards this award, you do not need to take M255 and only need to complete 30 points of free choice
*** If you wish to study M256, you must also study M257. You should study M257 either before or at the same time as M256.
All of the computing and IT courses may be counted towards this award for up to a maximum of eight years after we have stopped presenting them. See course descriptions for future availability.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution we may be able to give you credit for this study that you can count towards this Open University qualification. You can find out more on our Credit Transfer site. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of courses so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.
Credit transfer details for this qualification:
Classification of your degree
On successful completion of the required courses you will be awarded a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Computing and Design degree. Your honours degree will be classified either as first-class honours, upper second-class honours, lower second-class honours or third-class honours.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Award Regulations and the Student Regulations.
Award Regulations
- Introduction to the Award Regulations
- General Award Regulations
- BSc (Honours) Computing and Design
- Schedule A to the Award Regulations
Student Regulations
The Student Regulations (including the Code of Practice for Student Assessment and the Code of Practice for Student Discipline) are available on our Policy Documents for Students website.
How to register
To register for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the course you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that course.
About this page
An undergraduate qualification in Computing and ICT and Engineering and Technology.
Study explained
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Level
- - indicates how difficult a course is. Undergraduate study starts at Level 1.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
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