BSc (Honours) Computing & IT and a second subject: pathway

Stage 1

You’ll start your Stage 1 studies with My digital life (TU100)My digital life::While you’re learning about tomorrow's technology why not help create it? My digital life takes you on a journey from the origins of information technology through to the familiar computers of today, and on to tomorrow’s radical technologies. You'll get hands-on experience of the ubiquitous computing approaches that will become increasingly common over the next decade. You'll also learn about the profound social and technological changes associated with information technology – changes that will affect every one of us. This key introductory Level 1 course will help you prepare for these changes – think of it as an online survival kit for the twenty-first century.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q67-12,module,TU100,,1 (60 credits), which gives you hands-on experience of designing, building and programming the small, ubiquitous computers that will become increasingly common over the next decade. You’ll also learn about the profound technological, economic, political and ethical changes brought about by information technology that will affect every one of us.

Next, you’ll study two 30-credit mathematical modules to underpin your further study of computing and enhance your employability. Using mathematics (MST121)Using mathematics::This broad, enjoyable introduction to university-level mathematics assumes some prior knowledge, as described on our MathsChoices website. The course shows how mathematics can be applied to answer some key questions from science, technology, and everyday life. You will study a range of fundamental techniques, including calculus, recurrence relations, matrices and vectors and statistics, and use integrated specialist mathematical software to solve problems. The skills of communicating results and defining problems are also developed. This is not a course for beginners – at the MathsChoices website (mathschoices.open.ac.uk) there are quizzes, sample material and advice to help you determine if this course is right for you.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q67-12,module,MST121,,1 covers a range of techniques including recurrence relations, matrices, vectors and calculus. You’ll also learn to solve practical problems using specialist mathematical software and gain skills in defining and communicating results.

Exploring mathematics (MS221)Exploring mathematics::Exploring mathematics builds on the concepts and techniques in Using mathematics (MST121) and uses the same software. It looks at questions underlying some of those techniques, such as why particular patterns occur in mathematical solutions and how you can be confident that a result is true. It introduces the role of reasoning and offers opportunities to investigate mathematical problems. Together with Using mathematics this course will give you a good foundation for higher-level mathematics, science and engineering courses. Even if you don't intend to study further, you will gain a good, university-level understanding of the nature and scope of mathematics.You are advised to be confident with the content of Using mathematics (MST121), or equivalent from elsewhere, before commencing study of this course.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q67-12,module,MS221,,1 builds on the concepts and techniques in MST121 and uses the same software. It looks at questions underlying some of those techniques, such as why particular patterns occur in mathematical solutions and how you can be confident that a result is true. It introduces the role of reasoning and offers opportunities to investigate mathematical problems.

Stage 2

At Stage 2, you’ll focus your study on solutions development with two 30-credit modules exploring the application development processes that underpin the world wide web. You’ll learn how to develop programs using Visual Basic in Designing applications with Visual Basic (MT264)Designing applications with Visual Basic::This course in object-oriented programming will teach you how to design and write small applications using Visual Basic Express. Software applications discussed in the course range from a very simple traffic survey application, to more complex applications that are linked to a database. Roughly one third of the course consists of important practical Visual Basic Express programming exercises, using web-based units. You’ll also use printed course books that use a design language similar to Visual Basic (VB), to learn essential programming skills. You should be ready to study computing at Level 2 and ideally have some programming experience.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q67-12,module,MT264,,1 and to analyse requirements, plan, design, implement and test a range of web applications in Web technologies (TT284)Web technologies::The World Wide Web continues to provide a foundation for the development of a broad range of increasingly influential and strategic technologies, supporting a large variety of applications and services, both in the private and public sectors. There is a growing need for management and decision makers to gain a clearer understanding of the application development process, from planning through to deployment and maintenance. This course will give you an insight into architectures, protocols, standards, languages, tools and techniques; an understanding of approaches to more dynamic and mobile content; and demonstrate how you can analyse requirements, plan, design, implement and test a range of web applications.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q67-12,module,TT284,,1.

In your Stage 2 applied mathematics module – Mathematical methods and models (MST209)Mathematical methods and models::Solve real problems by finding out how they are transformed into mathematical models and learning the methods of solution. This course covers classical mechanical models as well as some non-mechanical models such as population dynamics; and methods including vector algebra, differential equations, calculus (including several variables and vector calculus), matrices, methods for three-dimensional problems, and numerical methods. Teaching is supported and enhanced by use of a computer algebra package. To study this course you should have a sound knowledge of relevant mathematics as provided by the appropriate Level 1 study.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q67-12,module,MST209,,1 (60 credits) – you’ll learn how to tackle real problems by finding out how they’re transformed into mathematical models and learning the methods of solution. You’ll explore classical mechanical models and some non-mechanical models such as heat transfer and population dynamics; and methods including vector algebra, differential equations, calculus (including several variables and vector calculus), matrices, methods for three-dimensional problems, and numerical methods.

Stage 3

In computing and IT, you can delve deeper into one of a number of specialist topics that include artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction and ebusiness technology. You’ll conclude your studies with The computing and IT project (TM470)The computing and IT project::The computing and IT project enables you to explore computing, information and communications technologies in substantial depth and it is the compulsory project module for our computing and IT qualifications. It offers you practical experience of independent learning and reflective practice. You’ll apply advanced principles and techniques to produce a solution to a problem which you have defined and write up your experience and findings in a substantial report. You’ll also be responsible for choosing your own topic, carrying out the project and writing it up, with the help of a supervisor to advise and guide you.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q67-12,module,TM470,,1 (30 credits) that will be on a topic of your choice, which you’ll research, develop and write up – presenting your findings in a substantial report that you can show employers as a portfolio of your work.

For your final studies in applied mathematics you’ll choose from a range of topics building on your study at Stage 2. Options currently include:

• complex analysis
• computer algebra, chaos and simulations
• graphs, networks and design
• mathematical methods and fluid mechanics
• optimization
• waves, diffusion and variational principles.