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.Q67-19,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 Discovering psychology (DSE141)Discovering psychology::Drawing on a wide range of studies and some classic pieces of psychological research, this key introductory Level 1 course provides an accessible and engaging introduction to the study of psychology. Discovering psychology explores the different ways in which psychologists investigate the human mind and behaviour, and shows you how psychological research addresses real-life issues. You will be provided with a textbook and access to a website containing an online study guide, audio-visual material and interactive activities which are designed to help you develop your knowledge and skills.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q67-19,module,DSE141,,1 (30 credits). This fascinating module explores the different ways in which psychologists investigate the human mind and behaviour, and how psychological research addresses real-life issues. You’ll look at how human behaviour may be influenced by personality and situational factors, and the ways in which learning also plays a role. You’ll also consider what makes people change their behaviour, and how we can study psychological processes that cannot be directly observed, such as language, attention or memory.

Alongside this, you’ll choose one of two 30-credit mathematical modules to gain a good foundation for your future studies – either Discovering mathematics (MU123)Discovering mathematics::This key introductory Level 1 course provides a gentle start to the study of mathematics. It will help you to integrate mathematical ideas into your everyday thinking and build your confidence in using and learning mathematics. You’ll cover statistical, graphical, algebraic, trigonometric and numerical concepts and techniques, and be introduced to mathematical modelling. Formal calculus is not included and you are not expected to have any previous knowledge of algebra. The skills introduced will be ideal if you plan to study more mathematics courses, such as Using mathematics (MST121). It is also suitable for users of mathematics in other areas, such as computing, science, technology, social science, humanities, business and education.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q67-19,module,MU123,,1 or 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.Q67-19,module,MST121,,1.

Stage 2

At Stage 2, you’ll focus your study on networking – a specialist area in computing and IT.

In Cisco networking (CCNA) (T216)Cisco networking (CCNA)::Cisco Systems are market leaders in supplying networking equipment for the internet. They also have a well-established educational programme for network professionals. As a Cisco Academy, The Open University offers the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Exploration curriculum, which provides the knowledge, understanding, and skills needed to configure a LAN/WAN using Cisco equipment. You’ll also gain hands-on experience of configuring networks at four compulsory day schools. When you’ve completed the course you should be well prepared for the industry-standard CCNA certification examination. You’ll need to make your own arrangements to sit this – there are exam centres all over the world.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q67-19,module,T216,,1 (60 credits you’ll l gain the knowledge, understanding, and skills needed to configure a LAN/WAN using Cisco equipment (leaving you well prepared for the industry-standard CCNA certification examination). You’ll also gain hands on practical experience of configuring networks at four compulsory day schools.

In Exploring psychology (DSE212)Exploring psychology::How humans think, develop, and experience the world around us has been fascinating psychologists for over 100 years. Using a historical and biographical framework, this course introduces you to a wide range of psychological approaches, including biological, social, and cognitive psychologies. It looks at areas such as identity, learning, memory, and language. But you won’t just learn about psychological theories, you’ll learn how to do different types of psychological research too. You’ll undertake practical work using quantitative and qualitative research methods and learn to analyse data using statistical software. All in all, Exploring psychology will give you a thorough overview of psychology, relevant to your daily life.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q67-19,module,DSE212,,1 (60 credits), you’ll study a broad range of psychological approaches to areas such as identity; language and meaning; personality; and social worlds – exploring the scope of contemporary psychology and its historical roots. You’ll gain a conceptual ‘bag of tools’ – the essential equipment for contemporary psychology. You’ll then consider three topics that illustrate current debates in psychology: lifespan development; language and meaning; and sex and gender. You’ll also learn how to carry out quantitative and qualitative research projects and how to collect, analyse and interpret data.

Stage 3

In computing and IT, you can delve deeper into one of a number of specialist topics that include digital media 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.Q67-19,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.

Your final 60-credit module, Cognitive psychology (DD303)Cognitive psychology::How does memory work? How do we understand language? How do we think? These are just some of the questions related to everyday experience you’ll address on this course. Beginning with core topics – perception and attention; categorisation and language; and memory, thinking and reasoning – you’ll then explore wider issues, such as emotion and consciousness, topics that have presented a challenge to the cognitive approach. Throughout, you’ll be asked to examine theories, evidence and arguments as well as the methods of cognitive psychology, including neuropsychology and neuroimaging. Using a computer, you’ll also be guided through techniques of data analysis and experimentation, and will engage in your own project work.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.Q67-19,module,DD303,,1, focuses on the mental processes involved in learning, perceiving, remembering and thinking. You’ll consider the key debates, issues and controversies for cognitive psychology, and then move on to wider topics that have presented a challenge to the cognitive approach – such as emotion and consciousness. Throughout, you’ll be asked to examine theories, evidence and arguments as well as the methods of cognitive psychology, including neuropsychology and neuroimaging. Using a computer, you’ll be guided through techniques of data analysis and experimentation, and you’ll engage in your own project work.