Diploma of Higher Education in Computing and IT: 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.W36-6,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 develop your mathematical skills, choosing one of two 30-credit modules – 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.W36-6,module,MST121,,1 or 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.W36-6,module,MU123,,1 – to underpin your further study of computing and enhance your employability. 

Finally, the 30-credit module – Technologies in practice (TM129)Technologies in practice::This course provides an opportunity to sample some of the key areas in computing and information technology. You will be introduced to three topics as tasters for your future studies and career: networking, Linux and robotics. Studying these topics will enable you to develop essential skills if you are considering future employment in the computing and IT industry. You will be applying what you learn to develop a portfolio, to demonstrate your skills and understanding in these areas to potential employers. By studying this key introductory Level 1 course you can also begin to explore where your future career ambitions or interests might lie.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.W36-6,module,TM129,,1 – will offer you an opportunity to sample some key technologies enabling you to develop essential skills and to explore where your future study and career aspirations may lie.

Stage 2

At Stage 2, you’ll begin your specialist studies in software development with two 30 credit modules Object-oriented Java programming (M250)Object-oriented Java programming::This course teaches the fundamental ideas behind the object-oriented approach to programming through the widely-used Java programming language. Concentrating on aspects of Java that best demonstrate object-oriented principles and good practice, you’ll gain a solid basis for further study of the Java language and object-oriented software development. You’ll need to be confident using a personal computer and have experience of writing small computer programs; the Level 1 course My digital life (TU100) would be ideal preparation. You should also be able to write short explanations of technical ideas in your own words, and be able to communicate with others electronically.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.W36-6,module,M250,,1 and Software development with Java (M256)Software development with Java::Discover the fundamentals of an object-oriented approach to software development. Starting from an analysis of requirements, you’ll be introduced to up-to-date analytical techniques and processes essential for specifying, designing and implementing a software system, including a graphical user interface. Although the small systems developed in the course have been chosen to facilitate learning, the underlying concepts are widely used by professional software developers. Software models are created with UML and implemented with Java 6, using NetBeans. You need Java experience, preferably by prior study of an OU Level 2 Java course.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.W36-6,module,M256,,1. You’ll learn how to specify and design computer programs, and develop your programming skills using the programming language Java. You’ll use industry standard software tools such as an integrated development environment and the Unified Modelling Language (UML); and you’ll also learn about the analytical techniques and processes essential for designing, specifying and implementing a software system including a graphical user interface.

The solutions development option explores 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.W36-6,module,TT284,,1 (30 credits) and the application development processes that underpin the World Wide Web. You’ll learn how to analyse requirements, plan, design, implement and test a range of web applications, in addition to 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.W36-6,module,MT264,,1 (30 credits).