Postgraduate taught 

Information Technology MSc

Programming COMPSCI4039

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Computing Science
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

■ To provide a firm foundation in skills and key concepts essential for programming in Java, which is the main language used in the MSc IT programme.

■ To provide a thorough introduction to problem solving and Java programming, giving a basis for study in topics such as algorithms and data structures, object-oriented design, and human computer interaction.

■ To develop skills, required for implementing solutions to well-specified programming problems, which could then be transferred to other programming languages.

Timetable

Three lectures, one tutorial and one lab session per week. Special timetable in week 1.

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Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Assessed exercise 1: 10%, Assessed exercise 2: 15%, Assessed exercise 3: 25%, Examination: 50%.

 

Main Assessment In: December

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? No

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

 

The coursework cannot be redone because the nature of the coursework is such that it takes a significant number of days for staff to produce it and this effort is infeasible for producing coursework for the purpose of reassessment.

Course Aims

To provide a firm foundation in skills and key concepts essential for programming in Java, which is the main language used in the MSc IT programme.

To provide a thorough introduction to problem solving and Java programming, giving a basis for study in topics such as algorithms and data structures, object-oriented design, and human computer interaction.

To develop skills, required for implementing solutions to well-specified programming problems, which could then be transferred to other programming languages.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of the course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate familiarity with the relevant programming environment;

2. Perform simple programming using primitive data types and objects;

3. Implement simple algorithms using repetition and conditional execution;

4. Develop well-structured programs in Java, employing suitable elementary algorithms and data structures as required;

5. Write maintainable, robust, reliable, and reusable code, together with concise and informative documentation;

6. Provide evidence of program correctness through thorough testing.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Must submit at least 75% of the assessment (coursework and final examination) for the course.