Welcome to your Software Development course

During your first week with us you will have the opportunity to meet some of your fellow students and lecturers. During the week we will provide you with information about what subjects you will be studying in your first year and an idea of what will follow in the years to come.

After Welcome Week, we will be starting the delivery of the content of your course and will help you build working relationships with staff and other students. We will also resolve any issues you have with the transition to higher education and the different methods of learning used, leading to you becoming an autonomous, self-motivated learner.

Topics are split into modules, and you cover four modules in the first semester, which runs from when you start until January.

Your first semester modules will be:

• Algorithms and Programming Concepts
  In this module, you will start to lay the programming foundation for both your academic and professional career. You will focus on designing and developing programs in Python. You will also learn about algorithms, analysing problems, modelling solutions, and testing programs.
• Computer Architecture and Operating Systems Design
  This module explores the different areas of computer hardware and identifies core elements to make an informed choice for purchasing, designing, and developing systems. In addition to these skills you will develop your understanding of operating systems and how to create and run programs on Windows and Unix derivative OS as used in industry. Considering Operating Systems outside of traditional x86 computing is also a key skill for fundamental computing decision making.
• Networks and Communications
  In studying this module, you will learn about the fundamental concepts e.g. OSI/TCP suit, TCP and UDP communications, IP addressing, Ethernet, wireless networks, switching, routing, network design, documentation, management and troubleshooting. Upon successful completion of the module, you should become a skilled user who is able to design a network efficiently, configure network devices e.g. switches, routers etc., manage and troubleshoot network issues.

For Foundation Year students, your first semester modules will be:

• Programming and Artificial Intelligence
  You will learn about problem-solving in the context of programming on this module, and how to analyse a problem and produce a basic application. The module will introduce programming to help you implement a solution with different interfaces. You will also be introduced to areas of artificial intelligence (AI), using voice assistants as an example.
• Study Skills and Data Analytics 1
  This module is designed to help you develop study and research skills. You will learn about research and will create a Literature Review. You will find out about different approaches to research and develop skills to analyse and choose appropriate approaches to apply in your own studies. The module will develop your knowledge of referencing and aid you in building sound academic writing skills. Part of the assessment will be to write a report where you will put your research and analysis skills in practice in relation to gathering data and representing this in the best way for others such as businesses to use.
• Communications and Cyber
  This module will introduce principles of communications and you will implement a small network using industry grade equipment. You will know what cybersecurity is, and will be able to identify attacks and threat attackers. You will also understand data privacy and how to protect users and organisations.

There may be an opportunity for you to go on visits - these will be optional, and we will let you know more details closer to the time.

We hope to offer you opportunities to get involved in research and commercial guest talks. These are not mandatory to your course but offer interesting insights into all areas of computing.