BSc Artificial Intelligence & Computer Science with an Industrial Year - 2021

Educational Aims Of Programme

• A solid foundation for a career or further study in computing/IT, including areas involving Artificial Intelligence.
• Coverage of the core areas of Artificial Intelligence and general computer science.
• A solid grounding in the theoretical underpinnings of contemporary developments in Artificial Intelligence and general computer science.
• A solid grounding in practical software development skills, including those appropriate to Artificial Intelligence applications.
• A choice of options in the second year and a wide choice of advanced and specialist options in the final year, covering both Artificial Intelligence and general computer science.
• The vocational aspect of an honours degree in Computer Science is considerably enhanced when students are able to augment their academic study by working in a commercial environment. The integration of an industrial placement of one year's duration in the programme aims to provide the opportunity for a student to: (1) understand how theoretical and academic work completed within the university environment relates to its practical application in the work place; (2) learn how computing professionals operate within a commercial organisation; (3) improve his or her skills of organisation, time management and record keeping over a significant period of work; (4) undertake technical project work in a commercial environment.

Programme Outcomes and Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategies

Knowledge and Understanding

• The essential facts, concepts, principles and theories relating to Computing and Artificial Intelligence and their applications as appropriate to the topics covered in the programme.
• Appropriate theory, practices and tools for the specification, design, implementation and evaluation of computer-based systems, particularly those with an Artificial Intelligence orientation.
• The role of computing professionals within a company and the interactions that normally take place with other disciplines.
• The application of technical knowledge in a commercial context at an appropriate level for the student's qualifications.
• The standard of professional presentation and reporting skills required in industry and commerce.

Skills & Other Attributes

• The ability to apply the knowledge and understanding noted above to the analysis of a given information handling or Artificial Intelligence related problem.
• The ability to specify, design and construct computer-based systems, using appropriate tools, and to document all stages of this process.
• The ability to evaluate computer-based systems in relation to a given information handling or Artificial Intelligence related problem.
• A responsible, ethical and open-minded attitude to their work and an understanding of the scope of Artificial Intelligence approaches.
• The ability to work as a computing professional in a commercial environment, demonstrating a professional and responsible attitude.

Transferable Skills

• The ability to work both independently and as an effective team member.
• The ability to use and apply general IT facilities, including those required for effective information-retrieval.
• Numeracy, in both understanding and presenting cases involving quantitative or similar formal, symbolic dimensions.
• Management of learning and development, including time management, organizational skills, and the ability to pursue independently further professional development.

Footnotes

• Pre-requisites: Some of the modules in the option blocks are prerequisites for options available in the final year, so that choices need to be considered across both years.
• Module Failure: The Syllabus web page for every module defines the resit rules if they are different from the first attempt -- follow the links under the module code.
• Progress Decisions: Please refer to the University Regulations for further information on assessment, progression and awards.
• Optional Modules: Not all options may be available in any particular year. Some option combinations are only available if the timetable permits. As students may have to make preliminary option choices before timetables are available, changes may be needed later if there are clashes. In selecting options, students need to pay attention to pre- and co-requisites.
• Degree Classification: Refer to the University Regulations for further information on the general rules governing degree classification.
• Accreditation: Whether to award accreditation is a decision made from time to time by a professional body according to criteria which are then current; hence there is no guarantee that the programme will actually be accredited for any particular year of entry by any particular professional body.
• Industrial Year: In order to proceed to Year 3 (the industrial year), students must: - Not have any modules to repeat during the year. If they have resit examinations, they must arrange for time off to take these. - Have found a company willing to provide a placement which meets the School's requirements, which include providing an Industrial Tutor. The placement must involve a component of skills training (approximately 40%) and technical project work (approximately 60%). The skills training can include formal taught and/or self study courses and apprenticeship style learning "on the job". The training and project work must be of a technical nature relevant to the degree programme. The project work will most typically involve programming but other types of project work are acceptable. Students who do not meet the academic requirements or cannot find a suitable industrial placement will transfer to the degree programme without the Year in Industry component. See also the web page for Programmes with an Industrial Year.