UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION

Transcription

1 UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION Programme Title: Awarding Body: Teaching Institution: Final Awards: BSc (Hons) Computer Networks (progression award) Staffordshire University Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Sciences BSc (Hons) Computer Networks Intermediate Awards: Mode of Study: None Full Time UCAS Codes: QAA Subject Benchmarks: Computing JACS Code: I120 Professional/Statutory Body: None Entry Year: If you require this document in a larger text or a different medium please contact us. 1

2 EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME Develop a detailed understanding of network communications Enable you to achieve the highest award within your overall ability. Enable you to specialise in computer networks, communication and computer security To allow you to develop a practical set of skills for the implementation of various communication networks Give a practical emphasis to your studies Provide a programme of study in which your general education is enhanced, including transferable skills Produce graduates who are fit to undertake employment in industry, commerce or public service as computer network or communications security, or (for those with suitable degree classification) to undertake programmes of further study or research at appropriate institutions Support the development of Staffordshire Graduate attributes and the assessment of that attainment as an important element of the award. Provide an enriching experience for you which supports and facilitates your personal, academic and professional development throughout your period of study with us, laying a foundation for continuing development throughout your life. What is distinctive about this programme? Designed to allow you to build on a previous programme of study in the area of computer networks (e.g. HND/FDSc or first 2 years of a degree programme) to develop knowledge and skills in advanced computer networking to enhance your employability. The award is intended to build your practical and professional skills that are required by employers. Embeds the curriculum content of the Cisco academy program in the award, to ensure that you get a work-ready degree that covers the content of the current Cisco academy certifications. However, to gain CISCO certification requires students to sit CISCO examinations external to this course at an additional cost Cisco is the leading and largest networking company in the world. The certifications that it has defined are industry standard qualifications and ensure the employment relevance of the syllabus you will be studying. The Certification syllabi have been embedded into the Computer Networks progression degree with a preliminary course which covers essential Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) knowledge (to ensure all students start with a common level of understanding) and then progresses to cover Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) and CCNA Security and the Cisco Wireless syllabus. This ensures that are students graduate with employment relevant knowledge and skills and this is validated by the excellent record for 2

3 employability students in our networking awards achieve. Excellent resources. We have 3 dedicated networking labs and access to a suite of servers that support virtualisation and cloud computing work. All these are available for your use. These labs are very well equipped with commercial grade equipment from Cisco and Juniper and others. You would graduate from us industry ready. Staffordshire university is a Cisco academy, but also its excellence in this area is recognised by the University being a Cisco Academy Support Centre and Instructor Training Centre, i.e. our lecturers support other academies. Although we have placed the Cisco program into the awards the majority of what is taught is based around open standards, hence applicable to all manufactures equipment. All of our lecturers are certified Cisco instructors, many at very advanced levels. The Staffordshire Graduate The Staffordshire Graduate represents a set of qualities that the University passionately believes is necessary for success in the 21st century. The Staffordshire Graduate is a reflective and critical learner with a global perspective, prepared to contribute in the world of work. From the first day that you join the Computer Networks award our emphasis is to get you the skills, knowledge and mind set which will let you achieve your maximum potential in the industry. These skills are given to let you consider working inside of an organisation or even to have the enterprise skills and confidence to work for yourself. We have tailored our modules which we cover to ensure that what you are being taught is always what is needed not just for today s industry but also to gain the confidence and the ability to adapt to the needs in the future as well. There are new technologies, developments and threats being released regularly we want our graduates to be critical independent individuals who can evaluate this and understand not just too simply accept. The award allows you to both learn the academic knowledge which you need to succeed but also give you the practical skills to be able to carry out the work of protecting the communications. We will also look at the global impact which can be seen through the use of Computer networks. These can be considered as a view of simply connecting people to transfer information. We will look at this further though with the ability of anyone to connect from anywhere it opens up the issue gaining access to remote resources and all of the considerations of this. As this increased flexibility will help commercial communications it also opens the risks that other non-authorised users also use these methods. We need to understand the specifics of this new global data marketplace to ensure that we make an informed decision on what on first consideration may appear to be a good solution. It is this reflective thinking upon the problems and deep understanding learnt overtime allow you to critically evaluate the choices. We understand that our graduates do go on to do well and as such we will look at the skill of communication. Your understanding of a particular area at some stage will need to be communicated to others; this could be members of your peer group or less technical colleagues. You need to present the written and oral information in a 3

4 professional manner which Staffordshire University want all of our graduates to be able to do. You will be working on a large scale project with the assistance of a supervisor. This allows you to specialise your knowledge in a precise area and further develop your independent learning and critical analysis skills. This work will be presented to your supervision team and also within GradEX to a number of local employers and interested colleagues. 4

5 PROGRAMME OUTCOMES What will this programme teach me to do? At the end of your studies you should be able to: Learning outcomes Level 6 [Benchmark Statement mapping] Knowledge and Understanding Learning Enquiry Analysis Problem Solving Communication Demonstrate a systematic understanding of networking concepts and principles, showing the acquisition of coherent and detailed knowledge, at least some of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of research and development in computer networking. [SRCA 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8; ATS 2] Develop lines of argument and evaluate possible approaches, tools, techniques and solutions based on knowledge of underlying networking concepts and principles, while understanding the uncertainty, ambiguity and limitations of this knowledge. [SRCA 4, 6; SRPA 2] Initiate and carry out projects related to networking and distributed computing. Ethically gather information pertaining to networking problems, possible solutions, and the success of these solutions, from existing or potential users and/or organisations using an engineering approach. Find, critically evaluate, manage, apply, and understand information from a range of sources, acknowledging the cultural, ethical, economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information. [SRCA 4; ATS 1, 2] Critically evaluate current research in networking including abstract concepts, arguments, assumptions and data (that may be incomplete) to draw conclusions. [SRCA 1; SRPA 2; ATS 1] Develop appropriate questions and strategies to achieve a solution (or identify a range of solutions) to a problem. Plan and carry out a large and complex project related to computer networking. [SRCA 5, 6; SRPA 1, 2, 3, 5; ATS 3] Communicate ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and nonspecialist audiences in a variety of forms. Write a structured formal report using 5

6 Application Reflection appropriate referencing, and techniques for documentation. [SRCA 5, 7; SRPA 4] Apply computing concepts, principles and techniques, including those at the forefront of networking knowledge, in the process of solving complex problems related to networking and the operation of distributed systems. [SRCA 6; SRPA 1, 5; ATS 2, 3] Demonstrate advanced understanding of professional and self-development issues, work in a professional manner, recognising the legal, social, ethical and professional issues involved in the exploitation of networking technologies, and being guided by the adoption of appropriate professional, ethical and legal practices. [SRCA 8; ATS 4, 5, 6] EXTRACT from the Computing Benchmark Statement Note with skills/abilities numbered as reference for mapping from Learning Outcome tables 3 Abilities and skills - numbered 3.1 Students are expected to develop a wide range of abilities and skills. These may be divided into three broad categories: i computing-related cognitive abilities and skills, ie abilities and skills relating to intellectual tasks ii computing-related practical skills iii additional transferable skills that may be developed in the context of computing but which are of a general nature and applicable in many other contexts. 3.2 Cognitive, practical and generic skills need to be placed in the context of the programme of study as designed by the institution and/or the possible pathways selected by the individual student. The implicit interplay between these identified skills both within and across these three categories is recognised. Subject-related cognitive abilities 1. Computational thinking including its relevance to everyday life. 2. Knowledge and understanding: demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, principles and theories relating to computing and computer applications as appropriate to the programme of study. 3. Modelling: use such knowledge and understanding in the modelling and design of computer-based systems for the purposes of comprehension, communication, prediction and the understanding of trade-offs. 6

7 4. Requirements, practical constraints and computer-based systems (and this includes computer systems, information systems, embedded systems and distributed systems) in their context: recognise and analyse criteria and specifications appropriate to specific problems, and plan strategies for their solution. 5. Critical evaluation and testing: analyse the extent to which a computerbased system meets the criteria defined for its current use and future development. 6. Methods and tools: deploy appropriate theory, practices and tools for the specification, design, implementation and evaluation of computer-based systems. 7. Reflection and communication: present succinctly to a range of audiences (orally, electronically or in writing) rational and reasoned arguments that address a given information handling problem or opportunity. This should include assessment of the impact of new technologies. 8. Professional considerations: recognise the professional, economic, social, environmental, moral and ethical issues involved in the sustainable exploitation of computer technology and be guided by the adoption of appropriate professional, ethical and legal practices. Subject-related practical abilities 1. The ability to specify, design and construct computer-based systems. 2. The ability to evaluate systems in terms of general quality attributes and possible trade-offs presented within the given problem. 3. The ability to recognise any risks or safety aspects that may be involved in the operation of computing equipment within a given context. 4. The ability to deploy effectively the tools used for the construction and documentation of computer applications, with particular emphasis on understanding the whole process involved in the effective deployment of computers to solve practical problems. 5. The ability to operate computing equipment effectively, taking into account its logical and physical properties. 3.3 The extent to which students acquire these abilities will depend on the emphasis of individual degree programmes. It is expected, however, that the student will be able to deploy these abilities to a greater and deeper extent than someone who is merely an interested practitioner. Additional transferable skills 1. Effective information-retrieval skills (including the use of browsers, search engines and catalogues). 2. Numeracy and literacy in both understanding and presenting cases involving a quantitative and qualitative dimension. 3. Effective use of general information technology (IT) facilities. 4. The ability to work as a member of a development team, recognising the different roles within a team and different ways of organising teams. 5. Managing one's own learning and development including time management and organisational skills. 6. Appreciating the need for continuing professional development in recognition of the need for lifelong learning. 7

8 PROGRAMME STRUCTURE, MODULES AND CREDITS Computer Networks level 6 progression award Prelim study COCS60705 Networking Concepts (0 credits) L E V E L 6 Teaching Block 1 Teaching Block 2 COCS60711 Routing and Switching (30 Credits) COCS60710 Network Security (15 Credits) COCS60667 Troubleshooting a Converged IP Based Network (15 Credits) COCS60712 Wireless Networking (15 Credits) COIS61028 Final Year Project (45 Credits) The preliminary study period (of 2 weeks duration) is a 0 credit rated study. As you come from many different backgrounds, some of you would have covered some areas in more depth than others but may have gaps in some other areas which we consider are essential to successful completion of the award. The purpose of the preliminary study is to ensure a common coverage and starting point of material that we have identified as essential. This will cover extensive aspects of the Cisco CCNA syllabus. Although 0 credit rated, you are expected to engage fully with this study as it is a foundation upon which the rest of the programme is based. HOW WILL I BE TAUGHT AND ASSESSED? Teaching and Learning This award follows on from your previous studies at level 5 and introduces you to level 6 study. The preliminary module will help you with that transition. As well as covering important subject material, it also introduces you to a level 6 approach to study. This award will be taught through a combination of tutor led learning and student centred learning. We will make sure that you will have the opportunity to work on your own and in groups on practical exercises. This will help you to build confidence in your own skills and learn essential skills in technical communications. To enhance these practical skills electronic material will be made available in addition to the normal lecture material which you will be encouraged to look at. This allows further enhancement to the knowledge base which can be fed into practical work. There are a number of electronic assessments which can be taken by you to ensure that you understand an area completely and if not, request help on that issue. Virtual Learning Environment 8

9 At Staffordshire University we will ensure that there is an electronic presence on our Blackboard server for all of the modules which you study with us. This gives you a central resource in which all of your required information will be stored and accessible via an Internet connection. The details of each of the modules will be specified here with all of the learning material and any assessments. Additionally on these awards we will provide you with access to the Cisco Network Academy site which will provide additional information regarding the computer networking material. It is essential you feels confident enough in their own knowledge and skills to leave the university and then work in the industry or continue onto further study. Assessment A variety of different modes of assessment are employed within the Scheme. The nature of the subject area for this award is predominantly practical. Assessment throughout the programme can therefore be expected to ensure a suitable balance between theoretical knowledge and practical skills. A theoretical base for the award is needed to understand the practical aspects of the work. An assessment strategy will be chosen for each module which is appropriate for testing the achievement of the learning outcomes. To pass a module you are required to gain at least 20% in each component of assessment. Overall you must get a mark of 40% to successfully complete the module. A mix of formative and summative assessment is used throughout the programme. Typically formative assessment takes place during tutorial time with feedback on how the work is going and allows for a discussion on performance. We will also provide access to the Cisco Network academy program where for some of the modules you study with us a number of formative assessments are provided to allow you to test your understanding. We have a number of different summative assessments which will take place in different forms. These are designed to test a large number of skills beyond simply remembering a set of facts. Class tests (up to 1 hour) Examinations (up to 3 hours) Practical assignment work (individual or group-based) Portfolio of work Report (individual or group-based) Presentations (individual or group-based) You will normally receive feedback on any assessment within 20 days of submission which again can be used to enhance your learning on a module. If you do not understand the feedback we want this mechanism to be useful to you please do talk to your module tutor who will be able to assist. Do not simply accept you did not get the result expected in a particular area as a lot of modules will build upon each other and as such you need to know what the issues were and how to improve on this for future assessments. 9

10 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Entry Requirements (including IELTS score) What qualifications would I need to join this programme? The entry requirements for the award are normally: For details of UCAS tariff points please see the current online prospectus at: Disability Statement Staffordshire University operates a policy of inclusive teaching and learning to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Details about how to apply to have your needs assessed can be found at: Within this award we have had a number of students with differing levels of disability who have gone onto do very well in the industry. We do not see a disability as being something which will restrict your learning or the skills you learn at all. AWARD SPECIFIC INFORMATION Note that a non-honours (ordinary degree) award is not available as an intermediate award in this programme. If you wish to undertake any of the Cisco certification exams then this will have to be taken at an external examination centre and taking such an examination will be at an additional cost (cost varies depending upon the certification). Further information about the award can be found in the relevant Student Handbook and on the University Website. This includes information about optional modules, learning outcomes at levels below honours, student support, and academic regulations. ==================================== 10

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