Computer software is an integral part of modern life, and the range of industries in which you can apply the skills taught in this course is very large. Particularly in large companies in the commercial and industrial worlds, the specialist skills of the software engineer are of great use. A successful software engineer relies on sound technical skills and the experience of applying them. This course has been designed to develop your practical and applied skills and to support you in gaining experience applying these skills. This will make you highly employable in a wide range of industries.
In the recent Salford NUS Student Experience Survey, for semester 1 2011-12, this course received a Gold Star for overall student satisfaction.
This course will provide you with the software engineering skills, knowledge and understanding needed to enable you to become a professional software developer. You will develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of systematic and disciplined approaches to software specification, design and implementation using software development methodologies. Throughout the course you will address issues of professionalism and ethics allowing you to build a critical awareness of diverse approaches to software development.
As well as gaining and developing a wide range of software engineering knowledge and skills, you have the option to spend a year in industry between the second and third year of the course. This is an excellent opportunity to expand your CV and will give you the opportunity to apply your academic knowledge and interpersonal skills in a real-world environment, and to reflect on your own personal development and career choices. Successful completion of an industrial placement year will add 'with Professional Experience' to your degree title.
Year 1
Programming
This module will give you an in-depth experience of object-oriented programming. You will be introduced to a systematic approach to programming and the use of an integrated programming environment. You will also develop, among other skills, an appreciation of the software development cycle, good programming practice through design, implementation and testing, knowledge of dynamic data structures and the ability to test and debug code.
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Computer System Internals and Linux
This module will provide you with an in-depth low-level knowledge of computer systems, concentrating on computer architecture, operating systems and communications technology. You will also start to develop skills in the use of Unix-like operating systems at command-line level, writing and using simple scripts and batch files and the simple system administration of a standalone Linux PC.
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Database Systems
This module will give you a fundamental knowledge of database management systems, their design, implementation and applications. It will develop your knowledge and understanding of the underlying principles of relational database management system, and how to implement and maintain an efficient database system using emerging trends.
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Professional Development and Practices
This module introduces you to the business context and the work of the computing and information systems professional through an understanding of the societal, professional, ethical and legal issues surrounding business practices and the theory and process of project execution to a professional standard.
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Web Development and Human Computer Interfaces
You will be introduced to the theory and practice of website design and development, and develop knowledge and understanding of human-computer interaction and techniques for designing and analysing user interfaces. You will also gain skills and practical experience of designing, developing and testing a website using HTML5 and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).
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Year 2
Server Side Programming
In this module you will gain the knowledge and understanding to develop data-driven, interactive websites using industry-standard programme development techniques. You will develop the skills in the practical use and application of different server technologies and the programming languages available to support these technologies.
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Software Project with Agile Techniques
This module combines technical work in computer programming with personal development planning. You will work in a group to design, develop, document and demonstrate a solution to a problem, working to a professional standard using Java programming. This module also introduces agile techniques and methodologies and provides an opportunity for applying, evaluating and reflecting on these techniques.
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Design Patterns
In this module you will develop an appreciation of problem recognition and categorisation and learn how established pattern based solutions can be identified and applied as solutions to these problems. Through practical investigation you will develop confidence and understanding of the application of these techniques and learn how experienced professional developers design, implement and document systems.
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Software Development Techniques
A broad overview of software development methods and techniques and the various stages of the software development life cycle will be given to you in this module. You will also be introduced to various modelling and design approaches that include object-oriented techniques and structured analysis and design.
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Data Structures and Algorithms
In this module you will be introduced to some of the most important data structures used in the design and implementation of computer software and shown how these are implemented using Java. You will then learn to analyse the requirements of algorithm resources to allow you to provide a sound basis for objective choice when dealing with competing algorithms.
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Optional Modules (choose one)
AI and Data Mining
In this module you will be introduced to artificial intelligence (AI) and data mining (DM) techniques for problem solving. You will become familiar with AI techniques and terminology for knowledge representation and searching, gain an understanding of DM algorithms, and learn how these techniques are used in real world applications.
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Networking
You will gain a thorough understanding of how the internet works in this module along with the issues involved in setting up a network of PCs, getting them networked using TCP/IP and troubleshooting the network. You will also be given practical experience of installing and configuring network hardware and software and considering issues of network implementation.
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Year 3
Project for Software Engineering
You will undertake an individual project that will demonstrate your understanding of software engineering. You can select your own area of study, identify and develop a realistic problem and, working independently and in a professional manner, organise, sustain and report on your project in a way which is both detailed and reflective.
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Formal Development of Software Systems
This module will equip you with an understanding of formal methods of software engineering using the Vienna Development Method (VDM) and methods of verification of distributed software. This will include developing a critical appreciation of the merits of using formal notations and developing an ability to specify, design and verify software.
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Software Quality Management
In this module you will study the idea of quality and its importance in the software development process. Using a variety of metrics, prediction systems and models you will build an appreciation of the worth of quality in any software development project. This will help you become a confident user interface developer through the use of appropriate and rigorous usability engineering techniques and guidelines.
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Ajax and Smartphone Development
In this module you will be introduced to the key technologies used to provide interactive websites and interactive applications for use with mobile devices, taking into account the unique environment in which these applications operate. Consideration is given to how to use these technologies while still maintaining web standards and particularly accessibility.
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Optional Modules (choose one)
Computer Graphics
Computer graphics provides an advanced and appropriate environment in which your transferrable skills can be developed, and in which real-world applications can be demonstrated. This module allows you to transfer your existing knowledge of object-oriented programming into to a new and specialised environment using high-level real-time 3D graphics toolkits, and your knowledge of Java will be built-on to allow use of the C++ programming language.
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Internet Security and Computer Forensics
In this module you will think about the security implications of internet-based computer systems and develop a critical appreciation of both the theoretical and practical issues in the field of computer forensics. You will also develop the necessary skills, methodologies and processes to conduct a basic computer forensics investigation within an organisation.
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