Course - BTEC National Diploma for IT Practitioners (Games and Software Development)
Entry requirementsWho is this course for? For young people aged 16-18 who wish to pursue a career in the software development and gaming industry What do I need to get on the course? # 5 GCSEs at grade A*-C including science and English, with preferably a B in Mathematics # Some work experience would be beneficial.
Academic titleBTEC National Diploma in IT Practitioners (Software Development).
Course descriptionWhat is this course about?
This course covers a range of general and specialist IT Practitioner subjects with a strong emphasis in Year 2 of gaming development and technologies..
What will I study?
In Year 1 the course focuses on developing transferable skills in a variety of IT work related scenarios there will be a strong focus on the software development design and production. Core units focus on developing employability skills, Mathematics and IT, understanding the role of IT in Business.
You will use software tools such as Microsoft Access, Excel and Visual Basic, and Visual C# to solve complex business problems.
Year 2 will focus on developing analytical, design and evaluative skills. Advanced programming units will be taught using Microsoft C# Express and Microsoft Game Studio Express. Learners will be able to explore the software development environment for games targeted at the Xbox. An example of this can be seen a creators.xna.com. Other software environments will be used to explore 3D environments.
The course is made up of 18 units, nine in each year including:
# Communication and Employability Skills in IT - develop relevant skills required in the workplace.
# Computer Systems - understand, specify, and justify the key components that make a modern personal computer system.
# Information Systems - understand and evaluate the role of IT systems in providing relevant and useful data and information to key people and functions in businesses and organisations.
# IT Project - apply skills and knowledge from other units to specify, design, implement and evaluate an application that fulfils a business requirement.
# Advanced Database Skills - analyse a business requirement, produce a database design, and implement a complex database using tables, queries, forms and reports.
# Systems Analysis and Design - the key methods use to design and specify the requirements of new IT business systems.
# Advanced Spreadsheet Skills - analyse a complex problem, design and implement a multi worksheet solution using advanced features of Excel.
# Systems Analysis and Design - analyse and produce a specif
What can I do after the course?
You gain the professional skills needed by businesses using IT systems. You make take your studies further and progress onto degree courses in IT, Software Development for Games, Business Information Systems, Computer Science, Multimedia/Web Design, Software Design, and Networking.
The course is equivalent to three A levels (up to 360 UCAS points) so universities regard BTEC National students very favourably.