ObjectivesThe course will be of interest to anyone who has been, or who aspires to be, employed in the growing portfolio of information systems careers. These include project leader/manager, IT or information management consultant, business systems analyst/designer, data/IS architect, applications developer/programmer, or specialised liaison positions between IT and non-IT departments.
Entry requirementsThe course is suitable for both IT practitioners and experienced analysts/designers who want to enhance, improve and/or update their knowledge skills, and lS graduates who wish to deepen their understanding and/or who want to advance their career in the field of information systems. You will need to possess the graduate competencies on which the course can build postgraduate skills in scholarship and critical analysis. You should have a good Honours degree (at least 2.2) from a UK university or an overseas equivalent. If you do not meet these entry requirements you will also be considered according to your work experience and other qualifications. You are expected to submit a statement of purpose with your application in which you should present your key interests and career aspirations. You may be invited to an informal interview and/or may be contacted if the admissions tutor needs further information to assess your suitability. If your first language is not English you are expected to achieve a score of at least 250 in the computer-based TOEFL (or at least 600 in the paper test) or a score of 6.5 in the IELTS test.
Academic titleMSc Information Systems
Course descriptionIntroduction
This course addresses all important aspects of contemporary information systems: from requirements analysis, system modelling and design to the development of modern software solutions and databases that can be incorporated into fully operational information systems. The course also expands towards the broader issues of business imperatives and technology responses that have changed the way we perceive information systems in the 21st century. We explore the latest technologies and industry standards with emphasis on the web, Internet applications, enterprise information systems, service-oriented and component-based development and similar areas. The exploration of professional issues, such as security, privacy and ethics in information systems, will enhance your understanding of societal use of information systems. This course provides an excellent vehicle for challenging postgraduate study, through which you will develop skills for employment and professional life.
Course Content Core modules
- Corporate Systems and Data Management
- Postgraduate Project - Preparation and Planning
- Postgraduate Project
- Requirements Analysis
- System Design
Options, choose from:
- Advanced Issues in Database Systems
- Database Languages
- Data Warehousing and Data Mining
- Distributed Systems Programming
- ERP Systems for B2B Applications
- Information Systems Development Methodologies
- Internet Enabled Applications
- Interoperability in Data Centric Applications
Teaching and Assessment
Attendance of lectures is broken up by periods of student-led activity, and these are usually supplemented by sessions in smaller groups with a member of staff on hand. You will undertake coursework with various outcomes that range from presentations and group investigations to a piece of software or a research review. Assessment provides you with feedback on the quality of your product and determines the extent to which you have achieved the required learning outcomes. We use formal exams where appropriate.
This course is accredited by the British Computer Society.