ObjectivesMSc E-Commerce Technology is a programme of study designed for graduates in computer science or closely related disciplines. Its main teaching aims are: to prepare students for careers in modern enterprise computing by equipping them with knowledge and skills in the areas of e-commerce and e-business to enable students to design and implement enterprise solutions by providing them with practical experience of a wide range of industry standard leading-edge development tools to enable students to adapt to future developments in enterprise computing by providing them with a solid grounding in its underlying concepts and principles to enable students to develop particular expertise in a chosen area of enterprise computing to develop the students' ability to undertake research by providing appropriate resources and guidance in their use to develop the students' ability to make an effective contribution to team-based activity to encourage students to adopt an investigative approach and develop autonomous study skills in order to assist their continuing professional development
Entry requirementsEntry Qualifications 1st or 2nd class degree (or equivalent). Account is taken of relevant experience.
Academic titleMSc E-Commerce Technology
Course description
Course Description
This course educates students to design and build e-commerce and e-business systems, and to develop their understanding of current trends in this rapidly-evolving new technology. Students learn techniques for constructing enterprise solutions using cutting-edge technologies, and develop practical skills and experience in building enterprise solutions and using integrated enterprise development tools. Non-technical options allow students to explore a related area such as law, economics or management. A good honours degree in computer science or a related discipline is normally required for entry to this course, and its graduates work in a wide range of commerce-related companies.
Modules and Options
The lists of modules below represent the range of options available for each year of study. This may not be a complete list of the options you will study, and may be subject to change, so please contact the department for further details.
Stage 1
ADVANCED RELATIONAL AND OBJECT-ORIENTED DATABASES
AGENT TECHNOLOGY FOR E-COMMERCE Compulsory: E-COMMERCE PROGRAMMING
Compulsory: OBJECT ORIENTED SOFTWARE DESIGN
Compulsory: XML AND RELATED TECHNOLOGIES
Core: GROUP PROJECT
Core: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
CRITICAL MARKETING
INDUSTRY BASED PROJECT AND DISSERTATION
INTRODUCTION TO E-COMMERCE LAW
MACHINE LEARNING AND DATA MINING
MSC PROJECT/DISSERTATION
NETWORKS: PROTOCOLS AND SECURITY
SOFTWARE DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE
Teaching and Assessment Methods
A: Knowledge and Understanding
Learning Outcomes
A1 : Theory : current concepts, principles and theories relevant to the area of e-Commerce.
A2 : Techniques : methods, tools and enabling technologies used in, or arising from, e-Commerce systems development.
A3 : Applications : established and potential applications of techniques developed within e-Commerce.
A4 : Professional Issues : legal and ethical issues relating to the present and future use of technology developed within e-Commerce.
Teaching Methods
Lectures are the principal method of delivery for the concepts and principles involved in A1 - A4. Students are also directed to reading from textbooks, academic papers and material available on-line.
Understanding is reinforced by means of exercise classes, discussion groups, laboratories and assignments.
Knowledge of a particular topic, chosen by the student from within his/her areas of specialisation, is gained in CE902 through a staff led literature search which forms the basis for weekly group discussions.
Individual supervision of the summer project and dissertation provides further support for the development of those areas of knowledge relevant to the student's chosen topic.
Assessment Methods
Achievement of knowledge outcomes is assessed primarily through unseen closed-book examinations and marked coursework.
Understanding of professional issues (A4) is assessed by MCT during the course of the term.
The assessment of the CE902 essay includes specific allocation of marks for the breadth and depth of the knowledge gained during the study of the chosen topic.
An assessment of the understanding of principles and implementation techniques forms part of the overall assessment of the summer project and dissertation.
B: Intellectual/Cognitive Skills
Learning Outcomes
B1 : Evaluate the relative strengths of the languages, components, methods and tools used in the creation of enterprise systems
B2 : Analyse a given enterprise scenario and identify how modern web-based information systems can improve its efficiency
B3 : Construct informed, succinct and reasoned descriptions of, and proposals for, enterprise systems
B4 : Interpret the contents of articles and other sources, and form a critical judgement of their relative importance and relevance to an area of study
Teaching Methods
The basis for intellectual skills is provided in lectures, and they are developed by means of recommended reading, guided and self directed study, assignments and project work.
B1 is developed through exercises and exposure to a range of systems software.
B2 is a key element of most assignments and central to the group project.
In CE902, the acquisition of B3 and B4 is supported by lectures about research methodology and report writing, and further developed during tutor led group discussions.
Skills B1 - B4 are all required for the successful completion of the summer project, and are developed in the course of individual supervision.
Assessment Methods
Achievement of intellectual skills B1 and B2 is assessed primarily through unseen closed-book examinations,, marked assignments and project work.
The assessment of the CE902 essay includes specific allocation of marks for use of original sources (B3), clarity of description and originality (B4).
An assessment of the extent to which students have developed skills B1 - B4 forms part of the overall assessment of the summer project and dissertation.
C: Practical Skills
Learning Outcomes
C1 : Specify, design, implement, test and document a computer-based system
C2 : Work as a member of a development team, contributing to the planning and construction of an e-commerce system
C3 : Make effective use of a range of theories, techniques, programming languages, operating systems, design support tools and development environments
C4 : Propose, plan, undertake and report a self-directed individual programme of investigation, design and implementation
Teaching Methods
Practical skills are developed in exercise classes, laboratory classes, assignments and project work.
C1 is developed through exercises and exposure to a range of systems software.
C2 is developed in the e-commerce software engineering group project, CC403.
Various aspects of C3 are acquired in design, programming and other assignments, and further developed in group and individual project work.
C4 is developed during the supervision of the summer project and dissertation.
Assessment Methods
Achievement of practical skills is assessed through marked coursework, project reports, oral presentations and demonstrations of completed systems.
An assessment of the extent to which students have demonstrated practical research skills (C4) forms part of the overall assessment of the summer project and dissertation.
D: Key Skills
Learning Outcomes
D1 : Communicate effectively in written reports and oral presentations using appropriate terminology and technical language
D2 : Retrieve information using search engines, browsers and catalogues; use appropriate IT facilities to prepare and present technical reports in various formats (documents, oral presentations)
D3 : Use mathematical techniques in the processes of analysis and design
D4 : Analyse complex problems and design effective solutions
D5 : Plan and manage team projects using available support tools; work effectively as part of a team
D6 : Organise activity and manage time in a programme of self-directed study
Teaching Methods
The development of key skills forms an integral part of the students' overall learning activity. In particular
D1 and D2 are developed in group and individual project work.
D2 is developed through the use of the internet as a major information source, and practice in the use of tools such as Word and PowerPoint.
D3 and D4 are developed in exercises and assignments.
D5 and D6 are developed in the group project.
D6 is further developed in CE901, the summer project and dissertation.
Assessment Methods
Assessment of the key skills D3 and D4 is intrinsic to subject based assessment.
The assessment of project work includes specific allocations of credit for project management (D5, D6) and the quality of presentations (D1 and D2).
An individual's contribution to the group project (D5) is in part determined by means of a submission containing reflective and self-assessment components.
The assessments of the CE902 coursework and the CE901 dissertation include specific allocation of credit for the quality, extent and relevance of a bibliography, including internet sources (D2).