Objectives
This programme provides students with a comprehensive, advanced knowledge and understanding of all the relevant technologies associated with the Internet computing, ranging from networked applications development and middleware support to networking technologies and standards The aim of the MSc programme Internet Computing is to provide people of graduate status working, or planning to work, in the various areas related to Internet Computing, in Industry or Academia, with high quality, up-to-date education at post-graduate level, thus enhancing their career prospects by gaining additional knowledge and skills in Internet technologies. The specific aims of the new Masters programme are listed as follows: -To provide students with a fuller understanding of current and emerging Internet computing technologies -To facilitate students in the development of expertise and interest in topic areas of Internet computing technologies of direct and complementary relevance to their work -To encourage students to become autonomous learners -To provide students with an understanding of current Internet research issues -To further develop students' analytical, creative, problem-solving and research skills -To provide a platform for career development, innovation and/or further -study such as PhD The learning outcomes define that at the end of the programme , students should: -Be aware of current and developing principles and practices of Internet -Computing technologies. -Have widened and deepened students' knowledge and skills in the areas of Internet Computing and its applications. -Have been exposed to and applied a range of tools and techniques currently being used in the development of networked applications/systems. -Have critically analysed and developed a major piece of work in the area. -Be able to understand current research issues in the relevant aspects of -Internet Computing technologies. -Be able to understand current research issues in the relevant aspects of -Internet Computing technologies.
Course description
What is the course about?
This course allows students/professionals with an interest or experience in Computer Networks and the Internet to further develop advanced skills and understanding of Computer Networks/Internet architectures, services, protocols, networked applications and research and development issues in the field.
What are Careers Prospects of the course:
-Some examples of career opportunities after the successful completion of the course are listed below:
-Network Management Systems Development
-IP Based Network Planning and Design
-Performance Evaluation of Internetworked Systems
-Development of Networking Technologies
-Internet Service Providers
-Internet Based Solutions (e.g. Voice over IP, VPNs)
-Distributed Applications Development
-Fixed and Mobile Network Routing Systems Development
-Traffic Engineering
-Quality of Service Mechanisms Design and Implementation
-Design and Performance Evaluation of IP Based Communications
-Protocols
-Integration of Fixed and Mobile Networks
-Further Research by PhD
What are the course details?
The course consists of the following core and option modules:
SEMESTER 1 CORE MODULES
-Research Methods
-Web Development Technologies
SEMESTER 1 OPTION MODULES
-Database Design and Technology
-Multimedia Systems Development
-Multimedia Technology
-Computer Networks
-Computer Security
-Software Agents
-Ubiquitous Computing
-Software Development - Java
-Forensic Computing
SEMESTER 2 CORE MODULES
-Internetworking
-Wireless Networks
SEMESTER 2 OPTION MODULES
-Human Computer Interaction
-Multimedia Database Systems
-Advanced Multimedia Technology
-Multimedia DevelopmentWorkshop
-Mobile Computing
-Network Security
-Networked Appliances
-Project Dissertation (to be described in section 6)
In Semester 1, full-time students normally study two core modules listed above and two option modules selected. Part-time students normally study one core module in the first year (Web Development Technologies) and one option module, and the other core module (Research Methods) and another option module in the second year.
In Semester 2, full-time students normally study the two core modules listed above and two option modules selected. Part-time students normally study the two core modules in the first year, and two option modules in the second year.
For Project Dissertation, students normally complete their projects by the end of August, after the completion of all the four core and four selected option modules.
Some details of the core modules and the brief summaries of the option modules for the course are given below:
RESEARCH METHODS
This module provides a grounding in research methods as they apply to
research in computing and information systems. It outlines essential
considerations when conducting experimental research, survey research,
field research, etc., and allows an opportunity to analyse research papers
and develop familiarity with research areas and approaches. It also
provides students with an opportunity to plan and develop an individual
research strategy suitable for a Master's dissertation.
Topics studied include a variety of research methods and processes,
general components of surveys and field studies, issues in problem
analysis, topical research sources, and the requirements of a dissertation.
WEB DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGIES
This module examines modern computing architectures suitable for the
development of large-scale, web based applications. It discusses the
main concepts and technologies used in the development of such
applications. Practical skills are developed in the engineering of web
software platforms.
Topics studied include hardware and software components, architectures
for web appoications(client-server, peer to peer, 3-tier, n-tier, etc), data
formats, XML based data languages, client and server side developments
and optimisation techniques.
INTERNETWORKING
This module develops an understanding of global distributed multimedia
systems and skills in the development of such systems and supporting
networks. It also examines current issues and research aspects in
multimedia networking.
Topics studied include networking technologies for distributed
multimedia support, multimedia protocols, end to end system design
techniques, Quality of Service and multimedia scheduling, performance
issues and current internetworking solutions.
WIRELESS NETWORKS
This module offers an advanced understanding of the theory and practice
of building wireless networks and an in-depth study of the requirements
of wireless communications as well as current research topics in the
field. Students will be exposed to a range of technologies that support
the wireless communication and networking of devices in a variety of
topologies.
Topics studied include applications and architecture for wireless systems,
wireless communications technologies, types of wireless networks and
systems, networked appliances and middleware for wireless
communications.
FORENSIC COMPUTING
This module is intended for post-graduate students interested in the field
of forensic computing. The purpose of the module is to provide the
fundamental technical concepts and research issues essential for
computer forensic investigations within the organisation, law
enforcement or national security.
DATABASE DESIGN ANDTECHNOLOGY allows students to gain skills in
the development of database applications and to acquire an
understanding of advanced databases.
COMPUTER NETWORKS enables students to develop effective network
architectures at hardware and software levels and to gain practical
experience in communication protocols.
COMPUTER SECURITY develops an understanding of security threats
and vulnerabilities, and assesses the applicability of various techniques
for system protection.
SOFTWARE AGENTS offers an understanding of the mobile agent
paradigm and investigates the application of mobile agent systems to real
world problems.
MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGY offers an understanding and critical
evaluation of the current hardware for sound and video, and relevant
software development tools for supporting the development of general
integrated multimedia applications.
MULTIMEDIA SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT offers understanding and skills
in multimedia programming and design, and introduces recent
developments in the subject area.
UBIQUITOUS COMPUTING provides an understanding of contemporary
research in the research topics that make up the fields of
pervasive/ubiquitous computing.
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT-JAVA develops the skills needed for the
design and implementation of object-oriented applications using the Java
programming language.
HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION provides students with design
principles of user interfaces and multimedia techniques for building
systems with good interactivity and usability.
MULTIMEDIA DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP provides students with
opportunities to apply analysis and modelling techniques and associated
tools to develop interactive multimedia applications.
MULTIMEDIA DATABASE SYSTEMS examines the characteristics of
multimedia data, the current trends in multimedia database systems, and
the corresponding research issues.
ADVANCED MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGY This module offers a further
understanding of multimedia systems, development of their relevant
components, the need for synchronisation between various media types
and the techniques for achieving it.
MOBILE COMPUTING offers an advanced understanding of the theory
and practice of mobile computing and an in-depth study of devices,
applications and middleware services for support of mobile systems
design.
NETWORK SECURITY offers an understanding of various securities
vulnerabilities and threats in computer networks and the importance of
network security. It develops the ability to carry out critical assessment
of a variety of security technologies for protection of computer networks.
NETWORKED APPLIANCES offers the opportunity to apply knowledge
from a wide range of computing areas to the building of Networked
Appliances systems. It discuss how wireless networking technologies,
HCI principles and computer security can be adapted and/or applied.
