Course Catalogue

Computing Fundamentals UESTCHN2012

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Engineering
  • Credits: 10
  • Level: Level 2 (SCQF level 8)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

The aim of the CS course is to give students an understanding of human-computer interaction (styles of interaction, requirements for an interactive system in relation to the nature of the tasks being supported, issues in the design of interactive systems, critical assessment of designs); the ways in which databases contribute to the management of large amounts of data, the professional and ethical issues raised by the existence of databases and networks.

Timetable

Lectures taught at 2 per week, one-hour tutorial and two-hour laboratory session per fortnight.

Requirements of Entry

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Examination 80%, Coursework 20%.

Main Assessment In: December

Course Aims

The aim of the CS course is to give students an understanding of:

■ Human-computer interaction: styles of interaction, requirements for an interactive system in relation to the nature of the tasks being supported, issues in the design of interactive systems, critical assessment of designs; 

■ The ways in which databases contribute to the management of large amounts of data; 

■ The professional and ethical issues raised by the existence of databases and networks; 

■ Mathematics to support the previous items and to provide a foundation for level 2.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

On completion of the CS course, the student should be able to:

1. Explain how applications are built using programs clustered around databases and other large collections of data;

2. Diagram the architecture of a database management system (DBMS) in general terms; the processes it has to perform and the operational tasks;

3. Given an outline design; carry out all the operational tasks of setting up and using a relational database using a typical DBMS product and a standard SQL;

4.   Identify the main forms of human computer interaction and appreciate the issues involved in delivering successful interaction via these forms;

5. Critically assess usability of interactive systems using informal means; and know when to perform such assessments and how to use the outcomes;

6. Demonstrate and understanding of the nature of human computer activities as tasks; and be able to analyse their structure; assess the conditions under which they are performed; and use such task analysis in the software engineering process;

7. Discuss the legal and ethical obligations of computing professionals.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions