Direct Entry - Business Information Systems with Information Technology This course is designed for students who have completed a foundation/first year who wish to transfer to Middlesex University School of Computing Science for their second/third year of study. Course Overview The BSc Hons Business Information Systems (BIS) with Information Technology aims to provide a core study in the design of information systems in a business context and in the applications of business software to the problems of business and management. The focus is on the planning, analysis, design, implementation and use of information systems. It will provide you with a core set of IT skills and abilities, complemented by an understanding of business-oriented computing. The BIS modules aim to: • Enable you to contribute to all stages of the development of an information system • Provide you with the ability to analyse model data using a range of appropriate tools and methods • Enable you to utilise an appropriate methodology and corresponding systems tools in the analysis and design of an information system • Enable you to assist users in articulating their requirements for a system • Formulate and specify system requirements • Enable you to use and apply common software packages (such as word processing, database, spreadsheet and graphics), and more sophisticated software in modelling and presenting solutions to a variety of business problems • Develop the ability to design human computer interfaces with an awareness of appropriate human factors • Give an understanding of organisational structures and behaviour, and their relevance to information systems requirements • Enable you to control the quality of the information system during its development The CMT modules aim to: • Provide a flexible and versatile route through the Computing and Multimedia Technology (CMT) subject area. You can acquire particular expertise in a wider and more varied background by choosing their own set of CMT modules to study as a minor subject with some other major subject combination. • Provide considerable understanding and confidence in the skills, theory and knowledge associated with the CMT subject area when studied with another subject. These include the design and programming of system components, web technology and the Internet, digital media, software development life cycle, human-centred approaches to software design, computer graphics and games. • Further your personal and professional development. • Develop the knowledge and skills to equip you for a career in the computing industry or further study. • Develop the intellectual and practical skills necessary for the student in the CMT subject area. • Provide the choice of advanced modules allowing students to study in one specialist theme.
Continue to attract students from different academic and industrial backgrounds, and provide support for an International student base.
Programme Structure • Three years full-time, 100% University-based. The course is undertaken at three levels (study years), 1, 2 and 3. There are 24 study weeks in each year. The course is divided into study units called modules. Each module has a credit value of 20-credits. Each 20-credit module represents approximately 180 hours of student learning, endeavour and assessment including up to a maximum of 50 hours of teaching. Each year of the programme comprises 120 credits. Full-times students study a maximum of 120 credits (typically three modules) in each academic year. Part-time students in the UK may study up to 4 modules (a maximum of 80 credits) per academic year.
Level 2 modules: • BIS2030 Systems Analysis and Design This module provides an introduction to business systems analysis and design techniques. The skills assimilated could be used in careers in computing or business. The practical work you will complete to achieve these aims include coursework using computer-assisted tools. On satisfactory completion of the course, you should be able to use the practical skills attained in a variety of business environments.
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BIS2000 Business Information Systems The aim of this module is to give you the knowledge and skills to use and manage Business Information Systems to effectively and efficiently support business processes, improve business decision making and gain a competitive advantage. You will gain an overall understanding of Business Information Systems: the different types, their functionality, development, management, use and the social impact. The module will also enable you to recognise the value and the use of information systems in business, in particular supporting managerial decision making and strategic advantage from the perspective of both a user and that of a manager. Through practical tasks and assignments, you will also gain an understanding of data and process modelling.
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BIS2061 Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues of Computing Information systems is an area of practical activity, which in different ways employs and affects a large number of people in society. It is now vital that students who leave Middlesex University are aware of the most pressing social, legal and professional issues affecting information systems. The aim of this module is to provide you with the tools enabling them to build information systems to appropriate ethical, legal and professional standards.
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CMT2200 Human Computer Interaction: Users, Tasks and Designers Modern computer systems are designed to support users' requirements. In this module, you will learn about the vital importance of usable versus unusable systems. You will learn user centred design skills and will be able to analyse the usability of existing interactive systems. You will also learn about how psychology and other human-centred disciplines can inform the design of easier to use systems. You will be encouraged to think critically about how technology is developed and marketed.
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CMT2097 Internet and Web Technology The module aims to help you gain the understanding necessary to analyse and develop website implementations for relevance and effectiveness. Methodological and design issues form a thread throughout the module. There is a particular focus on gaining experience in the use of a structured website methodology, DHTML, web multimedia, streaming, and emerging Internet and multimedia technologies. Crossplatform and multi software environment awareness and experience are important study features.
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CMT2046 Digital Media This module aims to equip you with the theoretical, analytical and practical knowledge and skills required to develop digital media, through digital audio and visual applications. It also allows you to follow a digital media lifecycle from capture or creation to use or dissemination in digital applications. This will include the investigation of the use and structure of virtual editing environments.
Level 3 modules:
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CMT3991: Computing Project Management The abilities to manage time and budgets, assess risks, monitor progress, organise groups and communicate effectively with others are crucial to the success of any project. This module provides background to an experience in project work, serving as the launch stage for group projects whilst also giving experience in planning, researching and organising a smaller individual project. The group project will be completed as part of this module, whilst the individual project can be completed in a further semester in module CMT3992.
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BIS3021: Enterprise Database Systems The success of many organisations depends upon information stored in database management systems. Given the importance of such systems, it is essential that managers with responsibility for IT understand the underlying database management system (DBMS) principles examined in this module. This module serves to provide a perspective on database management, system structure and function. The webbased database applications, which are the driving force behind any e-commerce,
are discussed in the module. A popular technology in the database area, namely data warehouse and data mining for decision support, is also introduced. • BIS3051 Commercial Web Design This module enables you to generate dynamic websites using ASP, XML, XSL/T and HTML. You will be required to set up an online database on a server and render this database correctly for display to the client. The module also compares the relationship with XML and databases and how this technology can be used to display queries. CMT3992 Undergraduate Computing Project The primary aim of this module is to give individual students the opportunity to demonstrate how effectively they have consolidated their knowledge and skills from all other computing science modules. This is achieved via an individual project, which has been devised in CMT3991. The project may be orientated towards research or towards production of a useful software, hardware, management process etc. Projects may be eligible for BCS professional project exemption. This module provides you with the opportunity to tackle a difficult problem and show an advanced grasp of difficult concepts and a thorough understanding of the computing issues associated with the project domain. Ideally you should address a taxing problem or apply a novel approach to achieve a problem solution. CCM3060 Computer Networks The aim of the module is to introduce the basic concepts of computer networks. The module will provide a comprehensive overview of the principles and theories employed in computer networks. It aims to develop a conceptual understanding without the aid of complex mathematical algorithms often used in computer networks. The main objectives of this course are: to learn and to understand the main issues of computer networks and to keep track of the continuous development in this field. BIS3031 Methodologies and Tools for the Engineering of Information Systems
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Criteria for admission to the programme Entry requirements are in accordance with the University regulations. We accept students from a range of backgrounds. Most students educated in the UK will have studied A levels, AVCEs or an accredited Access Course. All candidates should possess at least grade C in GCSE Maths and English language, or equivalent. Mature applicants with relevant work experience are also welcome to apply. International students who have not been taught in the English medium must show evidence of proven ability in English such as TOEFL grade 550 or IELTS grade 6.0. The University provides pre-sessional English language courses throughout the year for candidates who do not meet the English requirements. For further information, visit the learning resources web site at: www.mdx.ac.uk/language. University policies supporting students with disabilities apply, as described in the University Regulations 'Information for students with disabilities'. See http://www.mdx.ac.uk/study/undergrad/disability.asp