Course Summary
This is a highly practical course which combines a thorough understanding of Computer Science with a carefully supervised programme of education theory and practice – involving regular stints in schools.
For two thirds of your time you will study alongside specialising Computer Science students as you learn the main areas of the subject. These include software engineering and programming languages, as well as computer systems, computer architecture and data structures.
In addition to the technical knowledge you’ll need to pursue a career in this field, you’ll learn about the impact of technology on individuals, organisations and society.
But from your first year you will also have regular experience of working, and eventually teaching, in schools, so you will emerge ready to take up a teaching career straight away. Your progression will be carefully supported and monitored by tutors who are acutely aware of how to pace your experience.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Your Computer Science modules will encourage you to apply your skills to a range of practical problems. In your first year, you’ll gain a solid grounding in computer science fundamentals, including Software Development, Networks and Web Technologies.
In your second year, you’ll learn about operating systems, databases, data science and data structures. For your final year, you’ll have the chance to specialise in areas such as mobile application development and distributed systems, as well as completing an industrially relevant project.
Meanwhile your Education modules will involve you studying Computer Science Teaching and Learning in year one, as well as spending spend six weeks working in a school.
Year two will see you researching Computer Science Learning, with another six-week school placement.
In your final year, you will conduct an Active Inquiry into an educational topic of your choice, and spend 12 weeks in a school, by which time you will be teaching pupils.
HOW YOU'LL LEARN
Your Computer Science modules will be delivered by the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, while your Education modules and placements will be run by the School of Education and Communities.
Our Docklands campus has excellent computing resources, including specialised labs to study networking and operating system environments. You’ll be given software tools for programming, database development, computer-aided software engineering, internet access and web-based development.
Our teaching staff will give you a great deal of personal attention and feedback as you get to grips with the course content.
You will be introduced gradually to the idea of teaching pupils Computer Science through three school based placements, the last of them for a whole term. Your first visit may involve observing and getting yourself familiar with the workings of the school. By your third-year visit, however, you will be in charge of classes.
You will benefit from doing group projects with fellow students. And you’ll also gain insights from our industrial partners through guest lectures and visits to ensure you stay on top of what this fluid industry demands. The size of classes can vary depending on the nature of the course, module and activity. This can range from large groups in a lecture theatre setting, to smaller groups taking part in seminars and collaborative work.
You will receive your personalised timetable at the beginning of the academic year dependent on your course. Whilst we make every effort to ensure timetables are as student-friendly as possible, scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week between 9.00am and 6.00pm.
YOUR FUTURE CAREER
The practical experience you gain on this course, and your carefully tailored programme of learning, will ensure you are ideally placed to find employment as a teacher of Computer Science.
Computer Science, which has become the focus of the national school curriculum instead of Information and Communications Technology, involves a deeper level of understanding. Using the analogy of a car – ICT means you can drive, but Computer Science means you also understand what is going on under the bonnet.
However, if you don’t want to go on to become a teacher, the depth of knowledge you will gain of the subject will allow you to pursue employment options across a wide range of other areas.
As a graduate from UEL, you will have a solid understanding of the main computer science disciplines. And our status as a Cisco Networking Academy, Microsoft IT Academy and CompTIA academy means that your degree will be widely respected.
Industries as diverse as agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing and financial services all rely on computers and software to function effectively.
A computer science degree is the perfect springboard for a career in almost any sector, in addition to tech and digital industries. The kind of role you could go into includes:
- Software design
- Tech support
- Software engineering
- Network, system or database administration
- Systems architecture.
WITH THE PLACEMENT YEAR
This course offers the opportunity of year-long placement between years two and three. If you choose to take this option, you’ll spend your third year on a placement with a relevant company or organisation, adding valuable practical experience to your growing academic knowledge.
The extra placement year means it will take four years to complete your studies, instead of three.
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