PMINTCDL - MSc Information Technology (Distance Learning)
Course Specification
Validation status | Validated | |||||||||||
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Highest award | Master of Science | Level | Masters | |||||||||
Possible interim awards | Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate, Advanced Diploma in Professional Development | |||||||||||
Total credits for course | 180 | |||||||||||
Awarding institution | London Metropolitan University | |||||||||||
Teaching institutions | London Metropolitan University, Western International College, British Institute of Technology, England (BITE) | |||||||||||
School | School of Computing and Digital Media | |||||||||||
Subject Area | Computer Science and Applied Computing | |||||||||||
Attendance options |
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Course leader |
About the course and its strategy towards teaching and learning and towards blended learning/e-learning
The MSc Information Technology (Distance Learning) course has an entirely distance learning delivery mode.
The current MSc IT course has a proven and consistent track record of being a popular choice for those undergraduates who wish to pursue an MSc course which aims to equip them with necessary knowledge/skills to apply Computing/IT technology successfully within a business and IT environment.
The offering of MSc Information Technology (Distance Learning) makes it possible for the course to be taken by students who due to their work or personal commitments, could not leave their employment, their home country, or simply prefer the flexibility to study for the course anywhere and anytime without having to attend the traditional campus-based classes. In the meantime, students will receive effective and timely guidance and support throughout the course.
The state-of-art Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and other appropriate tools is used to provide a highly interactive, supportive and collaborative learning experience for the students. A wide range of synchronous and asynchronous facilities are used where appropriate for the effective delivery and assessment of the module. Among these facilities are the VLE learning materials, video lectures, discussion board and online forum, and online presentation, viva and feedback. Students are encouraged to become active participants, rather than passive recipients, of this learning process.
There are many facilities available on Weblearn and via other tools that can make the successful delivery of the course by distant teaching not only possible but also highly effective. The examples of the range of synchronous and asynchronous facilities on VLE are listed in the following table, grouped according to their potential roles in learning and teaching, assessment, and student support.
There are many facilities available on Weblearn and via other tools that can make the successful delivery of the course by distant teaching not only possible but also highly effective. The examples of the range of synchronous and asynchronous facilities on VLE are listed in the following table, grouped according to their potential roles in learning and teaching, assessment, and student support.
To facilitate a flexible yet structured student learning experience for each module, the range of topics covered are grouped into a number of learning units (see the diagram below). Normally each module consists of four learning units, each lasting for three weeks. Each learning unit is designed to cover selected topics.
The module leaders will provide the following via VLE for the module:
• Clear description of required learning activities including required reading list and exercises.
• Lecture slides and/or other supporting materials.
• Answer questions posted on the discussion forum on the VLE and facilitate the discussion among students.
• A clear description of tasks, submission instruction, submission deadlines, assessment criteria and marking sheet.
Students are strongly encouraged to:
• Complete required learning activities
• Post questions related to the module to the relevant Forum in discussion board and engage in online discussion with peers and the tutor
• Submit solutions to study tasks and the required assessment by the given deadline in accordance with published procedures
• Regularly check mail boxes, notice boards, e-mails for update on the module.
• Complete 200 hours of study (600 hours in the case of MSc project module).
• Regularly check mail boxes, notice boards, e-mails for update on the module.
For the MSc project module. MSc supervisors will provide a list of proposed MSc project topics. Students will be asked to either choose a topic from these offered, or can propose their own topic. The MSc project topics and project proposal will be developed in the “research development and skills” module. At the start of the MSc project module, each student will be allocated a project supervisor. Clear guide, milestones and submission deadlines will be provided in the VLE, together with on-going supervision activities.
Course aims
The main educational aim of the course is to provide students with a working knowledge of all the fundamental areas of IT, e.g. security, project management, database systems and business solutions. The main educational aim is coupled with the development of generic employability skills required by the IT industry. Professional development and the practice of managerial skills are also to be supported on the course. The distance learning delivery mode offers significant flexibility whereby all teaching and learning materials are provided in the most advanced Virtual Learning Environment.
Additional course aims:
• to enable students to strengthen their existing design and development skills with substantial coverage of a wide range of areas within an Information Systems context.
• to equip students with a range of ‘value-added’ skills sought by IT employers e.g. industry Professional Certification qualification.
• to equip students with both technical IT skills and ‘client-facing’ business skills; thereby ensuring that they are the ‘hybrid employees’ sought after by the IT industry.
• to encourage the practice of troubleshooting and problem solving strategies within a broad IT context.
• to offer students an opportunity to develop advanced expertise in a specialist field relevant to their skills and professional career aspirations.
Additional generic postgraduate aims:
• to develop research and development skills for use in project work and production of research reports.
• to develop students’ intellectual, practical and personal skills in the area of Information Technology consistent with masters level study.
• to undertake a substantial individual project which utilises current and up-to-date IT techniques and tools.
• to encourage students to reflect critically on their own experiences, to develop their own capabilities and to regard themselves as life-long learners.
Course learning outcomes
LO1: Knowledge and Understanding
On completing the course students will be able to:
• demonstrate a deep understanding of relevant and contemporary IT issues – both from a technical and an end-user perspective;
• demonstrate a critical appreciation of the process of IT project development and the tools available to developers;
• demonstrate a high level of comprehension in choosing and applying development methods and tools;
• apply research skills and methods to current areas within the field.
• demonstrate an ability to plan, execute and report on system development and on project evaluation.
• develop competence in areas of problem-solving, troubleshooting, working within teams, communication, decision making, self-management and self-presentation as applicable to the world of work.
• evaluate the ethical, social, legal and professional issues involved in developing and deploying IT Systems.
LO2: Cognitive skills
By the end of the course the student is expected to develop higher order skills that are reflected in
the student’s ability to:
• carry out independent scholarly and practical research and investigation. In particular, an ability to use such knowledge to provide analysis and evaluation of specific issues and problems related to the development and management of IT projects;
• develop and apply intellectual and critical skills to the theories and ideas related to the synthesis, development and evaluation of IT projects;
• detect and resolve issues related to the deployment, maintenance and evolution of IT systems;
• carry out evaluation and comparison of a range of technological offerings related to
information technologies in modern organisations;
• carry out a critical review of the literature and be aware of alternative approaches to the development of IT projects.
LO3: Transferable skills including those of employability and professional practice
The most useful practical skills, techniques and capabilities are to:
• act as an intermediary between technical specialists and user groups;
• communicate ideas and information effectively by oral, written and visual means;
• work effectively both in a team and independently on a given task or project;
• take a trouble-shooting, problem-solving approach to existing IT projects;
• think critically by questioning given information, testing hypotheses, formulating policy suggestions;
• apply effective time-management and self-management skills.
LO4: Subject-specific practical skills
On completion of the course students will be able to:
• carry out a user requirements analysis, using critical judgement;
• plan, carry out and report on an individual IT project;
• competently utilise trouble-shooting strategies in different areas of an IT project;
• develop the use of appropriate testing and evaluation techniques;
• develop strong skills in mediating between technical developers and clients;
• identify the strategic role for IT in an organisation;
• be competent communicators of complex ideas and analysis by oral, written and visual means.
Course learning outcomes / Module cross reference
Module Title Module Code
IT Security Management (Distance Learning)
CC7175DL
Software Project Management (Distance Learning) CC7176DL
Research and Development Skills (Distance Learning) FC7004DL
Mobile Application Design and Development (Distance Learning) CC7173DL
Database Systems with Professional Certification (Distance Learning) CC7174DL
Communication Technologies for IT(Distance Learning)
CS7073DL
MSc Project (Distance Learning) FC7P05DL
Learning Outcomes 1 - 4
Principle QAA benchmark statements
The programme design has been informed by the “Subject Benchmark Statement Master’s Degrees in Computing” 2011.
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/SBS-Masters-degree-computing.pdf
Assessment strategy
The course aims to develop a good understanding and knowledge of current and emerging IT and computer technologies. It will equip students with a combination of relevant technical skills and 'client-facing' awareness in preparation for, or in enhancement of, a career within the IT industry.
• The distance learning delivery mode offers significant flexibility whereby all teaching and learning materials are provided in the most advanced Virtual Learning Environment.
• Students can obtain an engaging and rewarding study experience with regular guidance, on-going support and timely feedback throughout their course from experienced academic tutors.
• A variety of on-line facilities are available for interaction between both students and tutors, as well as among students.
• The course is specifically designed for career enhancement. It aims to equip students with a wide range of necessary knowledge and skills highly valued by employers and IT industry. These include mobile computing, IT security management, advanced databases and software project management.
• Modules such as “Database Systems with Professional Certification” and “Mobile Applications Design and Development” will provide additional value to the students by preparing them for industry recognised professional certifications.
The course runs over three stages:
Stage 1: Students attend an online Induction session at the beginning of their first semester.
Stage 2: Students complete the following six 20-credit modules.
Database Systems with Professional Certification
Mobile Applications Design and Development
IT Security Management
Software Project Management
Communication Technologies for IT
Research and Development Skills
Stage 3: Students take the 60-credit MSc Project module on completion of stage 2.
This course has an all-core module structure. Modules are assessed by Coursework with built-in oral presentation/viva component.
Assessment is undertaken by a variety of formative and summative assessment methods, including:
• individual research projects;
• individual work on case studies;
• the development of a software application;
• the reporting of application design and development;
• demonstrations and oral presentations;
• the compilation of workbooks;
• the authoring of a Personal Development Plan.
Formative assessment such as small individual assignments, report writing, and presentations will assess the level of cognitive skills acquired by the students throughout the course. Summative assessment such as module long coursework and oral presentation will provide concrete evidence of the level that these cognitive skills have been learnt.
As students progress through the levels of study they will be confronted with more complex cognitive skill assessment such as research reports and components of the final MSc project. Contextualised, realistic coursework scenarios which generally require team work (including development of team leadership skills), role play, and client requirements elicitation would form the bulk of assessment of these transferable skills. In IT projects the process of development is as important as the final outcome and many of these professional and employability skills are highlighted in the way the student works on a project, as opposed to the final result of the project. The process of project development is facilitated by the tutors and assessed formatively and summatively.
Some skills (such as conducting surveys, requirements elicitation and test planning) are assessed from the documentation and other supporting materials which are submitted for assessment.
Online demonstrations and presentations of developed systems provide a useful mechanism for assessing and authenticating the practical skills acquired by students.
Both formative and summative feedback is provided to the students at various and appropriate stages of their study for the module.
Among the key issues in a distance learning delivery course are authentication and plagiarism detection of student work.
In the QAA Code of practice for the assurance of academic quality and standards in higher education, Collaborative provision and flexible and distributed learning (including e-learning) – Amplified version October 2010, it stated: “In some FDL environments, there may be particular issues relating to the authentication of a student's work, especially when assessment is conducted on-line or remotely. As a starting point, students should at least be provided with a statement which explains the awarding institution's position on the use of unfair means and the penalties which may ensue, and requires them to confirm acceptance of the terms of that statement.”
To address these issues, each student on this course is required to electronically sign the acceptance of the “academic honesty statement” at the beginning of each module. The statement will specify the university's position on the use of unfair means and the penalties it may impose on any student misconduct.
Authenticate student identity:
• The authenticated copy of the students’ photo ID must be submitted to the University as part of the enrolment process.
• The student photographs will be made available to all online tutors to verify and confirm the identity of the students during any required oral assessments.
Authenticate student work:
• Regular online communication takes place between students and online tutors. This allows the tutors to not only monitor student’s performance but also identify any unusual patterns of achievement.
• Online viva/presentations are organised for all modules, partly to authenticate/evidence student work.
• A suitable plagiarism-detection tool, Turnitin (within Weblearn), will be used for all essay type coursework submission to identify and prevent plagiarism and collusion.
Modules required for interim awards
This course has an all-core structure. Students are required to take all six 20-credit taught modules and a 60-credit MSc Project module as specified in the course structure (see details in Section 27).
None of the six 20-credit taught modules requires a prerequisite. The MSc Project would normally be undertaken following the successful completion of the six 20-credit taught modules.
PG Diploma is awarded following the successful of any combination of modules to the value of 120 points.
PG Certificate is awarded following the successful of any combination of modules to the value of 60 points.
Arrangements for promoting reflective learning and personal development
Students are encouraged to participate in the class discussion in the discussion board in VLE (eg. Weblearn, Skype) reflect on what they have learned in each module, and to maintain a personal development portfolio.
Formative feedback and summative feedback for the assessment are provided to encourage students to reflect and enhance their work before final submission.
Other external links providing expertise and experience
British Computer Society
Professional Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) accreditations & exemptions
This course is accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS) - The Chartered Institute for IT. It also meets the educational requirement for Chartered IT Professional (CITP) Further Learning registration.
Career, employability and opportunities for continuing professional development
Information about the university’s career services and guidance will be provided to students via the VLE.
Specialist technical competency and extensive programming skills are not always prerequisite for certain jobs such as Project Manager, Business Analyst, Database Administrator, IT Manager. What is required are postgraduates who have a thorough grounding knowledge of the IT area and the issues surrounding it. Also required by the IT industry are ‘hybrid employees’ who possess generic IT skills coupled with business and project management awareness and also ‘client-facing’ IT skills.
On completion of the course graduates will be equipped to work in areas which require a combination of technical and non-technical skills. Graduates will be eligible to work in areas such as Database Administration, Project Management, Business or Systems Analysis, IT Consultancy, Support Services, Product Management and Training. On completion of the course graduates will have some Oracle Professional Certification which they may pursue to become fully certified professionals within a range of pathways.
Career opportunities
Successful completion of this course will offer you a wide range of career opportunities in the Information Technology industry in private and public sectors.
You’ll be fully prepared to work in a variety of areas. These include:
- database administration
- project management
- mobile and web development
- business or systems analysis
- IT consultancy, support services
- product management and training
Entry requirements
You will be required to have:
- a lower second-class honours degree in a computing-related subject or a pre-master's course in computing and technology
Applicants without a computing degree will need evidence of considerable computer-based experience or a substantial element of computer studies within a different qualification.
All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.
Official use and codes
Approved to run from | 2013/14 | Specification version | 1 | Specification status | Validated |
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Original validation date | 01 Sep 2013 | Last validation date | 04 Sep 2013 | ||
Sources of funding | HE FUNDING COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND | ||||
JACS codes | I200 (Information Systems): 100% | ||||
Route code | INTCDL |
Stage 1 Level 07 September start Offered
Code | Module title | Info | Type | Credits | Location | Period | Day | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CC7173 | Mobile Application Design and Development (Dist... | Core | 20 | |||||
CC7174 | Database Systems with Professional Certificatio... | Core | 20 | |||||
CC7175 | IT Security Management (Distance Learning) | Core | 20 | |||||
CC7176 | Software Project Management (Distance Learning) | Core | 20 | |||||
CS7073 | Communication Technologies for IT (Distance Lea... | Core | 20 | |||||
FC7004 | Research and Development Skills (Distance Learn... | Core | 20 | |||||
FC7P05 | MSc Project (Distance Learning) | Core | 60 |
Stage 1 Level 07 January start Offered
Code | Module title | Info | Type | Credits | Location | Period | Day | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CC7173 | Mobile Application Design and Development (Dist... | Core | 20 | |||||
CC7174 | Database Systems with Professional Certificatio... | Core | 20 | |||||
CC7175 | IT Security Management (Distance Learning) | Core | 20 | |||||
CC7176 | Software Project Management (Distance Learning) | Core | 20 | |||||
CS7073 | Communication Technologies for IT (Distance Lea... | Core | 20 | |||||
FC7004 | Research and Development Skills (Distance Learn... | Core | 20 | |||||
FC7P05 | MSc Project (Distance Learning) | Core | 60 |