Outlined in this brochure are the Level 1 modules in Computer Science intended for students who are not specialising in Computer Science or Software Engineering.
These modules are:
We aim to provide useful and relevant courses for students whose main interests lie in other subjects. These modules equip students with an appreciation of, and an ability to work confidently with, computer technology, but do not lead forward to honours courses in this department.
With this objective in mind, the modules should be of interest both to those whose main interest is in another field, but who have a desire to become generally better acquainted with computing, and to those with a specific wish to learn techniques applicable to their field, such as database manipulation, spreadsheet use, wordprocessing and graphics.
Because of their introductory nature, none of these modules is available to students who have studied computing at A-level or equivalent or who have significant experience of using computers.
The modules make use of the College's IBM PC clones. As appropriate, these are used as workstations running applications packages, or as terminals to mainframes.
Provided there is sufficient demand, CS10010 "Introduction to Computing" will be offered in both semesters. It requires no previous experience and provides an appropriate qualification for CS10510 and CS10810. CS10610 requires some limited previous experience of computing.
CS10610 "Computer Packages for Analysing and Presenting Data" will be offered in the first semester. CS10510 "Databases" and CS10810 "Computing and Information" will be offered in the second semester.
There are similarities between the modules CS10610 "Databases" and CS10810 "Computing and Information". They are, in fact, quite different in approach and background, the former being designed for students in the Sciences, the latter for students in the Arts and FESS. What similarities there are, however, preclude us from offering them jointly.
The practical work is very important; one cannot become proficient at using computers without practice. What is more, it is time consuming and cannot be done in a hurry, so it is most important for you to keep abreast of practical assignments as they are set.
It is expected that students will spend some of their own time, over and above that spent in the practical sessions, working on the assignments associated with these modules. The extent of this varies between the modules.
Most practical assignments will have more than one component. Often these are, to some extent, independent. You should beware of concentrating on one component to the exclusion of others since marks will be available for each component and a good overall mark cannot be achieved on the basis of only one.
The following recommendations should be carefully noted.
Although zeal in one's studies is generally accounted a very good thing, there are dangers. Some students can become hooked on computing to the detriment of their studies in other subjects. If you find that you have a talent for computing and that you enjoy it, beware of spending a disproportionate amount of your time doing it. If you can complete the practical assignments well within the set time, spend the rest of the time working on your other subjects.
All students following modules in the Department should receive a copy of a departmental "Student Handbook". This should be read carefully and acted on.
Syllabus
John Hunt Departmental Advisor
jjh@aber.ac.uk
Dept of Computer Science, UW Aberystwyth (disclaimer)