Course Description

In brief, your studies on the course will cover:

Professional development and research
This module develops your critical thinking and research skills to
help you succeed in business and academic environments.
Example topics of study include: learning to learn, approaches to
teamwork, approaches to critical evaluation and research methods.

Business modelling
This module cultivates skills and knowledge related to business,
conceptual and software modelling. Example topics of study include
different paradigms for modelling (including business services,
processes and objects), techniques for modelling the business
domain and business behaviour, the relationship between business
modelling and software modelling and the use of the Unified
Modelling Language (UML).

Fundamentals of distributed systems
This module develops knowledge and skills relating to advanced
distributed systems, relevant algorithms and a variety of application
related and emerging technologies. Example topics of study include
distributed technologies (e.g. XML, services and Grid computing)
alongside issues of distribution such as synchronisation and fault
tolerance.

Software design and architecture
This module examines the nature of design and architecture
challenges and the role each plays in information systems
development and use. Example topics of study include the design
process and patterns, the architectural process, patterns and
styles and architectural frameworks.

Service-oriented architecture
This module examines the approaches and technologies used in
the successful implementation of enterprise and web services.
Example topics of study include issues in creating and managing
a system landscape based on services, architectural approaches
to service orientation and Web service technologies (including
semantic Web services). Practical aspects of Web service
implementation are examined in the context of integration
via the SAP Netweaver environment.

Semantic integration frameworks
This module examines concepts, standards and frameworks
supporting semantic system integration, with a particularemphasis on the Semantic Web.
Example topics of study include ontologies and their uses, ontology management and integration,
inferencing and reasoning for and in semantic integration, as well
as semantic integration standards such as RDF and OWL.

Systems project management
This module examines the challenges in information systems
project management. Example topics of study include traditional
project management techniques and approaches, the relationship
between projects and business strategy, the role and
assumptions underpinning traditional approaches and the
ways in which the state-of-the-art can be improved.

Enterprise software implementation and testing
This module aims to develop the knowledge and skills related
to the professional development of enterprise-level software.
Example topics of study include n-tier software development,
testdriven development and integration approaches, build and
test environments, persistence approaches, performance and
other non-functional aspects of development.

Dissertation
In addition, provided that you have reached an acceptable
standard in the assessments and examinations, you may then
undertake a dissertation. Work on a dissertation for this course
will normally involve an in-depth study in the area of distributed
information systems and computing (e.g., a state-of-the-art
review together with appropriate software development) and
provides you with an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your
expertise in this area to future employers or as a basis for future
PhD study.

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