UNIVERSITY of Bradfordschool of Computing Informaticsand Mediadepartment of Bradford Media

UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORDSchool of Computing Informaticsand MediaDepartment of Bradford Media SchoolProgramme/course title:MSc Web Technologies

Awarding and teaching institution: / University of Bradford
Final award: / MSc [Framework for Higher Education Qualifications level M]
Programme title: / Web Technologies
Duration: / 1 year full time, 2 years part-time
UCAS code: / Not applicable
Date produced: / February 2009
Last updated : / July 2012

Introduction

Phenomenal growth in the use of the Internet coupled with emerging wireless technologies has led to an intermingling of media communication forms. It is clear that the demand for well-qualified professionals able to take a lead in developing and exploiting existing and new Web technologies will continue to grow. Computer technology and its web-based applications have already reached such a level of maturity and sophistication that a number of distinct and specialised areas have emerged, including website design, security, usability issues, virtual reality, modelling and animation, e-business, e-learning and social networking.

The School of Computing, Informatics and Media (SCIM) currently provides undergraduate programmes in most of these specialisms, backed up by an international research programme in imaging, visual computing, multimedia, computer animation, virtual reality, digital video, human computer interaction, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence. However, the scope of the field is becoming increasingly large and the pace of change is so rapid, that there are aspects of both breadth and depth that cannot be fully explored within the constraints of our existing undergraduate courses.

It is the intention of the postgraduate programme in Web Technologies located within the Bradford Media School to fill this gap and present you with a more demanding intellectual challenge than would be expected at undergraduate level, by providing a taught course that extends your knowledge and skills, but is also accessible to graduates from other relevant disciplines.

The School of Computing, Informatics and Media is part of a Skillset Media Academy in partnership with East Coast Media. Our courses are unique in that they are offered in collaboration with Bradford's National Media Museum. Our graduates go on to exciting jobs in the new media industries and many have won awards for their work. Several students have gone on to set up their own businesses in the region (e.g. others work freelance, or have gone on to full time paid employment with a Web Design company. Students will graduate with a range of technical production skills meaning they can respond quickly to a rapidly changing environment and be comfortable producing content across several media.

The small but dynamic team of staff at Bradford School of Media run this course, in conjunction with our colleagues in Computing. The School aims to provide degree programmes which enable you to develop an integrated range of knowledge, understanding and skills in the field of digital media through critical engagement with principles, applications, content design and production practice.

Programme Aims

The programme is intended to:

A1.Develop Online Media Expertise: empower you to develop and produce a range of advanced creative audio-visual media, but with specialisation in the production of Websites. There is an emphasis on content creation (helping you to produce a strong portfolio of work).

A2.Technical Expertise: introduce a variety of programming languages, to enable you to create advanced dynamically-driven websites. The course also provides you with a broad technical understanding, giving you a distinct advantage when competing for jobs.

A3.Critical Reflection: to encourage evaluation, reflection on and analysis of your own work, and the work of others (including structured usability testing).

A4.Education for Sustainable Development: help you develop an appreciation of the cultural, political, economic and environmental contexts within which new media are produced and circulated.

A5.Provide Transferable Skills: to encourage students to develop a portfolio of appropriate transferable skills and attributes including written skills, presentation, promotion, entrepreneurship, project management and team-work skills.

Programme Learning Outcomes

When you have completed the programme you will be able to:

LO1.apply advancedknowledge and understanding of information and communications technologies and the scientific principles that underpin the underlying hardware and software;

LO2.use and develop specialist software application packages and scripting languages used in Internet product design, and make informed judgements about which tools to utilise in the context of rapidly developing and converging media industries

LO3.be a competent visual and media designer capable of producing interactive, engaging, original Internet products, applying a holistic approach to design and development

LO4.show an informed understanding of the social, political, cultural, technical, and economic conditions of new media production, distribution, and reception in national and international contexts, including the concepts surrounding sustainability, as these relate to your course of study.

LO5.to analyse and interpret aural, visual, and audio-visual texts including the ability to usability test Websites and mobile applications.

LO6.demonstrate understanding of advanced Internet and Software business aspects such as high-level security, protocols and quality assured formal development processes.

Curriculum

Masters

Module Code / Module Title / Type / Credits / Level / Study period
EM-4001M / Design for Human-Computer Interaction / C / 10 / M / 1
CM-1055M / Business Systems Security / O / 10 / M / 1
CM-1003D / Software Development / C / 20 / M / 1
CM-1067D / Mobile Applications / C / 20 / M / 1
EM-4033M / Media Production Planning / O / 10 / M / 1
EM-4006D / Software Systems for e-Business & the WWW / C / 20 / M / 2
EM-4058D / Issues in Digital Media / C / 20 / M / 2
CM-1064D / Internet Security and Protocols / C / 20 / M / 2
EM4049Z / Web Technologies MSc Project / C / 60 / M / DISS

The curriculum may change, subject to the University's course approval, monitoring and review procedures.

Teaching and Assessment Strategies

You will experience a range of teaching and learning environments on the postgraduate programmes in Web Technologies. Concepts, principles and theories are generally explored in formal lectures demonstrated in laboratory classes, and practised in associated tutorials and seminars. Practical skills are developed in laboratory and workshop sessions. Professional and personal skills are developed through discussion and small-scale project work which involves problem solving and design exercises, often tackled by working in small groups. A particular strength of this course is the contribution made to the teaching programme by successful practising professionals.

For every 10 credits on the course, you will be required to commit 100 hours of study. Some of these hours will be formally timetabled - lectures, laboratories, seminars, tutorials and workshops – and others will involve you in carrying out private study.

Methods of assessment are similarly varied and progress will be assessed using a mix of formal examinations, presentations and seminar papers, reports, laboratory tests, essays, coursework assignments, and projects. The appropriate method is chosen so that you may demonstrate the particular learning outcomes of each module.

In addition to 120 credits of taught modules, candidates for the Masters award will be expected to complete a 60 credit project/dissertation, which will be overseen by an individual supervisor.

The School is committed to Education for Sustainable Development and endeavours to integrate ESD wherever possible into the curriculum. The module Issues in Digital Media provides scope for this, and you are free to explore ethical and environmental issues in your project work, should you wish to.

Assessment Regulations

This Programme conforms to the standard University Assessment Regulations for Postgraduate Programmes which are available at the following link:

Admission Requirements

The University welcomes applications from all potential students regardless of their previous academic experience; offers are made following detailed consideration of each individual application. Most important in the decision to offer a place is our assessment of a candidate’s potential to benefit from their studies and of their ability to succeed on this particular programme. Entrance requirements for each programme will vary but consideration of your application will be based on a combination of your formal academic qualifications and other relevant experience.

If you have prior certificated learning or professional experience which may be equivalent to parts of this programme, the University has procedures to evaluate this learning in order to provide you with exemptions from specified modules contained within the curriculum. Please talk to us if you do not fit the standard pattern of entry qualifications.

The University of Bradford has always welcomed applications from disabled students, and these will be considered on the same academic grounds as are applied to all applicants. If you have some form of disability you may wish to contact the programme leader before you apply.

With respect to the proposed programme, we specifically require that all applicants:

have a good Honours Degree containing a significant component in Computing, Web Design or Media Production of an approved degree-awarding body; OR
have a good Honours Degree in a subject other than the above, but can demonstrate sufficient relevant experience in relevant areas.

Candidates applying to the course with non-standard qualifications will be judged on an individual basis using the University’s APEL procedures. In addition, a test of written and spoken English normally needs to have been passed at grade 6.0 for IELTS or 550 for TOEFL (or 250 for the computer-based test).

Learning Resources

The JB Priestley Library on the city campus and our specialist libraries in the School of Health and the School of Management provide a wide range of printed and electronic resources to support your studies. We offer quiet study space if you want to work on your own, and group study areas for the times when you need to discuss work with fellow students. Subject librarians for each School provide training sessions and individual guidance in finding the information you need for your assignment, and will help you organise your references properly.

Student PC clusters can be found in all our libraries and elsewhere on the campus. Many of these are open 24/7. You can also use the University's wireless network to access the internet from your own laptop. Most of our online journals are available on the internet (both on and off campus), and you can also access your University email account, personal information and course-related materials this way.

Staff are on hand during the daytime to help you if you get stuck, and there is a 24/7 IT helpline available.

Within SCIM itself, we have extensive equipment available for its own students which include high-spec PC and MAC suites, a Motion Capture Studio, Stop-motion camera equipment and TV studios. The SCIM loans counter enables you to borrow a range of high-end media equipment (still cameras, video equipment, sound recording equipment and mobile devices etc.) Web-space and a range of specialist software are also provided for students. We strongly advise you to visit us, on an open day, and we can show you the high-end kit that is available to our students.

Student Support and Guidance

Course Team

Support for you personally and in your course of study, will be provided both by the University and the Course Team. You will be allocated a personal tutor who is someone with whom you will be able to talk about any academic or personal concerns. The School will ensure that there is someone available with whom you feel comfortable to help and support you. You will be provided with a comprehensive series of handbooks that you can consult on a range of learning issues and your course tutors will be available to consult on subject specific queries.

In SCIM course tutors currently act as personal tutors for individual students.

Students’ Union

We value the feedback provided by students and collaborate with the Students’ Union, through a system of course representatives and formal staff student liaison committees, so that any issues you wish to raise are addressed rapidly.

The Students’ Union and the University of Bradford work in partnership to provide confidential counselling and welfare services where you can get help with any aspect of your personal or academic life. Student Financial and Information Services (part of the Hub) will provide you with information about a diverse range of issues such as council tax, personal safety and tourist information. International Students can access a range of additional advice and support services through the Student’s Union.

The Hub, Student Support Centre

The Hub, Student Support Centre provides a central reception where students can receive information, advice and guidance on a whole range of topics about their life at University. The Hub is located in the Richmond Building adjacent to the Atrium.

The teams located within The Hub:

Accommodation
Admissions
Education Liaison
Enquiries
Student Administration and Support
Bursaries and Financial Support
Finance and Credit Control Group
Payzone
Records and Tuition Fees
International Office
Customer Service Team

+44 1274 232233

Careers and Employability

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career Development Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the web site

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

The specific provision on this programme is designed to enable graduates to work in the fields of: film production; TV production (where applicable); training and teaching production.

Learner Development Unit

The Learner Development Unit provides support in all aspects of academic, maths, numeracy and interpersonal skills. A programme of interactive workshops is delivered during both semesters which complements the individual support available from Advisers and the wide range of interactive online materials.

Disability

Disabled students will find a supportive environment at Bradford where we are committed to ensuring that all aspects of student life are accessible to everyone. The Disability Service can help by providing equipment and advice to help you get the most out of your time at Bradford and is a place where you can discuss any concerns you may have about adjustments that you may need, whether these relate to study, personal care or other issues. For more information contact the Disability Service by phoning: 01274 233739 or via email:

University policies and initiatives

Ecoversity

Ecoversity is a strategic project of the University which aims to embed the principles of sustainable development into our decision-making, learning and teaching, research activities campus operations and lives of our staff and students. We do not claim to be a beacon for sustainable development but we aspire to become a leading University in this area. The facilities we create for teaching and learning, including teaching spaces, laboratories, IT labs and social spaces, will increasingly reflect our commitments to sustainable development. Staff and student participation in this initiative is crucial to its success and its inclusion in the programme specification is a clear signal that it is at the forefront of our thinking in programme development, delivery, monitoring and review. For more details see

Further Information:

For further information, please check the University prospectus or contact Admissions.

The Admissions Office
The University of Bradford
Richmond Road
Bradford, BD7 1DP
UK / The Recruitment and Marketing Office
School of Computing, Informatics and Media
The University of Bradford
Horton Building, Richmond Road
Bradford, BD7 1DP,UK
+44 (0)1274 233054
/ +44 (0)1274 234286

The contents of this programme specification may change, subject to the University's regulations and course approval, monitoring and review procedures.

Appendices to Programme Specifications

Curriculum map

This table shows in which modules the main learning outcomes are developed and/or assessed:

Programme Learning Outcomes
Sem / Module / Title / LO1 / LO2 / LO3 / LO4 / LO5 / LO6
1 / EM-4001M / Design for HCI / A / S / S / A
CM-1055M / Business Systems Security / S / S / S / S
CM-1003D / Software Development / A / A / S / S
CM-1067D / Mobile Applications / S / A / A / S / S / S
EM-4033M / Media Production Planning / S / A / A / S
2 / EM-4006D / Software Systems for e-Business & the WWW / S / A / S / S / S
EM-4003M / Issues in Digital Media / A / A
CM-1064D / Internet Security and Protocols / A / S / S / A
DISS / EM-4049Z / Web Technologies MSc Project / A / A / S / S / A / A

A = this outcome is formally assessed in the module

S = this outcome is explicitly supported in the learning and teaching but is not formally assessed

LO1.apply advanced knowledge and understanding of information and communications technologies and the scientific principles that underpin the underlying hardware and software;

LO3.be a competent visual and media designer capable of producing interactive, engaging, original Internet products, applying a holistic approach to design and development

LO5.to analyse and interpret aural, visual, and audio-visual texts including the ability to usability test Websites and mobile applications.

LO6.demonstrate understanding of advanced Internet and Software business aspects such as high-level security, protocols and quality assured formal development processes.