PROGRAMME APPROVAL FORM SECTION 1 THE PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION 1. Programme title and designation Computer Science Single honours Joint Major/minor 2. Final award Award Title Credit ECTS Any special criteria Value equivalent BSc (Hons) Computer Science 360 180 N/A 3. Nested awards Award Title Credit ECTS Any special criteria Value equivalent N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 4. Exit awards Award Title Credit Value ECTS equivalent Any special criteria Ordinary Degree (BSc) Undergraduate Diploma Undergraduate Certificate Computer Science / Computer Studies Natural and Mathematical Sciences Natural and Mathematical Sciences 300 150 6CCS3PRJ is core for honours and ordinary degrees in computer science, and compulsory for the ordinary degrees in computer studies. 240 120 N/A 120 60 N/A 5. Level in the qualifications framework H 6. Attendance Full-time Part-time Distance learning Mode of attendance Yes No No Yes Minimum length of programme Maximum length of programme 3 Years 10 Years 7. Awarding institution/body King s College London 8. Teaching institution King s College London 9. Proposing department Department of Informatics 10. Programme organiser and contact details Dr Tomasz Radzik tomasz.radzik@kcl.ac.uk 11. UCAS code (if appropriate) G400 12. Relevant QAA subject benchmark/ - Computing 1
Professional, statutory and regulatory body - British Computer Society guidelines 13. Date of production of specification Updated for CF July 2006 14. Date of programme review 2019/2020 16. Educational aims of the programme The programme aims to: Equip students with state-of-the-art knowledge and experience of the theory and practice of computer science, so that they might be able to pursue a professional career and/or postgraduate study successfully. Offer students opportunities to develop analytical and practical transferable skills and prepare them to play a creative role in the community. Develop students understanding and appreciation of the changing role of information technology in society and motivate them to pursue continual professional development. Ensure that students acquire an understanding of their professional and ethical responsibilities and of the impact of computing technologies in a wide and varied range of contexts. 17. Educational objectives of the programme/programme outcomes The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding and skills in the following areas: The programme provides a knowledge and understanding of the following: 1. Basic theoretical concepts of CS. 2. Hardware and systems platforms (operating systems, computer architecture, networks and communications etc.) 3. Programming concepts and reasoning, various programming paradigms, testing and verification. 4. Models of computation, parallel/distributed computing, network computing. 5. Systematic development of large scale software (systems analysis, design, implementation and evaluation) and relevant management techniques. 6. Modern information technology (parallel/distributed computing, network computing, internet technology, agents, natural language processing, automated verification and reasoning, artificial intelligence, data Knowledge and understanding These are achieved through the following teaching/learning methods and strategies: Acquisition of these is through a combination of lectures, tutorials, small group supervision, supervised laboratory classes, coursework, individual and group projects throughout the 3 years of the programme. Assessment: Coursework, written examinations, assessed group and individual projects. The latter includes assessment of written reports, software demonstration, and oral presentation. 2
and knowledge bases, computer graphics, multimedia, information security etc.). 7. Data and applications security. 8. The professional and ethical responsibilities of software engineers. 9. The role of the software engineer in the development and application of computing technology and solutions in a global context Intellectual skills: 1. Plan, conduct and report a programme of original research. 2. Analyse and solve computing problems. 3. Design a system, component or process to meet a need. 4. Be creative in the solution of problems and in the development of designs. 5. Evaluate designs, processes and products, and make improvements. 6. Integrate and evaluate information and data from a variety of sources. 7. Take a holistic approach in solving problems and designing systems, applying professional judgements to balance risks, costs, benefits, safety, reliability, aesthetics and environmental impact. Skills and other attributes These are achieved through the following teaching/learning methods and strategies: Intellectual skills are developed through a combination of lectures, tutorials, small group supervision, supervised laboratory classes, coursework, individual and group projects throughout the 3 years of the programme. Analysis and problem solving skills are further developed through coursework, laboratories, tutorials and supervision of project work. Assessment: Analysis and problem solving skills are assessed through written examinations and coursework. Research and design skills are assessed through laboratory work, coursework reports and project reports and presentations. Practical skills: 1. Specification, design and implementation of computer-based systems 2. Evaluation of systems and design tradeoffs. 3. Effective contribution to development teamwork. 4. Prepare technical presentations. 5. Write technical reports, produce technical documentation. 6. Give oral presentations. These are achieved through the following teaching/learning methods and strategies: Practical skills are developed through a combination of lectures, tutorials, small group supervision, supervised laboratory classes, coursework, individual and group projects throughout the 3 years of the programme, especially in the context of coursework and individual and group projects. 3
7. Use the scientific literature effectively. 8. Take notes effectively. 9. Use computational tools and packages. In particular, skill 3 is developed more thoroughly in the context of the 2 nd year group project. Assessment: Practical skills are assessed through coursework reports and individual and group project reports and presentations. Generic/transferable skills: 1. Communicate effectively (in writing, verbally and through diagrams and graphs). 2. Apply mathematical skills (logic, geometry, modelling, discrete mathematics). 3. Work as a member of a team. 4. Transfer techniques and solutions from one problem domain to another. 5. Use information technology. 6. Retrieve information using catalogues and search engines. 7. Manage resources and time. 8. Learn independently in familiar and unfamiliar situations with openmindedness and in the spirit of critical enquiry. 9. Learn effectively for the purpose of continuing professional development in a wider context throughout their career. These are achieved through the following teaching/learning methods and strategies: Transferable skills are developed through a combination of lectures, tutorials, small group supervision, supervised laboratory classes, coursework, individual and group projects throughout the 3 years of the programme. Skill 1 is developed through most of the curriculum. Skill 2 is taught through lectures, tutorials and coursework. Skill 3 is developed through group project work. Skills 4-7 are developed mostly through group and individual project work. Assessment: Skill 1 is assessed through coursework reports, presentations and oral and written examinations. Skill 2 is assessed primarily through examinations, coursework and project work. Skill 3 is assessed in the context of the 2 nd year group project. Skills 4, 7 and 8 (in part) are assessed mostly in the context of the individual project. The other skills are not formally assessed. 18. Statement of how the programme has been informed by the relevant subject benchmark statement(s)/professional and statutory body guidelines 4
The curriculum and the teaching methods employed have been designed (and recently updated) taking fully into account the relevant subject benchmark, both in terms of body of knowledge covered and in terms of the skills and abilities that students should develop while undertaking this programme of study. The department recently updated its undergraduate curriculum informed by the relevant benchmark statements for computing. 19. Programme structure and award requirements (where relevant the information should also differentiate the particular requirements of pathways within a programme or linked/exit awards) (a) numbers of compulsory and optional units to be taken in each year of the programme Year 1: 120 credits (compulsory) Year 2: 120 credits (compulsory) Year 3: 30 credits (core (Computer Science degrees), compulsory (Computer Studies degree), 90 credits (optional) Students may be permitted to take additional modules up to a maximum value of 30 credits with academic approval (b) range of credit levels permitted within the programme: 4-6, exceptionally students may be permitted to take a level 7 module. (c) maximum number of credits permitted at the lowest level : 150 (d) minimum number of credits required at the highest level: 90 (e) progression and award requirements (if different from the standard) 6CCS3PRJ is core for honours and ordinary degrees in computer science, and compulsory for the ordinary degrees in computer studies. (f) maximum number of credits permitted with a condoned fail (core modules excluded) 45 (g) are students permitted to take a substitute module, as per regulation A3, 20.7? Yes (h) other relevant information to explain the programme structure Normally no more than 30 credits in optional modules may be taken outside the programme, including no more than 15 credits outside of the Department, and must be with prior approval of the Department. The modules 4CCSS1CS1 Computer Systems I and 4CCS1IAI Introductory Artificial Intelligence will not be compulsory for the students transferring directly to Year 2 of the BSc Computer Science programme after successfully completing the first year of the BSc Computer Science with Management programme (including the with options). The students transferring this way will not be allowed to take any replacement modules outside their programme during the final year (Year 3 for BSc Computer Science and Year 4 for BSc Computer Science with a Year Abroad/Year in Industry). 5
Programme structure See Programme Handbook for modules to be taken. 20. Marking criteria The marking follows the College generic criteria and additionally those of the Faculty of Natural and Mathematical Sciences. The award and classification of the degrees are decided in accordance with the requirements of the Faculty Examination Board. 6
PROGRAMME APPROVAL FORM SECTION 2 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Not all of the information in this section will be relevant for all programmes and for some programmes this section will not be relevant at all 1. Programme name BSc in Computer Science 2. If the programme is a joint award with an institution outwith the University of London has the necessary approval been sought from Academic Board? Yes No Not applicable X Please attach a copy of the request to Academic Board 3. In cases of joint honours programmes please provide a rationale for the particular subject combination, either educational or academic N/A 4. If the programme involves time outside the College longer than a term, please indicate how the time will be spent, the length of time out and whether it is a compulsory or optional part of the programme N/A Year abroad Year in employment Placement Other (please specify) Time spent.. Compulsory/optional. 5. Please provide a rationale for any such time outside the College, other than that which is a requirement of a professional or statutory body N/A 6. Please give details if the programme requires validation or accreditation by a professional or statutory body Name and address of PSB The British Computer Society Sanford Street Swindon SN12 1HT Date validation/accreditation commenced: Current accreditation period: 2011-2017 7
Date of last validation/accreditation: February 2013 (accreditation backdated to cover 2011 intake) Frequency of validation/ accreditation Date of next validation/ accreditation 5 years 2017 7. In cases where parts or all of the programme (other than those in box 4 above) are delivered either away from one of the College campuses and/or by a body or bodies external to the College please provide the following details Name and address of the off-campus location and/or external body The undergraduate ambassador scheme: London secondary schools Percentage/amount of the programme delivered off-campus or by external body Approximately 4% for those students who participate. Nature of the involvement of external body Students spend a few hours per week in a London secondary school, supervised by the staff of that school, assisting in the teaching of computing Description of the learning resources available at the off-campus location Normal secondary school resources What mechanisms will be put in place to ensure the ongoing monitoring of the delivery of the programme, to include monitoring of learning resources off-site or by the external body? All schools are visited by KCL Computer Science department staff and an individual teacher is responsible for the student in the school. A member of KCL staff monitors the students while they are in the student ambassador scheme. Please attach the report of the visit to the off-campus location N/A 8