Bachelor of Science Computer Systems Engineering Honours Degree

Purpose of the Programme
This programme is designed to create graduates who stand out with skills required to solve 21st century computer systems engineering problems. The aim is to combine an in-depth coverage of computing and its applications with a systematic approach to the design and construction of high quality software and systems.
Entry Requirements
  • Normal Entry

To qualify for acceptance to the BSc Computer Systems Engineering Honours Degree, the candidate must have obtained a pass at ‘A’ level in Mathematics and in at least one of the following subjects or their equivalents:

  1. Physics
  2. Computer Science/Studies

2. Special Entry

Refer to Section 3.2 of the General Regulations.

 3. Mature Entry

 Refer to Section 3.3 of the General Regulations.

Programme Characteristics
Areas of Study: Systems development, Hardware design, Digital systems, Digital signal processing, Computer systems administration, Computer networks, Computational intelligence, Databases, Website development, Embedded systems
 
Specialist Focus: Hardware Design, Systems Development, Computer Networking, Machine Learning 
Orientation:  Research, innovation and technopreneural orientation. Teaching and learning is focused on producing graduates with the necessary knowledge, skills and competences sufficient to start technology based businesses.
Distinctive Features: The programme builds the research-technology-innovation continuum and focuses on knowledge development and application using a student-centred approach.

 

Career Opportunities and Further Education
Employability: Careers in the Computer Systems Engineering field which include:

1. Software Engineers 

2. Network Engineers 

3. Hardware Engineers 

4. Website Designers

5. Analyst Programmers

6. Network and Systems Administrators

7. Database Administrators

8. IT Managers

9. Systems Analysts

Further Studies: Master’s and doctoral studies in Computer Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, or in interdisciplinary programmes related to computing practices.
Programme Delivery
Teaching and Learning Methods: Lectures, tutorials, programming  laboratory classes, seminars, group work, industrial visits, industrial attachment, research project, individual independent study
Assessment Methods: Written and oral examinations, tests, laboratory reports, seminar presentations, industrial attachment report, mini-research project report, final year research project report, continuous  assessments
Programme Competences
Generic:

  • Multidisciplinary: Ability to draw appropriately from multiple academic disciplines to define and solve problems based on understanding of complex phenomena. Should be flexible work across many disciplines.
  • Flexibility; to succeed in a rapidly changing field.
  • Quantitative and innovative reasoning: Capability to draw on big data and use analytics for informed decision making and strive to seek new ways of doing things
  • Communication skills: Ability to communicate effectively and to present information orally and in writing and using ICTs to both expert and non-expert audiences
  • Analysis and synthesis: Capacity for analysis and synthesis using logical arguments and proven facts.
  • Ethical commitment: Professional integrity and awareness of impact of science and technology on society and the environment
  • Entrepreneurial skills: Capability to identify and create new business ventures based on knowledge and new thinking paradigms
Discipline specific:

  • Technical understanding of computer systems engineering; Graduates should have a mastery of computer systems engineering as described by the core of the Body of Knowledge. 
  • Familiarity with common themes and principles; Graduates need understanding of a number of recurring themes, such as abstraction, complexity, and evolutionary change, and a set of general principles, such as sharing a common resource, security, and concurrency. Graduates should recognize that these themes and principles have broad application to the field of computer science/ computer systems engineering and should not consider them as relevant only to the domains in which they were introduced. 
  •  Appreciation of the interplay between theory and practice; A fundamental aspect of computer systems engineering is understanding the interplay between theory and practice and the essential links between them. Graduates of a computer systems program need to understand how theory and practice influence each other. 
  • Problem solving skills; Graduates need to understand how to apply the knowledge they have gained to solve real problems, not just write code and move bits. They should to be able to design and improve a system based on a quantitative and qualitative assessment of its functionality, usability and performance.
  •  Project experience; To ensure that graduates can successfully apply the knowledge they have gained, all graduates of computer systems engineering programs should have been involved in at least one substantial project. 
  • Commitment to life-long learning; Graduates should realize that the computing field advances at a rapid pace, and graduates must possess a solid foundation that allows and encourages them to maintain relevant skills as the field evolves.
  • Communication and organizational skills; Graduates should have the ability to make effective presentations to a range of audiences about technical problems and their solutions. This may involve face-to-face, written, or electronic communication. They should be prepared to work effectively as members of teams. 
  • Appreciation of domain-specific knowledge; Graduates should understand that computing interacts with many different domains. Solutions too many problems require both computing skills and domain knowledge. 
Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the degree programme the student should be able to: –

  1. Analyse, design, implement and maintain computer hardware systems.
  2. Design and develop quality software systems following sound engineering principles design, develop, configure and deploy a computer network using the right tools.
  3. Use machine learning tools to perform predictions and establish patterns from data sets. 
  4. Manage computer systems including database systems.
  5. Conceive, nurture and grow a technology business idea into a prototype product with potential to be patented and commercialized.
  6. Pursue post-graduate programmes in any of the identified thematic areas.