Courses in Detail - Part I

PART I COMPUTER SCIENCE
Most Computer Science students at Lancaster take two Computing courses in their first year: Computing 101 and 102. Together they lay the foundation for a degree in Computer Science. The following topics are covered:

Java Programming - we were the first UK university to use Java as an introductory programming language and we teach programming in state of the art labs with small group supervised practical sessions.

Data structures and program design - in the first year we teach you all the core data structures and program design techniques you need to cope with the demanding problems encountered in Part II of the degree.

Systems Architecture - provides a comprehensive introduction to the internals of computer systems including machine architecture, operating systems and networking. Programming exercises are provided in MIPS assembly language.

Computing Fundamentals - Computer Science is a rich academic subject with a sound theoretical underpinning. This course teaches students the core fundamentals of the discipline.

Web Technologies - Modern computer systems make extensive use of web technologies such as SOAP and XML. We provide an introduction to these technologies to enable you to use them in your own application development projects.

Software Engineering - Developing computer systems is a highly complex task. First year software engineering provides an overview of the problem space and an introduction to topics including requirements engineering and testing.

RESPONSIVE COURSES
The Computing Department at Lancaster is committed to maintaining modern courses that reflect current trends and thinking in Computing. The course is reviewed regularly and modified to take account of the most recent advances in technology and techniques. A variety of teaching and learning methods are used including lectures, seminars, small group tutorials, laboratory practical and project work (both individual and group).

Part I Computer Science Assessment

ASSESSMENT
Assessment at Lancaster is through both examination and continuous assessment of coursework including practical exercises. The form of coursework and the nature of the examination vary from course to course, as does the contribution from exam and coursework marks. Most courses are supported by supplementary coursework which may be taken into account to raise a student's final mark.Part I (i.e. the first year of study) does not contribute to your final degree classification.

PROBLEM SOLVING AND APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT
As part of the first year courses you will get to tackle numerous interesting and challenging problems in Computer Science. For example in the C.Sc. 110 stream, you will learn both the underlying theoretical concepts behind the Java programming language and gain practical experience of building real applications. On the right are some examples of first year programming problems students have tackled recently:

Chess:
Write a program to model the rules of pieces on a chess board, using object oriented techniques and Java graphical user interfaces.
Texting with Java:
Write a program that uses polymorphism to enable you to write your own text messaging application that runs across the University - and maybe even onto your own mobile phone!
Stormy Seas:
Design, develop and test an implementation of a graphical puzzle game. Students learn how to write scalable and highly interactive applications.