MSc Information System or Computer Science
Join over 15,000 international students from Europe, USA and the rest of the world.
MDCI has developed a unique partnership with University of South Africa (UNISA) to offer locally supported distance education programmes specifically for working people.
UNISA – The “MEGA” University The main partner of MDCI for this programme is the highly regarded University of South Africa (UNISA) – classed as one of the 11 leading very large universities. Founded in 1873, UNISA gained its University Royal Charter in 1876. It became the world’s first completely Distance Education University in 1946.
MDCI is delighted to work with UNISA in the development of this programme, and has an excellent reputation for the delivery of distance education to busy individuals. This has resulted in MDCI’s parent company being awarded the Queen’s award for Export Achievement in 1999.
We can now offer: 2-year MSc degree in information systems or computer science
What is an MSc in the School of Computing?
The objective of the educational programme leading to the MSc degree in Computer Science or Information Systems is to expose students to more advanced topics in the chosen field of study, as well as to provide students with the opportunity of doing independent research in a specialised area. This area of specialisation should fall within the scope of the mentioned research focus areas of the School of Computing.
The research programme for any MSc student is underpinned by completion of advanced postgraduate courses where important background material is taught. MSc degrees are awarded subsequent to the successful completion of these courses and a period of research which includes the submission of a dissertation based upon a research project, an external examination process and a subsequent oral examination, together with a series of progress reports and a review seminar governed by School regulations.
The dissertation is expected to display a comprehensive specialised knowledge of some part or aspect of the field of study, and to make some contribution to knowledge and understanding in the area of specialisation.
Before being awarded an MSc degree, a student must: · Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the scientific body of knowledge relevant to the topic. A student must: (1) understand the fundamentals of the relevant subjects; and (2) be able to identify and discuss the areas of conflict and consensus, as well as the gaps in the existing body of knowledge and what bearing they have on the topic. · Demonstrate the ability to formulate an appropriate research design and a clear research plan. · Discuss the relationship between the relevant body of knowledge and the proposed research. · Demonstrate the ability to draw meaningful conclusions. The student must be able to: (1) draw conclusions, make generalisations and/or confirm existing research results; (2) identify and discuss questions raised and how they could be investigated in future research; and (3) demonstrate the proficiency in appropriate research methodology and scientific writing.
Regular Supervision
Although Unisa is a distance education institution, advanced degrees cannot be obtained through ‘correspondence’ only. All students must avail themselves for regular supervision in one of two ways:
· Regular in-person weekly or monthly meetings with the supervision lasting at least one hour. At these meetings the student’s progress and work will be discussed and assessed. · An annual visit of at least ten working days to the School for the purpose of supervision, to deliver the required seminars, conduct research in the laboratories and/or library, and plan future research.
The costs of such visits (including travel and accommodation) must be carried by the student.
Continuous Assessment
During the course of working towards a research degree in Computer Science or Information Systems, the work of a student is subjected to a number of assessments. These are to allow the student's progress to be monitored and any problems dealt with as early as possible during the study period. At each stage of assessment the student will be expected to reach a standard determined by the supervisor and assessor (an internal or external examiner other than the supervisor) acting on the behalf of the graduate committee of the School of Computing.
For MSc students, re-registration for the next year of study depends on reaching the required standard in the assessed work. If the supervisor and assessor are not of the opinion that the student has achieved the required standard at the first attempt, the student will usually be given an opportunity to revise or repeat the work or aspects thereof. Such revision will be based on written feedback from the supervisor and assessor, containing those aspects of the work that need to be improved, as well as the time frames allowed for it. If a student is still not able to meet the requirements, re-registration for the next academic year will not be approved.
All work for assessment must be submitted/completed by the published deadlines unless an extension has been granted by the graduate committee of the School of Computing. Such an extension will normally be given solely on academic grounds (i.e. personal reasons such as work pressure, overseas trips, not having enough time to spend on studies, cannot be taken into consideration).
The work subject to assessment includes (but is not limited to):
· The formal coursework · Progress reports · Literature review and seminar · Research proposal and seminar · A draft article to be submitted to a reputable journal or conference · Research dissertation, examined by at least two internationally recognised examiners, followed by a oral defence, if required.
Details with regards to the time frames for these, will be provided by the supervisor in consultation with the graduate committee of the School of Computing.
How it Works The method of teaching this course is highly innovative. We call it “locally supported distance education” : learning through University supplied materials and MDCI administration and resource centres. It is based on MDCI “On- location” method of teaching which is so successful for postgraduate study here in the Middle East.
Locally Supported Distance Education A specially designed study method based on Unisa’s extensive competence in distance education. This expertise is supplemented locally by MDCI’s considerable experience in supporting over 500 postgraduate students close to their homes but distant from the university.
Advantages of Locally Supported Distance Education · Flexibility: you study at your own pace · Convenience: you study from home · Local administrative support: through MDCI’s regional offices · On-line support: through Unisa’s Student on Line (SOL) system · Telephone and email support: from Unisa faculty · On-line library access: for the your all-important research materials (journals, books, papers, etc) · Textbook ordering facility: speedy service at reasonable prices for your books.
curriculum
For Students Registering for the First Time During the 2004 Academic Year or Thereafter.
In the case of both Computer Science and Information Systems, the curriculum consists of two components:
A research dissertation on an approved topic (DIS655-X or DIS695-A):
· Because of the international status of the potential examiners, the preferred language of the dissertation is English. If your dissertation is written in another language you may be requested to provide a complete transcript in English, as well as such transcripts of any other documentation, submitted in the course of your research.
· Students must register for the dissertation (DIS655-X or DIS695-A) every year, from the start of their Master’s studies right up to the completion of their degree.
Five modules specified by the School of Computing:
· The purpose of this coursework is to provide the student with the subject fundamentals and background material necessary for doing the research dissertation. In exceptional cases the requirement of completing some or all of the modules may be waived. · The student will only be allowed to submit the dissertation for examination once the modules have been completed to the satisfaction of the supervisor. · The topics of these courses must be chosen in consultation with the graduate committee of the School of Computing and the student's supervisor. The choice of the topics will be determined by the student's basic research proposal. · In at least two of the five modules the assessment must include a formal written examination. At most three special topic modules may be included. In the latter modules other methods of assessment and examination may be considered in consultation with the student’s supervisor. If the student has not completed a module in research methods at Honours level, then doing the Honours level research module will be compulsory as one of the five modules. · A maximum of two academic years may be taken to pass these five courses.
Supervisor First, then Your Studies
Since the MSc degree usually comprises of a dissertation and some coursework to support this dissertation, it is necessary for us to appoint a supervisor for you upon first registration to guide and advise you in choosing your modules.
The idea is that these modules should provide the background knowledge for the planned dissertation, and that the dissertation should, in turn, provide evidence that you can understand the current research literature in your chosen field. The module selection must therefore be done in consultation with your supervisor.
details of the modules
COS405-A Computability theory Objective: To provide an introduction to the foundations of Computer Science. This involves surveying the answers, independently given by Gödel, Turing and Church to the question: Are there problems that in principle cannot be solved by mechanical step-by-step processes (ie by algorithm)?
COS407-C Formal logic Objective: To provide an introduction to the methods of formal logic used in Computing, with applications selected from areas such as artificial intelligence, deductive databases and logic programming.
COS408-D Data structures and algorithms Objective: To provide an introduction to the analysis of sequential algorithms that arise frequently in computer applications and to explore the question: Are there problems that cannot in practice be solved by mechanical processes (ie by algorithms), though solvable in principle?
COS409-E Parallel algorithms Objective: To study the standard constructs of procedural programming languages and to critically evaluate the features of such languages. It also serves as preparation for a study of the design and construction of compilers.
COS418-F Compiler construction Objective: To provide students with an understanding of modern compiler design and construction.
COS419-G Operating Systems Objective: To study the theory of advanced operating systems, including distributed, database and multiprocessor operating systems.
COS430-B Advanced computer networks Objective: The topics of this module include the introduction of principles, protocols and architectures for internetworking through TCP/IP. As an outcome this knowledge will enable students to understand and explain: (1) how it is possible to interconnect multiple physical networks into a coordinated system, (2) how internet protocols operate within such a coordinated system (3) how application programs can use such a coordinated internet system.
COS451-G Artificial intelligence 1 Objective: To provide the student with the skills to solve AI problems using the Prolog programming language. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the study of the design of intelligent agents. An intelligent agent is a system that acts intelligently.
COS460-H Capita Selecta 1 & 2 (Computer Science) Objective: The purpose of these Capita Selecta modules is to acquaint students with knowledge and/or skills of evolving/new topics in Computing, and to allow for courses offered by guest lecturers. It is not compulsory for students to include any of these modules in their curriculum. The Capita Selecta modules are therefore similar to the Special Topics modules for the Master’s degree.
COS462-K Research for Computing (Computer Science) Objective: To acquaint learners with research issues in the field of Computing.
COS492-R Formal program verification Objective: To provide an introduction to the formal design and verification of a computer program. Proof rules for the declaration of variables in a program environment, the composition of sequential statements, if-then-else statements, case statements, while statements and procedure calls are derived and applied.
COS496-V Special topic module for MSc degree and COS497-W Special topic module for MSc degree Objectives: The codes COS496-V and COS497-W are used for offering special topics modules to MSc students on an individual basis with the purpose of providing background knowledge for the planned dissertation.
INF414-K Special topic module for MSc degree and INF416-M Special topic module for MSc degree Objectives: The codes INF414-K and INF416-M are used for offering special topic modules to MSc students on an individual basis with the purpose of providing background knowledge for the planned dissertation.
INF417-N Software engineering Objective: To provide an overview of the principles of producing high quality software systems.
INF418-P Databases: Advanced Concepts Objective: To provide a basic overview of some of the advanced concepts in database implementation. The focus is on concepts supporting information retrieval.
INF420-H Human-Computer Interaction Objective: To introduce the subject of human-computer interaction from the point of view of the computer specialist, stressing a principled approach to interactive design which will fit into a software engineering environment.
INF425-N Software project management Objective: To equip the student to manage an information management related project as part of the integrated information management "system" and not as a stand-alone project.
INF430-K network management Objective: To prepare students for entering industry with adequate network management knowledge.
INF431-L Information security Objective: To study and explore the security pitfalls inherent in many important computing tasks today, and to provide the student with the necessary skills and knowledge concerning countermeasures available in computing that can check these weaknesses and point out where existing controls are inadequate.
INF450-P Information systems development: methodologies, techniques and tools Objective: To equip students with knowledge on recent technological and research advances in information systems development processes, and skills to apply the methods and techniques to the development of real-world information systems.
INF460-R Capita Selecta 1 & 2 (Information Systems) Objective: The purpose of these Capita Selecta modules is to acquaint students with knowledge and/or skills of evolving/new topics in Computing, and to allow for courses offered by guest lecturers. It is not compulsory for students to include any of these modules in their curriculum. The Capita Selecta modules are therefore similar to the Special Topics modules for the Master’s degree.
INF462-T Research for Computing (Information Systems) Objective: To acquaint learners with research issues in the field of Computing.
INF482-X Software specification techniques Objective: To study the specification phase of the software development life cycle in terms of the role that a formal approach and associated specification technique play in requirements analysis and software design.
duration of study The degree cannot be completed in under TWO YEARS.
admission The following are the minimum requirements: · You must be in possession of an Honours BSc degree or an equivalent qualification in the subject concerned. · If this degree was not obtained at Unisa, the contents and standard of this degree must be of equivalent in complexity, content and weight (i.e. number of courses/modules) to the BSc Honours degree in Computer Science or Information Systems at Unisa. · If you meet all these requirements, you must submit an official application for admission.This application must be accompanied by: (1) certified copies of all your prior qualifications, (2) official syllabi descriptions of courses you have completed for your degree, (3) a basic research proposal indicating the proposed field/topic of study, and your background expertise in this area
fields of study and selection of modules
Fields of study: Although your degree will be in either Computer Science or Information Systems, your chosen field of specialisation should fall within the following research focus areas: · Human-computer interaction (HCI) · Information security · Formal aspects of Computer Science and Information Systems · Electronic education technologies and strategies · Systems development
How to select modules: You should compile your curriculum in consultation with your MSc supervisor, which simply means that you should not fill in your choice of modules on your registration form until you have been allocated a supervisor.
As mentioned in "Curriculum", the curriculum comprises five modules, selected either because they fill gaps in your general background or because they discuss topics relevant to your proposed dissertation, and are normally completed before tackling the dissertation.
The five modules need to be selected from the list in “Details of the Modules” and may include a maximum of three of the four special topic modules with the codes COS496-V, COS497-W, INF414-K, and INF416-M. The actual contents of these special topic modules are determined in collaboration with your supervisor.
In the case of Information Systems, the module on software specification, INF482-X, is compulsory, unless waived by the graduate committee of the School of Computing.
Course Fees
1st Year-US$3450 2nd Year-US$3890
The fees do not include costs of visits (including travel and accommodation) by the student to the main campus, if required by the University. The fees are subject to change from one academic year to the next.
Enquiries can be addressed to:
Management Development Centre International, P.O. Box 26305Manama, Bahrain
Tel 00973 17216002 Fax 00973 17216007 e-mail: mdcimkt@batelco.com.bh |
