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  • Information Technology (Foundation Degree)
  • 2012/2013 entry
  • Contact us
  • Assessment

    • A mixture of coursework, examination and project work.

  • Attendance
      • Two–three evenings a week.
  • Duration
      • Two years and two terms part-time.
      • Start October or January.
  • Entry requirements
      • No formal entry requirements; however, good numeracy and literacy skills are required, as well as basic computer skills. These will be assessed from the application and, if necessary, by taking a short mathematics and written English test at a selection evening.
      • Foundation degrees are designed specifically for mature students and students with non-traditional backgrounds.
  • Fees and funding
  • Location
      • Central London (October and January start)
      • Stratford (January start only)
  • Teaching

    • Lectures, practical workshops, face-to-face tutorials and tutor-assisted online learning.

Information Technology (Foundation Degree) - 2012/2013 entry


  • Overview

    • This flexible professional development programme aims to develop the knowledge, technical skills and self-directed learning skills appropriate for those working in areas affected by rapidly changing information technology. It also provides the necessary academic and theoretical basis to the subject matter to allow you to continue on to the final two years of the BSc Information Systems and Computing if you successfully complete the Foundation Degree.

      The programme includes modules from Birkbeck’s BSc Information Systems and Management and Certificate of Continuing Education in IT Applications, as well as modules designed specifically for the Foundation Degree.

  • Why study this course at Birkbeck?
      • Designed to equip you with the practical and transferable key skills required by today’s employers.
      • Develop skills essential for successful management or technical careers related to information systems, IT and computing.
      • Automatically progress into Year 3 of Birkbeck's BSc Information Systems and Computing after completing the Foundation Degree.
      • Complete the BSc in two further years of study.
  • Professional bodies that recognise this course
    • British Computer Society.
  • Course structure

    • October start:

      Except where we have indicated that they are 30-credit (full) modules, all modules are 15-credit (half) modules:

      Year 1

      • Fundamentals of Information Technology
      • Information Systems Concepts
      • Introduction to Database Technology
      • Introduction to Programming
      • Introduction to Web Authoring using XHTML and CSS
      • Problem Solving for Programming.

      Year 2

      • E-Business
      • Information Systems Management
      • Mathematics for Computing
      • Understanding the Business World (30-credit (full) module)
      • Working in Teams.

      Year 3
      • Software and Programming 1
      • Option module (e.g. php, XML, Javascript)
      • Work-related Project (30-credit (full) module).

      Personal Development Planning is integrated throughout the programme.

      January start:

      Except where we have indicated that they are 30-credit (full) modules, all modules are 15-credit (half) modules:

      Year 1

      • Fundamentals of Information Technology
      • Introduction to Database Technology
      • Introduction to Web Authoring using XHTML and CSS
      • Problem Solving for Programming.

      Year 2

      • Information Systems Concepts
      • Mathematics for Computing
      • Understanding the Business World (30-credit (full) module)
      • Working in Teams

      Year 3

      • E-Business
      • Information Systems Management
      • Option module (e.g. php, XML, Javascript)
      • Software and Programming 1
      • Work-related Project  (30-credit (full) module).
  • Study resources

    • Online learning environment, library, IT laboratories with specialist software.

  • Further study opportunities
  • Careers information
  • Further details

    • IT facilities

      We have three modern computing laboratories in the department with 100 workstations. The two largest labs, seating fifty and thirty respectively have projection facilities and are air-conditioned. Software, which runs on a range of platforms including Unix, Windows and Linux includes:

      • programming languages/environments: C++, Java (J2SE, J2EE), ANSI-C, ANSI-C++, AspectJ, Jakarta Tomcat, Glider, Eclipse, Poseidon, BlueJ, WebMatrix, Netbeans, Python,
      • software design/development: IBM Rational Rose (C++, Java, Visual Studio), VS.NET
      • modelling environments: Matlab, Image Precessing Toolbox, Fuzzy Logic Toolbox, StarLogo, Protege,
      • database management systems: Oracle, SQLserver, MySQL, DB2, Postgres, SQLplus
      • data mining: SPSS Clementine, SQLserver
      • web content development: Macromedia Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks, Perl, PHP, GIMP
      • XML development: XMLSpy, xt, xmlgrep, oxygen
      • X/Unix: Hummingbird, Cygwin bash, Putty, Hummingbird Secure Shell
      • office tools: Microsoft Office, Open Office, Visio, LaTeX (MikTeX), TextPad, GhostScript/GSview
      • virtual learning environment: Blackboard, Moodle, WebCT
      • browsers: Firefox, Firefox svg, Opera, IE, Chrome
      • email: Thunderbird, OutlookExpress, webmail
      • logic circuit design: Digital Works.

      The department's 100-seat, art-deco lecture theatre has been extensively refurbished. The new wider seats, worktops and ventillation system provide a spacious and comfortable environment for learning and the banked seating and audio-visual facilities, including a 3m x 2.5m projection screen, give an excellent view. We also have our own teaching room accommodating forty people and a conference room for groups of upto twenty-five. All rooms have computer projection facilities. We also have access to the College lecture theatres and rooms situated in close proximity to the department.

      The local area network is a switched gigabit/10gigabit ethernet. The department and College computers are connected to the SuperJANET academic network via the London Metropolitan Network. Departmental computer services and networks are managed and supported by the department's Systems Group.

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