Information Technology MSc
Course code: MG5AQ (required to complete application form)
Today, information technology is at the heart of every business. And that means professionals who can use IT to create business advantage are in demand.
This MSc will give you the tools and understanding to forge a successful career in IT and because it’s online, you don’t need to take a career break to make this happen.
Problem solvers especially welcome
This is an exciting MSc because it asks you to find solutions to existing and emerging issues in the industry. Our expert tutors will help you learn to tackle work based challenges and use IT practically and intelligently.
In touch with this constantly changing industry
Clearly, information technology is an area that changes rapidly. We use our professional links with local, national and multinational companies, to stay in tune with the developments in the industry and to help us ensure the programme covers the ground that today’s employers would expect. We will explore relatively new topics such as cloud computing, as well as fundamental skills in traditional areas like advanced databases and IT project management.
Studying online gives you the flexibility to study at the most convenient time and place for you. Course modules still operate within a fixed semester or term time, but you can choose to study during the day, in the evenings or at the weekend rather than having to attend fixed lectures.
Course Length:
2 - 4 years
Start Dates:
September and January
Entry Requirements:
You will need:
- An honours degree (at least 2.2) or equivalent qualifications / experience in a computing discipline.
- If English is not your first language you will also require IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 550/213
- Please provide a copy of your full CV.
Fees:
| Per Module | Modules | Total | Start Dates | |
| UK/EU | £660 | 9 | £5,940* | Sept/Jan/May |
| Overseas | £760 | 9 | £6,840r* | Sept/Jan/May |
* NB: Prices correct for 2012/2013. Subject to annual increase in September 2013.
New flexible payment plans available
Choose from three options:
- Pay only for the modules you are studying
- Pay your full course fees upfront and avoid annual increases
- Pay for all modules studied in the year and receive a 5% discount (September enrolment only)
Career Information:
This MSc in Information Technology will give you excellent employment and earnings potential, because information technology is such a large and vital business, right across the globe.
You could expect to work for large corporate enterprises, either as an IT 'solution' consultant, or providing in-house IT support and designing IT infrastructure.
There is also a growing demand for specialists, who can make strategic use of IT to deliver innovative business opportunities, using technologies such as cloud computing.
If you enjoy the Independent Scholarship part of this MSc, you might want to think about undertaking further research leading to a PhD or even looking for roles within a research and development environment
Testimonials:
Andrew Muluubya is an MSc IT graduate and has used his skills to support the global fight to find a vaccine for HIV/AIDS.
Andrew Muluubya from Uganda, is now Data and IT Manager for the Uganda Virus Research Institute, a partner research centre of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).
The IAVI connects research centres worldwide, all engaged in the critical task of finding a vaccine.
His job is to provide a statistical resource and the IT infrastructure for his organisation – analysing the results of medical trials and feeding them back to the IAVI’s central database in Washington DC.
“I needed more developed management skills, an awareness of strategic issues, and the ability to design better systems and processes. This MSc matched my requirements perfectly.
“There are things I know now that really help me to approach situations in a more effective way, I have a strong desire to show people in the West that we can achieve levels of excellence in IT in Africa – often more cheaply and efficiently.”
David Egan is an IT graduate. He now works as a Product Development Manager. He said:
“Presenting my research at an international event in front of senior industry professionals was very satisfying and I got very good comments, so that was hugely rewarding.”
Darcia Jeneve Wilkinson studied from her home in Jamaica and is an IT graduate. While she was studying, she told us this:
“The website is my gateway to school and with every click, information is at my finger tip!
“I never once felt like a distance or online student and Derby is always in my home, at work, wherever I decide to access my email or decide to do some reading.
“I feel proud that I am one of only 2 people in my region pursuing this degree. I am marketable and I am proud to be part of this wonderful dream!”
Course Leader:
Student Profile:
Andrew Muluubya is an MSc IT graduate and has used his skills to support the global fight to find a vaccine for HIV/AIDS.
Andrew Muluubya from Uganda, is now Data and IT Manager for the Uganda Virus Research Institute, a partner research centre of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI).
The IAVI connects research centres worldwide, all engaged in the critical task of finding a vaccine.
His job is to provide a statistical resource and the IT infrastructure for his organisation – analysing the results of medical trials and feeding them back to the IAVI’s central database in Washington DC.
“I needed more developed management skills, an awareness of strategic issues, and the ability to design better systems and processes. This MSc matched my requirements perfectly.
“There are things I know now that really help me to approach situations in a more effective way, I have a strong desire to show people in the West that we can achieve levels of excellence in IT in Africa – often more cheaply and efficiently.”
David Egan is an IT graduate. He now works as a Product Development Manager. He said:
“Presenting my research at an international event in front of senior industry professionals was very satisfying and I got very good comments, so that was hugely rewarding.”
Darcia Jeneve Wilkinson studied from her home in Jamaica and is an IT graduate. While she was studying, she told us this:
“The website is my gateway to school and with every click, information is at my finger tip!
“I never once felt like a distance or online student and Derby is always in my home, at work, wherever I decide to access my email or decide to do some reading.
“I feel proud that I am one of only 2 people in my region pursuing this degree. I am marketable and I am proud to be part of this wonderful dream!”
Career Information
This MSc in Information Technology will give you excellent employment and earnings potential, because information technology is such a large and vital business, right across the globe.
You could expect to work for large corporate enterprises, either as an IT 'solution' consultant, or providing in-house IT support and designing IT infrastructure.
There is also a growing demand for specialists, who can make strategic use of IT to deliver innovative business opportunities, using technologies such as cloud computing.
If you enjoy the Independent Scholarship part of this MSc, you might want to think about undertaking further research leading to a PhD or even looking for roles within a research and development environment
Modules
Stage 1
Core Module
This module improves your ability to study at masters level and to develop, plan and execute a research project.
You will learn how to:
- Research, review and critically evaluate current academic literature within a specific context, in order to identify the key issues and gaps within current knowledge
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of research design and methodological enquiry and to propose an appropriate research plan
- Systematically analyse and synthesise researched data and theories.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. You will submit of a portfolio of written work (4,000-5,000 words.)
Credits: 20
Core Module
You will gain the knowledge about communications and security that you need to work at management level in Enterprise IT. We’ll explore the concepts of network topologies and protocols, and learn how they are applied to the enterprise. You’ll also learn about the need for systems and network security and develop a clear understanding of the security aspects relevant to enterprise networks.
You will learn about:
Network technologies
- Network protocols / topologies.
- Design, implementation, operation and management of network systems.
- Implications of enterprise wide networks.
Security and business continuity planning and management
- General definitions of vulnerability, threats, access control, risk analysis and authentication.
- Cryptography mechanisms, network monitoring and auditing, backup and recovery, virus protection.
- Business continuity planning and management.
- Security management, including end-user computing and internal and external human threats.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework: a portfolio of approximately 6,000 words, which usually includes a Business Continuity Plan, a network architecture and an evaluation of the proposed solution.
Credits: 20
Core Module
You will develop a critical and in-depth awareness of the theory, concepts, technology, practices, and professional issues related to database systems in a global context. You’ll have lots of practical exercises, giving you the opportunity to explore a variety of database products.
We will cover:
- Data management
- The history of database systems
- Database system architecture
- The relational model (types, values, relations and relation-valued variables, relational algebra and calculus, integrity, constraints and views)
- Relational database design (functional dependencies, normalisation, and semantic modelling)
- Transaction management (recovery and concurrency.)
- Security.
- Optimisation and performance tuning.
- Distributed databases.
- Decision support systems (data mining and data warehousing)
- Temporal and spatial databases
- Deductive databases
- Object oriented databases
- Object/relational databases
- Database languages
- Data representation and XML
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. You will develop 2 comprehensive working databases, using competing technologies or vendor products, with accompanying evidence that illustrates how you have compared, contrasted and selected your chosen products or technologies (approx 6,000 words.)
Credits: 20
Stage 2
Core Module
This module is about the management of IT-oriented projects. You will experience organisational, managerial and professional issues, in preparation for large scale projects in the workplace.
You will work both in small groups and individually to critically explore, apply, experiment and evaluate IT project management frameworks.
We’ll use online discussions to collectively explore current established project management approaches. And you will get feedback on your ideas and assessment proposals from other students.
We will cover:
- Project management approaches.
- Managing risk.
- Resource allocation.
- Project planning.
- Change management.
- Project management tools and monitoring.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework. For assignment 1 (30%) you will choose a research topic in agreement with your tutor, around emerging project management. You will then present your findings to other students and the tutor. (1500 words or equivalent.)
For assignment 2 (70%), you will work in groups to define a problem area and apply theory to produce and demonstrate a practical solution to an IT project. You will be assessed individually on your contribution to the group’s output.
Credits: 20
Core Module
Object orientation is one of the most popular concepts used in designing web applications. You will experience a full development project lifecycle, starting with requirements gathering and ending with documentation and evaluation. Through this, you will learn about the myriad skills and techniques required to bring an application development project to a successful conclusion.
In particular you will explore the multi-cultural issues brought about by the global software development industry, such as communication, negotiation and presentation. You will use an appropriate programming language that supports object orientation constructs, as well as industry-relevant toolsets.
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework: a portfolio that shows you have completed various designs and applications.
Credits: 20
Core Module
Web-based systems, web-enabled systems and web-enhanced systems are becoming increasingly prevalent. Emerging web technologies are continuously being introduced, so it’s vital that you understand the current and future architecture, communication, and technological requirements of web technologies.
In this module you will learn about a number of tools, techniques, technologies and architectures, enabling you to decide how suitable specific web solutions are, for particular purposes.
You will cover these areas:
- The internet, WWW, HTTP and TCP/IP
- Requirements gathering
- Software engineering approaches
- Client and server side technologies
- Persistence
- The semantic web
- Web X.0 and mash-ups
- Data representation and XML
- Web security
- Multi-agent systems
- The mobile web
- Collective intelligence
- Creating business cases for web technologies
How will I be assessed?
It’s 100% coursework.
Credits: 20
Stage 3
Core Module
This is an opportunity for you to consolidate and extend the skills and knowledge of computing you have developed throughout the programme.
The aim is to ensure that you are able to formulate and tackle real world, commercial problems competently, efficiently, independently, and with relevance to a particular problem and/or application. This piece of work should also draw upon your knowledge and experience from your undergraduate degree or experience.
How will I be assessed?
You will submit a dissertation of between 12,000 and 18,000 words, together with a deliverable quality 'product'. A product may be a piece of software, a detailed design for a system or a feasibility study.
Credits: 60
You will need:
- An honours degree (at least 2.2) or equivalent qualifications / experience in a computing discipline.
- If English is not your first language you will also require IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 550/213
- Please provide a copy of your full CV.
Apply Now
Applications for Online courses are made through the main University of Derby website.
By clicking on "Apply now" below you will be redirected to the University of Derby website to continue your application process.
Fees
| Per Module | Modules | Total | Start Dates | |
| UK/EU | £660 | 9 | £5,940* | Sept/Jan/May |
| Overseas | £760 | 9 | £6,840r* | Sept/Jan/May |
* NB: Prices correct for 2012/2013. Subject to annual increase in September 2013.
New flexible payment plans available
Choose from three options:
- Pay only for the modules you are studying
- Pay your full course fees upfront and avoid annual increases
- Pay for all modules studied in the year and receive a 5% discount (September enrolment only)
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