Computing
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
UCAS Ayr G502 A BSc/IT Dumfries G502 D BSc/IT Hamilton G502 H BSc/IT Paisley G502 P BSc/IT CAMPUS Ayr, Dumfries, Hamilton, Paisley
THIS COURSE WILL PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR A WIDE RANGE OF CAREER OPTIONS WHERE THE USE OF IT SYSTEMS IS OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE. WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDUSTRY PLACEMENT, THIS COURSE OFFERS FLEXIBILITY, GIVING YOU THE OPTION TO TAILOR YOUR STUDIES AROUND SUBJECT AREAS WITHIN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY THAT YOU SPECIFICALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON. ABOUT THE COURSE A broad range of computing subjects, including internet technologies, multimedia systems, computer animation, music technology, computer games and business IT are offered. You will have access to a range of computing facilities including Cisco hardware/software and Oracle (database development). There’s also the option to use the University’s IT Academy vendor-certified facilities enabling you to achieve vendor accreditation. It is possible to study on a full-time or part-time basis. PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE This course offers an optional 12-month paid sandwich placement in an industrial or commercial setting, providing practical experience to complement academic study. STUDY ABROAD You may have the opportunity to study abroad while gaining credit towards your degree at one our 80 educational partner organisations. YOUR LEARNING Year 1 You will study IT topics from a prescribed list and select from elective/optional modules. The prescribed list of modules is taken from a range of computing degrees. The modules are drawn from courses such as Computing, Computer Networking, Music Technology, Web and Mobile Development, Computer Animation, Computer Games Technology and Business Technology. Year 2 The flexible nature of the course is such that the topics and electives chosen will typically be modules that build upon your first year of study and widen your experience.
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DURATION BSc 3 years BSc (Sandwich) 4 years BSc Hons 4 years BSc Hons (Sandwich) 5 years
CONTACT Linda Crearie 0800 027 1000 (44 141 849 4101 outwith UK) uni-direct@uws.ac.uk
Year 3 The IT topics and electives selected at this level will predominantly deepen your knowledge and understanding. However, there will be scope for widening your IT experience. Sandwich placement is an option at this stage (see above). Year 4 (Honours) You will again study from a prescribed list of IT topics and electives. The additional electives will provide some scope for widening experience. Honours students will undertake a major project in a chosen area of interest relating to their studies.
ENTRY Year 1 SQA Highers: BBB plus Mathematics and English at Standard Grade, Intermediate 2 or National 5. GCE A-Levels: BC plus Mathematics and English at least at GCSE. International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 24 points (to include 2 Higher subjects at 4 points). Irish Leaving Certificate: BBB.
OUR CAREERS ADVISER SAYS As a graduate you can look forward to excellent career prospects. The practical approach featured throughout will enable you to make an effective and immediate contribution within your work environment. Jobs may include: computing/information technology specialist, computer programmer, web developer, database administrator or systems analyst, however, the range of IT experience gained on this course may provide the basis for a wide range of career options where the use of IT systems is of primary importance.
Year 2 SQA Advanced Highers: AB to include Mathematics, plus Highers at AB in two other subjects. GCE A-Levels: AA in one sitting to include Mathematics. BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM. International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 38 points (to include 3 Higher subjects at 6 points including Mathematics and Computer Science). SQA HNC/BTEC Level 4: IT or Computing related subject. (120 CATS points will also be considered). Year 3 SQA HND/BTEC Level 5/Foundation Degree: IT or Computing related subject. (240 CATS points including 90 at Level 8 will also be considered).
“As a former undergraduate and now PhD student at UWS, I was attracted to the choices of computing courses available. Accessibility within the University and support mechanisms available for disabled students are excellent. During my Honours year I realised combining my IT knowledge with my interest in assistive technologies gave me the passion to advance my knowledge in a specialised field. I look forward to wherever my career takes me in the future; UWS will serve as a prominent reminder to how I have achieved academic success.” Julie McElroy Information Technology graduate
Computing
MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
THIS COURSE GIVES YOU THE KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICAL SKILLS TO WORK IN TECHNOLOGY RELATED JOBS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, SUCH AS STUDIO ENGINEER, LIVE SOUND ENGINEER, SOUND RECORDIST, BROADCAST ENGINEER, SOUND TECHNICIAN AND MANY MORE. ACCREDITED BY JOINT AUDIO MEDIA EDUCATION SUPPORT (JAMES), IT ALSO INCLUDES INVALUABLE PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. ABOUT THE COURSE You will use modern, computer based equipment for live sound reinforcement, studio and location recording, and production and postproduction processing of music and audio for a wide range of applications including: distribution, broadcast, multimedia, film, animation, and computer games. Continued investment in facilities ensures you will work in well-equipped, up-to-date studios and labs. PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE It may be possible during Year 3 to participate in a music industry placement in the UK or abroad in a partner institution, such as the Harris Institute in Canada. YOUR LEARNING Year 1 Modern music production techniques will be analysed, and you will develop your critical listening skills. Audio editing will be introduced and applied in the preparation of podcasts. The practical aspects of live sound reinforcement will be explored together with the technical underpinning of acoustics. Audio technology will be introduced, providing a background in electronics for audio applications. A discussion of the professional and business aspects of the creative technologies sector will give you an insight into the music industry in the wider context of the creative computing profession. Options allow you to develop your abilities in written music and harmony using a computer-based score editor or strengthen your interest in related creative technologies such as computer animation. Year 2 You will become proficient in the use of two industry-leading music software packages for recording and editing and in the use of professional standard live sound equipment. The theory of digital audio will be presented and you will gain knowledge of industry
UCAS W350 P BSc/MT CAMPUS Paisley*
standards for music file storage, transfer and networking. Audio post-production applications and techniques will be introduced. The specifications of a wide range of audio hardware from microphones to systems will be discussed and measured. Acoustics theory will be presented and related to practical studio environments. The theory of sound reinforcement systems will be developed and complemented with SMAART measurements on real systems. Option choices allow you to develop your compositional skills or strengthen your interest in audio technology to include analogue and digital systems. Year 3 You will continue to develop your knowledge and experience in the audio area and integrate this with film, animation and multimedia, culminating in a group project to produce a promotional multimedia CD for a band or artist. Audio signal processing will develop a deeper understanding of the processes applied to audio by digital workstation applications and VST effect plug-in units will be developed. The business and legal framework of the music industry will be presented. Through option choices you could discover the amazing possibilities which microcontrollers offer to interface the real world to musical applications or you could participate in a music industry placement in the UK or abroad in a partner institution, such as the Harris Institute in Canada. Year 4 (Honours) The advanced audio topics of mastering and surround mixing complete your experience of audio engineering applied to the areas of film and animation. Audio signal processing will concentrate on synthesis techniques and the development of VST plug-in instruments. You will undertake a major personal project. Option choices allow you to study acoustics or develop audio for computer games applications.
DURATION BSc 3 years BSc Hons 4 years
CONTACT Derek Turner 0800 027 1000 (44 141 849 4101 outwith UK) uni-direct@uws.ac.uk
ENTRY Year 1 SQA Highers: BBBC (including Mathematics and Music plus either Physics or Computing or Information Systems or Technological Systems), plus English and Mathematics at SQA Standard Grade, Intermediate 2 or National 5. GCE A-Levels: CCC (including Music or Music Technology plus one from either Mathematics, Computing or Physics), plus GCSE English and Mathematics. International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma: 24 points (to include 2 Higher subjects at 4 points). Irish Leaving Certificate: BBBC. BTEC National Diploma: Music Technology. Year 3 SQA HND/BTEC Level 5 HND: Sound Production; Music and Audio Technology; Music Technology; or closely related subject (Grade A in the Graded Unit). ADDITIONAL INFO Applicants without formal qualifications, who have relevant work experience, may be considered for entry. * Delivery of the Music Technology degree is primarily at the University’s Paisley Campus: however students may also choose from a selection of optional modules which include some delivered on Ayr Campus. In addition to the facilities in Paisley, students will have access to facilities at Ayr Campus which include additional recording studios.
PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATION This Honours programme is accredited by JAMES (Joint Audio Media Education Support).
OUR CAREERS ADVISER SAYS Career paths would typically be as studio engineers, either recording, mixing or mastering music; live sound engineers; sound recordists; broadcast engineers; audio editors; sound technicians; further and higher education; or as AV installation engineers. Many graduates choose to work as freelancers and some set up their own business or work for small companies.
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