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Introduction to Computer Science

Overview

The goal of this 15-credit Structured Elective is to give students a solid foundation in computer programming as well as a more specialised knowledge of some branch of Computer Science, e.g. web design, database management, computer networking or more advanced programming. It introduces students to concepts of computational thinking and other computational techniques.

Why Take This Structured Elective?

There is a need for a greater level of digital literacy. This is becoming an important requirement in graduate-level jobs in many different fields and is also important for higher-level modules and postgraduate studies.

Learning Outcomes

Students who take this Structured Elective will develop their computer programming skills and knowledge of one or more aspects of Computer Science. The learning outcomes of the Structured Elective are the following:

• To understand basic programming constructs (e.g. variables, conditionals, loops, simple data structures) and more complex programming constructs (e.g. functions, methods)
• To design algorithms to solve problems
• To successfully design, write and debug programs using programming constructs to implement algorithms
• To understand at least one further specialised topic of Computer Science: web technologies, database management systems, computer networks or more advanced programming
• To apply the knowledge of these specialised topics to implement solutions to real-life problems

Benefits

This Structured Elective would be of interest to students in all Programmes, and would particularly benefit those students whose studies involve the collection, processing and analysis of data.

Eligibility and Requirements

• Structured Electives are available to undergraduate students only.
• In order to earn this Structured Elective, you must take the specified modules in or after 2021/22.
• To be awarded this Structured Elective, you must take 15 credits from the list of modules outlined below.
• Students must normally take two introductory programming modules COMP10010 (or equivalently COMP10290) and COMP10020.
• Students who have passed Computer Science for their Leaving Certificate are not required to take COMP10010 as they have acquired the relevant knowledge of basic programming constructs and how to use them.

Module Details

The following modules are part of this Structured Elective:

• COMP10010: Introduction to Programming I (5 credits)
• COMP10290: Computation for Scientists (5 credits)
• COMP10020: Introduction to Programming II (5 credits)
• COMP10310: Web Design (5 credits)
• COMP20070: Databases & Information Systems I (5 credits)
• COMP20230: Data Structures & Algorithms (5 credits)
• COMP30040: Networks & Internet Systems (5 credits)

Eligibility Restrictions

You will not be awarded this Structured Elective if you are graduating with a major or minor in the following programmes:

• Computer Science (CSSA / CSSF)
• Computer Science with Data Science (CSSC)
• Computer Science with Data Science & AI (CSSE)
• Mathematics, Computer Science and Education (MMS9)