Professional Software Development
About
The growth of the ICT industry has been identified as a top priority for the Northern Ireland Executive. According to Invest NI, Northern Ireland is the leading foreign direct investment region in Europe for software development and IT technical support centres.
There are more than 900 companies in the ICT sector and many of these are international organisations.
The majority of new jobs have been in knowledge industries particularly ICT including software development, software testing and funds administration.
It is against this backdrop that we offer this course to graduates in subjects other than computing as an opportunity for career change, to enable them to exploit the opportunities for personal and professional development offered by this burgeoning sector.
Campus
Derry~Londonderry
Progression
On successful completion of this Postgraduate Certificate, students can then go on to study for the full MSc Professional Software Development in September 25.
Term Dates
September 2024 - March 2025
Further Information
Modules
Professional Software Development 1 (20 credit points)
This module introduces software development to students who are assumed to have no previous experience. Students will be progressively taken through new concepts with parallel laboratory exercises developing the necessary professional and practical skills for working in the IT industry.
Students are introduced to programming concepts of an object-oriented language (Java) interwoven with the development of practical skills in good programming practice, software development and testing methodologies.
In addition to the technical skills and expertise, the module presents the broader social impact of the computing profession and highlights a range of corresponding legal & ethical responsibilities.
Professional Software Development 2 (20 credit points)
This module introduces students to the world of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP). They will explore the fundamental concepts of Classes and Objects, and gain a deep understanding of key OOP principles such as Encapsulation, Inheritance, Abstraction, and Polymorphism. Students will delve into Data Structures and learn how to use Arrays for temporary storage, while mastering File Management techniques for more permanent data storage through Reading and Writing to Files. This module also introduces Exception Handling.
With a strong focus on practical work, students will acquire real-world software development skills, showcasing a solid grasp of the concepts being studied. Gain hands-on experience in good programming practices, testing methodologies, and team-based Agile development. Building on the foundational knowledge acquired in Software Development 1, this module enables students to tackle increasingly complex problem-solving scenarios by exploring advanced features of the programming language.
Software Architecture and Design (20 credit points)
This module provides a solid knowledge of algorithm analysis and data structures covering the core programming techniques, software testing strategies and software processes.
For example, Software Requirements and Design, Data Handling with search and sorting algorithms; Algorithm efficiency/effectiveness and testing for correctness.
This is a practical oriented module with the students required to develop and test applications that put into practice the concepts being presented. In addition, the module addresses project management and implementation; Strategies for frequent and reliable release; Version control.
60 credits successful completion = Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Software Development.
Entry Requirements
- At least a second class honours degree in any subject not related to the IT or Computing sector.
AND
- You must satisfy the General Entrance Requirements for admission to a first degree course and hold a GCSE pass in English Language and Mathematics at grade C or above (or equivalent)
Eligibility
Places are limited and open to applicants who:
- are over 18 years of age;
- are eligible to work in Northern Ireland;
- are ‘settled’ in Northern Ireland, and has been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years; or
- are a person who has indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK.
- meet the course specific entry requirements. See course pages for requirements.
- meet the Ulster University general entry requirements