Module Details
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title MSC PROJECT
Code COMP702
Coordinator Dr RA Martin
Computer Science
Russell.Martin@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2017-18 Level 7 FHEQ Summer (June-September) 60

Aims
    To give students the opportunity to work in a guided but independent fashion to explore a substantial problem in depth, making practical use of principles, techniques and methodologies acquired elsewhere in the programme.

  • To give experience of carrying out a large piece of individual work and in producing a dissertation.

  • To enhance communication skills, both oral and written. < span style="display:inline-block" id="ms-rterangepaste-end" />

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    Learning Outcomes

    After completing the module students should be able to:

    Investigate and specify a substantial problem in the domain of Computer Science, to place it in the context of related work including, as appropriate, Computer Science reserach, and to produce a plan to address this problem

    Make use of the qualities and transferable skills necessary for the conduct of a Computer Science project: (i) the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility, (ii) decision making in complex situations, (iii) risk identification (including, as appropriate, commercial and scientific risk), assessment and control, and (iv) the independent learning ability required for continuing professional development

    Demonstrate effective time management, self-direction and originality in carrying out a project in the domain of Computer Science

    Locate and make use of information relevant to a given IT project

    Design a solution to a substantial IT problem

    Implement and test potential solutions to IT problems
    Evaluate critically, as relevant to the project, current research and advanced scholarship in Computer Science and evaluate their own work.
    Conduct and evaluate critically the project within the professional, legal, social and ethical framework in Computer Science and Sortware Engineering.
    Prepare and deliver formal presentations.

    Prepare and deliver a demonstration of software

    Structure and write a dissertation describing their project

    Syllabus
    1  The main aim of an MSc dissertation project is for a student to develop and demonstrate autonomy in the management and development of realistic projects in computer science, either research or application oriented. Although new technical skills may be acquired, this is not the main aim. At the end of the project a student should have demonstrated the ability to initiate, plan, manage and deliver a complete IT project for a customer or research supervisor. The delivery of the project will include giving interim presentations describing important stages of the project, and a final dissertation describing the project as a whole.Level M Projects are not necessarily expected to involve original research in the sense of making new scientific discoveries. However, at level M there should be some degree of scholarly added value attached to the project (not in the sense of "what new subject a student may have learned from undertaking the project", but "what contribution th e project makes to the knowledge of others") regardless of whether the project is a practical one or a research oriented one.

    MSc projects are not required to be fully-fledged research projects in their own right; but should add some seed of original thinking, innovative approach, interesting or beneficial contribution to the existing body of knowledge. The aim is not necessarily "to do something that has never been done before", but to present a new "angle" or "view point" on something that has been done before. For example:
    1. The critical comparison of some complimentary recent innovations.
    2. The extension or adaptation of some recent innovation so that it becomes in some sense better, e.g. faster, more accurate, requires less storage etc.
    3. The application of some recent innovation to a generic application area where it has not yet been applied.
    4. The combination/concatenation of some recent innovations in a novel manner not previously recorded in the literature.

    Whatever the case, the key characteristics of the work carried out should be:

    • Originality: Originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical application of techniques of research and enquiry.
    • Generalization: Even when the project has a very specific target, students should address it in a way, which will make the results potentially applicable in a broader context.
    • Critical evaluation: Design decisions made by students in the course of the project should be made in the context of a critical examination of alternatives, and the students should subject their results and conclusions to the same rigorous analysis.
    All projects should contain the following elements: research, design, realisation and evaluation. Particular projects are allocated on an individual basis.

    Teaching and Learning Strategies

    Seminar -


    Teaching Schedule
      Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
    Study Hours   1

    		         1
    Timetable (if known)              
    Private Study 599
    TOTAL HOURS 600

    Assessment
    EXAM Duration Timing
    (Semester)    		 % of
    final
    mark    		 Resit/resubmission
    opportunity    		 Penalty for late
    submission    		 Notes
                 
    CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
    (Semester)    		 % of
    final
    mark    		 Resit/resubmission
    opportunity    		 Penalty for late
    submission    		 Notes
    Coursework  Approximately 160 ho  End of Week 4 (June)  20  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Specification and Proposed Design There is no reassessment opportunity, In line with University policy 
    Coursework  Approximately 320 ho  End of Week 12 (August)  20  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Demonstration/Presentation of Results There is no reassessment opportunity, In line with University policy 
    Coursework  Approximately 120 ho  Middle of September  60  No reassessment opportunity  Standard UoL penalty applies  Dissertation There is no reassessment opportunity, In line with University policy Notes (applying to all assessments) Specification and Proposed Design: Report and demonstration of the design, this work is not marked anonymously. Demonstration/Presentation of Results: Report and demonstration of software (where applicable), this work is not marked anonymously. Dissertation: This work is not marked anonymously.  

    Recommended Texts
    Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
    Explanation of Reading List: