Master of Science in Computer Science with Placement

at University of Bedfordshire - Luton Campus United Kingdom

As the various elements of the mass media converge, it is increasingly appropriate to develop a broader understanding of how different aspects of the media interconnect. This course examines key issues of media and communication, introducing principles of cultural theories and media research methods.

For this course you must complete a series of units that address the central issues and concepts informing the study of the media in a culturally diverse environment as the nowadays society.

The course offers units dealing with fundamental principles and topics of the subject area (e.g. Current research in mass communications; Media institutions, structure and policies; and Research Methods in the area of media); and a core unit focuses on international development.

The course includes a final self-directed independent study project, in the form of a dissertation based on a research project. It is this project work that provides you with the opportunity to tailor the course to your own interests (subject to staff supervisory expertise).

You can start your studies in October and complete the course in 12 months. Alternatively start the course in February and complete it over 15 months

Why choose this course?

• Study the theories, which underpin the practice of media and communication, and discuss theoretical aspects of media through a range of case studies.
• Apply knowledge of the media and its cultural forms to the analysis of contemporary issues
• Employ skills in critical analysis, research, and communication as well as an array of generic and creative skills to propose solutions to contemporary issues in mass communications
• Develop and employ strong academic skills in research and critical thinking, problem-solving and analysis.
• Apply knowledge of cultural and media processes to the examination of policy and ethical issues, whether in the public domain or in other aspects of democratic participation and citizenship.
• Acquire skills needed to continue your studies and progress into MPhil and PhD.

This course responds to the growing market demand for graduates who aim to work with the information and organisation needs of businesses.

Students will gain understanding of information and organisation structures in a business as well as skills of using existing software required for designing and developing information systems.

Students will also obtain skills and ability to interact with business analysts, computer programmers, and software engineers. Graduates are expected to be able to obtain knowledge and understanding of Business Processes and their applications.

Why choose this course?

• Learn how IT plays an essential role in supporting the strategic, operational and tactical needs of domestic and international business
• Study the importance of IT systems to business analysis and intelligence
• Develop your knowledge of system analysis and design, modern database practices, decision support systems and data mining
• Gain a thorough understanding of project, finance and virtual management techniques
• Explore the entrepreneurial possibilities of IT, and discover how the needs of business can offer an enormous range of opportunities
• Challenge your preconceptions of what makes a business successful, and refocus your ambition
• Benefit from a series of talks and guidance offered by inspirational speakers and leaders from a range of business sectors

Bringing together the emerging fields of forensic science and criminology, this course gives you the lab skills and practical crime-scene experience of the scientist combined with a criminological exploration of why people commit crime, and the role of the police and criminal justice system in its prevention.

Our degree provides you with a foundation in the biological and chemical sciences that apply to forensic science as well as exploring criminological theory, crime-scene investigation and the role of scene-of-crime officers. In the Criminology units, you gain understanding of how data can be analysed to identify and predict factors that may cause people to commit crime. You also explore the role of forensic science, the police and the criminal justice system in the prevention, deterrence and punishment of criminal behaviour.

The course has been designed to develop your skills in laboratory analysis; the interpretation and evaluation of evidence; and the communication of scientific findings. You also learn how to assess the strengths and weaknesses of different criminological explanations; make reasoned arguments; and bring together information from different sources.

Why choose this course?

• Explore topics at the forefront of current developments in forensic science
• Study in a specialist forensic laboratory, with key laboratory skills incorporated into most of the units
• Learn the skills and techniques needed to evaluate a real-life crime scene in our scene-of-crime lab, designed to resemble an 'normal' flat
• Work with a Forensic Science team that includes international experts in the psychology of criminal behaviour and forensics experts from a variety of operational backgrounds
• Acquire key transferable skills including in oral and written communication; IT; group and team work; analysis; critical thinking; and problem solving
• Take the course over four years and include a fee-free year in industry, gaining work experience, building your CV and making contacts for the future
• If you need a step up into higher education, start with a Foundation Year which guarantees you a place on the degree course

Sustainability management is fast becoming a key driving force in shaping organisational strategy as companies are under pressure to compete in the Green Economy.

This course focuses on the relationship between the economic ambitions of businesses and the necessity to meet the growing global concern to meet sustainability agendas.

Through a combination of academic study and working with industry on real sustainability-related problems, you will develop the personal and professional skills you need to be a key player in this global, knowledge-based economy.

There are six entry points through the year. This allows you to start when it is most suitable.

• Study the core areas of sustainability within the corporate sector, and logistics management and its relationship with sustainability
• Gain intimate knowledge of the structural issues companies and counties face when implementing a sustainability agenda.
• Develop advanced knowledge of organisational approaches to sustainability as well as of government policies and the critical capabilities to apply theory to complex issues
• Explore your enterprise, creativity and independence – the skills required by employers - through your dissertation unit
• Develop your employability by undertaking a work placement with the opportunity to work on a live project
• Benefit from studying with a Business School that has partners across the world enabling you to examine the cross-culture perspectives essential to organisations in the global markets

The growth and commercialisation of sport and rapid development of digital and social media tools makes sports journalism an exciting and fast-moving branch of the industry. This specialist course gives you the skills you need to be a 21st-century sports journalist.

Learn the core practical skills of journalism and how to apply them to a sports specialism using traditional research and writing as well as new and developing media forms.

Sharpen these skills with an in-depth understanding of the political, social, historical and economic sporting environment - as well as the legal and ethical frameworks journalists work within - adding depth and authority to your reporting.

You benefit from studying with a team of industry specialists in both sports reporting and general journalism, across a range of platforms, and have opportunities to hear from leading academics, sports participants and masterclass speakers from the worlds of both sport and media.

Why choose this course?

• Gain core communication and multimedia skills that are highly valued across a range of graduate industries
• Put your skills into practice via real-life sports reporting assignments
• Explore opportunities for work experience within radio, television, print and online journalism
• Develop a portfolio of work and contacts while honing your skills through regular news days
• Report from your first year for our news website and present your own show on our community radio station, Radio Lab
• There’s the option to take this course over four years and benefit from a fee-free industry placement (see below) where you gain experience, build your CV and make contacts for the future
• If you need a step into the full degree, you can start with a Foundation Year (see below) which guarantees entry to the Undergraduate course

If companies are to expand their business and be competitive, they must employ modern marketing techniques and integrate these into their organisational processes.

On this course you will study a full range of marketing practices combined with broader aspects of strategic marketing such as buyer behaviour, marketing international business, marketing and service management, and social media marketing.

Designed to help you become a highly effective manager and creative thinker, you will gain the conceptual, framework-focused, analytical, problem solving and research skills required to operate confidently in a dynamic environment.

There are six entry points through the year. This allows you to start when it is most suitable

Why choose this course?

• Study aspects of global brand communications and reputation, marketing in the digital landscape, intercultural issues in marketing, and strategy and brand management
• Develop your employability by undertaking a work placement with the opportunity to work on a live project to improve your team-working, negotiation skills, confidence and ability to apply critical and creative thinking to complex and unclear problems
• Benefit from studying with a Business School that has partners across the world enabling you to examine the cross culture perspectives essential to organisations in the global markets
• Explore how cultural and social differences affect buying behaviour, and discover how to use branding to compete in the global marketplace
• Gain an appreciation of the integrated nature of marketing communications and their application in a contemporary context

Economics lies at the heart of the modern world and understanding its influence is critical to both business success and effective policy-making. This course gives you the analytical skills you need to stand out as a business economist in a demanding career field.

Our Business Economics BSc (Hons) allows you to explore the global economic system – including the factors that influence income, wealth and wellbeing - and to apply your knowledge and insight to the contemporary business world. You will engage with the theory behind key economic decisions and develop your understanding of how societies, governments, businesses, households, and individuals allocate their resources.

Your studies cover the foundations of business economics including business practice, financial markets, accounting and finance, data analytics, and applied economics before moving into specific areas such as labour economics, globalisation and econometrics.

Why choose this course?

• Apply economic theory to real-world business problems, with the analytical skills and subject knowledge to discuss your ideas and conclusions confidently
• Develop your skills and experience in critical thinking, problem solving, presentation and team-working as well as in using information technology
• Put theoretical knowledge into practice in your final-year specialist project
• Take the course over four years and include a fee-free year in industry (see below), building experience and making contacts for the future
• If you need to step up to higher education, start with a Foundation Year (see below) which guarantees entry to the undergraduate degree

This course gives you the chance to study for a business degree with a potential accreditation* from a leading professional body in marketing.

If you have a committed interest in studying marketing as a major part of your degree experiences and see yourself developing a marketing-oriented career.

It will equip you for a career in marketing management where marketing knowledge combined with general business and soft skills in management are seen as a great advantage, and where your capability will see you comfortable in operating in many different task environments.

Why choose this course?

In order to remain competitive international businesses are looking for graduates who are able to work in a flexible, collaborative way in order to help provide innovative marketing solutions to often complex and open-ended problems.

This course is specifically designed to enable you to develop these skills through an exciting programme that links academic theory and real world business projects in realistic business and marketing settings.

Studying this course will help you to gain an insight into the reality of business and marketing that goes beyond what is discussed in the text books and will help you to engage with potential employers in a much more meaningful way

If you’re an ambitious manager working in the private, public or voluntary sectors, and want to develop your skills and engage in stimulating debate with your peers, then this course is for you.

This course will enhance your understanding of contemporary leadership theory and develop your ability to reflect on your managerial experiences enabling you to transfer learning into practice.

There are six entry points through the year. This allows you to start when it is most suitable.

Why choose this course?

• Gain a solid foundation in the key skills and effective leadership and management.
• Study contemporary approaches to management including aspects of accounting and finance, strategic management, operations and project management and marketing and digital futures.
• Build upon your existing management abilities to strengthen your skills and personal performance on a course that inspires teamwork and engagement to contribute to ethical and innovative practice.
• Benefit from our employability practice-based approach with real business that will enable you to critically evaluate and improve your own management skills to succeed in the global marketplace.

 This course gives you an advanced understanding of molecular and computational biologies as well as the microbiological techniques at the forefront of technological developments in the field. It opens the door to a career in the biotechnology and allied industries.

Modern biotechnology is a hugely complex subject, drawing from a range of fields and technologies. On this course, you learn the latest new technologies in key areas; gain insights into how they are used in the global biotechnology industry; and discover how microbes can be used on an industrial scale to benefit humankind.

You also hone your research skills with a laboratory-based project in one of five taught areas: molecular biology; computational biology; applied microbiology; analytical biology; and biomaterials.

Why choose this course?

• Study the latest developments in applied microbiology and computational biology in high-quality, broad-based classes taught by dedicated staff with research experience in specialist subject areas
• Explore the latest technologies in molecular biology and the industrial processes that are used to exploit microbes for specific products and applications
• Develop the ability to use information from relevant sources, and independently and critically evaluate current research and advanced scholarship
• Gain the ability to use assured, accurate and fluent language to present your work, and learn to develop graphs and images that clearly illustrate complex points
• Benefit from a wide knowledge base and the key transferable skills that will give you the opportunity to take your career to new heights
• Take the part-time pathway option to better fit study around your work and family commitments