| Unit name | Foundations of Computer Programming |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LANG00052 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | QCA-3 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Mr. Tim Walker |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
IELTS: minimum 5.5 overall; minimum 5.0 in Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing components, or equivalent. Students should have the appropriate qualifications in Mathematics at the equivalent of QCA level 2 |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
Not applicable. |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Centre for Academic Language and Development |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
This unit introduces basic programming concepts and techniques in Python, and does not assume any prior knowledge of programming. Through this unit, you will learn the fundamental principles of programming languages, algorithms, and data structures that underpin modern software development. In addition to programming skills, this course will emphasize problem-solving and critical thinking skills. You will learn how to break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts, and develop algorithms to solve them. You will also practice debugging and testing your code to ensure it works correctly. By the end of the course, you will have a solid foundation in programming and be able to apply your skills to real-world problems.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This unit is taken alongside two Mathematics units, which together will prepare you for undergraduate studies in Computer Science and related degrees at the University of Bristol.
An overview of content
This unit will not just develop your programming skills, it will also develop your ability to take a systemic approach to problem solving by analysing a problem, designing a solution using algorithms, implementing your design and then testing it. Finally, you will evaluate your approach and identify the strengths and limitations of your solution.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
This unit will give you the opportunity to develop your understanding of the key principles of programming and how to apply these to real-world problems. This will develop your skills in critical thinking and problem solving, preparing you for undergraduate study and future careers in the field of computer science.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
How you will learn
Learning is facilitated in weekly classroom sessions involving a combination of teacher-led input, and practical, workshop-style exercises. In addition to activities in class, appropriate e-learning technologies will be used for self-assessment as well as further self-study.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
When assessment does not go to plan
Any student registered on the International Foundation Programme will be offered a conditional place on an undergraduate degree at the University of Bristol. Students must meet the entry requirements to be admitted onto an undergraduate degree at the University of Bristol. Different degree programmes may have different entry requirements. The IFP Board will review the mark profiles of all students who are close to attaining the entry requirements but are outside the previously agreed near miss criteria and may agree to admit them to a degree programme. If not admitted, students may be offered a further opportunity (i.e. two attempts in total) to meet the entry requirements for their intended degree programme at the University of Bristol by re-taking a relevant assessment. Marks are not capped for this purpose. If a student is absent or their performance in assessment is significantly affected due to exceptional circumstances, they may re-take the relevant assessment at the next appropriate time, without penalty.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. LANG00052).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
