| Unit name | Advanced Algorithms (Teaching Unit) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | COMS30042 |
| Credit points | 0 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Clifford |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
COMS10018 Object-Oriented Programming and Algorithms, or equivalent. COMS20017 Algorithms and Data, or equivalent. Solid understanding of O-notation and recurrence relations, the “greedy”, “divide-and-conquer” and “dynamic programming” paradigms of algorithm design, proof by induction and contradiction, discrete probability. Previous exposure to pseudocode. A solid understanding of arrays, linked lists, and priority queues. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
Assessment Unit COMS30081 Topics in Computer Science (Examination assessment, 20 credits) |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None. |
| School/department | School of Computer Science |
| Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
Why is this unit important
Advanced algorithms will give students the opportunity to explore more deeply algorithm design and analysis. This will provide the intellectual tools that form the core of modern high-tech industry.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This is an optional unit that can be taken in year 3.
An overview of content
This unit gives an overview of recent advances in the design of algorithms and data structures. These fall into two broad categories.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students will learn advanced data structures and algorithms of the sort that are central to modern high-tech industry. They will gain an appreciation of the main techniques that have been developed to achieve time and space efficient solutions. They will further understand how to provide approximate solutions where obtaining exact solutions is intractable.
Learning Outcomes
Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including lectures, problem sheets and self-directed exercises.
Teaching will take place over Weeks 1-7, with consolidation and revision sessions in Weeks 11 and 12.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Weekly problem sheets, with example solutions and problem classes.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
This unit will contribute 50% (equivalent to 1 hour of exam time) to the “Topics in Computer Science” exam that will be sat during the winter examination period. This closed-book exam will assess all learning outcomes.
When assessment does not go to plan:
Students will retake relevant assessments in a like-for-like fashion in accordance with the University rules and regulations.
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. COMS30042).
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.
