Introduction to Computer Science

What is this Structured Elective about?
The goal of this 15-credit Structured Elective is to give the students a solid foundation in computer programming as well as a more specialised knowledge of some branch of Computer Science, e.g. web design, database management, computer networking or more advanced programming. It introduces students to concepts of computational thinking and other computational techniques.

Why should I take this Structured Elective?
There is a need for a greater level of digital literacy. This is becoming an important requirement in graduate-level jobs in many different fields and is also important for higher-level modules and postgraduate studies.

Students who take this Structured Elective will develop their computer programming skills and knowledge of one or more aspects of Computer Science. The learning outcomes of the Structured Elective are the following:

• To understand basic programming constructs (e.g. variables, conditionals, loops, simple data structures) and more complex programming constructs (e.g. functions, methods);
• To design algorithms to solve problems;
• To successfully design, write and debug programs using programming constructs to implement algorithms;
• To understand at least one further specialised topic of Computer Science: web technologies, database management systems, computer networks or more advanced programming;
• To apply the knowledge of these specialised topics to implement solutions to real-life problems.

How would this Structured Elective benefit me?
This Structured Elective would be of interest to students in all Programmes, and would particularly benefit those students whose studies involve the collection, processing and analysis of data.

How do I take the modules in this Structured Elective?

• Structured Electives are available to undergraduate students only.
• In order to earn this Structured Elective you must take the specified modules in or after2021/22.
• To be awarded this Structured Elective you must take 15 credits from the list of modules outlined below. You will not be awarded this Structured Elective if you are graduating with a major or minor listed in the Eligibility section below.
• Students must normally take two introductory programming modules COMP10010 (or equivalently COMP10290) and COMP10020.
• Students who have passed Computer Science for their Leaving Cert. do not require to take COMP10010 as they have acquired the relevant knowledge of basic programming constructs and how to use them. If their experience excludes them from taking either COMP10010 or COMP10290, or both, they may still earn this Structured Elective by taking 15 credits of other modules from this Structured Elective.
• Students who have taken COMP10010 (or COMP10290) and/or COMP10020 as Core or Option modules can be awarded this Structured Elective. Overall 15 credits of COMP modules are required.
• The other modules can be taken in any order, but only after the two introductory programming modules (or equivalent) have been completed.

Module listing updated June 2023

Eligibility

You will not be awarded this Structured Elective if you are graduating with a major or minor listed below.