About Computer Science with Business Management, BSc - at University of Birmingham
Probably the most remarkable commercial development of recent years has been the impact of seamless networked computing on the way companies can do business. Now that the dotcom hype is over, real growth in IT is occurring. Change will be constant, with e-procurement, broadband and mobile telecommunications and the open source revolution already altering the business world. In this climate managers with a good knowledge of computing will be better placed than others to exploit the new technologies. This degree programme is geared towards meeting this need.
Course StructureIn each year you will spend one third of your time in the Business School, and two thirds in the School of Computer Science. In your first year you will take introductory courses in economics, business organisation and financial analysis. In computer science you will learn to program in Java, a language widely used in industry. You will study the principles of object oriented software design, and examine the foundations of computer science, including algorithm and hardware design. In the second year you will continue your management studies with modules in human resource management, marketing and international business. In computer science you will learn about databases, take further optional modules, and participate in a software team project. In the final year you will produce a large piece of software for your degree project, and select options from a variety on offer in computer science. In the Business School you will study strategic management, supply chain management and corporate finance.
Career ProspectsPeople with hybrid skills in computing and business are in great demand. IT companies now increasingly demand that their software engineers have excellent business skills, in order that they can be customer facing. This degree leaves your options open. You might pursue a technical career as a systems analyst or software consultant, where your business knowledge gives you that important additional advantage; or you may take the management route, where your technical knowledge will allow you a deeper insight into IT issues. Software houses, commercial and financial services, insurance, banking, and management consultancy; these are a few of the opportunities available to you. While many of the graduates from this degree will go on to become software engineers, a higher proportion than from our other degrees choose to enter sales, marketing or management positions directly.
You can also take this degree with a Certificate in Industrial Studies.
Typical final year projects:- An SQL development tool for querying databases
- Message decoders in mobile communications systems
- Automated complaint handling systems
- WAP information server for mobile phones
