INTO Foundation pathway to Engineering programmes in the School of Engineering and Computing

Specialist academic modules for this pathway include:

• Introduction to Computer Systems Development
• Introduction to Software Development
• Mechanical Principles
• Electronic and Electrical Principles

See below for details of these modules.

Visit the website for the School of Engineering & Computing for more information.

Introduction to Computer Systems Development

This module provides a basic introduction to functional and non functional requirements capture and Use Case modelling. It also highlights the stages in the development of, and typical deployment architectures for, Computer Systems. On completion of this module, students should be able to: explain the need, when undertaking computer systems development, to capture and document both functional and non-functional requirements and the purpose of Use Case modelling; describe the process of software development and the disciplines involved such as analysis, design and test; define the key hardware and software architectures used to provide computer system functionality.

Introduction to Software Development

This module provides a basic introduction to the principles and practice of object oriented programming, including simple data types and programming structures. It will also introduce the development process of software design, coding and testing using an appropriate high level language. It will enable students to develop, implement and test, the software algorithm for a simple set of program requirements. On completion of this module, students should be able to: understand the basic principles of object-oriented programming, including the concept of inheritance; understand how programming relates to other software development activities; demonstrate the ability to write some simple object-oriented code.

Mechanical Principles

The aim of this module is to provide students with a foundation in the knowledge of mechanical engineering science and principles, and apply them to the design and analysis of engineering components and systems including thermofluid systems. On completion of this module the student should be able to: apply the principles of static equilibrium to 2-dimensional force systems including beam analysis; evaluate stress and strain in typical engineering components under the action of direct, lateral and thermal loading; apply the principles of kinematic and dynamic behaviour to particles and rigid bodies; understand the principles of simple harmonic motion and vibration; demonstrate an understanding of fluids and their basic properties including pressure measurement. analyse flows, pressures and energies in pipe systems; apply the principles of work and energy in compressible fluid flow systems; evaluate heat, work and energy terms for closed systems using the 1st law of thermodynamics; design and build simple engineering models; demonstrate an understanding of project management and the nature of team working.

 

Electronic And Electrical Principles

The aim of this module is to develop in the student an understanding of the basic concepts and principles of electronic and electrical engineering and apply these principles to solve engineering problems required for initial design activities. It provides the student with the basic knowledge of ac and dc circuit analysis, electric and magnetic field theory and an introduction to analogue and digital electronics. On the completion of this module the student should be able to: understand how electric current can flow in materials; be able to describe the difference between conductors, semiconductors and insulators; know what is meant by voltage, current, resistance, capacitance and inductance; be able to apply Ohm’s law to simple circuits; be able to distinguish between direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC); -Be able to describe the construction and use of resistors, capacitors, inductors, switches, junction diodes and transistors; understand Kirchhoff's Laws and its application to solve DC and AC circuits; apply Thevenin’s, Norton’s, Superposition and Maximum power transfer theorems to the solution of steady state; Networks; understand AC generation and main characteristics of periodical Sinusoidal alternating waveforms; understand the concept of phasor and its use to solution of simple circuits; understand the concept of transient response of an electric circuit; understand the concept of electric and magnetic fields and solve simple electric and magnetic fields problems; understand the operation of a diode and its use as part of a rectification circuit; understand the operation of a transistor and its use as part of an amplifier circuit; understand the characteristics of the basic logic gates and apply Boolean algebra, truth tables and karnaugh maps to the solution of simple digital systems; use Pspice/Cadence tools to solve AC and DC network; apply theoretical concepts to build simple engineering prototype; demonstrate an understanding of project  management and the nature of team working.