Information Sheet: Honours students 2015
Welcome to the Honours in IT programme presented at the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University.
Motivation for doing Honours
Many students do not see the value of doing an honours degree at first. When you enrol for this degree you are able to:
Specialize in specific aspects of Computer Science and Information Systems, such as BI – a new field in IS with more job opportunities than other IS fields. ORACLE will be done in Database Systems;
Qualify for a better first job – Choose IS Engineering for IT Project Management or Database Systems to be a DBA;
Qualify for promotion as some of the major corporations have specific requirements for promotion to senior positions;
Prepare for Master’s degree study;
Change your education into a 4 year degree – required for some professional associations and work abroad.
Programme Content
You need to select 4 modules from a possible 6 and do the project module. Each module consists of a first semester module and a second semester module of 12 credits each.
Code Module Name Lecturer ( 2014) Short description
ITRI611 ITRI621
Data Warehousing Prof. R. Goede Focus is on Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing. Students develop an industry related data warehouse. Most work is done in SQL server and Oracle. You need to select
ITRI613/ITRI623 as well if you want to select ITRI 611/ITRI621
ITRI613 ITRI623
Database systems Mr. R. Botes Advance database management systems are studied. Advance aspects such as query optimization and analysis are covered. Practical work centres on very large data sets. Oracle is used. ITRI614
ITRI624
Information
Systems Engineering
Mrs. S. Gilliland IT project management and practical IS systems development methodologies such as Agile methods are studied.
ITRI615 ITRI625
Computer Security Dr. C. van der Vyver
Learn all about security threats and IT management for secure IS systems. Practical work is on encryption.
ITRI616 Artificial Intelligence Mr. F.M. den Heijer
Artificial Intelligence, Logical Agents, Search methods and Neural Networks.
Logic (propositional and predicate), Automated Theorem Proving.
ITRI618 ITRI628
Decision support systems
Mr. W. van Blerk A practical approach to quantitative management in adding science to decision making. Advanced topics in DSS which can only be taken by students who did DSS in their B-degrees. Topics include: linear programming, Sensitivity analysis, Integer programming, Decision Trees and Simulation.
ITRI671 Project Prof. R Goede Mrs. JT Terblanche
Project
You need to select a project from a list at the beginning of the year and register for ITRI671. The project is 32 Credits = 320 hours. The project contains a literature research part and an implementation part. You need to research an area of IS before creating a software application. Our aim is provide project topics that will prepare you for Master’s study. You have reading work for this module. A list of prescribed journal papers will be on the eFundi site for this module. Currently the following topics are suggested:
Topic Description
Speech Technology Students can choose topics relating to speech recognition applications and are incorporated in projects working with various South African languages.
Mobile Technology Students can choose topics relating to any mobile application and are exposed to mobile device programming.
Human Computer Interaction
Students will design and implement systems according to the principles of human computer interaction.
Data Mining Students will be provided of realistic data to explore and apply methods such as cluster analysis, neural networks and other DM methods.
Systems Thinking Students will study the field of systems thinking and apply the methodologies to practical problem situations.
Robotics We are having fun with the LEGO robots systems
Serious Games The Serious Games Institute of SA is located at our campus and many of our Hons students are doing their projects under their supervision.
Higher Education Students may present proposals in the Technology in Education and the Education of Technology based subjects fields
Artificial Intelligence You will have to do a programming project were you choose to apply any of the artificial intelligence methods in a program or even a game.
DBMS Learning Tools Design and/or develop tools for practical purposes to aid students in understanding database management systems (Expandable to areas of NoQSL DBMSs or both). Database Management
Systems
Design and/or develop tools to aid or do research into problems faced with current database management system with regards to design, performance, spatial data, query optimizations and management (Expandable to areas of NoQSL DBMSs or both). Big Data Research into problems faced with Big Data with regards to processing, management
and expansion.
Study Credits
You need to do in 1 semester, four 12 credit modules and half of your project (32/2=16 credits) which adds up to 64 credits. The norm is that 64 credits should relate to 640 hours of work. In a semester there are 14 academic weeks. This means that you need to work 640/14 = 45.7 hours per week on your studies, which translates into 8 hours per week day and 5.7 hours over the weekend. PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND WHEN YOU PLAN YOUR OTHER
Lecture Times
All classes are presented after office hours. Generally from 18:00-21:00. The time table for 2014 is:
Time Tuesday Wednesday
18:00-19:00 ITRI 614 ISE ITRI611 DW
19:00-20:00 ITRI 615 CS / ITRI671 Project* ITRI613 DB
20:00-21:00 ITRI 618 DSS ITRI616 AI
* This time slot will used for ITRI671 for 8 sessions
Book list
PLEASE DO NOT BUY BOOKS BEFORE YOU ARE REGISTERRED! The purpose of the list is for you to review the
books on the Internet to better understand the content of the modules.
TITLE + AUTHOR + PUBLISHER ISB
ITRI611
Data
Warehouses
2 Books to be used in both semesters:
ISBN: 9780470149775
1. Data warehouse Lifecycle toolkit
Kimball, Ross, Thornthwaite, Mundy, Becker WILEY 2. The Microsoft data warehousing toolkit with SQL server 2008 R2 and the Microsoft business
intelligence toolset
ISBN: 9780470640388
Mundy, Thornthwaite,Kimball WILEY
ITRI613 Databases Database Management Systems, ISBN: 9780071231510 Raghu Ramakrishnan Johannes Gehrke
ITRI614 IS Engineering
Managing Information Technology Projects 7th Edition.
Kathy Swalbe Cengage Learning
ISBN: 9781133627227
ITRI615 Computer Security
2 Books to be used in both semesters: 1. Security in Computing,
Charles P Pfleeger & Shari L Pfleeger Prentice Hall 2. Principles of Information Security,
Whitman & Mattord Cengage
ISBN: 9780132390774 ISBN: 9780840031167 ITRI616 ITRI626 Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence – a Modern Approach Stuart Russell, Peter Norvig, Third Edition
ISBN10: 1-292-02420-8 ISBN13: 978-1-292-02420-2
ITRI618 Decision Support Systems
Decision modeling with Microsoft Excel JH Moore & LR Weatherford + Prentice Hall Introduction to Management Science by Bernard W. Taylor III (11th edition). Publisher: Pearson
ISBN-10: 013017789X ISBN-13: 978-0130177896
eFundi
All the lecturers make use of the eFundi learning management system. DURING REGISTRATION, WHILE ON CAMPUS IN OFFICE HOURS YOU NEED TO ENSURE TAHAT YOUR CARD IS ACTIVATED TO WORK ON EFUNDI. All assignments are submitted electronically and tested for plagiarism.
Coach Lab
We have a partnership with the Coach Lab initiative of the Information Hub of the Gauteng government which provide an internship programme while you are doing your Honours. This enables students to apply for a position on the programme and to work during the mornings while they study. For more info go to: http://www.coachlab.co.za/. NWU –Vaal is their newest centre and details are not yet on their site.
General Information:
Admission requirements: Applicable B-degree Closing date for Admission: 31 October 2014.
Forms: Ms Hilda Msimanga, 016 910 3119. Building 24 room G02. Submit your completed forms in G02. Class fees: Please ask admin for quotation – keep in mind that you only pay for the modules you select. Bursaries:
Closing date for application: 15th December 2014. Amount: R13000 or 50% thereof for part time students
Forms: Ms Ruth Kgabung, 016 910 3121. Building 24 room G02.
Note: These forms require information that you may not have at hand – please collect the forms urgently in order to be able to obtain all the relevant documentation.
Module descriptions
ITRI 611 (12) DATA WAREHOUSING I (3 hours)
At the end of this module the student should have insight and a basic knowledge of data warehousing. Students should have sufficient theoretical knowledge to participate in discussion with practitioners. Furthermore students should be able to develop a small data warehouse according to a prescribed methodology until the data presentation phase. On theoretical level, the student should have insight and a basic knowledge of the following concepts of data warehousing: General data warehousing concepts; the data warehouse lifecycle; alternative data warehousing methodologies; dimensional modelling; requirements collection; extract, load and transform (ETL) functions. From a practical perspective students should demonstrate the ability to: Understand user requirements; setup suitable software products; develop a dimensional model; perform ETL; create a data warehouse browser. Suitable documentation should be developed for the practical work.
ITRI 613 (12) DATABASE SYSTEMS I (3 hours)
This module has two study divisions. Study Division 1: The aim of this division is to provide the student with the necessary background knowledge on the theory and application of databases. Furthermore, the base is determined regarding the knowledge and skills to know the typical architecture of a Data Base Management System (DBMS) and do the basic calculations regarding the large databases to determine the cost implications of specific approaches of large-scale databases. Study Division 2: The aim of this division is to provide the student with the necessary knowledge and skills to create, implement and maintain an Oracle database and manage possible problems.
ITRI 614 (12) INFORMATION SYSTEMS ENGINEERING I (3 hours)
The purpose of this module is to provide the learner with sound knowledge and practical experience of basic project management skills in the IT environment. The purpose of this course is to prepare students for a career in project management.
ITRI 615 (12) COMPUTER SECURITY I (3 hours)
On completion of this module, the learner will have a basic knowledge of and insight into computer and information security, including the weaknesses in computerised environments and how these can be controlled. Basic encryption and decryption as well as the most important encryption systems generally used, operating system controls, and reliable operating systems will be investigated. On completion of the module, the learner will be able to demonstrate his/her knowledge and insight gained by solving problems in the subject area and its areas of application. The student will be able to identify security problems in computer systems and information in businesses and recommend measures to address these.
ITRI 616 (12) ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE
This module has the following outcomes: Define artificial intelligence and critically evaluate a definition; Describe the historical bases and the history of the subject; Discuss logical agents and the environments in which they operate; Define the concept of rationality and apply it to intelligent agents; Solve problems by making use of various informed and uninformed search methods; Describe the history and applications of neural networks; Explain the biological inspiration for neural networks; Discuss and use various neural network models and architectures in order to solve practical problems; Integrate and utilise information from various modules in solving practical problems (The learner will attain this outcome with the aid of one or more integrated evaluations); Work together in a group; Communicate effectively, orally as well as in writing, by making use of appropriate technology; Act in an ethical manner in all aspects concerning artificial intelligence.
ITRI 618 (12) DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS (3 hours)
When you have completed the course, you should have acquired a basic knowledge of modelling of especially mathematical models. Phases of the modelling process: abstraction and formulation; optimization of models, and sensitivity analysis will be studied. Models that will be studied include, among others, linear programming and special linear programmes such as transportation models and network models. Attention is also paid to: dynamic programming models, integer linear programmes, and introductory models for non-linear optimization.
ITRI 621 (12) DATA WAREHOUSING II (3 hours)
At the end of this module the student should have insight and knowledge of data warehousing. Students should have sufficient theoretical knowledge to participate in discussion with practitioners. Furthermore students should be able to develop a small data warehouse according to a prescribed methodology. On theoretical level, the student should have insight and a basic knowledge of the following concepts of data warehousing: Technical data warehousing architecture, more advance dimensional modelling, Business Intelligence (BI) applications and Maintenance of BI systems. From a practical perspective students should demonstrate the ability to: Create an OLAP cube, use MDX and create end-user applications. Students should also link from Excel’s pivot table function to their OLAP cube. Suitable documentation should be developed for the practical work.
ITRI 623 (12) DATABASE SYSTEMS II (3 hours)
This module has two study divisions. Study division 1: The aim of this section is the give the student the necessary background knowledge about the theory and application of database management systems (DBMS) based on the work of ITRI613. The emphasis is mainly on the aspects of query optimization of the different facets of the DBMS. The student is expected to be able to do the basic calculations to determine the cost implications of certain approaches followed by a DBMS regarding large-scale databases. More theoretical work is also done regarding normalization and functional dependencies. In order to recapitulate the studies in and about databases, a project is dealt with that ranges from the implementation of database management systems to working through procedures to optimize the
handling of queries regarding the application of a database. Study division 2: The aim of this section is to give the student the necessary knowledge and skills to create, implement and maintain an Oracle database and to deal with possible problems.
ITRI 624 (12) INFORMATION SYSTEMS ENGINEERING II (3 hours)
At the end of the semester the students will have a sound knowledge of the different system development methodologies. This knowledge includes: system development methods; underlying approaches on which the system development methodologies are based; development process models which are used in system development methods; and development techniques and tools which are used in system development methods.
ITRI 625 (12) COMPUTER SECURITY II (3 hours)
On Completion of this module, the learner has acquired basic knowledge and insight on database, network, and administrative security and its economic aspects. Privacy and legal implications as well as ethical issues regarding information security must also be studied. On completion of the module, the learner will be able to demonstrate that he/she can apply the knowledge and insight that have been acquired in problem-solving in the subject field and its fields of application. In particular, the student will be able to identify security problems regarding computer systems and information in enterprises and recommend measures for these.
ITRI 626 (12) ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE
After you have completed the module, you must be able to: Describe the principles of knowledge-based agents; Define propositional logic (both syntax and semantics); Make inferences in propositional logic; Define predicate logic (both syntax and semantics); Translate problem descriptions in predicate logic; Make inferences in propositional logic; Construct resolution proofs; Construct a simple theorem prover for predicate logic; Cooperate in groups; Communicate effectively – orally as well as in writing – by making use of appropriate technology; Act ethically with regard to all aspects concerning artificial intelligence.
ITRI 628 (12) DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMS (3 hours)
After successful completion of this module, you should: have mastered the theory and practice of various modelling problems, especially those of mathematic models; have mastered the subject language so that you can comfortably communicate with colleagues; be able to work in a problem solving manner; reveal a love for the study field and show comprehension of the relation between reality, abstraction, model and solution.
ITRI 671 (32) PROJECT MODULE
This module has the following outcomes: Write a critical review of a journal paper; Write a research proposal; Do research under the guidance of a staff member; Write a journal article; Write a research report; Give a presentation of the research done and results obtained.
