BACHELOR OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

1 Introduction

1.1 Background

Computers play and will play a dominant role in the socio-economic development of a nation. Advent of computers has ushered in the era of rapid developments and prosperity all over the advanced countries of the world. Many countries in the Far East have become economic giants because of the use of computers in all spheres of their economic activities. Developing countries like Bangladesh are also catching up with the rest of the world. Computers if well utilized can play a major role as a means of economic enhancements in developing countries like Uganda.

With the importance of knowledge in the area of computer in perspective, Mountains of the Moon University undertakes the responsibility to develop the human resources in this area through offering a degree program in computer science.

1.2 Course Overview

The Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) degree combines a solid core of Computer Science courses with the ability to gain substantial depth in another area through a required minor in a second subject. In addition, the curriculum provides numerous choices for science and humanities courses. As computing is a discipline with strong links to many fields, this provides students with unparalleled flexibility to pursue allied (or non-allied) interests. The curriculum's mathematics and statistics component ensures that students have the formal tools to remain current as technologies and systems change, rather than be limited by a narrow focus on programming alone. At the same time, students gain insight into the practical issues of building and maintaining systems by participating in intensive project-oriented courses.

This curriculum has been developed in accordance with the new competence based learning approach because of the high demand for Computer Science personnel who can integrate knowledge, skills, and positive attitude in their profession.

1.3 Course Rationale

The Bachelor of Computer Science Degree Programme is offered to satisfy the increasing demand for Computer Scientists in both the private and public sectors. It also provides an avenue to those already engaged in the computing and ICT sector without a degree qualification in Computer Science to enhance their knowledge and skills and obtain formal qualifications. The Bachelor of Computer Science curriculum is designed to provide a formal body of knowledge for students interested in careers in the ever evolving computer industry. The curriculum includes a foundation in basic sciences, which includes courses related to both software and hardware fundamentals, and selected electives to allow students to specialize in areas of their interest.

1.4 Course Objectives

The BCS degree will: -

a) Develop professionals with theoretical and practical skills in Computer Science.

b) Create new ICT services by enabling society to create new jobs.

c) Strengthen capacity and institutional building in Computer Science in tertiary institutions, the private and public sectors.

d) Form a foundation for research in ICT applications.

e) Provide ICT solutions and professionals in the Rwenzori region, Uganda and Africa at large.

1.5 Career Prospects

The graduates from the BCS Degree Programme are expected to take up positions such as Systems Analysts, Database Administrators, System Administrators, Network Administrators, Software Engineers, Computer Scientists, Lecturers, Researchers, Database Programmers, and Computer/Systems Programmers. Others will take up further studies in Computer Science related courses.

2 About the Programme

2.1 Target group

Programme targets three categories of people, namely A’ level certificate holders, Diploma holders in relevant programmes and mature age students.

2.2 Nature and duration of the Programme

This will be a full time day programme. Lectures will be conducted from Monday to Friday within the period of 8:00am to 5:00pm. The duration for the Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) degree programme will be three (3) academic years comprising 6 semesters and two recess terms. Each semester will be 17 weeks long of which 15 will be used for lectures and the last 2 used for end of semester examinations.

2.3 Tuition Fees

Tuition fees shall be 1,600,000 Uganda Shillings per year for Ugandans and 2,400,000 Uganda Shillings or $1200 per year for International students.

3 Regulations

3.1 Admission Requirements

To be admitted for a course leading to the award of Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) degree, a candidate must satisfy the general minimum entrance requirements of Mountains of the Moon University. In addition, the following regulations shall hold for the BCS degree: -

a) Direct Entry

This is for fresh students from A-level: -

i). Candidates MUST have done Mathematics and scored at least a principal pass in the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) or its equivalent.

ii). At least two principal passes at the same sitting in Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) in any of the following subjects: - Mathematics, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Agriculture, Technical Drawing and Food and Nutrition.

iii). A minimum weighted points set by the Admissions board. For purposes of computing weighted points, the advanced level subjects shall be grouped and weighted as follows: -

Group	Weight	Subjects
Essential	3	Mathematics and one best done of the above subjects.
Relevant	2	The third best done of the above subjects
Desirable	1	General Paper
Others	*0.5*	One of the above subjects

b) Diploma Holders

i). Applicants should possess at least a second class (lower division) diploma in Computer Science, Engineering, Business Studies, Information Technology, Statistics or any other diploma with Mathematics, Computer Science, or Information Technology as one of the subjects from Mountains of the Moon University or any other recognized Institution.

Candidates who hold a Diploma in Computer Science from Mountains of the Moon University or any other recognized institution with a first class shall be admitted to second year of Bachelor of Computer Science.

Semester 1
*CODE*		*COURSE NAME*	LH		TH	PH	CH	CU
CSK 1101		Communication Skills	45		-	30	60	4
BCS 1100		Computer Literacy	45		-	30	60	4
BBMT 102		Principles of Management	45		-	-	45	3
BCS 1102		Computational Mathematics I	45		30	-	60	4
BCS 1103		Solution Methods in Optimization	30		30	-	45	3
BIT 1100		Communications technology and the Internet	30		-	30	45	3
Sub Total								21
Semester 2
*CODE*		*COURSE NAME*	LH		TH	PH	CH	CU
BCS 1200		Computational Mathematics II	45		30	-	60	4
BCS 1201		Research Methodology	30		30	-	45	3
BCS 1202		Programming Methodology	30		30	30	-	4
BCS 1203		Computer Organization & Architecture	45		30	-	60	4
BIT 1201		Website Development & Internet Technology	45		-	30	60	4
Year 1 Recess Term
BCS 1301		Practical Skills Development	-		-	120	60	4
Sub Total								23
Semester 3
*CODE*		*COURSE NAME*		LH	TH	PH	CH	CU
BCS 2100		Object Oriented Programming		45	-	30	60	4
BCS 2101		Database Management Systems I		30	-	30	45	3
BCS 2102		Data Structures and Algorithms		45	30	-	60	4
BCS 2103		Artificial Intelligence		30	30	-	45	3
BCS 2104		Software Engineering		45	30	-	60	4
BBMT 215		Entrepreneurship & Skills Development		30	30	-	45	3
Sub Total								21
Semester 4
*CODE*		*COURSE NAME*	LH		TH	PH	CH	CU
BCS 2200		Operating Systems	30		30	-	45	3
BCS 2201		Systems Analysis and Design	45		30	-	60	4
BCS 2202		Cryptology and Coding theory	30		30	-	45	3
BCS 2203		Complexity and Computability	30		30	-	45	3
BCS 2204		Individual Project	45		-	30	60	4
BIT 2201		System Administration	30		30	30	60	4
Year 2: Recess Term
BCS 2301		Industrial Training	-		-	120	60	4
Sub Total								25
Semester 5 4 Core Courses
*CODE*		*COURSE NAME*	LH		TH	PH	CH	CU
BCS 3100		Database Management Systems II	45		30	-	60	4
BCS 3101		Principles of Programming languages	30		30	-	60	3
BCS 3102		Computer Graphics	45		30	-	60	4
BIT 3100		Professional Law and Ethics	45		-	-	45	3
1 Elective
BCS 3103	Modeling and Simulation		45		-	30	60	4
BCS 3104	User Interface Design		45		-	30	60	4
BBC 3101	E-Commerce and E-Business		52		16	-	60	4
Sub Total								18
Semester 6 3 Core Courses
*CODE*	*COURSE NAME*			LH	TH	PH	CH	CU
BCS 3200	Data Communications & Networks			45	-	30	60	4
BCS 3201	BCS Project			-	-	120	60	4
BIT 3202	Mobile Networks and Computing			45	-	30	60	4
1 Elective
BCS 3202	Computer Security		45		30	-	60	4
BIT 3200	Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing		45		-	30	60	4
BIT 3204	Enterprise Network Management		45		30	-	60	4
Sub Total								16
TOTAL UNITS								123