msc in software engineering and telecommunications - City College

MSC IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
POSTGRADUATE STUDIES
2007

"The telecommunications
industry offers steady,
year-round employment.
Computer software engineers
and systems software
developers receive the highest
average weekly earnings of
non-supervisory workers in the
Telecommunications Industry."
Bureau of Labor Statistics,
U.S. Department of Labor,
Career Guide to Industries,
2006-07 Edition.
"Information and
communication technologies
(ICT) are a powerful driver for
economy-wide productivity,
growth and jobs – and are
arguably Europe’s best-bet
investment for the future.
A quarter of the EU’s GDP
growth and 40% of our
productivity growth are due to
ICT. The ICT industry generates
8% of Europe’s GDP and
employs 6% of its workforce."
i2010 - A European Information
Society for growth and employment
Brussels, 1 June 2005
PROGRAMME RATIONALE >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The software and the telecommunications industries are both at the forefront of
the information age. The Information and Communication Technologies have
become the largest and most rapidly developing sectors of the European Union
and world economy. Furthermore, the constant growth of the Internet leads to the
emergence of new technologies, novel services, and innovative products.
Moreover, the emergence of new markets in the software and telecommunications
sector in Southeastern Europe have given rise to growing demand for highly
skilled and specialised professionals in this field. In this rapidly evolving industry,
continuous education is important for telecommunication and software engineers.
Professionals must keep their job skills and knowledge up to date. Increased
knowledge of the new technologies from the fields of both software engineering
and telecommunications is of paramount importance.
PROGRAMME AIM >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The programme focuses on integrating the fields of Software Engineering and
Telecommunications, aiming to enhance students’ knowledge and skills of
contemporary software engineering techniques and technologies. Additionally, this
programme provides students with the essential knowledge in order to develop
and support innovative, agile and robust software solutions for the rapidly evolving
and transforming field of telecommunications.
BCS ACCREDITATION >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The MSc in Software Engineering and Telecommunications is accredited by the
British Computer Society. Exemption from the BCS Professional Examination
provides the academic base for the BCS professional qualification, leading towards
Corporate Membership and BCS Chartered IT Professional.

MSc IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
LEARNING OUTCOMES >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
By the end of the programme graduates will have:
• developed the technical and managerial skills needed to be an effective leader
within the software industry.
• acquired knowledge and skills in the key areas of existing and emerging software
techniques (such as Internet Enterprise Applications, Service Oriented Architecture
and Web services) against competitive software market needs.
• a thorough understanding of products and services offered in the Telecommunication
sector.
• acquired advanced knowledge in software engineering theory and practices.
• gained the ability to apply the knowledge acquired on the programme to designing,
developing and testing software used in Telecommunication business.
• the ability to study, analyse, and critically evaluate research done in the area of
software engineering and telecommunications.
• the academic and professional qualifications to pursue a further academic or
professional career.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Graduates may pursue a career as a professional software engineer or software
architect in software development companies or in the IT department of enterprises.
The high-level professional skills allow graduates to quickly become an effective
leader within the software industry. Furthermore, the specialisation in
telecommunications enables graduates to work in specialised software houses,
working, for example in the rapidly growing area of mobile or hand-held devices
or in the IT departments of telecommunication companies.
PROGRAMME UNITS
Core Units
Advanced Software Development Techniques
Computer Networking and
Internet Technologies
Distributed Data Management
Engineering Internet Applications
Advanced Software Engineering
Wireless and Mobile Telecommunications
Contemporary Issues in ICT
Industrial Group Project
Dissertation Units
Research Skills and
Dissertation Preparation
Dissertation
Alternatively, graduates may undertake further research in the field. A number of
our graduates have followed a research career by continuing with PhD studies in
South-East European Research Centre (SEERC) or other academic institutions.

AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
MODES OF STUDY >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The programme is flexible and is offered in two modes:
The full time programme runs from October to October (1 year), and consists of a
taught programme of two semesters from October to June. The project component
of the programme is undertaken in the summer period from June to October.
Lectures are held three times a week in the evenings.
The part time taught programme runs over two years. The project component is
undertaken in the summer period from June to October of the second year.
Lectures are held twice a week in the evenings.
ADMISSION CRITERIA >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Admissions are based on the candidate’s academic record, experience,
motivation and potential. Applicants are normally expected to hold, or to be
about to achieve, a good Second Class Honours Degree from a University or
similar institution. The programme is aimed at students who have a Bachelor’s
degree in Computer Science or in any other numerate or logical discipline. All
applicants must have a fluent command of the English language (TOEFL: 575 or
IELTS: 6,5 or equivalent qualifications).
“It might be considered as
exaggeration but my life,
concerning software development,
is distinguished in a time before
City College and time after. The
MSc in Software Engineering and
Telecommunications did not just
provide me with a competitive title
but more importantly with valuable
knowledge and skills that were
gained through hard work and
a lot of effort. Through this course,
I have learned not only trying to
do the right things but also do the
things right. Generally, the MSc
course was an investment that
deserved the effort and the time.
Panagiotis Marantelos
MSc graduate
NEW REVISED PROGRAMME >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
In June 2007, after five successful years of running, the programme went
through a major revision in order to reflect current technological trends such as
Enterprise Internet Applications and Web Services.
DEGREE TITLE >>>>>>>>
MSc in Software Engineering
and Telecommunications
The title is awarded directly
by the University of Sheffield.

UNIT DESCRIPTIONS >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
ENGINEERING INTERNET APPLICATIONS
This unit covers in depth, important aspects specific to Web application
development and describes the contemporary core technologies used in
web applications, such as XML, J2EE, Ajax, and Web Services. The unit
prepares students for the development of Enterprise Internet Applications.
Students develop a real-world project using the acquired knowledge and
skills and work as a team following web software development process
guidelines.
ADVANCED SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT TECHNIQUES
This unit presents the task of software development within the context of a
real world business environment. It focuses on: software engineering
principles; object oriented analysis and design techniques (using the UML
notation); well known design practices as design patterns; and the
systematic testing of software. Students learn about software development
activities by participating in a software project group, which develops a
working software system and all the necessary accompanying
documentation. Furthermore, students actively contribute to the lectures by
reviewing and presenting material on software development topics.
COMPUTER NETWORKING AND INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES
This unit provides the student with a deep and thorough understanding of
advanced concepts in selected areas of digital communications and
computer networks and Internet Technologies, including data coding and
error control, Local Area Networks, Data-Link layer protocols,
Internetworking protocols and architectures, Transport layer protocols,
circuit/packet switching, optical networks, network security and
cryptography, etc. Emphasis is given to protocols, algorithms, architectures
and performance analysis. The unit further aims to: a) enhance the
graduate students’ comprehensive, analytical and critical thinking, by
exposing them to advanced research paper work and b) provide the
students with practical experience on inter-related networking issues and
improve their synthetic and analytic capabilities, by means of network
simulation projects.
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN ICT
This unit aims to present the latest developments and various
contemporary topics in the field of information and telecommunications
technology (ICT). Through a series of seminars and lectures presented by
industrial and academic experts in the field, students will become aware of
the contemporary issues, problems, solutions and consequences in the
rapidly developing area of ICT.
ADVANCED SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
The aim of this unit is to present contemporary topics in Software
Engineering. It starts with a brief overview of software engineering
principles and then focuses on modern approaches to software
development such as Agile Methods (eXtreme Programming a.o.), software
architecture, and advanced techniques and technologies such as Service
Oriented Architecture, and formal methods. Students will actively contribute
to the lectures, by reviewing and presenting material on contemporary
software engineering topics.
DISTRIBUTED DATA MANAGEMENT
This unit covers topics involving advanced implementation techniques and
specific applications of Advanced Database Systems, in particular, those
relating to telecommunications applications. Topics such as transaction
management, concurrency control, distributed database architectures and
applications, data warehousing and data mining are the backbone of the
module. Major emphasis is placed on contemporary issues in database
technology as well as trends in commercial applications.
WIRELESS AND MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
This unit focuses on providing students with a deep understanding of the
concepts of Wireless and Mobile Telecommunications as applied in today’s
Transmission Systems and Cellular Networks. Emphasis is given into
describing the real life applications of Wireless Systems. Students will
learn about the most current applications of wireless networks in voice and
data communications and will be encouraged to actively contribute to the
lectures by presenting and discussing their work on the course’s practical
exercises.
INDUSTRIAL GROUP PROJECT
The aim of this unit is to introduce the student to ‘real life’ project
environments. From within the structure of a group, and with the help of
local companies, the students are presented with a certain problem
definition, which needs to be ‘solved’. Students work in close cooperation
with experts from the client company and college lecturers, and are
required to present their final implementation as well as all relevant
documentation to the client company.
RESEARCH SKILLS & DISSERTATION PREPARATION
This unit intends to introduce students to the research topics and
techniques that are commonly employed in software engineering and
telecommunication science. Students will be exposed to the principles of
report writing, literature reviewing, and research designs and approaches.
These research approaches will include the design of data collection and
analysis methods, as well as representation and interpretation of the
results. An introduction to tools facilitating quantitative and qualitative
analysis will also be provided. The unit is enriched with a number of
exercises, case studies and discussions and concludes with practical
guidelines of how to write a successful dissertation.

WHY CHOOSE CITY ? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITY DEGREE
CITY is an affiliated institution of the University of Sheffield, one of the leading
universities in Britain. All degrees are awarded directly from the University of
Sheffield. It is a unique opportunity allowing you to undertake a University of
Sheffield Master’s or Bachelor’s degree programme whilst studying in
Thessaloniki, Greece.
EXCELLENT ACADEMIC STAFF AND RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT
CITY is proud of its full time academic staff. 70% hold a PhD degree, all the
professors are experienced teachers with a professional background and have
carried out substantial research work. CITY is strongly committed to research and
heartily encourages and supports its staff in promoting their research and
publications.
www.city.academic.gr
EXCELLENT PROVISION FOR STUDENTS
CITY offers a number of different support student services, aiming to help students
to integrate to their academic and social life. The International Affairs Office, the
Accommodation Office, the Career Office, the Student Affairs Office and the English
Language Support Unit are some of the services provided.
EXCELLENT JOB AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: STRONG LINKS WITH
THE INDUSTRY
The unemployment rate of CITY’s graduates is very low! All graduates are
employed within a short period after their graduation, in a wide variety of
companies, services and banks. CITY maintains strong links with the industry and
the professions through its Industrial Liaison Board, keeping thus its courses, its
academic staff and its students updated and the courses relevant, evolving with
professional developments.
A LIVELY INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ COMMUNITY
CITY offers a very lively environment that has a truly multicultural feel with
students from more than 15 countries. It has an open and integrated international
student community.
A CITY CENTRE CAMPUS
CITY is situated in 4 impressive buildings in the centre of the city and offers the
students access to numerous facilities.
LIVE AND STUDY IN A BEAUTIFUL, SAFE AND INEXPENSIVE CITY
The city of Thessaloniki is considered the best city to study in! It is a very beautiful
city, situated on the sea front. It offers everything a big city is supposed to offer,
without loosing the benefits of a city its size, therefore being a great and safe place
to live and study! In comparison to other European Countries and USA, Greece has
a relatively much lower cost of everyday living.
HEAD OFFICES, ADMISSIONS' OFFICE
TSIMISKI BUILDING
13, TSIMISKI STR. 546 24
THESSALONIKI GREECE
TEL.:(+30) 2310 224 186, 2310 275 575
FAX: (+30) 2310 287 564
STEIN BUILDING
2, KALAPOTHAKI STR. 546 24
THESSALONIKI GREECE
TEL.: (+30) 2310 224 026, 2310 224 080
FAX: (+30) 2310 224 061
KOROMILA BUILDING
24, PROXENOU KOROMILA STR, 546 22
THESSALONIKI GREECE
TEL.: (+30) 2310 224 421
FAX: (+30) 2310 269 095
SEERC BUILDING
17, MITROPOLEOS STR. 546 24
THESSALONIKI GREECE
TEL.: (+30) 2310 253 477, 2310 253 478
acadreg@city.academic.gr
CITY OPERATES AS A LABORATORY OF LIBERAL STUDIES UNDER THE LIBERAL STUDIES BILL (ACT No 9, 1935).
IT AWARDS ONLY CERTIFICATES OF STUDIES. THE DEGREES ARE AWARDED DIRECTLY BY THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD.