Advanced Diploma in IT Systems Analysis and Design (Online)

Overview

This part-time Oxford University course, taught entirely online, is designed to take your knowledge and experience of practical software development to a new level.

Building on your existing knowledge, this course will help you upgrade your skills from those of an ordinary computer user to those required by an application analyst and designer. We cover the analysis of software systems in terms of their data requirements, function, performance and usability. The subject matter includes many of the basic modelling techniques used in contemporary software and data analysis. You also have the chance to apply these ideas through the analysis of a real problem as you would in a realistic operational environment – working in small teams to tight deadlines.

Delivered entirely online, the course is taught at third-year undergraduate level (FHEQ Level 6). 

Who is this course for?

You might be looking for career progression within IT, or to move into an IT role from another function. There are no formal entry qualifications, but you must have some reasonable experience of software – perhaps in a work or academic setting. We will ask you to provide comprehensive details of your current skills and experience in computing, and your reasons for doing the course, to help us assess whether your level of knowledge, ability and motivation is right for this Level 6 course.

This is a challenging course demanding a sustained commitment over one year. You should be sure that you will be able to devote adequate time to studying alongside your other commitments. However, the distance learning mode has been designed to make the course as accessible as possible, allowing you a good degree of flexibility in when you study.

Our previous online computing courses have attracted students from all over the world and a wide variety of occupations, such as teaching, administration, healthcare, social work and industry, as well as those already working in IT. This mix of student backgrounds and experience leads to a lively and stimulating study environment.

How you will study

The course material is delivered entirely online in five units, each involving seven weeks of study, which includes time to prepare the unit assignment. You will be part of an allocated tutor group, with a personal tutor.

The study of a unit is guided by the online material and involves a mixture of reading web-based material, completing self-study exercises and participating in group exercises with other students, as well as writing the unit assignment. Some of these exercises involve interacting with other students, and to enable this to be effective, these exercises may be scheduled to take place during a specified period. For this reason, and in order to help you follow a structured pattern of study, we will give you a recommended unit timetable.

The virtual classroom forms an integral part of the course, allowing you to discuss issues with your fellow students and course tutors. In common with undergraduate life here at Oxford, a 'virtual common room' is available so that you can 'chat' with others in your group on more wide-ranging matters – an ideal way of getting to know each other.

Course content

We update our course content regularly to reflect recent developments and feedback from students, so the list given below is provisional and may change.

- The System Development Life-Cycle and Management
- Systems Analysis and Design: Data Driven and Procedural Techniques
- Systems Analysis and Design: Data Organisation
- Systems Analysis and Design: Objects and Architectures
- Team Project

It is expected that students participate fully in the team project.

Assessment

Each unit includes a marked assignment, which must be submitted electronically by the given deadline. All the assignments must be completed. The assessment for your final award is based on the marks for all your unit assignments.

The final part of the course is a team project. This assessment involves a number of different submissions, some individual and some by the team.

The course does not involve a formal written examination and does not require students to come to Oxford, although we encourage completing students to attend the award ceremony in the famous Sheldonian theatre.

Award and credit transfer

An Undergraduate Advanced Diploma will be awarded on completion of the course. Outstanding performance will qualify for a Distinction. You will be invited to receive your Advanced Diploma at the annual Awards Ceremony of the Department for Continuing Education, held at Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre. This happy occasion provides an opportunity to meet your tutor and fellow students in person.

Students are eligible for the award of 60 transferable credit (CATS) points at FHEQ Level 6 on successful completion of the one-year course. You may be able to transfer these credit points to other HE institutions.

Please visit our website for contact information, details on how to apply and for information on course fees.