Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BIT)
Programme Background and Rationale
The bachelor of information technology programme is designed to produce computing graduates with strong technical knowledge to function effectively as database programmers, web developers, and IT support persons with a strong foundation for continued career growth. The programme brings together conceptual knowledge, problem solving, and independent critical thinking skills that are needed by information technology professionals. The growth of IT sector in Somaliland over the last decade and the emergence of global knowledge economy in the horn of Africa region and beyond require highly-skilled multidisciplinary IT professionals knowledgeable on new methods, tools and innovation systems. Amoud University through this programme is positioning itself to strategically produce more relevant information technology experts required for the ever expanding IT needs.
The fiber optic cable laid down recently in Somaliland has led to exponential increase in the internet speeds and data bandwidth, thus further entrenching demand for ICT services and experts. Therefore through this programme, Amoud University and the faculty of computing and informatics intends to produce highly skilled and relevant entrepreneurial professionals for the Information Technology sector in Somaliland and the Horn of Africa and the regional market at large. The programme is modeled with the pillars of IT including programming, networking, human-computer interaction, databases, and web systems, built on a foundation of knowledge of the fundamentals of IT. Overarching the entire foundation and pillars are information assurance and security, and professionalism. The programme has been developed in consonance with the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) IEEE Computer Society (IEEE-CS) Task Group (International information technology curricula,https://www.acm.org/education/curricula-recommendations, 2017).
Programme Objectives
General Objective
This programme should produce modern database administrators and web developers, with most modern knowledge and skills for a successful professional career in computing and informatics. It should produce top professionals who can quickly get involved in the work process, with innovative mentality, self-confidence and ability to lead technology, business and society.
Specific Objectives
By the end of the programme, students should:
- Have broad understanding of information technology business related problems and emerging potential methods for solving them and the ability to design, implement and evaluate a computer based system, process, component, or program to meet desired needs while functioning effectively in teams to accomplish common goals through effective communication with a wide range of audiences.
- Have broad knowledge of computing and mathematics appropriate to the discipline and capacity to apply this knowledge to analyze a problem, identify and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solution while demonstrating knowledge and awareness of the wide range of updated information technology tools and techniques coupled with strong analytical and critical thinking skills for solving the current problems in ICT.
- Exhibit practical competence, and the capacity to design, implement and evaluate database management and web authoring specific computing project; they should be able to use current technology concepts and practices in the core information technologies to identify and analyze user needs and take them into account in the selection, creation, evaluation and administration of computer based systems.
- Develop and exhibit strong ethical principles, good interpersonal communication and team skills necessary for IT industry; and ability to effectively integrate IT-based solutions into the user environment based on best practices and standards.
- Have broad understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security and social issues and responsibilities in the analysis of the local and global impact of computing on individuals, organizations and society.
Programme Duration
The programme run on a semester basis consisting of four semesters each lasting 17 weeks, or part-time basis as appropriately structured by the Faculty of Computing and Informatics and department of information technology, and approved by Senate.
Programme Modalities
The programme shall be conducted by course work, examinations and project, based on credit units. The last two weeks of each semester of each academic year shall normally be used for end-of-semester examinations. Further,
- A student shall take foundation/general courses in English, mathematics, science, Arabic, Islamic studies during the first one year in the freshmen. The freshman year also acts as a gateway to full admission into the bachelor of information technology programme.
- By the end of junior year, a student shall be required to attend at least 300 hours of internship in a real work environment.
- A student shall come up with a well-written project in the area of information technology during the senior year of study.
Curriculum Plan
The programme shall run on a semester basis consisting of eight (8) semesters each lasting 17 weeks in a period of four (4) academic years, whether on full time, part-time, sandwich, or online or other modes as structured by the Faculty of Computing and Informatics, and department of information technology, and approved by Senate.
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FRM 6111 | Introduction to reading | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
FRM 6112 | Introduction to writing | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
FRM 6113 | Introduction to biology | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
FRM 6114 | Arabic language | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
FRM 6115 | Pre-calculus | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
Total |
| 215 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 215 | 15 |
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FRM 6121 | English academic writing | 45 | 0 | 45 | 3 | ||
FRM 6122 | Islamic studies | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
BIT 6121 | Probability and Statistics | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
BIT 6122 | Fundamentals of information technology | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
BIT 6123 | Fundamentals of computer networks | 45 | 0 | 45 | 3 | ||
BIT 6124 | Introduction to physics | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
Total |
| 270 | 0 | 270 | 18 | ||
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BIT 6211 | Data communication and computer networks | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
BIT 6212 | Computer architecture and organization | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
BIT 6213 | Computer applications and maintenance | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6214 | Web design and publishing (HTML/CSS) | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6215 | Programming methodology (C) | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6216 | Linear algebra | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
BIT 6217 | Computer graphics | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
| 255 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 435 | 21 | |
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BIT 6221 | Database management systems I (Principles of DBMS in Access) | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6222 | Operating systems | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
BIT 6223 | Network design and implementation | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6224 | Client-side web programming (JavaScript) | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6225 | Systems analysis and design | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
BIT 6226 | Application programming I (VB.Net) | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6227 | Multimedia Laboratory | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
| 240 | 0 | 225 | 0 | 465 | 21 | |
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BIT 6311 | Database management systems II (Enterprise database development in SQL server) | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6312 | Discrete mathematics | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
BIT 6313 | Data structures and algorithms | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6314 | Application programming II ( C#) | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6315 | Routing and switching | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
BIT 6316 | Internet applications (CMSs) | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6317 | IT project management | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
Total |
| 255 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 435 | 21 |
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BIT 6321 | Database management systems III (Distributed databases in Oracle) | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6322 | Artificial intelligence | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
BIT 6323 | Digital logic and design | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
BIT 6324 | Entrepreneurship skills | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
BIT 6325 | Object-oriented programming (C++) | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6326 | Server-side web programming (PHP and My SQL) | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6327 | Research methods and technical writing in IT | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
Total |
| 270 | 0 | 135 | 0 | 405 | 21 |
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BIT 6331 | Industrial attachment and report | ||||||
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BIT 6411 | Software engineering | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
BIT 6412 | Java programming | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6413 | Data mining and data warehousing | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6414 | Python programming | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6415 | Network server administration (Microsoft Windows Server) | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6416 | IT individual project I(Proposal) | 30 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 3 |
Total |
| 195 | 30 | 180 | 0 | 405 | 18 |
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BIT 6421 | Linux operating system | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6422 | Electronic commerce | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6423 | Database management systems IV (Database design and implementation) | 30 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
BIT 6424 | Artificial intelligence | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
BIT 6425 | Cyber security | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
BIT 6426 | IT individual project II (Implementation and report) | 15 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 3 |
Total |
| 195 | 60 | 135 | 0 | 390 | 18 |
| 90 | 0 | 3060 | ||||
General Regulations
General University regulations and guidelines for undergraduate programmes shall apply with regard to application, registration, teaching, learning, examinations, research and graduation. A student is required to sign a memorandum of understanding during the registration process on pre-scribed forms.
Admission Requirements
This bachelor of information technology programme is best suited to students with interest in becoming future database administrators or web masters in business tech firms. To qualify for admission into the degree of bachelor of information technology, an applicant shall:
- Hold a Somaliland GCSE of at least Grade “C”, or its equivalent from a recognized examination body.
- Successfully complete a one-year freshman programme at Amoud University, and attain a GPA of at least 2.00.
- Meet other conditions as spelt out by the Faculty of Computing and Informatics and the department of information technology, with approval of Senate.
Enrolment Types
There shall be three (3) categories of enrolments as follows:
- Full-Time Day face-to-face enrolled students who shall attend classes between 7.30 am 4.30 pm from Saturday to Thursday.
- Full-Time Evening face-to-face enrolled students who shall attend classes between 4.00 pm and 10.00 pm from Saturday to Thursday.
- Sandwich, part-time, and other modes enrolled students who shall attend classes during specific periods as specified by the Faculty of Science and department of Information Technology, and approved by Senate.
Staff, Facilities and Equipment
The faculty of computing and informatics, and the department of software engineering have adequate resources to offer this programme. The faculty has three (3) functional and well equipped computer laboratories fitted with over-head digital projectors and personal computers. In addition, the faculty has an engineering and computational laboratory, with state-of-the-art telecommunications equipment, including transport nodes, data packet routers, voice over IP gears, and a cluster of Linux workstations for protocols development and testing, that provides extensive facilities for research in telecommunications, microelectronics, and computer science. The telecommunication laboratory has training kits for Fiber optics, Antennas, microwaves, among other areas. Students attend extended industrial attachment training periods to gain experience get exposed to the real equipment used in software engineering.
There is free WiFi 24/7 on campus internet connections in all computer laboratories and surrounding areas hosted by two local internet service providers, with a total of 20Mbps download and 20Mbps upload internet speeds. The main university library has an array of information materials for further reading, and several electronic books and reference materials are also available through Amoud University Google classroom suite. The faculty has a well balanced team of highly competent local and non-local staff, trained locally and abroad. The teaching staff is readily available to help students as needs arise. The programme is allocated sufficient time and with efficient management, the faculty ensures that students complete their courses on time.
Funding
The programme of bachelors of information technology is sustained largely by funds from tuition fees and other relevant levies. The student must show proof of ability to pay tuition fees on time before being enrolled into the programme. There are no special funding arrangements for the students enrolled in the programme of bachelor of information technology. However, if and when, additional funds are available, they shall be dispensed according to the university financial policies.
Target Groups
The target group for the bachelor of information technology programme includes but is not limited to:
- Students who have successfully completed Somaliland General Secondary School Certificate (SGCSE) or its equivalent from a recognized examination body and further completed Amoud University freshman academic year successfully and who wish to pursue a career in information technology.
- People already working in the field of information technology or related fields but would like to add new skills set to their professional work and attain formal certification in information technology.
- Other persons with insight in information technology and would like to pursue the challenge of information technology at the undergraduate degree level.
Expected Programme Outcomes
The graduates of the bachelor of information technology programme should be persons who are:
- Expert consultants in database and web systems development for public and private organizations at the local and international levels as well as for private individuals, offering tailor-made or bespoke solutions to the clientele’s challenges.
- Employees of business tech companies and especially as database administrators and web masters, who are responsible for analyzing, designing, developing, maintaining or re-engineering database management systems and websites for specific needs of the corporate firms and private organizations.
- Private database administrators and web developers in self-employment, who can analyze market, identify software problems and design and develop working software and systems solutions for the shelves.