BSc(Hons) in Computer Studies

Introducing the degree

I was awarded Bachelor of Science by the University of Teesside with an overall mark of 68,5% in June 2004 (thus 2.1 grade).

The BSc in Computer Studies is the most modular degree, with the only Practical Project compulsory. This was a great opportunity for me to compose personalised studies in regards to the strong foundations I acquired in DUT. I was allowed anyway a direct entry in the second year.

I chose my modules in respect to these criterias:
 new or more advanced subjects I had some interrests in;
 two subjects I didn’t consider to satisfactorily master;
 avoiding subjects I had worked on for two years in DUT with A level grades.

Modules were assessed as follow:
 project-based assessments for the Practical Project, User Interfaces and Group Project;
 single table-based exam for all the other modules;
 minor projects contributions (30%) to final marks for Advanced World Wide Web and Language Systems modules.

Final year

I can be noted than half of my modules were imposed, as unfortunatly the two most interresting modules I initially chose were cancelled due to the lack of voluntary students.

Modules are detailled in the following table:

This year counted for two thirds for the BSc results.

Second year

Here are the courses I read in my second year of BSc, with only one module cancelled this time (and of course replaced):

During this year, I was also working in parallel for my DUETI project.

Final year project

Design of a Java charting library

This project proposes a design model for a charting library on the Java 1.4 platform. It aims for exploiting Object Oriented design power to provide generic facilities to support most of the commonly used charts.

The major part of the library is with providing abstract components common to every charts, such as axis or plotters. It notably provides a mechanism to link every components with respect for compatibility to each other’s, and procedures on how to plot a chart from a data set. It allows to easily combine basic chart types in order to build very advanced graphs. It is designed so that appearance is enough customisable, and may be used in Swing application or applets, been printed or even used on Java servlets server.

Additionally to general charting aspects, the project advances a more detailed conception for two dimensional Cartesian charts, notably on their specific layout.

A prototype implementing the basis classes as well as some partial specialised classes for X-Y charts is provided. It shows the philosophy of the library and could be used as a basis for further developments.