Course overview

In today's IT-centric business environments, the need for correctly specified, configured and managed computer systems is at the heart of business efficiency and security. Whether it is an in-house accounting and finance system in an SME or a corporate-wide data system in an international organisation, the role of systems administration is one that ensures integrity of the vital data upon which major business decisions are made.

This course is about professional practice in IT at a senior level, where there is a growing need for practitioners who can take strategic IT plans and implement the associated computer and network infrastructures, as well as create appropriate administrative and maintenance structures that are responsive to company needs. It is designed to provide you with the management perspective on networks and their administration, which includes securing suitable investment, commitment from management and staff trust that the systems implemented are used correctly to their full extent. Our aim is to teach the principles and practice of systems administration and management, including system and network design, analysis, specification, efficiency and security in an ‘Open Systems’ environment. The Department’s experimental, mixed operating system network is used to provide hands- on experience of configuring and optimising secure networks and will enable you to gain experience in developing client, server and middleware aspects of internet applications.

The School of Engineering has a long tradition of providing industrially relevant education. We have a distinguished record of running very successful degree courses and pride ourselves on working at the leading edge of technology and learning methods. Our academic staff maintain close links with the world of work, both in Portsmouth and further afield, ensuring that our courses reflect the current and future needs of commerce and industry.

We provide a supportive and friendly atmosphere in which our students can quickly settle and enjoy their studies. By coming to the University of Portsmouth you will experience a lively and modern learning environment with lectures, tutorials and web-based learning sessions.

Professionally accredited course that meets the needs of industry

This course has been accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) under licence from the UK regulator, the Engineering Council. Accreditation is a mark of assurance that this degree meets the standards set by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC).

This accredited degree will provide you with some of the underpinning knowledge, understanding and skills for eventual registration as an Incorporated (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng). Some employers recruit preferentially from accredited degrees and an accredited degree is likely to be recognised by other countries that are signatories to international accords.

Course content

You will study six units on this course plus an individual project. Currently, the units are:

• ICT Configuration and Administration
• Client Server Network Architecture
• Unified Communications
• Data Communications and Networking
• Network Design and Management
• Communications Security

The course ends with a four-month individual project in which you apply your knowledge to a significant communications system or network planning problem. Projects are tailored to your individual interests and may take place in our own laboratories or, by agreement, in industry.

Further information about the content of units covered in this course can be found at our online unit web search: www.port.ac.uk/unitwebsearch

Teaching and assessment

You will be taught using a mixture of lectures, tutorials, laboratory sessions and project work. Each unit typically has about 48 hours scheduled for lectures and supervised activities. In addition, you will need to spend significant time in our electronic, communications and computer laboratories, as well as in private study as directed by lecturers.

Lecturers generally spend part of the scheduled time in tutorial sessions to help you with any technical aspects of the course of which you are unsure. You will also have a personal tutor who can help with any other personal or academic problems should they arise.

Assessment is geared towards the subject matter in a way that encourages a deeper understanding and allows you to develop your skills. It includes examinations, assessed coursework, laboratory work and a dissertation that can often be linked with industry.

Career prospects

The MSc Computer Network Administration course is designed to provide you with the management perspective on networks and their administration.

System administration is about putting together a system of computers, networks and software, starting the system and then keeping it running notwithstanding the activities of users, both inside and outside the organisation, who may cause the systems to malfunction.

The management aspect of the administrator's role includes securing suitable investment and commitment from management and staff so that the systems implemented are used correctly and to their full extent by all in the organisation.

The range of careers include:

• System administrators
• System managers
• Network designers
• IT managers
• System consultants

Facilities and features

The School provides a range of facilities to support your learning experience. Lectures, tutorials and seminars take place in the well equipped multimedia lecture theatres and classrooms.

You will have access to a wide range of state-of-the-art laboratory facilities to familiarise you with industry-standard equipment and software packages. The digital electronics and microprocessor laboratory has 45 fully equipped benches including scopes, network analysers, PCs and other standard electronic equipment for measurement purposes. There are also hardware/software development tools for design, development and implementation of microcontroller systems. In addition, there are professional hardware/software programming/testing VHDL environments for CPLD and FPGAs devices.

The School has its own autonomous computer network, consisting of about 200 PCs running Linux and Windows. The School runs its own servers for anything that the network needs (DNS, DHCP, Kerberos, NIS etc). The network is a multiplatform transparent network; all computers can be accessed remotely for greater flexibility and use from home. Great care is given to security, with sophisticated Firewalls and VPNs in place.

You will also get the chance to learn and experiment with different networking technologies, as well as learning programming languages such as Java, HTML and C, and use a wide range of application packages such as OPNET and Wireshark to enable learning in all areas of computer networks and communication systems.

We have a Cisco Academy equipped with advanced Cisco equipment. The Academy provides the opportunity for you to learn Cisco technology if you are interested.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for MSc Computer Network Administration and Management are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: School of Engineering (ENG)
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 2555
Email: technology.admissions@port.ac.uk