MSc ACS: Advanced Web Technologies

Course description

In the past twenty years, the Web has transformed society and changed the way we work, trade, learn, do science, organise our lives, and play. The Web is, on the one hand, a network of interlinked computers, protocols, and software and, on the other hand, a socio-cultural phenomenon that influences law, the media, business, science, etc. To shape and work with the current and future forms of the Web, we need to understand its underlying design principles and concepts, relevant issues and techniques, and how these interact and influence each other. The fast changing nature of the Web means that such a deep understanding is essential to understand the latest developments and their potential.

The Advanced Web Technologies pathway is centred around a core theme of the same name, Advanced Web Technologies, and combines it with a choice of closely related yet complimentary themes, including Software Engineering 1 & 2, Making Sense of Complex Data, and Learning from Data. Students following this theme will gain an understanding and insight into the technologies that deliver the Web as we see it today. The topics covered include underlying languages and standards used to represent information on the web; techniques for understanding and managing data and information in a web context; and techniques and technology used to design and deliver web infrastructure.

Teaching and learning

Computational thinking is becoming increasingly pervasive and is informing our understanding of phenomena across a range of areas; from engineering and physical sciences, to business and society. This is reflected in the way the Manchester course is taught, with students able to choose from an extremely broad range of units that not only cover core computer science topics, but that draw on our interdisciplinary research strengths in areas such as the medical, health and life sciences and the humanities.

Coursework and assessment

Lectures and seminars are supported by practical exercises that impart skills as well as knowledge. These skills are augmented through an MSc project that enables students to put into practice the techniques they have been taught throughout the course.

Career opportunities

Students following the Advanced Web Technologies pathway have all the career choices and options as described for general Advanced Computer Science.

In addition, students of this pathway are ideally placed to work in positions requiring an understanding of modern Wed infrastructure, ranging from the obvious Web developers and system providers to basically all companies employing or developing Web technologies.