Programme Description

The emergence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector as one of the main supports of the Tanzanian economy has created the need for more of ICT professionals with a strong computing background. These professionals should not only fit into mainstream ICT fields but also have the ability to exploit opportunities that new technologies offer. Furthermore, companies/organisations require professionals who are not only technically competent but who also have the ability to exploit the opportunities offered by new management approaches.

In order to address the above situation, the B.Sc. Information and Communication Technology programme is aimed at producing graduates with a thorough understanding of computer-based systems. It covers a range of areas including software design and development, multimedia, web-based technologies, computer networks, information security and Information and Communication Technology planning and management. Its main aim is to give students a broader knowledge of the areas that they are likely to come into contact within the working environment. Graduates of this Programme are expected to find a range of attractive career opportunities ranging from software development, multimedia and web-based software development to network design, implementation, and management.

 

Expected Output of the Programme

At the end of the programme, graduates will have acquired adequate skills to plan, design, implement and manage information systems.

 

Programme Duration

The programme is to be completed in a minimum of 3 years and maximum of 5 years. The fact that ICT industry is changing very fast, keeping a student in the programme for more than 5 years is not desirable.

 

Programme Structure

Taught courses will run from September to August (8 Months) with the following arrangements:

  • Enhanced face to face sessions: First session of two weeks in the beginning of the academic year in September; Second session of one week in December; Third session of one week in February; and the Fourth session of one week in April. This is an intensive programme where theoretical and practical demonstrations shall be conducted.
  • Practical (Lab work): The laboratory shall be equipped with computers with all required software and hardware for the programme. There will be lab technician(s) who will oversee the operation of the lab and assist students during the practical sessions. There will be scheduled sessions when the lab technician will be fully available to assist the practical sessions. Students will also be allowed to access the lab outside the scheduled time with minimum assistance.
  • Mode of Assessment: All courses shall be examined during the academic year in which they are studied as per the General University (OUT) Examinations regulations for undergraduate courses. The assessment shall consist of continuous assessment (demonstrations and main timed tests) and a written final examination. The weighting is as follows:
  1. For courses with no practical demonstrations, the continuous assessment composition shall be main timed test 30% and final examination 70%.
  2. For courses with practical demonstrations, the continuous assessment composition shall be practical demonstrations 20%, main timed test 30% and final examination 50%.

  • Timed tests: There shall be one main timed test to be conducted in February.
  • Practical demonstrations: The practical demonstrations shall be conducted during the second and fourth face to face sessions. 2 practical demonstration assessments shall be conducted.
  • Final Examinations: Final examinations for each academic year of study will be in June.
  • Marking and Provisional Results: The marking and provisional results for each academic year of study shall take place in March for main timed tests and July for final examinations. All supplementary examinations and postponed examinations shall be done in January/February.
  • Industrial Training: Industrial training will have a duration of 8 weeks and will be conducted in July and August. Students should have a minimum allowed GPA of 2.0 in order to proceed with Industrial training. Industrial training reports shall be submitted latest mid-October of the same year. The results of the Industrial training shall be included in the examination results of the succeeding year i.e. results of Industrial Training I will be included in the second year examination results, and for Industrial Training II, the results will be included in the third year examination results.
  • Final year Project: The final year project shall start at the end of September. The final project reports, presentations, and demonstrations shall be done by end of May to allow the assessment to be concluded in June together with the other examinations. 

 

The B.Sc. Information Communication Technology (ICT) degree programme has a total of 40 Units of core courses as shown in Tables 1 through 3 and a total of 6 units of elective courses as shown in Table 4. The courses are organized in three years as given Tables 1.2 and 3. The units are defined as follows: 35 lecture hours are equivalent to 1 unit, and 70 hours of practise are equivalent to 1 unit.

 

Course Code

 
Course Name

 
Credit Hours

 

BCC 103

Digital Fluency

4

BCC 105

Introduction to leadership development

4

BCC 101

Scholarly Writing

4

BCC 106

Communication Skills

4

BICT 103

Fundamentals of Information Systems

4

BICT 107

Computer Mathematics I

4

BICT 105

Probability and Statistics

4

BICT 114

Communication Skills for IT

4

BICT 107

Introduction to Computer Architecture and Organization

4

 

BICT 204

Programming in C

4

BICT 206

Data Communications and Networking I

4

BICT 118

Industrial Training I

4

BICT 210

Web Design and Development

4

BCC 203

Principle of Management

4

BICT 203

Operating Systems

4

BICT 205

Systems Analysis and Design

4

BICT 212

Software Design and Development

4

BICT 217

Computer mathematics II

4

BICT 209

Object Oriented Programming with Java

4

BICT 206

Data Communication and Networking II

4

BICT 304

Introduction to Computer Security

4

BICT 306

Database Concepts and Design

4

BICT 308

Web Programming

4

BICT 219

Industrial Training II

4

BICT 302

Information Systems Security Management

4

BICT 305

Information Systems Planning and Management

4

BICT 307

Network Design and Administration

4

BICT 208

Computer Ethics and Social Cultural Implication

4

BICT 303

Wireless Networks

4

BICT 316

Final Year Project

4

BICT 309

Database Implementation and Administration

4

BICT 220 (Options course)

Introduction to e-Business

4

BICT 221 (Core)

Multimedia Technologies  and Applications

4

BICT 318 (Option )

Introduction to Computer Graphics

4

BICT 319

Programming in C++

4


The award of the degree will require students to pass and complete all the prescribed core courses adding up to 40 units as show in tables 1 up to 3. A student can opt any of the elective courses shown in Table 4. Programme Content Table 1: Level One

SEMESTER ONE
COURSE CODE
 COURSE TITLE
CREDIT HOURS

BCC 103

Digital Fluency

4

BCC 105

Introduction to leadership development

4

BCC 101

Scholarly Writing

4

BCC 106

Communication Skills

4

TOTAL

 

   16


SEMESTER TWO
COURSE CODE
COURSE TITLE
CREDIT HOURS

 

Fundamentals of Information Systems

4

BCC 203

Principle of Management

4

BCC 113

Probability and Statistics

4

 

BCC 115

Introduction to Computer Architecture

4

 

TOTAL

 

16

LEVEL 200
SEMESTER ONE
COURES CODE
COURSE TITLE
CREDIT HOURS

BCC 116

Programming in C

4

 

BCC 117

Data Communications and Networking

4

18

BCC 118

Computer Ethics and Social Cultural Implication

4

BCC 119

Web Design and Development

4

 

Total             

16
SEMESTER TWO
COURSE CODE
COURSE TITLE
CREDIT HOURS

BCC 211

Operating Systems

4

BCC 212

Systems Analysis and Design

4

BCC 213

Computer mathematics

4

BCC 214

Object Oriented Programming with Java

4

TOTAL

 

16

 

COURSE CODE
COURSE TITLE
CREDIT HOURS

BCC 215

 Information Systems Security Management

4

BCC 216

Introduction to Computer Security

4

BCC 217

Database Concepts and Design

4

BCC 218

Web Programming

4

TOTAL

 

16

 

SEMESTER TWO

COURSE CODE
COURSE TITLE
CREDIT HOURS

 

Wireless Networks

4

BCC 312

Information Systems Planning and Management

4

BCC 313

Network Design and Administration

4

BCC 314

Database Implementation and Administration

4
 
Final Project work

 8
TOTAL

 

16



TABLE 4: ELECTIVE COURSES

COURSE CODE
COURSE TITLE
CREDIT HOURS

BCC 220

Introduction to e- Business

4

BCC 221

Multimedia Technologies and Applications

4

BCC 318

Introduction to Computer Graphics

4

BCC 319

Programming in C++

4

 

Total

16
 Other Elective Courses

Students are strongly recommended to take in the Second year the course OBS 207: Organisational Behaviour from the Faculty of Business Management.

 

Students may take, as elective, any other relevant courses on offer from any Faculty of the Open University of Tanzania.

 

Teaching and Learning

The BSC ICT degree programme is offered through a distance mode and face to face model. Several supports for students in teaching and learning are available as summarised below.

 

BSC ICT students experience a wide variety of learning and teaching methods including

  • Face to face sessions
  • Laboratory work
  • Production of reports and other written work
  • Industrial training

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