Masters Degrees (Itil)

There are excellent prospects for roles within global IT Service Management as it is an expanding sector with a skills shortage. Professional bodies in this area (i.e. itSMF and the SFIA Council) recognise the need for quality and standards in the provision of IT Services underpinning IT Service Management and the quality and skills of staff employed in this profession.

This course has been designed to meet the need for competent and qualified staff that can enable organisations to maximise the value of Information Communications Technology (ICT) and IT Services. It is suitable for any student wishing to move into IT Service Management, and is particularly relevant to business strategic planning, service delivery and support, continuity planning, application and infrastructure management, quality management, project and change management.

Our online learning programmes are flexible and designed so you can balance study with your commitments at work and home. The programme structure and learning materials enable you to study at your own convenience and develop your own study schedule while offering opportunities for you to engage with your peers.

Northampton Integrated Learning Environment (NILE) is a dedicated online university learning space for students. Your tutors will use NILE to engage with you, and you will use NILE to access course materials, assessment information, virtual classrooms and discussion boards. Your assessed work will be submitted and graded online, so you will be able to see your grades and feedback wherever you are in the world. The system that underpins NILE is Blackboard and access to this system is through nile.northampton.ac.uk. We also have a mobile app so you can stay connected to the University of Northampton wherever you are; iNorthampton is available for Android and Apple mobile devices.

Course content

The rationale for the course is based on the recognition that the effectiveness of all IT Services is a vital aspect to the prosperity of any organisation. The course embraces best practice from leading service providers, and by continual reassessment, ensures all material is relevant to today’s computing and management expectations.

The course encompasses IT Service Management through a series of progressive units developing the student’s knowledge from fundamental concepts, through to units addressing IS strategy. Subjects covered include: management information, quality management, application development, infrastructure, service support and delivery, continuity planning, people and operational issues of implementing IT Service Management Best Practice. The course addresses current standards for IT Service Management, such as ISO20000 and ITIL®.

Core learning will be delivered electronically and you will be encouraged to engage with your fellow students and tutors online. Studying online will give you the flexibility to study at your convenience* without the need to travel or physically attend classes, whilst enhancing your employment opportunities. You will be supported throughout the process by our great teaching staff that are professionally qualified and have industry and academic experience to share with you.

Studying this programme will give you an opportunity to undertake PRINCE2 qualifications.

*Modules are delivered within trimester periods so you will need to complete them in specified times.

What you will study

This programme is 30 months in duration. The academic year is split into trimesters. For a September start you will study as follows;
-Trimester one – September to December
-Trimester two – January to April
-Trimester three – May to July

Year One
Trimester one – September to December
You will study one module; Quality and IT Management.
Trimester two – January to April
You will study two modules; Change Management and Project Management.
Trimester three – May to July
You will study one module; Service Improvement.

Year Two
Trimester four – September to December
You will study two modules; Service Transition and Service Operations.
Trimester five – January to April
You will study two modules; Strategic Management of IS and Research Methods and Dissertation. You will commence work on your Dissertation.
Trimester six – May to July
You will study one module; Information Systems Methods and commence work on your Dissertation.
Trimester seven – September to December
You will complete your Dissertation.

February start information available soon.

For further information on course content and modules please refer to the NILE site: https://nile.northampton.ac.uk/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_27700_1&content_id=_1027153_1&mode=reset%E2%80%8B

Course modules (16/17)

-Quality and IT Management
-Information Systems Methods
-Service Improvement
-Service Transition Management
-Service Operation Management
-Strategic Management of IS
-Change Management
-Project Management
-Dissertation and Research Methods

Assessments

The course has a mixture of assessment involving reports, case studies, portfolios, oral presentations as well as examinations. The emphasis is on assessment by coursework and in the final year an applied research project is a key element of the course.

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Information Technology is a strategic resource within any business and is critical to the survival and success of an organisation and should therefore be carefully managed. A key issue in IT strategy is Information Security, which is becoming more critical with the interconnection of systems through the Internet and the sharing of resources with business partners, clients and customers.

This Masters degree is aimed at current or prospective system managers, system administrators and other IT professionals with a responsibility or aspiration for strategic IT and security management.

You will gain an understanding of current issues in information security and IT management, together with an in-depth knowledge of a variety of techniques for strategically managing IT, both as a resource as well as for analysing and controlling security risks. A key aspect of the programme is the systemic perspective that is taken; security is not simply a technical issue, but a component of the wider context of IT management.

What will I study?

You will study security from two perspectives: the concepts of computer and network security, together with a systemic approach to information security management. The programme of study is informed by ISO27000 legal compliance requirements and professional body knowledge requirements of ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association), ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) and the Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2. The study of computer forensics enables further specialisation.

IT Management is approached from a strategic and risk-based perspective, and includes business continuity and project management. A recent technology development that could have radical impact in both security and IT management is cloud computing, and the course provides an option to enable you to develop a sound understanding of the related issues and technology. Professional, ethical and contemporary issues in computing and research methods are also integrated into the programme.

How will I study?

The course is delivered primarily as taught modules. Each module typically involves a 3-hour face-to-face seminar every week for 12 weeks. You will study three modules each semester on the full-time programme, requiring attendance two days per week. For part-time students, modules are scheduled to enable evening study over two years.

Learning and teaching involves a variety of techniques, including lectures, case studies, problem-based learning, guest lectures from industry experts, student-led seminars and technology-enhanced learning (e.g. Virtual Learning Environment, wiki). Classes are highly interactive, with practical application of concepts a key factor, as well as cases drawn from real-life. The MSc Information Security and IT Management is designed around small groups so you can be sure that you will have plenty of individual discussion with your tutors.

How will I be assessed?

Throughout the programme we will assess your vocational capability, academic critical thinking and intellectual development. Coursework, case studies, problem-solving exercises and exams may be used. You may be assessed individually or in a group.

Who will be teaching me?

You will be taught by highly qualified, experienced and enthusiastic academics who are research-active and regularly engage within the wider business and academic environment. Staff specialise in particular subjects so you will benefit from a wide range of knowledge and experience.

What are my career prospects?

The MSc in Information Security and IT Management will provide you with the skills and knowledge to develop your interests as an IT security professional and IT manager. As organisations become ever more dependent on IT, there are increasing opportunities for specialist positions related to security. The course provides knowledge and skills which underpin Information Systems Security Certification Consortium or (ISC)2 and ISACA certifications.

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This interdisciplinary MSc has been designed to educate the next generation of IT management professionals. It is the first Masters degree to be endorsed by e-skills UK (the Sector Skills Council for Business & IT) and is recognised as a producer of multi-skilled graduates who are highly sought after by industry. You will develop the latest skills and knowledge in computing and management relevant to the provision of high quality IT services in business settings.

The course, taught in conjunction with the Business School, will enable you to work in system development at management level, employing systems in a strategy that provides maximum competitive advantage for the business. Aimed at graduates with a numerate degree or strong evidence of numeracy skills, it offers an excellent grounding in the creation and management of systems.

This degree will prepare students to be technology enabled graduates, ready for management roles in IT related aspects of business. The management aspects of the course are focused on the development of new business ideas, the management of business change and the management of existing business. You will also develop an appreciation of the technical aspects and challenges of modern IT systems.

The course is focused on providing you with the skills required for the modern business environment. You will have the opportunity to learn about large-scale IT systems in the public sector and private companies through engagement with industry. ‘Guru’ lectures will be given by IT professionals as part of the programme, and participation in industry leading schemes such as ITIL will allow you to further develop your IT and project management skills.

Students will also undertake a Company project, involving an IT management placement over the summer with a company in a relevant field.

Programme Structure

This programme is modular and flexible and consists of nine compulsory modules totalling 165 credits and one optional module.

Compulsory modules

The compulsory modules can include; Managing Operations; Strategic Innovation Management; Strategy; Marketing Strategy; Managing IT Projects; ITMB Case Studies; Software Development for Business; Networks, Data and Information; Business IT Project

Optional modules

Some examples of the optional modules are as follows; Services Marketing; Accounting for International Manager; Managing in a Multinational Context; Nature-Inspired Computation; Evolutionary Computation & Optimisation; Machine Learning; Level 3 Computer Science Module;

The modules listed here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

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