Description
This qualification is only available until 31 December 2017.
To claim this qualification, you must complete the required 240 credits by this date.
If you have any questions about your eligibility for this qualification, please contact the Centre for Qualifications and Ceremonies on +44 (0)1908 653003 or by email.
The modern world depends on computers and IT systems to function. Gain the skills to work with them, and you’ll open up a huge variety of careers and other opportunities – from controlling processes to interfacing with customers and suppliers. This work-based qualification will build on the skills you already have to provide you with a broad-based foundation in computing and IT. Whether you want to be a confident user and manager of information technologies, to grasp the opportunities that such technologies offer, or to develop software solutions, there’s a study pathway that will suit you. The Foundation Degree in Computing and IT Practice is about acquiring skills, and learning how to deploy these skills at work. You must be in work (either paid or voluntary) to complete the two compulsory work-based modules. It’s this vocational focus that distinguishes the foundation degree from our Diploma of Higher Education in Computing and IT.
There is a common starting point for all of the pathways and you can keep your options open until you have completed the introductory modules at Level 1.
At Level 2 there are four specialist options for you to choose from depending on your personal interests or career goals: ICT, software development, solutions development or vendor certification.
Your study experience will be equivalent to the first two years of a full-time degree and will provide both the subject knowledge and the study skills you need to progress to Level 3 study. It can also be a staging post on a study route towards a #BSc (Hons) Computing and IT Practice [B68]#.
The programme of study for this Foundation degree is also offered as the Diploma of Higher Education in Computing and IT Practice (E67). The Diploma of Higher Education might be of particular interest to those living and working in Scotland.
Planning your studies
Whether or not you are new to study or to the OU, we recommend that you start your studies at Level 1.
Guidance on choosing your Level 2 study
We recommend that you work progressively through the levels to build up your knowledge and skills. You should complete your Level 1 studies before commencing study at Level 2. Some Level 2 modules rely on knowledge gained from modules at Level 1. You should check individual module descriptions to ensure that you are adequately prepared for study.
At Level 2, you must complete one of the 60-credit specialist options listed below. These build on your Level 1 studies to provide a solid grounding in a particular area of computing and IT.
ICT
This specialist option introduces you to the basic principles of communication and information systems and technologies, including the way digital data is stored, manipulated and transmitted. It will help you also to understand key concepts, issues and technologies associated with online communication and collaboration.
Software development
This specialist option teaches you how to specify and design small computer programs using UML and the Java programming language.
Solutions development
This specialist option teaches you how to specify and design small computer programs using Visual Basic programming language, and to develop flexible websites for everyday applications.
Vendor certification
This specialist option teaches the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Exploration curriculum, which provides the knowledge, understanding, and skills needed to configure a LAN/WAN using Cisco equipment. When you’ve completed the option you should be well prepared for the industry-standard CCNA certification examination.
General rules
Computing and IT modules can only count towards this foundation degree for a maximum of five years after we have stopped presenting them, so this may limit the time you have available to complete your foundation degree.
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 80 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you. Before being awarded any intermediate qualifications, we advise you to check that you’ll have sufficient new credits to qualify for your foundation degree.
Career relevance and employability
This degree is relevant if you work, or would like to work with computing and IT systems – in hardware-based, software-based or systems-based contexts – and are looking for a qualification that shows you have a sound grasp of the principles of these technologies; that you can apply these principles; and that you’re aware of the surrounding issues.
Building and deploying information technology systems are not solitary activities: they require teamwork and people management skills. During this foundation degree course, you’ll gain experience of working in a team to tackle a small development task. You’ll also be well prepared for further study, should you decide to progress to a full honours degree.
Studying the Foundation Degree in Computing and IT Practice will also give you highly valued transferable skills in:
- communication
- the use of IT facilities
- retrieval of information
- numeracy
- time management and organisation
- analysing and solving problems.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Modules
90 credits from the following compulsory modules:
Level 1 compulsory modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Career development and employability (T122)
|
30 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules M150, T175, TU100
And 30 credits from the following optional modules:
Level 1 optional modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Discovering mathematics (MU123)
|
30 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules B120, MST121, MT127, MU120, TM128
And 30 credits from the following compulsory module:
Level 2 compulsory module |
Credits |
Next start |
- Change, strategy and projects at work (T227)
|
30 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued module T226
And 60 credits from one of the following Level 2 specialist options:
ICT specialist option |
Credits |
Next start |
- Communication and information technologies (T215)
|
60 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued module T209
Software development specialist option |
Credits |
Next start |
- Object-oriented Java programming (M250)*
|
30 |
|
- {oftware development with Java (M256)
|
30 |
|
* If you have already studied the discontinued module M255 (30) and M257 (20) you may count these in place of M250 (30). However your total credits for this foundation degree will be 260.
Vendor certification specialist option |
Credits |
Next start |
- Cisco networking (T216)
|
60 |
|
Solutions development specialist option |
Credits |
Next start |
- Object-oriented Java programming (M250)
|
30 |
|
- Web technologies (TT284)
|
30 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued module MT264
And 30 credits from any of the Level 2 modules listed above or from the following optional modules:
Level 2 optional modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- IT project and service management (M258)
|
30 |
|
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules M253, M255*, M257*, M263, T224, TM227
* You cannot count the discontinued module M255 or M257 as well as M250 towards this qualification
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution we may be able to give you credit for this study that you can count towards this Open University qualification. You can find out more on our Credit Transfer site. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of courses so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.
On completion
On successful completion of the required modules you will be awarded a Foundation Degree in Computing and IT Practice and will be entitled to use the letters FD (Open) after your name.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification