Computer Science

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a very broad domain of enquiry that has a rich history encompassing computer science, mathematics, psychology, philosophy and robotics and electrical engineering.  This module allows students to investigate specific areas of AI research that are of interest to them, largely through self-study guided by an academic supervisor.  The module has no pre-requisites and will be appropriate to any student with an interest in AI on a degree programme with a computational or mathematical element.

The aim of the module is to enable students to develop their ability to research and write essays and/or scholarly reviews on two topics or problems of their own choice, within the domain of applied artificial intelligence, broadly considered. The module also aims to encourage students to take an interdisciplinary approach and to generate a novel perspective and original hypotheses, opinions, and arguments based on individually motivated research.

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:
1 Demonstrate a thorough exploration, understanding and critical evaluation of the literature on their two chosen problem area
2 Demonstrate the ability to develop their own ideas in relation to these problem areas (ILO1)
Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:
3 Demonstrate the ability to acquire detailed, systematic and comprehensive knowledge within the discipline, with in-depth specialisation at the forefront of the discipline in certain areas
4 Demonstrate an advanced critical understanding of this knowledge and of the limits and provisional nature of this knowledge (ILO2).
Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and  Knowledge:
5 Demonstrate the ability to manage their own learning using the full range of resources of the discipline and with minimum guidance (ILO3).
6 Demonstrate the ability to succinctly convey complex ideas from their own research to an audience.

First dissertation:
Weeks 1-4:  Students negotiate topic choice with potential supervisors as early as possible. An agreed topic and the name of the agreed supervisor must be registered with the Convenor by the end of Week 5. 
Week 5:  Students submit a brief progress report to their supervisor, indicating provisional title, summary of the aims and how they are to be approached, preliminary findings from the literature review, main claims and arguments anticipated.
Week 6: Supervisors meet with student to provide feedback on progress report.
Weeks 7-9: Each student gives brief presentation on their dissertation topic and answers questions from lecturers and fellow students.
Week 10: Submission of dissertation.
Second dissertation: Follow the guidelines for first dissertation, with all week numbers +10.

If a module is normally assessed entirely by coursework, all referred/deferred assessments will normally be by assignment.
If a module is normally assessed by examination or examination plus coursework, referred and deferred assessment will normally be by examination. For referrals, only the examination will count, a mark of 40% being awarded if the examination is passed. For deferrals, candidates will be awarded the higher of the deferred examination mark or the deferred examination mark combined with the original coursework mark.

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk
 

Reading list for this module: