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Why study Computing Science?
Computing science is vital to everyday life – on social, technological and economic levels. It shapes the world in which we live and its future. Computing is embedded in the world around us, from systems and devices in our homes to our places of work. It has also changed the way we learn, relax, travel and communicate.
Learning computing science will give you many benefits apart from learning about technology. You will learn valuable transferable work and life skills, such as being able to solve problems in a logical way, think creatively and handle information.
The skills you learn in this course are useful in lots of different job areas. These include science, communications, entertainment, education, business and industry.
What do I need to get in?
The school or college will decide on the entry requirements for the course. You would normally have achieved:
What will I study?
This course enables you to develop an extended range of computing and computational thinking skills, including skills in analysis and problem-solving, design and modelling, developing, implementing, testing and evaluating digital solutions across a range of contemporary contexts. You will also develop and extend knowledge and understanding of key concepts and processes, and the ability to apply this to a variety of problems.
The course consists of two compulsory units and the course assessment unit.
Software Design and Development (9 SCQF credit points)
In this unit you will:
- develop knowledge and understanding of advanced concepts and practical problem-solving skills in software design and development through appropriate software development environments
- develop programming and computational thinking skills by designing, implementing, testing and evaluating practical solutions and explaining how these programs work
- develop an understanding of computer architecture and the concepts that underpin how programs work
- through investigative work, gain an awareness of the impact of contemporary computing technologies.
Information System Design and Development (9 SCQF credit points)
In this unit you will:
- develop knowledge and understanding of advanced concepts and practical problem-solving skills in information system design and development through a range of practical and investigative tasks
- apply your computational thinking skills to implement practical solutions using a range of development tools
- develop an understanding the technical, legal, environmental, economic and social issues related to one or more information systems.
How will I be assessed?
Course assessment (6 SCQF credit points)
The course assessments has two components:
- a question paper (worth 90 marks)
- an assignment (worth 60 marks).
The question paper will assess your breadth of knowledge, understanding and skills accumulated across the course. The question paper will be set and marked by SQA.
The assignment will assess your practical application of knowledge and skills from the units to develop a solution to an appropriately challenging computing science problem.
Your work will be assessed by your teacher on an ongoing basis throughout the course. You must pass all three units and the course assessment to gain the course qualification.
The course assessment is graded A-D. Your grade will depend on the total mark for all the units in your course.
What can I go on to next?
If you complete the course successfully, it may lead to:
Further study, training or employment in:
Which jobs are related to this subject?
Where can my parents find out more?
Your school will give your parents an Options or Choices information booklet, which has detailed information on the curriculum and the individual subjects or courses you can study. It will also invite them along to a Parents’ Information Evening.
They can also read the information leaflet(s):
Highers in a Nutshell - Computing Science (CfE Higher)