Research Topics in Big Data

Postgraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

The course provides the theoretical and technical foundations for managing and rapidly exploiting big data sets, such as data originating from public sources, social media/crowdsourcing, and the Internet/Cloud of Things. It covers general theories and technologies for big data, including sourcing, analysis, curation, processing, use, and evaluation. The course focusses on the exploitation of big data in a selected domain, such as media content production. It gives the academic background for supervised research on uses of big data in that domain. The course involves development work using selected technologies and standards for big data. Examples of research and research methods in the area will also be presented and discussed.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

Upon completion of the course the candidate shall

  • understand central concepts, standards, and technologies for big data
  • know about current research and industry trends in big data
  • understand how big data can be exploited in the selected domain
  • know about current research and industry trends in big data in the selected domain
  • know the relevant research methods for the area

Skills

Upon completion of the course the candidate shall be able to

  • use central technologies and tools for managing and using big data
  • exploit big data in the selected domain
  • prepare and evaluate uses of big data in practice

ECTS Credits

15 ECTS

Level of Study

Master level

Semester of Instruction

Irregular (not taught every year)
Required Previous Knowledge
European (three-year) Bachelor's degree in information science or similar degree in ICT, covering basic programming skills.
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
None
Access to the Course
Master in Information Science or similar ICT background. Students in their last year of a 4 year Bachelor's programme can be admitted after application.
Teaching and learning methods
Lectures, and work with assignments, presentations and discussions. Parts of the course may be taught at a distance.
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Participation at 80% of course seminars is mandatory. When teaching is distributed across institutions, students in other institutions may participate online from their institution.

Compulsory requirements are only valid the semester they are approved.

Forms of Assessment
  • Portfolio (55%)

  • An individual, theoretical essay with thoughtful research and discussion of an assigned topic
  • Practical assignment in groups
  • Oral presentations of essay and group assignment (15%)
  • Written exam (3 hours) (30%)
  • The exam assignment will be given in the language of instruction in the course.
    The exam answer must be submitted in the same language as the exam assignment.

    Grading Scale
    The grading system has a descending scale from A to E for passes and F for fail.
    Assessment Semester

    Assessment in teaching semester.

    Students with valid absence as defined in the UiB regulations ยง 5-5 can apply for an extended submission deadline to eksamen.infomedia@uib.no. The application must be submitted before the deadline for submission has expired.

    Reading List
    The reading list will be ready before 1 July for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester.
    Course Evaluation
    All courses are evaluated according to UiB's system for quality assurance of education.
    Course Administrator
    The Department of Information Science and Media Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences has the administrative responsibility for the course