Undergraduate Course: Fundamentals of Programming for Business Applications (BUST08039)
Course Outline
| School | Business School |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course will provide you with the basics of programming for business applications which will render you capable of solid algorithmic thinking, building your own programs, and of understanding and critically reflecting on the technical aspects of quantitative business problems. It requires no background knowledge and is specifically tailored to the novice's needs. Anyone with an interest in technology will greatly benefit from following this course.
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| Course description |
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of programming with a focus on applications relevant to data analysis, business intelligence, and quantitative decision-making. As a foundational element in many quantitative courses, the ability to efficiently collect, transform, and analyse data is crucial. This course equips non-technical students with essential skills in programming, tailored to empower them in a data-driven business environment. Practical connections to major business challenges are established through case studies and structured exercises.
Outline Content
The course will cover the following topics:
- An introduction to programming concepts: differences between programming languages, data types and data structures, programming styles, and programming building blocks
- Programming constructs: functions and classes, programming control flow, basic algorithms
- Business applications: detailed study on how programming facilitates solving complex business problems, illustrating programming's direct impacts on business efficiency and decision-making.
Student Learning Experience
Instruction will be delivered through a combination of:
-Lectures: To introduce and explain key concepts and theories.
-Lab Sessions: Focused on applying learned concepts through Python programming, emphasizing the "learning-by-doing" approach crucial for mastering practical skills.
The hands-on experience will support students in progressively developing their skills, enabling them to effectively tackle real-world business data challenges relevant to future careers.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Only available to students with business in their degree. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 120 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 8,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
168 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
50 %,
Coursework
50 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
50% Project (Group) - Includes 20% peer review moderation - Assesses course Learning Outcomes 1 to 3.
50% Exam (computer-based) - Assesses course Learning Outcomes 1 to 4.
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| Feedback |
Formative: Feedback will be provided throughout the course.
Summative: Feedback will be provided on the assessments within agreed deadlines. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | Fundamentals of Programming for Business Applications (BUST08039) | 120 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Develop an awareness and understanding of the concepts prevalent in systems engineering and adapt a problem-solving attitude that employs algorithmic thinking.
- Critically reflect on the level of difficulty of programming a range of problems in various business settings
- To employ the programming language Python in a practical and effective manner.
- To autonomously list the requirements in terms of procedures and data needed for tackling a precise, quantitative business-oriented problem and be able to communicate them to the relevant stakeholders.
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Reading List
| Learning Python (2013), Mark Lutz https://www.learnpython.org/ |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
After completing this course, students should be able to:
Knowledge and Understanding
Demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of contemporary organisational disciplines; comprehend the role of business within the contemporary world; and critically evaluate and synthesise primary and secondary research and sources of evidence in order to make, and present, well informed and transparent organisation-related decisions, which have a positive global impact.
Identify, define and analyse theoretical and applied business and management problems, and develop approaches, informed by an understanding of appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative techniques, to explore and solve them responsibly.
Practice: Applied Knowledge, Skills and Understanding
Apply creative, innovative, entrepreneurial, sustainable and responsible business solutions to address social, economic and environmental global challenges.
Communication, ICT, and Numeracy Skills
Critically evaluate and present digital and other sources, research methods, data and information; discern their limitations, accuracy, validity, reliability and suitability; and apply responsibly in a wide variety of organisational contexts. |
| Keywords | Computer programming basics,data analysis,business applications |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Ruini Qu
Tel:
Email: rqu@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Ewan Henderson
Tel:
Email: ehende2@ed.ac.uk |
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