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COMP40120

Academic Year 2025/2026

Programming for Investigators (COMP40120)

Subject:
Computer Science
College:
Science
School:
Computer Science
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Professor Chris Bleakley
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
Online
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Please note this module is only available to active law enforcement students registered to the MSc in Forensic Computing and Cybercrime Investigation. There are no elective or audit places available to other programmes.

This module introduces students to the elements of programming and discusses algorithms underlying more advanced digital forensic tools. The aim of the course is to equip students with better understanding of software systems and advanced digital forensic tools, as well as to give them an ability to write custom tools for data analysis.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this module students should be able to:
- Write scripts in Python
- Write scripts and programs using constructs such as assignment, selection, iteration, etc.
- Write scripts and programs using regular expressions
- Build custom tools for extracting necessary information from evidential data and for post-processing of output of third-party digital forensic tools

Indicative Module Content:

Python interactive mode
Python script mode
Data types and operators
Flow control
Functions and modules
Regular expressions
Case studies

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Practical

20
Autonomous Student Learning

156
Total

200

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Video lectures
Slides
Worksheets
Assignments
Final examination

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Assignment 1 Week 8 Graded No
10
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Assignment 2 Week 11 Graded No
10
 No
Exam (In-person): 2 Hour Exam Week 14 Graded No
80
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Python 3: The Comprehensive Guide, Johannes Ernesti and Peter Kaiser, Rheinwerk Computing

Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, Al Sweigart, No Starch Press
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