CE104-4-SP-CO:
Data Structures and Algorithms I

The details
2025/26
Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (School of)
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Monday 12 January 2026
Friday 20 March 2026
15
19 March 2025

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BSC G610 Computer Games,
BSC G612 Computer Games (Including Year Abroad),
BSC G620 Computer Games (Including Foundation Year),
BSC I610 Computer Games (Including Placement Year),
BENGG420 Computer Networks,
BENGG421 Computer Networks (Including Year Abroad),
BENGI120 Computer Networks (Including Placement Year),
BENGH650 Computer Systems Engineering,
BENGH651 Computer Systems Engineering (Including Year Abroad),
BENGH750 Computer Systems Engineering (Including Foundation Year),
BENGHP50 Computer Systems Engineering (Including Placement Year),
BENGGH4P Computers with Electronics,
BENGGH4Q Computers with Electronics (Including Year Abroad),
BENGI1H6 Computers with Electronics (Including Placement Year),
BSC G111N1 Computing,
BSC G111N2 Computing,
BSC G111N3 Computing,
BSC G112N1 Computing (Including Year Abroad),
BSC G112N2 Computing (Including Year Abroad),
BSC G112N3 Computing (Including Year Abroad),
BSC G113N1 Computing (Including Placement Year),
BSC G113N2 Computing (Including Placement Year),
BSC G113N3 Computing (Including Placement Year),
BSC GH01 Computing and Electronics,
BSC GH01N1 Computing and Electronics,
BSC GH02 Computing and Electronics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC GH02N1 Computing and Electronics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC GH03 Computing and Electronics (Including Placement Year),
BSC GH03N1 Computing and Electronics (Including Placement Year),
BSC GH3P Computing and Electronics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC I400 Artificial Intelligence,
BSC I401 Artificial Intelligence (Including Foundation Year),
BSC I402 Artificial Intelligence (including Placement Year),
BSC I403 Artificial Intelligence (including Year Abroad)

Module description

This module explores data structures (how data is arranged in a computer’s memory) and algorithms (how data is processed). These are two of the foundations of computer science, distinguishing it from just programming. In this module, students will learn what algorithms are and how they can be implemented even in very simple computers. We will cover fundamental algorithms for sorting and searching, along with data structures for lists and trees, and we will introduce the analysis of algorithm efficiency.


The module will give students core algorithmic skills that are required for Computer Science and related courses.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:



  • To introduce students to the fundamentals of computation, along with core algorithms and data structures.


To provide students with an understanding of, and the ability to implement and analyse,  foundational models of computation, commonly used sorting and searching algorithms, and data structures such as stacks, queues, and trees.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:



  1. Use regular expressions to define strings and implement them as automata

  2. Implement algorithms using simple computational machines

  3. Write programs that efficiently process data in arrays, lists and trees

  4. Make informed choices about which data structures and algorithms to use

Module information

Syllabus information



  • Regular expressions and automata

  • Foundational models of computation

  • Searching and sorting arrays

  • Divide and conquer approach

  • Linked lists, stacks, queues

  • Binary trees, binary search trees


Algorithm analysis and “big-O” notation

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

  • One 2-hour lecture per week
  • One 2-hour lab per week
  • One 2-hour class every two weeks
  • One 2-hour revision lecture in summer term

Bibliography*

(none)

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Portfolio of Lab Work    33% 
Coursework   Progress Test (In person, MCQ Moodle Test, Closed Book)    33% 
Coursework   Programming Exercise    34% 
Exam  Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during Summer (Main Period) 
Exam  Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book (Restricted), 120 minutes during September (Reassessment Period) 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
30% 70%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
30% 70%
Module supervisor and teaching staff

 

Availability
No
No
Yes

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.
Resources
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.

 

Further information
Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (School of)

* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.

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