CE204-5-AU-CO:
Data Structures and Algorithms
2025/26
Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Thursday 02 October 2025
Friday 12 December 2025
15
21 July 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
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),
BSC G400 Computer Science,
BSC G401 Computer Science (Including Year Abroad),
BSC G403 Computer Science (Including Foundation Year),
BSC I101 Computer Science (Including Placement Year),
MSCIG402 Computer Science,
MSCII100 Computer Science (Integrated Masters, Including Placement Year),
BENGGH4P Computers with Electronics,
BENGGH4Q Computers with Electronics (Including Year Abroad),
BENGI1H6 Computers with Electronics (Including Placement Year),
BSC G1G4 Mathematics with Computing (Including Year Abroad),
BSC G1G8 Mathematics with Computing (Including Foundation Year),
BSC G1GK Mathematics with Computing,
BSC G1IK Mathematics with Computing (Including Placement Year),
BSC I1G3 Data Science and Analytics,
BSC I1GB Data Science and Analytics (Including Placement Year),
BSC I1GC Data Science and Analytics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC I1GF Data Science and Analytics (Including Foundation Year),
BENGH615 Robotic Engineering,
BENGH616 Robotic Engineering (Including Year Abroad),
BENGH617 Robotic Engineering (Including Placement Year),
BENGH618 Robotic Engineering (Including Foundation Year),
BSC G111 Computing,
BSC G112 Computing (Including Year Abroad),
BSC G113 Computing (Including Placement Year),
BSC GH01 Computing and Electronics,
BSC GH02 Computing and Electronics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC GH03 Computing and Electronics (Including Placement Year),
BSC GH3P Computing and Electronics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC LG01 Economics with Data Science,
BSC LG02 Economics with Data Science (Including Year Abroad),
BSC LG03 Economics with Data Science (Including Placement Year),
BSC LG04 Economics with Data Science (Including Foundation Year),
BSC H717 Robotics,
BSC H718 Robotics (including Placement Year),
BSC H719 Robotics (including Year Abroad),
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)
Data structures and algorithms lie at the heart of Computer Science as they are the basis for the efficient solution of programming tasks. In this module, students will study core algorithms and data structures, as well as being given an introduction to algorithm analysis and basic computability.
The module will give students core algorithmic skills that are required for Years 2 and 3 of the Computer Science degree schemes.
The aims of this module are to study core algorithms and data structures, as well as an introduction to algorithm analysis and basic computability. Students will study data types such as stacks, queues, trees and graphs, make efficient use of core data types in Java, understand time and space complexity, write and explain commonly used algorithms, use a variety of different data structures, and understand the concepts of computability and complexity.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of core data types such as lists, trees, graphs and hash maps.
- Implement core data types in Java and write programs that make efficient use of them.
- Analyze the time and space complexity of programs.
- Demonstrate knowledge of commonly used algorithms.
- Make informed choices of data structures and algorithms for solving problems.
- Explain the main concepts of computability and demonstrate that some problems have no algorithmic solution.
Data types
Abstract data types
Lists, stacks, queues, trees, binary search trees, priority queues, graphs and hash maps
Algorithms
Sorting
Searching
Shortest paths, minimum cost spanning trees
Algorithm analysis: time and space complexity
Computability, uncomputable functions and the halting problem
This module does not appear to have any essential texts. To see non - essential items, please refer to the module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Coursework |
Portfolio of Lab Work |
|
33.33% |
Coursework |
Progress Test (In person, MCQ Moodle Test, Closed Book) |
|
33.33% |
Coursework |
Assignment: Programming Exercises |
|
33.34% |
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
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr David Richerby, email: david.richerby@essex.ac.uk.
Dr David Richerby
School Office, email: csee-schooloffice (non-Essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create full e-mail address), Telephone 01206 872770
Yes
No
Yes
Dr Iain Phillips
Loughborough University
Available via Moodle
Of 2 hours, 2 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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