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School of Engineering and Informatics (for staff and students)

Data Structures & Algorithms (G5117)

Data Structures & Algorithms

Module G5117

Module details for 2026/27.

15 credits

FHEQ Level 4

Full Module Description

This module provides an introduction to data structures and algorithms for computer scientists.

You’ll learn about a number of key data structures, including:

static arrays
dynamic arrays
linked lists
stacks
queues
various kinds of trees
hash maps
directed graphs
undirected graphs.

These are presented as implementations of appropriate interfaces.

You’ll also study fundamental computational problems, including the sorting problem and the shortest path problem in graphs. You’ll present solutions to them in the form of important algorithms, such as:

insertion sort
selection sort
merge sort
heap sort
Dijkstra’s algorithm
Bellman-Ford’s algorithm

Algorithms will be presented in pseudocode, with a focus on their asymptotic efficiencies. You’ll also prove the correctness of some of these algorithms.

Module Outline

This module provides an introduction to data structures and algorithms for computer scientists.

You’ll learn about a number of key data structures, including:

static arrays
dynamic arrays
linked lists
stacks
queues
various kinds of trees
hash maps
directed graphs
undirected graphs.

These are presented as implementations of appropriate interfaces.

You’ll also study fundamental computational problems, including the sorting problem and the shortest path problem in graphs. You’ll present solutions to them in the form of important algorithms, such as:

insertion sort
selection sort
merge sort
heap sort
Dijkstra’s algorithm
Bellman-Ford’s algorithm

Algorithms will be presented in pseudocode, with a focus on their asymptotic efficiencies. You’ll also prove the correctness of some of these algorithms.

Module learning outcomes

Evidence knowledge of a variety of fundamental data structures in terms of the operations they support and their asymptotic efficiencies

Evidence understanding of a variety of important algorithms in terms of their execution steps, asymptotic efficiency, and correctness

Evidence ability to efficiently solve basic computational problems using the data structures and algorithms presented in class.

TypeTimingWeighting
Coursework25.00%
Coursework components. Weighted as shown below.
Problem SetT2 Week 7 100.00%
Unseen ExaminationSemester 2 Assessment75.00%
Timing

Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.

Weighting

Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.

TermMethodDurationWeek pattern
Spring SemesterLecture1 hour333333333330
Spring SemesterLaboratory1 hour111111111110

How to read the week pattern

The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.

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The University reserves the right to make changes to the contents or methods of delivery of, or to discontinue, merge or combine modules, if such action is reasonably considered necessary by the University. If there are not sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the University reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the University withdraws or discontinues a module, it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative module.

School of Engineering and Informatics (for staff and students)

Education and Students Office:
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine, Chichester 1 Room 002
Email: fosem-info@sussex.ac.uk
Telephone: 01273 (67) 8195