[arleitiss]

Hey, I am in Year 1 now, but I was wondering:
I am doing Computing level 8 (BSHC1)
Can I choose more than 1 specialization? Like gaming and networking or can you choose more?

[Clanket]

Was thinking the same myself a while back. I'd love to do software systems and gaming but think I can only pick 1. I was planning on finding out more at some stage. Let us know if you find out any info.

[Mmmm_Lemony]

The 3 specialisations in Year 4 are;

Gaming and Multimedia Design Specialisation
... Applied Artificial Intelligence
... Multimedia and Mobile Application Development
... Computer Graphics Design and Animation
... Software Project

Networking and Mobile Technologies Specialisation
... Distributed Systems
... Multimedia and Mobile Application Development
... Business and Network Security
... Software Project

Software Systems Specialisation
... Distributed Systems
... Applied Artificial Intelligence
... Business and Network Security
... Software Project

As you can see each one has software project as a core. From what I have been told, your final project will contain components of all the modules of you specialisation.

I'd imagine 'Multimedia and Mobile Application Development' would require a solid foundation in networks etc...but the other 2 have specifically related modules (Biz and Net sec).

Its a long way away from 1st year anyway. Just finishing second year myself (PT) and I figured I would love to do computer graphics and gaming when I first started, but now I'm swaying towards the other 2.

Probably all change by next year too. You won't have to make a decision until you start the application and payment process for 4th year.

[Crash Override]

Hi guys,

I'm going into 4th year of the same course in September.

They have added a 4th specialisation which is CLoud computing.

And no, you can only pick one Specialisation but most there are only like 2 different modules in each one, There are madatory modules which are the same for each group.

[Crash Override]

Originally Posted by Mmmm_Lemony

You won't have to make a decision until you start the application and payment process for 4th year.

It's a little earlier than that. We are having a information day at the end of May where they will go through the specialisations with us and then we have to have made our decision by end first week of June I think.

There is still plenty of time anyway.

The other years will cover most of the types of topics in the 4th year choices and you will know which one you want to do by that time.

[Mmmm_Lemony]

Thanks, our lecturer had said september. Still gives me a year and a bit to decide.

What will you decide to do yourself?

On a seperate note, any subjects tough in 3rd year?

Best of luck in the exams!

[Crash Override]

Originally Posted by Mmmm_Lemony

Thanks, our lecturer had said september. Still gives me a year and a bit to decide.

What will you decide to do yourself?

On a seperate note, any subjects tough in 3rd year?

Best of luck in the exams!

They might be changing it from next year onwards to gie students more time but for us, it's June.

As for subject in third year, not really ha. Funny thing is I found 1 or 2 subjects in second year kind of tough and annoying but I quite enjoyed the topics. In short I found second year harder than third.

I suppose the project in 3rd year was quite difficult. It was basically 'do what you want' (within reason) and you had to more or less code it yourself (in a team of 3-5). We made an educational game for kids (kind of maths based) which was written in Java and JavaFX (which we learned ourselves). Other than that I thought third year was a doddle.

Thanks for the good luck but 2nd semester in third year is work experience so I've been working all this semester and have no exams.

Good Luck to yourself!

[LFCFan]

One thing to be aware of is that if there are not enough students who want to do a particular specialisation, they will scrap it for that year. Pretty horrendous if you've been gearing yourself up for an area for 3 years and then have your hopes dashed!!

[Clanket]

That's crap alright. Has it actually happened much? I'd hazard a guess and say that the 3 strands probably get about equal numbers (or thereabouts) each year.

[LFCFan]

AFAIK, this year the Gaming/Multimedia and Software Systems specialisations was scrapped because there wasn't enough signing up for it so only the Cloud Computing and Mobile/Networking modules are going ahead.

[Clanket]

Fúck that. I'll be emailing them about this in September. The gaming and Software systems are the only two that interest me.

Out of interest, how many people are left in your year for Year 4?

Our class shrunk from about 60 to no more than 40 before the exams. I've no idea how many will be back come September.

[LFCFan]

We started with around 80/90 which was a mix of the Computing/BIS and Higher Cert students. This mix is now down to around 30 at the end of 3rd year with around 14 of these being the Computing Degree class. The bulk of drop outs happened in the first semester of 1st year.

[Crash Override]

Originally Posted by LFCFan

AFAIK, this year the Gaming/Multimedia and Software Systems specialisations was scrapped because there wasn't enough signing up for it so only the Cloud Computing and Mobile/Networking modules are going ahead.

How reliable is your source for that? We have't heard anything in regards to that yet.

Originally Posted by Clanket

Fúck that. I'll be emailing them about this in September. The gaming and Software systems are the only two that interest me.

Out of interest, how many people are left in your year for Year 4?

Our class shrunk from about 60 to no more than 40 before the exams. I've no idea how many will be back come September.

Clanket are you in BIS or BSc? I'm BSc and there's not a lot left. I don't think emailing them will help change their minds but I guess its worth a try.

[LFCFan]

Originally Posted by Crash Override

How reliable is your source for that? We have't heard anything in regards to that yet.

According to 2 of the lads in the class, they didn't get their first choice of specialisation because not enough wanted to do it so got their second choice. No reason why they wouldn't get their first choice if the specialisations were going ahead!

[Clanket]

Originally Posted by Crash Override

Clanket are you in BIS or BSc? I'm BSc and there's not a lot left. I don't think emailing them will help change their minds but I guess its worth a try.

BSc. Yeh you're probably right but I'll still email them to see what they say.