Which Masters (again!)

jank

Well i have recived some mixed news lately
Got refused to the Computer Security course

but then today my application to a MSc in mulitmedia has been accepted but im still unsure if I want to do it and weather it will benifit me at all in trying to find a job i want to do

If I get a masters in a certain area is it expected to go away and work in that area?

Take a look here to and let me know what u think of the modules they have
Would also be interested in hearing from current pass pupils of this course

Im also kinda holding out to see if i get the E-Commerce masters in dcu in which i think i will but im not getting my hopes up yet

I just dont want to waste my time and money really

Tom Dunne

jank wrote:

Take a look here to and let me know what u think of the modules they have

Seems very fluffy. Javascript? On an MSc. course? Analogue to Digital and Digital to Analogue conversion is usually covered in second year of a diploma course. Graphics formats? Hmmmmm.... Virtual Reality? Give me a break.

Depends on what you want to do, really. What do you want to do?

Have you seen the Griffith College MSc. in Computing? I did it and found it quite good. It also covers Computer Graphics (mostly 3-D modelling) and other techy stuff.

whosurpaddy

tom dunne wrote:

Seems very fluffy. Javascript? On an MSc. course? Analogue to Digital and Digital to Analogue conversion is usually covered in second year of a diploma course. Graphics formats? Hmmmmm.... Virtual Reality? Give me a break.

Depends on what you want to do, really. What do you want to do?

Have you seen the Griffith College MSc. in Computing? I did it and found it quite good. It also covers Computer Graphics (mostly 3-D modelling) and other techy stuff.

i was seriously looking at that course tom. any chance of a bit more info on it? did you do it full or part time?

LegacyUser

Speaking of masters, is it not better to work for a few years then get a masters rather than going straight from degree to masters? Sorry for off topic.

Tom Dunne

whosurpaddy wrote:

i was seriously looking at that course tom. any chance of a bit more info on it? did you do it full or part time?

I did it part time. You choose three taught modules (each worth 12 credit points) and have to do a project (worth 24 credit points, so the project is worth 2 subjects). I chose Advanced Databases, Computer Graphics, and Communications. There are two other subjects you can choose from - Theory of concurrency and Theory of programming languages.

I found the database subject very waffley (I was a DBA at the time), but the computer graphics was fascinating. Communications was, well, communications. If you have done any of these subjects to degree level, you will be fine. I hadn't done computer graphics, but I really found the topic so interesting that it ended up being my best subject (good man Hugh).

I ended up with a first class honours, and that was not killing myself with study. I was helped by the fact I had done the subjects previously and by the fact that the lecturer notes tend to be fairly good and I suppose by the fact that I did well in the project. The college itself is very flexible, allowing you do it over one calendar year, or spread it over several years.

Overall, I would highly recommend it.

RicardoSmith

cheesedude wrote:

Speaking of masters, is it not better to work for a few years then get a masters rather than going straight from degree to masters? Sorry for off topic.

What difference would it make?

Trojan

RicardoSmith wrote:

What difference would it make?

It could leave you over qualified and under experienced - in a nasty limbo when looking for employment.

jank

would make a small difference short term but long term it would be the same i think

LegacyUser

Well I know someone doing an MBA some University in London and on his course are all people around 30 up and to get into it, you have to have been working for a few years and to afford it, have a pretty good income.

Is an MBA the same as a masters?

cerebus

cheesedude wrote:

Is an MBA the same as a masters?

MBA = Masters in/of Business Administration

So yes, it is a Masters degree.

whosurpaddy

tom dunne wrote:

I did it part time. You choose three taught modules (each worth 12 credit points) and have to do a project (worth 24 credit points, so the project is worth 2 subjects). I chose Advanced Databases, Computer Graphics, and Communications. There are two other subjects you can choose from - Theory of concurrency and Theory of programming languages.

I found the database subject very waffley (I was a DBA at the time), but the computer graphics was fascinating. Communications was, well, communications. If you have done any of these subjects to degree level, you will be fine. I hadn't done computer graphics, but I really found the topic so interesting that it ended up being my best subject (good man Hugh).

I ended up with a first class honours, and that was not killing myself with study. I was helped by the fact I had done the subjects previously and by the fact that the lecturer notes tend to be fairly good and I suppose by the fact that I did well in the project. The college itself is very flexible, allowing you do it over one calendar year, or spread it over several years.

Overall, I would highly recommend it.

wow. pretty much exactly what i was looking to hear(other than the DB module being waffely, but then im not a DBA so it should suit me). if i were to go ahead with that course I would be doing Advanced Databases and Computer Graphics aswell. I have basic experience of both and an interest in both too. Dont think i'd pick communications (theyve 3 other options now Network Security, Distributed Systems, AI & Robotics) would prob go with either dist systems or AI as ive already studied both and am fairly comfortable with em.

are you laden down with projects during the semesters? or is it all on an exam? what sort of area/level does the project go to? their very sketchy about it on the website and that would really be a clincher as its pretty much 1/2 the course. Also did you find the masters was good re: jobs?

sorry for all the questions man, just trying to get as much info as possible before making a decision, but im strongly leaning towards that course.

/jank sorry for highjacking your thread.

Tom Dunne

Apologies again to Jank for hijacking, maybe the mods could split this off?

whosurpaddy wrote:

are you laden down with projects during the semesters? or is it all on an exam? what sort of area/level does the project go to?

Each subject usually has three assignments, generally two written and one software. For example the graphics assignments were creating 3-D chess pieces and animating them in 3-D studio max, along with writing a research piece on some element of computer graphics (not really as bas as it sounds). Databases were the standard research pieces (room for plenty of waffle!), and Networks had assignments such as design a piece of software to encrypt some plain text and send it over the network to be de-crypted. I

All subjects had exams at the end, some in January, some in May.

The project itself could be anything relevant to the course. One guy did a project to read a vinyl record with a microscope and transform the captured pictures into the actual sound on the record. I did a nice big waffley project on automatically diagnosing problems in a mixed network environment, utilising Artificial Intelligence techniques. Check out the library section of the GCD website for a list of projects that have been completed by previous students.

Also did you find the masters was good re: jobs?

For many reasons, I haven't gone looking yet, but roll on 2005 when I start.

jank

Just been offered the masters in e-commerce in DCU.

I'm probably going to take it, as im not really in multimedia and want something more technical, so give it a look a tell me what ye think

Anybody here after doing this course and whats DCU like as a college?

E-commerce in DCU

drane2

From speaking to people about these course...

The e-commerce one is probably the best masters in that area in DCU. The Security and Forensics one is suffering from teething problems. The e-commerce one seems to be fairly buzzword compliant. DCU as a college is alright, canteen is a bit expensive and the place is very quiet from about 4pm onwards. The facilities (computers, library etc..) are excellent though.