Fao: Ca4

Kenny_D

How does the optional subjects pan out in 4th year? How many optional modules do you take in first/second semester?

Studying AI at the moment for the exam today and I never want to touch this waste of a subject again. So want to see what the other options are

Anyone have any recommendations on what modules to take/avoid next year?

cooker3

don't do graphics

gizmo

First off, are you SE or IS as this dictates what your core modules will be and as a result, what your options will be.

You have to chose 3 subjects from once you register. I did...

Software Patterns & Metrics -> Interesting course. Easy project. Extremely learnable course material. Handy Exam. RECOMMENDED

Graphics -> Interesting course. Interesting but challenging projects (2). Module however is FAR too broad currently following its updating. The lecturer is currently not up to scratch. Only one sample paper was given. Lecturer deliberatley misled the class on topics to come up for the exam. Exam itself was a disaster upon which action is being taken by myself and the class reps, Eoin Byrne in the SU, the Module Co-Ordinator and the lecturer in question. Short story, currently stay the hell away from it unless told otherwise.

Concurrent -> Interesting but theory based subject. Project is alright, not too easy and not too hard. Exam is next week so I'll let you know how it goes. RECOMMENDED if you like programming and want to learn more about it.

AI -> I'm one of the few doing this and I enjoyed it immensely. Theres little to no bull**** from you know who and its all based on relevant AI material. That said it is all based on his thesis so its abit lol in that area but its all good stuff. RECOMMENDED (pending the exam)


I'm sure the others can fill you in on the other subjects.

cooker3

Well I will do fuller reply then last time

If your IS then you only do 1 mandatory subject which is technical communication, if you do SE then you have 3 mandatory ones, not sure what though, let others tell you that.

As it has already being said if David Sinclair teaches graphics next year and hopefully we can ensure he doesn't but if he does avoid it at all costs.

Databases: We got a tough exam and all in all it's a tough subject. It's very theory based so you do axioms, functional dependacies and all crap like that. I would suggest avoiding if you can unless you enjoy database theory.

Operations Research: It's this semester mathsy subject, now I am not a big maths head but I think this is good subject. I thought exam paper was good and with bit of practice I think it's very possible to do well in this subject. If your good at maths then all the better. Exam paper is same practically each year so unless you really despise maths I suggest looking into taking it.

Multimedia: Have this exam on Monday, exam paper looks rather easy, continous assesment wasn't too bad either. Lectures were boring though. Gareth Jones seems like a nice guy and gave us 3 extensions for assignment which was sweet but not the most interesting lecturer. Overall I'd advise you take it if you want some relatively easy marks.

BPR: This is IS only, if you are IS then you know what Howie D is like, he gives easy exams which are same every year, take it but don't expect entertainment at lectures.

Overall my biggest advice is follow your gut. Go to all lectures first week and see what you like, don't rely on others advice (I say this after writing all the above of course If others say subject is easy but you don't like it then don't take it. It's your degree so up to you to make right decisions. Good luck

Kenny_D

Cheers Gizmo. I'm CASE. Does Humphrys not teach the AI module in fourth year? AI was one of the subjects I was looking forward to starting and found the module to be a bit of a waste. Even our assignment wasnt great. Bunch of if statements in Tyrrells world which is crap because your Mind cannot see around itself properly

Is software patterns anything to do with UML? I'll probably take your advice on Graphics. It seems like a subject a lot of people would want to do based on their perception of what they think they'll be doing. At least we know better now. lol. Hope it works out for you and the rest who took the exam.

Keep me updated with the exams. My last one is on Monday. OO Analysis and Design (Liam tuohey). Hoping that will be a handy enough exam

Edit: Thanks cooker3. Some good advice lads. Certainly helps getting a better idea of what the exams and CA work is like which ultimately determines the number on your degree

GavMan

If IS only has one Core module, then how many elective modules do you have to pick? In Short how many modules do CAIS4 do? Also, how many do you lads do in Semester 1 and then in Semester 2

gizmo

Both SE and IS have to do 5 modules altogether in Semester 1. Then in Semester 2 you only 3 as you have your Final Year Project to be doing also.

steviec

Well I know the course has changed a little since I did it last year but my experience(CASE):

Semester 1
Three compulsory modules
Software patterns & metrics - pain in the ass subject, absolute ton of work, mostly regurgitating a ton of theory on different patterns in software design, didn't like it at all.

Compiler Construction - Not nearly as bad as it sounds, lectures got quite confusing at times but once you started doing practice problems it all made sense, quite similar to Languages & Computability

Technical Communication - absolute joke. Complete and utter waste of time. Our 'exam' involved writing about 'things I like about DCU' and we were then given a grade by what could only be a random number generator. Also we were docked marks for things like fonts and filenames, which is a joke in final year of a computer science course.

Three Options that I took:
Computer Graphics 1
Probably the easiest module since CA165. They've compressed graphics 1 & 2 into one module now because it was pathetically easy. I'd still recommend doing both as one module because it should still be easy enough to cover and a very interesting topic, assuming they sort out the problems with the new lecturer.

Operations Research
If you like maths, you'll fly through this, and parts of it are quite interesting too. If you don't like maths, avoid it.

Digital Signal Processing
Very interesting topic but I got quite lost in it. Probably more to do with my lack of attendance because this particular module had all it's lectures in the early morning than anything else.

Semester 2:
Core:
Object Orientated something or other
UML, Z, Fusion, lots of boxes to be drawn and yet more ways of describing programs to be discovered. Mostly focusses on Z which I actually prefer to UML, it's a much more mathematical and logical approach but it requires a lot of thought.

Options
Graphics 2
As above.

Operations Research 2
The maths gets a bit complex but I liked it, I prefer it to learning shedloads of notes.

I think that's everything, can't say anything about the modules I didn't do obviously

gizmo

Changed? Yep, Graphics being the major change.

cooker3

gizmo wrote:

Both SE and IS have to do 5 modules altogether in Semester 1. Then in Semester 2 you only 3 as you have your Final Year Project to be doing also.

6 modules in fact, you forgot technical communication
speaking of which

steviec wrote:

we were then given a grade by what could only be a random number generator.

lol, so true.

Kenny_D

Yeah monicas marking is terrible. We had her for Web Design in first year and the marks for our websites were very random and I dont think a single person got above 70%

cooker3

GStormcrow wrote:

Yeah monicas marking is terrible. We had her for Web Design in first year and the marks for our websites were very random and I dont think a single person got above 70%

Yeah Monica has a glass ceiling of 70%, no way can you get over that. I am convinced if Seanus Heaney took that module he would get about 60% but there could be good news for you. In all the e-mails that got sent around "querying" the marking scheme I recall Monica saying that next year it may become a 3rd year module which would be a whole lot better as you could just care about passing.

gizmo

Heaney, Seamus
55%
Informal, otherwise good.

:rolleyes:

Yep, it is becoming a third year module next year. It makes more sense really as thats when you actually write your first Tech and Func Specs. Not like 4th year when we're meant to have all this prior experience in the subject.

Kenny_D

Well us current third years do have a subject this year in the second semester taught by monica so I assume its the same. Its called Project Planning and Communication Skills. It's a second semester module though so we've already handed up our func specs

gizmo

Ah they may be modifying it next year to include more Technical Writing or maybe she just had her wires crossed when we talked to her.

Either way, love the mentality of doing it after the Func Spec is handed up. :rolleyes: