FAO: 4th Year CA Students

Kenny_D

Just wondering what the time table was like in first and second semester? Is it back to 9am-6pm mon-fri like 2nd year? Deff cant imagine it's as handy as third year

Also what are people's general feelings of the year? Hard? What were the individual modules like? Was there enough time to work on the project and do 6 modules at the same time? Do the lecturers give less continuous assesment work since you're also working on the 4th year project?

Any other useful information relevant to third years going into fourth in september?

Kenny_D

Bump. Hope the exams went well lads/ladies. Let us know how they were

gizmo

Nah, the timetable is even lighter than previous years. Of course it depends on what modules you take but in terms of lecture hours you won't be overwhelmed. First semester is handy enough but thats mainly because most people don't start on their project work then they should. Second semester is even lighter as we only have 3 subjects but you should be working on your FYP continuously.

In terms of the years difficulty, well if you actually work you should be fine. We got screwed over in Graphics in Semester One but given the backlash over it I doubt it'll happen again. Outside of the Compilers I is no mandatory for SE's which is pretty tough and AI isn't too nice unless you go to nearly every lecture. In general the rest are grand as far as I'm aware. Might want to wait to hear from some of the IS folks though as they do very different subjects.

As for project work, everyone intends starting early and having it done early however I don't think anyone ever manages that. With the demos starting today I'm sure the vast majority of people were or indeed are still finishing up their project, myself included. As for giving less cont. assessment work? Hah, no.

It's all quite do-able if you keep up a steady work rate, thats probably the best way of putting it.

Kenny_D

Cheers gizmo. I'm doing SE btw and heard about that problem with the graphics exam. In two minds whether to do it now as I heard the course work itself was interesting. Who was the lecturer? Not really pushed on AI. Is it humphrys teaching that in fourth year? Didnt really like the third year AI module although it is nice having a multiple choice exam with questions staying the same year after year

the butcher

GStormcrow wrote:

Cheers gizmo. I'm doing SE btw and heard about that problem with the graphics exam. In two minds whether to do it now as I heard the course work itself was interesting. Who was the lecturer? Not really pushed on AI. Is it humphrys teaching that in fourth year? Didnt really like the third year AI module although it is nice having a multiple choice exam with questions staying the same year after year

past papers for 4th year AI does not have the nice multiple choice questions and yeah Humphrys teaches AI in 4th year too.

Gizmo, did you pick any of the database modules? If you did, what were they like?

gizmo

Sorry, forgot to mention that. AI is NOT multiple choice answers, far from it unfortunately. In order to do well you need to understand whats going on in the module.

Nope, didn't go near DB. I think cooker3 may have or at least he'll know someone who has.

cooker3

Yeah I did databases in semester 1.
Fairly tough subject. The assignment was fairly handy, just another arrow and boxes ssadmesque assignment but the exam was hard I thought. I was pleasantly surprised to get 52 in it, thought I failed. I know a fair few people who did fail as well so not the easiest of subjects
I wouldn't rule it out but I would try to pick easier ones if I could.

I didn't do Databases 2 but what I know of it is that continous assesment is a 1 hour lab exam which is fairly ok but the exam is 4 out of 4 which is a bit of a bitch. It got mixed reviews, some thought it was ok, others thought it was hard. Stephen Blott has a reputation for giving hard exam papers (although I am led to believe multimedia had it easy this year)

Will

what are the nice subjects for final year (assuming i pass erasmus)
i was looking at them the other day and some sound horrible, anyones to definetly stay away from?

cooker3

Wilburt wrote:

what are the nice subjects for final year (assuming i pass erasmus)
i was looking at them the other day and some sound horrible, anyones to definetly stay away from?

Graphics if Sinclair still teaches it, I am sure you are aware of why.

Howie's subject is handy think it's called BPR, suggest doing that, I didn't do it but renaats subject is nice it seems, think that is called software patterns and metrics.
Multimedia is handy, definately do that, exam has the same stuff every year and is pretty easy.
OR is the maths subject, if you like maths then it would be good, if not then avoid.
Databases was mentioned above.
Most IS people did rory's subject, spi or whatever it's called. I think everyone passed it to the my knowledge although I believe Rory leaves at the end of semester for Mexico so he will not be teaching it.

Hmmmn thats all that I can come up with off the top of my hand, any more questions you know where I am

Kenny_D

gizmo wrote:

Second semester is even lighter as we only have 3 subjects

Exactly how does the optional modules pan out. Is it 3 optional modules in first semester and 2 optional modules in second semester?

Just trying to work it out from the list specified here:

http://www.dcu.ie/registry/module_contents.php?programme=CACSSE&function=4

Thanks

gizmo

Yep, thats it alright. Compiler is now mandatory for CASE's which kinda sucks.

One thing to be careful of though. The optionals in the second semester are mainly follow ons from the first semester so chose carefully.

Redegg

gizmo wrote:

Yep, thats it alright. Compiler is now mandatory for CASE's which kinda sucks.

One thing to be careful of though. The optionals in the second semester are mainly follow ons from the first semester so chose carefully.

I think this was the worst thing about 4th year CASE. Compiler should never be a compulsory subject. The assignments were just horrible.

I did Database 2. A boring module. Very boring but I had to pick it. Continous assesment was a 1 hour tick the boxes exam. It was fine. The exam is 4 out of 4 which is just mean. No programming at all in this.

I would recommend multimedia technology. One of the more interesting modules. Continous assesment was one project. A bit tough but if you start it early enough it's OK. Exam is 4 out of 4 again. Same lecturer as databases 2. I was advised not to choose Database and Multlimedia but I went for them anyways.

Image Processing in first semester was one of the best modules I have taken in the past 4 years. To do with images and a bit of sound stuff. There is no follow on module in second semester which left me with little choice in second semester..

As for the project. Pick something your interested in. Lots of people seemed to just bogged down with really horrible boring projects.

the butcher

thanks for the info guys, just wondering did anyone do OO Models or Software patterns & metrics?

Redegg

the butcher wrote:

thanks for the info guys, just wondering did anyone do OO Models or Software patterns & metrics?

Yes the were compulsory for software engineering students and not for IS ones. Both VERY passable. Although take your pillow to Software patterns. yaaawn.