Computer Applications

opinionated

I hope to start Computer Applications this September and continue down the Software Engineering stream...I am just looking for a bit of advice. What do I need to know before the course? etc.
Thanks

public_enemy

There's not much you really need to know before going into the course, I didn't know any programming or anything when I started and neither did most others. Only advice I'd really give is make sure you attend labs and avoid any subjects taught by Monica Ward if you can, you should be fine if can you do those things.

Oh, and don't misbehave in Ray Walshe's lectures. He'll eat you.

Call Me Jimmy

Really ye don't need to do anything at all to prepare for the course, if ye actually do the work during the course ye'll be better than most.

Matthewthebig

Work and you'll be fine.

justbringit89

what about maths ?? Im at OL Maths , Will it be awful hard?

public_enemy

The maths isn't too bad really. I did Ordinary Level for Leaving Cert and I'm scraping through it, but I haven't done any real work for any for it. I imagine it would be fairly easy if any of us actually worked at it or went to tutorials or something, but no-one ever does... Maybe you'll be the first?

Winters

Yea. But your amazing Kev.


Your such a dreamboat!

Cina

Nah first year Maths is fine as long as you keep track of it, Probability in 2nd Year is pretty nasty but I wouldn't worry about that yet

cognos

public_enemy wrote:

I imagine it would be fairly easy if any of us actually worked at it or went to tutorials or something, but no-one ever does... Maybe you'll be the first?

I go to all the tutorials... and yes it is fairly easy an hour a week goin to the tutorials is well worth it when u can relax and watch everyone else going crazy at exam time, usually end up teaching everyone else the stuff which is actually very good study :cool:

justbringit89

oh cool . sorry to be a pain but Could You Tell me The Course Hours . Also if there is any college on a friday??

cognos

hours are very light for first and second year (dont know about the others yet). 2nd semester time tables are still online. cant remember what the first semester was like exactly. there was nothing on fridays for 2nd years this semester, almost nothing on wednesdays and thursdays either heres the first year timetable, you wont be doing all the modules on it, and i think some of the tutorials are the same - u just pick which time suits u best to go (or u are assigned to one time for ca165/166).

http://www.dcu.ie/timetables/feed.php3?prog=CA&per=1&week1=20&week2=31&hour=3-20&template=student

second year: http://www.dcu.ie/timetables/feed.php3?prog=CASE&per=2&week1=20&week2=31&hour=3-20&template=student

edit: semeseter 1 timetables still visible... http://www.dcu.ie/timetables/feed.php3?prog=CA&per=1&week1=1&week2=12&hour=3-20&template=student (theyre not the same every year but sould give u an idea at least)

conor2007

what are th exams like?


is it one final exam?

or is it continious assesment?

cheers.

cooker3

cognos wrote:

hours are very light for first and second year

They are even lighter in 3rd and 4th year

cooker3

conor2007 wrote:

what are th exams like?


is it one final exam?

or is it continious assesment?

cheers.

Some are hard, some are easy, some are in between
Every subject has continous assesment, usually it accounts for 20-25% although there are subjects where it accounts for 50 and even 100%
You will have multiple exams at the end, 5-6 is usually what you get. There are 2 exam cycles, set of exams in January and another set in May.

conor2007

cool , thanks for the answer

is there one final exam at the end?

like one big exam , or is it all count towards the final result

cooker3

conor2007 wrote:

cool , thanks for the answer

is there one final exam at the end?

like one big exam , or is it all count towards the final result

God no, man could you imagine the pressure of doing that.

In terms of the degree only 4th year matters. You have 6 subjects and we had 5 exams (technical communication was 100% continous assesment so no exam was required) for semester 1 and semester 2 consisted of 3 modules and exams and a final year project

conor2007

so if you fail the final exam , you fail

how much are the semester exams worth towards the final degree?

im so confused about this

cognos

you need to pass 1st year modules to get into 2nd year, the 2nd year ones to get into 3rd etc. other than that they dont count towards the degree. you have to pass every module to get through but you can repeat an exam, get compensated or repeat a whole year so its not a case of one bad exam and ur a gonner and remember that most modules are part cont. assesment as well as the end of semester exam.

once u make it to 4th year the marks you get in each module and the project will determine the degree you get. average over 70, for example, in all the modules, first and second semester and project and you get a first class honors degree.

conor2007

the exam in fourth year , is that on all you learned , or just the fourth year stuff??

cheers

cooker3

conor2007 wrote:

the exam in fourth year , is that on all you learned , or just the fourth year stuff??

cheers

There is no 1 grand exam.
There are a number of exams, these combined with your project will make up your degree. I did 9 subjects, 8 exams, many continous assesment projects and a final year project. The total of these will ultimately be my final mark.

justbringit89

how do you know what modules to chose ?? is there any way you don have 2 go to the ones on fridays??? maybe take them eariler!

cognos

exams are for a perticular module that you will have done for the 12 weeks prioir to the exam. pick whatever modules you find interesting. if youre timetabled to be in friday and you plan on passing you come in on friday. there is no option of doing modules at different times - you do it when everyone does it.

justbringit89

where did you do work exp ???

conor2007

well thats easy


well not easier , but at least you onli have to learn something and remember it for 12 weeks


not four years

cheers

cooker3

justbringit89 wrote:

where did you do work exp ???

Well whereever you get it

justbringit89

do they set u up with work exp

opinionated

So what are the projects like? Do you get a choice in them? Any examples?

cognos

final year projects: http://www.computing.dcu.ie/fyp/
Haven't done one yet but what I gather from clicking around the schools/lecturers websites is that you pick what you want to do but you must get a lecturer to agree to supervise it - they tend to have lists of project ideas on their websites.

Mad_Max

justbringit89 wrote:

where did you do work exp ???

America

conor2007

america



cool!!!!!!!!!!

what teaching does this ocurse qualify ya to do

what subjects and what levels?

Smellyirishman

conor2007 wrote:

what teaching does this ocurse qualify ya to do
what subjects and what levels?

You mean, secondary school teaching?

Junior Cert maths and something else I think. Although it requires further study to do teaching I think. I'm not entirely sure of the specifics.

CuLT

Smellyirishman wrote:

You mean, secondary school teaching?

Junior Cert maths and something else I think. Although it requires further study to do teaching I think. I'm not entirely sure of the specifics.

You still need a H.Dip, etc, you can teach maths at JC... it's not exactly designed to create teachers.

H2G2

CuLT wrote:

... it's not exactly designed to create teachers.

True, but several graduates over the years have gone into secondary school teaching. Mostly maths, but also science, physics, etc.

Matthewthebig

Why would you do that?

If you want to be a teacher go to Pats...

justbringit89

Hey guys Im in a real fluster !! I failed one of my six subjects(irish) hense dont have the general requirements !! so is there any way u can do a year in dit computing and transfer to 2nd year of comp applications. I was told this by someone but not sure if true . Also i dont want 2 repeat and do PLC . Any suggestions ??? Cheers

CuLT

The transfer is possible alright, but it's fairly subjective to the whim of the boards of both colleges afaik, and you would also have to be getting stellar grades in DIT.

You'd probably be better off just repeating Irish and working for a year to build up some cash for first year. I had to repeat the Leaving Cert for a similar reason, but I did the full 6 or 7 subjects again and picked new ones, etc, so working wasn't an option...

This also works if you happen to be 17 for the first few months of college, because not getting bar membership/being able to attend events is a bit of a downer.

justbringit89

on i already done ty so not repeating !!! im 18 now aswell !! could i try the transfer ne ways , how would i do it ??? what course can i transfer from

Matthewthebig

you only need Irish or English afaik

you don't need both

conor2007

do they give ur name so u cant enter bar or go to events


or do u just have to try and pass for 18?

public_enemy

Matthewthebig wrote:

Why would you do that?

If you want to be a teacher go to Pats...

Because practically nobody has a clue what job they want when they go into college. I'm here two years and I still don't know what I want to do after, keeping your options open is pretty important.

As for the bar in DCU, when you're registering with the college just before Semester 1 starts, you'll get the option to join the bar (if you're over 18). It cost 11 euro last year. Generally student ID is enough to get into the bar but on a big night you'll need proper ID too. With the events, you buy your tickets in advance, but they'll always check for proper ID at the door of the Hub.

conor2007

so basicially if ur not 18 ur not gettin into the bar/events

Winters

Well, you can get into the bar most days for food and whatnot but they will not serve you drink, obviously.

public_enemy

Nah, you can still get into the bar if you head in early. Security don't appear until late enough most days so if you go in after opening and don't leave you might get away with it.

Not that you should, you criminal!

H2G2

CuLT wrote:

The transfer is possible alright, but it's fairly subjective to the whim of the boards of both colleges afaik, and you would also have to be getting stellar grades in DIT.

Getting a transfer into CA from a cert/dip course isn't that hard. Its almost automatic, if grades are sufficient... Distinction will do it no problem; Merit maybe more borderline. Sometimes they interview, but very rarely.
Transferring is less popular now that all IT’s have award degrees in computing, but there is still about 3 or 4 every year.
Also it’s a one-sided relationship involving DCU only and not the other institution, so for example, you wouldn’t have to tell DIT

Nehpets

Since this is a CA thread I might as well ask here.

How does CA compare with CS in UCD and CS in Trinity. I know how the courses differ but which produces the best graduates - will they all be the same standard? (assuming a hardworking student)

justbringit89

Do you have a link for the two in UCD And Trinty !! I didnt know there is computers in UCD or Trinity . Whats the points like??

Matthewthebig

Trinity and DCU are considered the best afaik.

Points are about 350 in Trinity and UCD I think.

Nehpets

https://www.cs.tcd.ie/

Nehpets

http://csiweb.ucd.ie/