Oscail

Groucho10

Hi,

I was thinking of applying to do a diploma/Degree in Humanities through Oscail At DCU. It is over thirty years since I did my Leaving Cert. so I am not sure if I would be up to it.However I would really like to give it a try.

I would like some feedback from people who are doing or have done an Oscail course.

Is distance learning particularly difficult ?

Thanks

cocoa

Hi, I'm actually working in oscail right now so I'll go ahead and tell you what I can.

The Humanities degree/diploma is very flexible, you can do one module a year or 4 modules a year (with one being a recommended 10 hours per week and 4 being approximately the workload of a year in a full-time degree course) so you can choose your own speed.

You also have a choice between 5 different streams Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, History and Literature. There's six modules in every stream and you can't do any of the later modules until you have done the first or foundation module in that stream.

The diploma is eight modules and the degree is twelve but bear in mind that the system has changed, new students cannot receive a diploma and then do a further four modules and receive a degree.

If you are determined, you shouldn't have too much trouble with returning to study as long as you take it slow (maybe just one or two modules in your first year) and you can get help and support from your tutors in oscail.

In regards to the distance learning aspect, oscail and the rest of DCU use moodle which is an online teaching environment that makes it very easy for students and tutors to interact. There will be tutorials at your chosen study centre but the majority of your study will be independent. However, if you ever need help your tutor will be very contactable.

You can see feedback on individual modules in the Advice on Module Selection (pdf) for this year and there is lots of other information on the oscail website.

One last thing, if you wish to study this year you should hurry as registration will end entirely at the end of this month.

Good luck.

Groucho10

Many thanks for that advice.I plan to take two modules as you say in the first term,and see how I get on. I want to take History anyway and one from Philosophy,Psychology or Sociology.

Not sure which. All seem interesting. I am leaning towards Psychology at the moment. Would you have any advice on this.

Thanks again

cocoa

Sorry, I can't really give you very much stream specific advice but just to let you know (as I didn't mention it in my first post) :

You can only take a maximum of four foundation modules and you must finish all six modules in one stream.

In practical terms, this means you can dabble in up to four streams to make up your eight or twelve modules and you must complete or 'major in' one stream. If you wanted, you could of course stick to just two streams as well.

As I said, I really don't have very much information on the individual modules but they are all interesting and I'm sure you will enjoy studying whatever you choose.

dingding

Got my degree and masters by means of the oscail programme, several years ago now.

As cocoa said it is very flexible and you can take a different number of mudules each year.

The tutors were a great help and very obliging.

I cant help with the subject matter as my degree was in IT and masters in the management of operations. Just to be aware that modules are only run outside dublin if there is sufficient demand. Had to take the final module in the degree in Dublin.

If you can form a study group with people studying the module it is a great help. If you cant understand a section chances are one of your class mates might be able to help.

It is a lot easier now to communicate with email, moodle etc...


Best of luck with your studies, if you are not sure you should enrole for some of the introductory modules to give you a feel for it.

As cocoa said, each module is about 10 hours work per week. So it is not easy but very rewarding.

Groucho, if you have any questions feel free to PM me.

cocoa

oh, yeah, one more thing to remember, the recommended or approximate time per module is ten hours per week but do try and give yourself some leeway. As I recall, much of the feedback on some of the modules pointed out that more time was needed.

Ten hours a week is a rough guide, nothing more and in most of the Arts/Humanities modules there is quite a lot of reading.

That said, the foundation modules do take into account that it is probably the students first year etc. When I say you may need more than ten hours per week I'm really referring to the later modules in any one stream (sorry for getting ahead of myself here).

Again, good luck and enjoy yourself.

Groucho10

Thanks for the advice cocoa and dingding. Very helpful.
I might take you up on that PM later dingding.

The Valley

Groucho10

Can you tell me how you got on. I'm in a simialr situation and would love to know how you are managing

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