CS - This is bothering me

Mark200

Ok, I know there have been a few similar topics to this...but I kinda understand why Computer Science students are awared a BA (Mod) instead of BSc or whatever.

However, what bothers me is sometimes it is referred to as BA (Mod) and other times it's referred to as BA.

I thought they were the same thing, but then I found this:

In Trinity College a B.A.(Mod) degree is considered a higher degree that a B.Sc. which in turn is considered a higher degree than a B.A. The use of the title B.A.(Mod) is really a historic matter, as it was introduced long ago in the 400+ year history of this University. In fact there are only 3 universities in the world which award this degree and they are Trinity, Oxford and Cambridge.

https://www.cs.tcd.ie/courses/ba/FAQs.php



On the CS page (https://www.cs.tcd.ie/courses/Undergraduate.php#DegreesDaytime) it calls it a BA (Mod), but then on this page:
http://www.tcd.ie/courses/undergraduate/az/course.php?id=64


It calls it a BA.


It's really really annoying.

Crash

Well, thats just someone being silly. Not actually sure if Trinity awards plain BA's, was under the assumption that it was all BA (Mod.) or else a BSc or BBS BBL MD etc.

If its any consolation Mark, I'll be getting my CS degree in a month and a bit, and it'll have BA(Mod.) on it.

edit: oh, when writing up a cv, ensure you always put the mod bit down - for one thing they will either ask you about it and you can clear up you're NOT doing an arts CS course, or else they'll recognise it and know.

karlr42

It's a BA(Mod), if you want to get official. The CS department website is almost always correct.

Mark200

crash_000 wrote: »

Well, thats just someone being silly. Not actually sure if Trinity awards plain BA's, was under the assumption that it was all BA (Mod.) or else a BSc or BBS BBL MD etc.

If its any consolation Mark, I'll be getting my CS degree in a month and a bit, and it'll have BA(Mod.) on it.

edit: oh, when writing up a cv, ensure you always put the mod bit down - for one thing they will either ask you about it and you can clear up you're NOT doing an arts CS course, or else they'll recognise it and know.

Super thanks, yeah I really just wanted to know for in a few years time and I'm hopefully putting it down on my CV, and an interviewer asks what a BA (Mod) is I can say it's better than a BSc without worrying if that's true or not haha

claire h

That BSc > BA stuff is nuts, I presume they mean an honours Bachelor of Science is 'higher' than an ordinary BA? Certainly there's no difference in level of degree when it comes to an honours BSc or an honours BA or a BA (Mod), they're all honours undergrad degrees, unless this is just absurd Trinity > world snobbery.

Mod = Moderatorship = fancy Trinity term to denote the fact that it's an honours degree. Technically one can leave after three years with an ordinary BA, though it's pretty rare. If you do the four years, and pass, it's an honours degree.

ETA: also, it's not the BA (Mod) practice that Dublin, Oxford and Cambridge share, it's the awarding of undergraduate MAs a few years after graduating with a BA. Who on earth is in charge of that website?

Mark200

claire h wrote: »

That BSc > BA stuff is nuts, I presume they mean an honours Bachelor of Science is 'higher' than an ordinary BA? Certainly there's no difference in level of degree when it comes to an honours BSc or an honours BA or a BA (Mod), they're all honours undergrad degrees, unless this is just absurd Trinity > world snobbery.

Well Trinity award BSc degrees too

Crash

Aye, and BSc's usually designate evening or other part time courses. fulltime degrees are all BA(Mod) excepting the usual.

Colli_Flower86

To be honest, I don't think CS can really complain - I'm doing a pure SCIENCE degree and getting a BA...well, BA(Mod) but it still reads BA to me...

AIR-AUSSIE

Mark200 wrote: »

Ok, I know there have been a few similar topics to this...but I kinda understand why Computer Science students are awared a BA (Mod) instead of BSc or whatever.

However, what bothers me is sometimes it is referred to as BA (Mod) and other times it's referred to as BA.

I thought they were the same thing, but then I found this:



https://www.cs.tcd.ie/courses/ba/FAQs.php



On the CS page (https://www.cs.tcd.ie/courses/Undergraduate.php#DegreesDaytime) it calls it a BA (Mod), but then on this page:
http://www.tcd.ie/courses/undergraduate/az/course.php?id=64


It calls it a BA.


It's really really annoying.

Eh, cos Computer 'Science' is not a Science...... maybe.

Everything's a science these days. Especially the Arts.

Crash

Really we should be awarded a B Eng. in CS, tbh :P

Jonathan

AIR-AUSSIE wrote: »

Eh, cos Computer 'Science' is not a Science...... maybe.

How so?

Mark200

AIR-AUSSIE wrote: »

Eh, cos Computer 'Science' is not a Science...... maybe.

A BSc is awarded if you do Computer Science in the evening instead of during the day.

CuLT

Mark200 wrote: »

A BSc is awarded if you do Computer Science in the evening instead of during the day.

Or if you do it anywhere in Ireland that isn't Trinity

TomCo

Trinty Shminity, my car gets forty rods to the hogshead and that's the way I likes it!