Computing degrees in NUIG

corribdude

From what I can see their are 3 different computing course in NUIG - (GY406) Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Computer Engineering, (GY350) Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, and (GY306) Bachelor of Science in Computing Studies/Mathematical Science.

Can someone tell me what the differences are between these course and what each of them focuses on? Which one is most suitable if you are interested in software development?

Thanks.

synacron trion

corribdude wrote: »

From what I can see their are 3 different computing course in NUIG - (GY406) Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Computer Engineering, (GY350) Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, and (GY306) Bachelor of Science in Computing Studies/Mathematical Science.

Can someone tell me what the differences are between these course and what each of them focuses on? Which one is most suitable if you are interested in software development?

Thanks.

GY350 the BSc in I.T. is more suited for programming. Its really a software engineering course. Its really good and is what I am doing.

Electronic Eng is pretty much what it says on the tin. You do electronics and some programming. Elec Eng students and BSc. I.T. students share a lot of subjects together over the 4 years.

I have no knowledge of GY306 so can't comment on it.

corribdude

Ty mate, I might ask you some questions in the other thread that is specifically about GY350. If anyone else can give me more info on the other courses i mentioned in my op id be interested in hearing it too.

oneofakind32

GY306 is run by computer science department which is basically a collaboration of the IT, Physics, Maths Physics and Maths departments. AFAIK it's honed towards using programing skills in science to model stuff reactions etc.

L'prof

corribdude wrote: »

(GY306) Bachelor of Science in Computing Studies/Mathematical Science.

In 3rd year now, if you don't like Maths...run away! I used to like Maths, but I'm just so fed up of this course, not enough programming/computers in it at all!

witnessmenow

corribdude wrote: »

From what I can see their are 3 different computing course in NUIG - (GY406) Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Computer Engineering, (GY350) Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, and (GY306) Bachelor of Science in Computing Studies/Mathematical Science.

Can someone tell me what the differences are between these course and what each of them focuses on? Which one is most suitable if you are interested in software development?

Thanks.

I do Electronic and computer engineering,I'm in 4th year. Its a decent enough course but to be honest I'm nearly half sorry I didn't do IT.

On one hand programing all day would drive me insane (IT would be driven towards programing only), on the other there is so much stuff in ECE that I really dont think will be beneficial to my career (such as electro magnetic theory etc)

In ECE we get to do a bit more with hardware, like working with microprocessors that the ITs dont do afaik, I personally enjoyed working with them but there is a good few people in my class who hated them! But in IT you would learn more about databases etc..

IT is probably easier to get into as you do not need honours maths (I think you need an A in pass though). But dont think that makes the maths in IT any easier, Engineers and ITs do the exact same exam in maths in first year(different lectures but we sit the same exam paper).

synacron we have to have that game of Cod4 this week, get fuzzScoota and johno, It'll be class!

synacron trion

witnessmenow wrote: »

synacron we have to have that game of Cod4 this week, get fuzzScoota and johno, It'll be class!

I'll be in late Tuesday and Wednesday evening this week...;) I'm sure fuzz and john won't take too much persuading.

ethernet

witnessmenow wrote: »

On one hand programing all day would drive me insane (IT would be driven towards programing only) ...

Ah, there's not *that* much programming! Two hour lab once a week and two hours of lectures in that language. In second year, you also dabble with assembly and C (to follow up from first year) as part of the comp. systems and org. module but it's nothing major.

In ECE we get to do a bit more with hardware, like working with microprocessors that the ITs dont do afaik, I personally enjoyed working with them but there is a good few people in my class who hated them! But in IT you would learn more about databases etc..

You work with microcontrollers, programming in assembly, in the above module. Nitty-gritty to say the least The database module is genuinely useful; even more so if they didn't focus so strongly and exclusively on MS Access alone, although this is quite understandable in a single-semester module.

IT is probably easier to get into as you do not need honours maths (I think you need an A in pass though). But dont think that makes the maths in IT any easier, Engineers and ITs do the exact same exam in maths in first year(different lectures but we sit the same exam paper).

Correct -- honours maths not required *and* and entry requirements have changed again. They've reverted to what they were previously except, this time, a European language isn't required.

synacron trion

ethernet wrote: »

Ah, there's not *that* much programming! Two hour lab once a week and two hours of lectures in that language. In second year, you also dabble with assembly and C (to follow up from first year) as part of the comp. systems and org. module but it's nothing major.

I definitely agree with you. I don't think we do too much programming. I would suggest we even do too little.

witnessmenow

I was talking about the job you get after your finished rather than what we/you do in college.

Like I couldn't do the job you got synacron, I like programming but i'd need to be doing other things too

EDIT: I'd love if there was course where you could pick and choose modules from both, like i would have done databases if it was available to me

Definitely agree there, a nice mix between embedded systems, and some programming, databases and web dev would be my ideal course.

As it is, I find some of the very Electronic orientated courses, Electromagnetic Theory, Analogue Electronics are a bit tedious and too low level.

Basically, in IT you do very little hardware stuff, but more web, databases stuff, along with a decent chunk of programming, although, ECE generally do alot of the the same programming as IT

ECE you get a nice mix of programming and hardware stuff, high level (Java, C) and low level, (VHDL, Assembly) but also some very low level electronics subjects

EE is focussed around hardware and control systems and has a bit in common with mechanical eng, you do some programming too, 1st and 2nd yr, but not a whole lot.

the-island-man

Ya agree, in third year ece and only now are we doing a module on communications & networks, no databases module and no web developement!:(

Spent second year doing modules like statistics & numerical analysis!

Not bad to have knowledge of these but surely less beneficial to us than the likes of networking, databases and web dev in terms of furthering our career!

L'prof

the-island-man wrote: »

Ya agree, in third year ece and only now are we doing a module on communications & networks, no databases module and no web developement!:(

Spent second year doing modules like statistics & numerical analysis!

Not bad to have knowledge of these but surely less beneficial to us than the likes of networking, databases and web dev in terms of furthering our career!

To be honest though, does what you learn in a classroom count for much?

synacron trion

the-island-man wrote: »

Spent second year doing modules like statistics & numerical analysis!

Not bad to have knowledge of these but surely less beneficial to us than the likes of networking, databases and web dev in terms of furthering our career!

BSc. I.T. students have to do statistics too along with a couple of other maths subjects. In 2nd year I think we had 5 maths modules altogether.

From when I was looking at course outlines it looked to me like EE and ECE were more hardware orientated courses with software development whereas IT is the opposite way. It is software development with a small amount of hardware. Most of the hardware studies in the IT course is theoritical as opposed to practical, hands on study.

jasonorr wrote: »

To be honest though, does what you learn in a classroom count for much?

Very simple answer to this. Yes it does count for much.

L'prof

synacron trion wrote: »

Very simple answer to this. Yes it does count for much.

Really? Something that you only have a vague knowledge of because you took it as one module in second year could have a bearing on what job you get???

the-island-man

jasonorr wrote: »

To be honest though, does what you learn in a classroom count for much?

imo i believe it depends if your passionate about the subject. If there was a web dev module in my course i do believe i would give 100% full attention as opposed to the way i felt about numerical analysis! All i cared about in that module was picking up marks!:D

L'prof

the-island-man wrote: »

imo i believe it depends if your passionate about the subject. If there was a web dev module in my course i do believe i would give 100% full attention as opposed to the way i felt about numerical analysis! All i cared about in that module was picking up marks!:D

Maybe, I just feel that my degree (what I've done of it so far) won't be enough to get me a decent job, I think next year, with the project that might change though!

I'm doing 3rd year honours NA this year and it's torture!

synacron trion

jasonorr wrote: »

Really? Something that you only have a vague knowledge of because you took it as one module in second year could have a bearing on what job you get???

Sorry, I meant as a whole, taking into account all the subjects you do you end up with a lot of knowledge. It also depends on what the-island-man said too. If you are interested in what you are studying you will give it more effort than something you aren't interested in.

Also, university isn't supposed to teach you everything you need to know about the job you are going to get when you leave college. University is about giving you the tools to understand your job's domain and to work within it.

For instance, I know a lot about Java as I have been programming with it for three years and my final year project is being coded in Java. Does that mean I can be classed as a competent Java developer. No. I haven't done anything big enough to merit being called that. But what I have is the fundamental basics of Java, and programming in general so that when I enter a job, I will be able to quickly learn what I need to know to complete my job. Pit that against someone who hasn't a clue about Java or programming...I'm pretty much a genius against them

Your career will constantly change. You will be in a constant state of training. College gives you the background knowledge you need to be able to adapt and learn.

the-island-man wrote: »

imo i believe it depends if your passionate about the subject. If there was a web dev module in my course i do believe i would give 100% full attention as opposed to the way i felt about numerical analysis! All i cared about in that module was picking up marks!:D

+1

synacron trion

jasonorr wrote: »

Maybe, I just feel that my degree (what I've done of it so far) won't be enough to get me a decent job, I think next year, with the project that might change though!

Well, you aren't finished yet so I wouldn't worry too much. Placement should give you some good experience too. Companies don't expect graduates to be all-knowing. They know they are going to have to train you for X amount of months. I heard a figure at a career talk that said graduates on average take 6 months to become proficient enough that the company stops losing money on them