BN518 : Master of Science in Computing - Request for advice

TestLink

I have applied for the BN518 - Master of Science in Computing at ITB this year. I would like to get some advice on which specialization to take from those who study either stream or those who are working in these areas.

1. Information Security and Digital Forensics
2. Business Intelligence and Data Mining

Actually I am Interested in both, but I know I have to select one if I am offered a place. Working in IT Support now, interested to know the scope of getting a job in the above streams.

Tom Dunne

ITguru wrote: »

I have applied for the BN518 - Master of Science in Computing at ITB this year. I would like to get some advice on which specialization to take from those who study either stream or those who are working in these areas.

1. Information Security and Digital Forensics
2. Business Intelligence and Data Mining

I've just switched jobs from Database consultant to academia and the company I was working for was doing a lot of work in the whole BI/Data Mining area. They reckoned it was one of the few areas of growth over the next while, or at least the one with the greatest potential.

Parawind

I have actually applied for the same masters, i did my degree there too so i have done both of those topics with the lecturers who will be teaching the masters.

What Tom says above is true, theres a lot of companies looking into this now and this is the first course of its kind in Business Intelligence and Data Mining in Ireland.

I personally find the text mining / web content mining aspect quite interesting, but its very much an area that you will either love or hate.

You will be working with a program called rapidminer, which is a very advanced application. Also the 2 Lecturers running this stream are currently writing a book on rapidminer with the creators of the application.
This stream is also 100% CA, so you won't have any exams, just continous assessment on projects and lab work etc.

As for Information Security and Digital Forensics, its a hugely interesting area and the topics are very diverse. This is i think 60% exam and 40% ca. I have actually just started working in this area as a Security Consultant, so as you can imagine i quite enjoy it. The advantage of this masters would be that you can apply this to a wider array of jobs, since every company thinks Information Security is important.

So one stream leaves you very specialised in a new emerging area of computing where as the other leaves you specialised in an area that is applicable to a wide selection of jobs. Its a very tough call, but if you can't decide you will be able to pick and choose certain subjects from any of the streams and try to make one that fits you the best.

1. Information Security and Digital Forensics Anthony Keane
2. Business Intelligence and Data Mining Geraldine Gray

Those are the lecturers in charge of those streams and i have had both before and both are quite helpful. I can tell you that the lecturers for both areas are very good and passionate about these topics.

I, like you totally ignored the 3rd stream, i'm not a big fan of localisation.


Hopefully some of this will help you make your choice but remember you can pick and choose subjects if you can't decide on either one. Also remember your disertation should be in the area you decide to specialise so make sure you take that into account also.

TestLink

Thanks a million for the replies.

Parawind,
Does the Business Intelligence and Data Mining involves writing sql queries to generate the result or custom programs like rapidminer you mentioned are used to do that? Sorry for my ignorance in this area.

Tom Dunne

ITguru wrote: »

Parawind,
Does the Business Intelligence and Data Mining involves writing sql queries to generate the result or custom programs like rapidminer you mentioned are used to do that? Sorry for my ignorance in this area.

Usually it is done with custom tools.

If you were to do it by hand, you would still have to feed the data into some sort of analysis tools.

Parawind

There may be a module that contains that but i can't say for sure, you will most likely use rapidminer or something else to do it. I doubt they will ask you to write the sql since its more about the classification and clustering of data then anything i'd say.

TestLink

Thanks...

TestLink

I have been offered a place in the BN518 - Master of Scence in Computing Course in Information Security and Digital Forensics stream. The registration is on Tuesday 22nd Sept. Have a few more queries...

1. Is this a Post graduate Degree that would be recognised by universities outside the country or a FETAC LEVEL 9 qualification that has value in Ireland only (please correct me if I am wrong)?

2. How can I reach the the Institute of Technology from Blanchardstown Shopping Centre?

3. The class would be until 10.00 pm. Is there any public transport option available at that time?

Tom Dunne

ITguru wrote: »

1. Is this a Post graduate Degree that would be recognised by universities outside the country or a FETAC LEVEL 9 qualification that has value in Ireland only (please correct me if I am wrong)?

It is FETAC Level 9, but it is well recognised outside of Ireland.

ITguru wrote: »

2. How can I reach the the Institute of Technology from Blanchardstown Shopping Centre?

http://www.itb.ie/site/keypages/findus.htm

ITguru wrote: »

3. The class would be until 10.00 pm. Is there any public transport option available at that time?

No so sure about this, perhaps some of the locals could advise you.

kenon

ITguru wrote: »

3. The class would be until 10.00 pm. Is there any public transport option available at that time?

Get one of the 38s from Corduff, opposite the church. They run until 11.30pm.

MartinAnt

Hey guys, for those of you actually doing this course now, how is it going? I have been looking into the course lately and would be very interested in hearing about the Business Intelligence and Data Mining stream.

What sort of topics are being taught, what level of knowledge would be expected (I have a Computer Science degree) and what is the breakdown between lectures / labs / etc. Also what kind of tools or applications are being used in the labs, are they the same as those that appear in the job specs in this area, e.g. SSRS, SSAS, Cognos, and are you learning to create things like cubes, dashboards, scorecards, etc?

Thanks,
MartinAnt