WIT Computer Forensics - Changed from a 3 year to 4 year course at start of term

pp_me

I have just finished my leaving cert and I applied through the CAO for the following course :

http://www.wit.ie/StudyatWIT/Undergr...rensics-WD161/
(Notice it is 3 years)

On Thursday the 9th of September our class group was told that our course is now 4 years.
In the 2011 prospectus for the college it is shown as 4 years,
http://www.wit.ie/StudyatWIT/request...prospectus.pdf
(Page 107)

According to the prospectus i would of seen while in 6th year, the course is 3 years.

I have been in contact with the students union, and so far have heard nothing of interest back, but they are working on it.

The class group and myself have been completely mislead, also incurring an extra years reg fee.

Biggins

Sounds like a legal issue. You might have better luck asking about your situation in the legal section.

Good luck.

gerrycollins

an extra year in college, sure will you last anyways?

alwaysadub

I'm trying to think of a WITty reply :pac:

Dean820

Its bad form, it has completely mislead all of you. But besides from their apologies I don't know what else you can expect to get off them.

Gummy Panda

Stinger.

Though an extra year in college could be good if they were cramming the content into three years but it could be they'll just make a lot of filler to make up the hours

kfallon

WIT, they make them good down there you know!

Exhibit A: kfallon

pp_me

Gummy Panda wrote: »

Stinger.

Though an extra year in college could be good if they were cramming the content into three years but it could be they'll just make a lot of filler to make up the hours

Its just filler, compared to years ahead of me that have done none of the modules i am doing.

ClutchIt

pp_me wrote: »

Not quite sure where to post this

WIT Forum

Micky Dolenz

Please don't post in AH to get to a bigger audience. Moved to a more suitable place.

Sully

The WIT Forum is fairly active and people do their best to respond when they get a chance.

You should always be reading the most up to date material, as courses change on a yearly basis. I cant see the college doing much, as its only one extra year and most degree courses are four years. Having this particular course at three was never a good idea imo, and its much better spreading it out over an extra year.

If you still feel strongly about it, then go back into your students union and remind them. There a decent enough bunch, but they sometimes need a firm kickup the backside as a reminder to respond to queries.

Have you expressed your concerns to your course leader?

Sully

pp_me wrote: »

Its just filler, compared to years ahead of me that have done none of the modules i am doing.

Its hardly a "filler". Its a pretty tough course, many students felt it over three years was crammed and tough going. Now its spread out, the likelihood is you will pickup more then would have in three years. There are some excellent lecturers in that course, you will gain from it.

Stick it out and walk away with a decent degree after four years. Less stress, more success!

MitchKoobski

Uh..I checked the first link you provided (the one for the WIT website) and found this:

Course Facts
Course Title: BSc (Hons) in Computer Forensics
Course Code: WD161
Course Level: 8
Duration: 4 years

and this

This is a four year honours degree programme equipping graduates with specialised skills and knowledge needed to examine electronic crime scenes.

I know a few students currently in 2nd and 3rd year of Forensics and the workload was pretty rough as time went on. I'd say the extra year was put in to ease the burden and make things more manageable.

pp_me

MitchKoobski wrote: »

Uh..I checked the first link you provided (the one for the WIT website) and found this:

and this


I know a few students currently in 2nd and 3rd year of Forensics and the workload was pretty rough as time went on. I'd say the extra year was put in to ease the burden and make things more manageable.

Its been changed, uploading screenshot now.
Edit :

Sully

Either way, most of the points I raised still stand.

Iv edited the topic title to reflect your original post.

pp_me

I have been keeping in contact with the students union,
As regards the filler, i am doing a module called web development, in this we are making a website, what has that got to do with computer forensics? Nothing. The years ahead of us didnt take this module and going on that, im calling it filler.

Sully

pp_me wrote: »

I have been keeping in contact with the students union,
As regards the filler, i am doing a module called web development, in this we are making a website, what has that got to do with computer forensics? Nothing. The years ahead of us didnt take this module and going on that, im calling it filler.

Okay, I was of the understanding that wasn't going well. Your on the right track, they will help you anyway.

Your mixed in with the BSc in Applied Computing (and the BSc in Physics with Computing I think) which does that module. Most of the courses in WIT are not purely strictly on the topic at hand and do tend to cover various other issues surrounding the course. Your in WIT for an education - expect to get educated on other useful items that may come in handy, despite how crazy it may seem (for example - in first year in the BSc App. Comp your thought about grammar, spelling, punctuation etc. Nothing to do with IT but all to do with essay writing and reporting for IT. Hence, extra education).

I don't think your getting a full web development lesson in that course, and you will need to know how to build and understand websites for your assignments/exams later in the course.

Websites need to be forensically examined also. Your a first year, I don't think its fair you knock the course before its begun and you see where the potential is.

aussieirl2002

To the OP
This is an intense course with a huge drop out rate currently in 3rd year there are 5 students and the 2nd year class went from 30 to 20 in first year and now is at 14 in second year (which I am currently in).

There is a lot of pressure in this course with projects and subjects from semester to semester go in bounds bypassing a lot of stuff, which we learn outside of classes to keep up. I see the extension of the course is to give a nice progression from semester to semester which wasn't available and the chance for students to actual complete the course which is a big problem, unfortunately the people who need to repeat subjects for year one are in a worse position with all these new courses.

I would suggest that your class elect a class rep. as soon as possible as it is good to have one person ye can deal with, if not find a second year and get hold of their class rep (Trevor) as he will has no problems with helping ye guys out as well with any problems ye have.

RoyalMarine

aussieirl2002 wrote: »

To the OP
This is an intense course with a huge drop out rate currently in 3rd year there are 5 students and the 2nd year class went from 30 to 20 in first year and now is at 14 in second year (which I am currently in).

There is a lot of pressure in this course with projects and subjects from semester to semester go in bounds bypassing a lot of stuff, which we learn outside of classes to keep up. I see the extension of the course is to give a nice progression from semester to semester which wasn't available and the chance for students to actual complete the course which is a big problem, unfortunately the people who need to repeat subjects for year one are in a worse position with all these new courses.

I would suggest that your class elect a class rep. as soon as possible as it is good to have one person ye can deal with, if not find a second year and get hold of their class rep (Trevor) as he will has no problems with helping ye guys out as well with any problems ye have.

woah woah woah! trevor aint the rep no more! :pac::pac::pac:

aussieirl2002

RoyalMarineComm wrote: »

woah woah woah! trevor aint the rep no more! :pac::pac::pac:

Until Monday at least

stick-dan

pp_me wrote: »

I have been keeping in contact with the students union,
As regards the filler, i am doing a module called web development, in this we are making a website, what has that got to do with computer forensics? Nothing. The years ahead of us didnt take this module and going on that, im calling it filler.

Perhaps upon completing the course you are now in you may them make such a substantiated claim but as it is now, you have no idea how important/unimportant that module will be. Personally as a few of here here have done courses which run alongside and adopt the forensics streams it is noticeably an advantage to have web development when it comes to the forensic based projects at the end of the course. Why not just give the course a chance? You learn a fantastic variance of information and some pretty cool stuff and techniques plus you get to perform tasks such as "ethical hacking" which can be fun and at the same time get you credits for your course.

areyawell

Are they introducing work expierence to the course since its four years now?

pp_me

areyawell wrote: »

Are they introducing work expierence to the course since its four years now?

Yes, Jan to Sep in year 3.

areyawell

then i dont see what the problem is. Ye should be happy that it is made 4 years so. 9 months of paid work expierence(more than likely) so ye should have no problem paying for the extra year of college!!!!
Im in the course and wish that I could have getting work expierence during it.

edmund_f

My take on it is that they are adding the 9 months work experience and one extra semester. Personally think it makes it a much better course

pp_me

Agree with above points, but there is no definate work experiance,

I was talking to a person in Entertainment Systems and I was told that they didnt get work experiance because the college "had no contacts in that field"

edmund_f

hopefully the college will be better 'connected' when we come around to doing the work placements, as we are the first year to do it suppose we will be the guniea pigs... Personally not surprised, the area of computing is moving pretty quickly i would be more worried if they never changed the course. I doubt they did this for their amusement, there must have been industry pressure (see point above)

MitchKoobski

Computer Forensics and Entertainment Systems are still quite new courses so WIT hasn't built a rapport yet with work placement for these. As far as contacts go, I think we have a good relationship with Microsoft offices up in Dublin. Can't confirm it though.

Sully

pp_me wrote: »

Agree with above points, but there is no definate work experiance,

I was talking to a person in Entertainment Systems and I was told that they didnt get work experiance because the college "had no contacts in that field"

You can work in any IT based company, not just forensics based. The college understand its harder to get people, but if you try hard enough, you will get a job.

areyawell

pp_me wrote: »

I have been keeping in contact with the students union,
As regards the filler, i am doing a module called web development, in this we are making a website, what has that got to do with computer forensics? Nothing. The years ahead of us didnt take this module and going on that, im calling it filler.

Im in third year of the course(failed one bloody module should have my degree now ) and we did web app development. It is not a filler subject. It is probably the hardest subject you will do in the course and gives you plenty of insight into web applications such as secure logins etc. How do you expect to analyse a web site attack if you know nothing about how websites work? Also plenty of jobs in web app development so not a waste of time

scottyevo8

Yeah yer fair lucky to have 4 years now. As I am in 3rd year now, I would well prefer to have had an extra year ahead of me. At the moment we've 7 modules including our final year project.... fair intense!

pp_me

Thanks for all the replies lads, helps to give an insight into the course.