Computer Applications

FocusRS

Just wonderin whats involved in the course? hours, what kinda stuff your at etc,etc.! Im in Dit at the moment but the facilites and at least my lecturers are fairly shoite and was thinkin of changing course! Also does anyone know if i change to this course in september do i pay fee's for this course?? thanks!:D

Gman1

FocusRS wrote: »

Just wonderin whats involved in the course? hours, what kinda stuff your at etc,etc.! Im in Dit at the moment but the facilites and at least my lecturers are fairly shoite and was thinkin of changing course! Also does anyone know if i change to this course in september do i pay fee's for this course?? thanks!:D

You will have to pay the registration fee as long as your not a mature student.

Info on the course can be found here:
http://computing.dcu.ie/prospective/undergraduate/ca/

There is a good bit of programming in the course, as far as I know its mainly Java that is done, but other languages such as Prolog, C++, assembly, HTML, XHTML, javascript.

Facilities were fairly decent but over recent years, there has been a reduction in computer labs. They get smaller every year. Hours are not too bad.

Attol

What year are you in?

If you're in 1st year in DIT and start in first year of computer apps you'll have to pay for first year, if you're in second year in DIT and start computer apps you'll have to pay for first and second year etc. If you're on a similar course you may have a chance at transferring. eg. If you successfully complete first year of a similar course in DIT you may have a chance of getting into second year in DCU. You'd be best off getting in touch with a member of staff from the school if you'd like to enquire about that. http://www.computing.dcu.ie/people/index.html

I enjoy the course. I'm in 3rd year. There are about 20 hours a week but you're expected to do assignments and practicals outside of that time. As long as you keep on top of your coursework it's grand. 3rd year is a bit different to the others. We have one semester of lectures. After Christmas we have our first semester exams then when we return after our break we start an optional two week module. We can choose between Communication Skills and IT Architecture with IBM. We'll be working full time on our 3rd year project until April, which is when we start INTRA - a 6 month work placement.

Gman1

Attol wrote: »

We can choose between Communication Skills and IT Architecture with IBM. We'll be working full time on our 3rd year project until April, which is when we start INTRA - a 6 month work placement.

Communication Skills easiest module ive ever done. :cool:

Zerroth

Applied for this course through the CAO. Any recommendations of getting a headstart in the meantime?

Pygmalion

Zerroth wrote: »

Applied for this course through the CAO. Any recommendations of getting a headstart in the meantime?

Learn some basic programming if you haven't already (we use Java as the main language in first year, Google for resources).
If you find it too hard, or just don't find it interesting, take advantage of the change of mind facility available and do something completely unrelated to computers, otherwise you'll just drop out or fail in first year.

No point sugar-coating that, I'm in second year now and over 50% of the starting class are already gone, most of whom just put the course down without knowing what was involved.
Edit: That's not to say it's just a programming course, there's a lot of theory involved and some business and maths modules etc., but it's what seems to get most people, and essentially every module you do for the first two years at least involves programming in some form.

Zerroth

Pygmalion wrote: »

Learn some basic programming if you haven't already (we use Java as the main language in first year, Google for resources).
If you find it too hard, or just don't find it interesting, take advantage of the change of mind facility available and do something completely unrelated to computers, otherwise you'll just drop out or fail in first year.

No point sugar-coating that, I'm in second year now and over 50% of the starting class are already gone, most of whom just put the course down without knowing what was involved.
Edit: That's not to say it's just a programming course, there's a lot of theory involved and some business and maths modules etc., but it's what seems to get most people, and essentially every module you do for the first two years at least involves programming in some form.

This is probably the last course I'll ever do. Already have a degree in Electronic Engineering from IT Tallaght. Spent 2 years unemployed. Attempted a masters in Electronic Systems at DCU (The nanoelectronics and Network Implementation bit). But dropped out before christmas. I suppose it was too tough (quite the jump what I had previously done) and it bored me to tears with exception of the subject on Java.

Enjoyed programming in my undergrad course. Have experience in C/C++ and Java. Have done some businessy and discrete maths in the past. So I highly doubt I'll be failing first year.

I guess I'll just go through the recommended reading materials and any other recommendations are welcome.

Useful.Idiot

Hello there,

I'm just wondering what standard of programming one would need to have in order to keep on top of things in the 3rd year of Computer Applications!

I should be in this years 3rd year, but I had 4 repeats in 2nd year and failed one (Assembly) so I had to repeat the year. Got assembly the 2nd time round (embarassingly not by too much though) and I just want to know what kind of skills I'd need to get a good start into third year? Is the java much more advanced than Operating Systems and Data Structures last year? And what level of C++ programming would you need to be skilled at? I only knew the basics of C++ to pass the OO Design exam, I couldn't really quickly string a program together though.

I plan to study some books/play around with some past assignments in the next few months as I have some free time! I figured I should post this here instead of starting a new thread as it would attract most CA heads. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!