MSc. in Data Analytics

Paddy Orwell

Hello, i would be interested in knowing the views of anyone currently doing this course; MSc. in Data Analytics DIT Kevin Street. How intense is it? Is it up to date with latest developments, is it dumbed down or does it push you. Any other thoughts. Many thanks

D-Generate

Hi Paddy,

I just looked at that course there and to be honest it doesn't strike me as having the syllabus or depth of an MSc. There are too many courses about developing research skills rather than studying the concepts behind Data Analytics/Machine Learning etc.

To me an MSc should be a bit more focused on a single area and make you more specialised. For instance I did an MSc in Machine Learning in UCL and basically it took the content of that module in the MSc in Data Analytics and focused solely on it. Some of the modules we had were,
Supervised Learning
Graphical Models and Bayesian Networks
Evolutionary Algorithms and Techniques
Mathematical Programming and Research Methods
Optimization
Probabilistic and Unsupervised Learning
Information Retrieval
Machine Vision
Bioinformatics
Intelligent Systems in Business

On a side note, the maths involved in Machine Learning is damn tough so definitely brush up on probability and stats before commencing any course related to it.

Paddy Orwell

D-Generate, Many thanks for your info it is much appreciated.To be honest i am in my late 30s and probably a bit too long in the tooth to be reinventing wheels but would like to take advantage of cutting edge developments. I think from my perspective I am likely to be more veering to the side of being an end-user of the software tools already out there with perhaps some customising using my limited stats and programming skills (was thinking of looking at learning r-programming). I was a bit concerned alright about too much emphasis on research methods but the stuff you outlined seems quite technical and might not be a natural progression for someone like myself who is more into data analysis. As it happens i stumbled on another msc. (Business Intelligence & Data Mining) in Blanch IT which is also of interest (http://www.itb.ie/StudyatITB/bn518BID.html) (see also attachment for more detailed outline if interested). They seem to be using RapidMiner mainly where DIT place a greater emphasis on SAS.
Would be interested to know what you thought if you had a minute. Again many thanks for getting back to me.

runcowboy

Hi, did you end up doing one of these courses?

Paddy Orwell

i am going to do the Msc Comp Science (Negotiated Learning) in UCD and take alot of the data mining and statistics modules (including machine learning) - currently on the Khanacademy site brushing up on Matrix Algebra!

runcowboy

Paddy, what do you see yourself working as/in when you're done? Have you seen anything particularly interesting out there?

SLDeviant

Why did you decide to go with the negotiated learning Masters?

I was looking at the same, but decided to go with DIT because the course is partnered with SAS and my workplace uses SAS.

Also the fact it has a case studies component that covers real workplace applications of the theory was appealing.

I am genuinely worried I've bet on the wrong horse though, since there doesn't seem to be any feedback from anyone on what they thought of the course. Oh well, deposits in already, can't back out now.

Paddy Orwell

SL Deviant, I primarily did it because they had a greater focus on stats and programming (and in particular the R statistical programming language) and i have a bit of knowledge both so i thought UCD would give me better leverage from my existing skills set. SAS is a big plus though and i'd say the DIT course will be good. Not sure though if you can't get your deposit back and change at the last minute. I know i would try if i wasn't happy.

Paddy Orwell

Runcowboy, i am hoping to use the skills where i work (public sector) on administrative data. But there are alot of jobs out there for Data Analyst type roles - check out irishjobs.ie

Paddy Orwell

PS. SLDeviant, i may still do one module in DIT - Databases for Data Analytics if it isn't sufficiently covered by UCD.

SLDeviant

Paddy Orwell wrote: »

PS. SLDeviant, i may still do one module in DIT - Databases for Data Analytics if it isn't sufficiently covered by UCD.

I'm a DBA/DBD by trade so the Data and Database design module was another selling point. I'm going to remain cautiously optimistic.

Paddy Orwell

Ah, then the DIT course sounds like a better fit given your background.

lilijoyce

SLDeviant wrote: »

Why did you decide to go with the negotiated learning Masters?

I was looking at the same, but decided to go with DIT because the course is partnered with SAS and my workplace uses SAS.

Also the fact it has a case studies component that covers real workplace applications of the theory was appealing.

I am genuinely worried I've bet on the wrong horse though, since there doesn't seem to be any feedback from anyone on what they thought of the course. Oh well, deposits in already, can't back out now.

Hi,
hope you are getting on well with your course. How's it going for you? I have accepted the offer to do this course in DIT next September. I am bit worried what level of programming is expected for the course. Do you think it's worth while to brush up on C or Java before the course or try and figure out SAS before September?
Thanks

Metar

Hi, am on the course. Very little programming on the course - so nothing to worry about if you are concerned about it. You will not need C or Java, maybe some SQL in the DB focussed modules. Familiiarity with SAS might help, but in reality it is no drawback if you have no SAS experience, you will pick it up. There are a number of people with zero programming and all got through the modules.

lilijoyce

Thanks for the info. That sounds good.

connorsml

Did any of you go ahead with this course at DIT in the end? I was thinking of giving it a go part-time.

ramblingcelt

Was doing the MSc by NL in UCD as well. Not very impressed so am looking to move as really need to be able to do the stuff rather than kust talk about it.

Am considering the new DCU course. Done a few courses there and while they make you work, you do learn. So am hoping the new Data Analytics course will be good.

http://www.dcu.ie/prospective/deginfo.php?classname=MCM

RogerRabid

I'm worried about what D-Generate said about DIT? I've got four years of research methods behind me already and I really want to focus on computer science/ data analytics hard skills - specialized skills.

To develop serious skills as a data analyst which would be the best route then:

1) H Dip in computing DIT.......followed by MSc in computing DIT (majoring in data analytics)

2) MSc Conversion UCD (select machine learning, tatistical and other relevant modules in third semester)

3) Either HDip from DIT or Msc from UCD........followed by a year working/saving and......Msc in computational statistics and machine learning in UCL


Any toughts

ramblingcelt

Have been looking at all the courses and still cannot decide which ikriore likely to secure a job afterwards.

At the moment it is hard to see what industry wants as the sector is still immature.

If you want to compare what other courses are running have a look at:

http://whatsthebigdata.com/2012/08/09/graduate-programs-in-big-data-and-data-science/

Am thinking now I will wait and do a shorter course in analytics such the one in CIT.

hithesh

I have an offer from DIT for this course (Msc in Data Analytics).
I'm a non European citizen and I have a few specific questions.
1. How good is this course in DIT?
2. Are there enough job prospects after this course?
3. They say that DIT is not a highly ranked University as UCD or Trinity. Will this factor matter when I search for jobs or return to my homeland(India) or go to other countries after the course?
4. I'm an ETL (Data Warehouse) tester with 4 years of experience in the IT industry. Would this course suit my profile and help me to take my career to the next level?

vital_parsley

Hi Hithesh,

Please let us know if you have taken up any of the courses offered to you, and how was your experience.
Apologies for answering this late.
1. How good is this course in DIT?
As per the research , its a pretty decent course, btu do your own research on this, as your requirement may differ.
2. Are there enough job prospects after this course?
Its not a cake walk, is what I have heard;but certainly not impossible.
3. They say that DIT is not a highly ranked University as UCD or Trinity. Will this factor matter when I search for jobs or return to my homeland(India) or go to other countries after the course?
DIT is an institute, whereas the latter are universitites, so cannot compare the rankings.
It should definitely be a value add wherever you go.
4. I'm an ETL (Data Warehouse) tester with 4 years of experience in the IT industry. Would this course suit my profile and help me to take my career to the next level?
You are from testing background ,so I understand that you may not have a good development experience.But I think that should hardly matter, considering the subjects offered.

conair1234

Hey,

I have been accepted in the DIT course starting in September?

Did you take the DIT course? if so how was it? Is it worth doing?

Thanks

jim salter

Holy thread revival Batman

P60

Hi,

Has anyone find the Professional Diploma or MSc in Data Analytics Online in UCD in recent years? It would be great to get some opinions on it!