Year 4 only 1 specialization?

arleitiss

Hey, I am in Year 1 now, but I was wondering:
I am doing Computing level 8 (BSHC1)
Can I choose more than 1 specialization? Like gaming and networking or can you choose more?

Clanket

Was thinking the same myself a while back. I'd love to do software systems and gaming but think I can only pick 1. I was planning on finding out more at some stage. Let us know if you find out any info.

Mmmm_Lemony

The 3 specialisations in Year 4 are;

Gaming and Multimedia Design Specialisation
... Applied Artificial Intelligence
... Multimedia and Mobile Application Development
... Computer Graphics Design and Animation
... Software Project

Networking and Mobile Technologies Specialisation
... Distributed Systems
... Multimedia and Mobile Application Development
... Business and Network Security
... Software Project

Software Systems Specialisation
... Distributed Systems
... Applied Artificial Intelligence
... Business and Network Security
... Software Project

As you can see each one has software project as a core. From what I have been told, your final project will contain components of all the modules of you specialisation.

I'd imagine 'Multimedia and Mobile Application Development' would require a solid foundation in networks etc...but the other 2 have specifically related modules (Biz and Net sec).

Its a long way away from 1st year anyway. Just finishing second year myself (PT) and I figured I would love to do computer graphics and gaming when I first started, but now I'm swaying towards the other 2.

Probably all change by next year too. You won't have to make a decision until you start the application and payment process for 4th year.

Crash Override

Hi guys,

I'm going into 4th year of the same course in September.

They have added a 4th specialisation which is CLoud computing.

And no, you can only pick one Specialisation but most there are only like 2 different modules in each one, There are madatory modules which are the same for each group.

Crash Override

Mmmm_Lemony wrote: »

You won't have to make a decision until you start the application and payment process for 4th year.

It's a little earlier than that. We are having a information day at the end of May where they will go through the specialisations with us and then we have to have made our decision by end first week of June I think.

There is still plenty of time anyway.

The other years will cover most of the types of topics in the 4th year choices and you will know which one you want to do by that time.

Mmmm_Lemony

Thanks, our lecturer had said september. Still gives me a year and a bit to decide.

What will you decide to do yourself?

On a seperate note, any subjects tough in 3rd year?

Best of luck in the exams!

Crash Override

Mmmm_Lemony wrote: »

Thanks, our lecturer had said september. Still gives me a year and a bit to decide.

What will you decide to do yourself?

On a seperate note, any subjects tough in 3rd year?

Best of luck in the exams!

They might be changing it from next year onwards to gie students more time but for us, it's June.

As for subject in third year, not really ha. Funny thing is I found 1 or 2 subjects in second year kind of tough and annoying but I quite enjoyed the topics. In short I found second year harder than third.

I suppose the project in 3rd year was quite difficult. It was basically 'do what you want' (within reason) and you had to more or less code it yourself (in a team of 3-5). We made an educational game for kids (kind of maths based) which was written in Java and JavaFX (which we learned ourselves). Other than that I thought third year was a doddle.

Thanks for the good luck but 2nd semester in third year is work experience so I've been working all this semester and have no exams.

Good Luck to yourself!

LFCFan

One thing to be aware of is that if there are not enough students who want to do a particular specialisation, they will scrap it for that year. Pretty horrendous if you've been gearing yourself up for an area for 3 years and then have your hopes dashed!!

Clanket

That's crap alright. Has it actually happened much? I'd hazard a guess and say that the 3 strands probably get about equal numbers (or thereabouts) each year.

LFCFan

AFAIK, this year the Gaming/Multimedia and Software Systems specialisations was scrapped because there wasn't enough signing up for it so only the Cloud Computing and Mobile/Networking modules are going ahead.

Clanket

Fúck that. I'll be emailing them about this in September. The gaming and Software systems are the only two that interest me.

Out of interest, how many people are left in your year for Year 4?

Our class shrunk from about 60 to no more than 40 before the exams. I've no idea how many will be back come September.

LFCFan

We started with around 80/90 which was a mix of the Computing/BIS and Higher Cert students. This mix is now down to around 30 at the end of 3rd year with around 14 of these being the Computing Degree class. The bulk of drop outs happened in the first semester of 1st year.

Crash Override

LFCFan wrote: »

AFAIK, this year the Gaming/Multimedia and Software Systems specialisations was scrapped because there wasn't enough signing up for it so only the Cloud Computing and Mobile/Networking modules are going ahead.

How reliable is your source for that? We have't heard anything in regards to that yet.

Clanket wrote: »

Fúck that. I'll be emailing them about this in September. The gaming and Software systems are the only two that interest me.

Out of interest, how many people are left in your year for Year 4?

Our class shrunk from about 60 to no more than 40 before the exams. I've no idea how many will be back come September.

Clanket are you in BIS or BSc? I'm BSc and there's not a lot left. I don't think emailing them will help change their minds but I guess its worth a try.

LFCFan

Crash Override wrote: »

How reliable is your source for that? We have't heard anything in regards to that yet.

According to 2 of the lads in the class, they didn't get their first choice of specialisation because not enough wanted to do it so got their second choice. No reason why they wouldn't get their first choice if the specialisations were going ahead!

Clanket

Crash Override wrote: »

Clanket are you in BIS or BSc? I'm BSc and there's not a lot left. I don't think emailing them will help change their minds but I guess its worth a try.

BSc. Yeh you're probably right but I'll still email them to see what they say.

Crash Override

LFCFan wrote: »

According to 2 of the lads in the class, they didn't get their first choice of specialisation because not enough wanted to do it so got their second choice. No reason why they wouldn't get their first choice if the specialisations were going ahead!

True, and what specialisation was that? Gaming and Multimedia or Software?

I'm only interested in Networking and Mobile Technologies myself but just wondering what ones look like they're getting scrapped.

Clanket wrote: »

BSc. Yeh you're probably right but I'll still email them to see what they say.

Out of both semesters there are 3 difference lectures in each specialisation.

One in semester 1 and Two in semester 2.

Guess We'll see in September. I don't actually blame the college for doing that if isn't enough people it kinda makes sense.

arleitiss

I just finished by 1st year, doing BSHC course. 3 more years to go, so far 2 people are confirmed to have Dropped out. About 20 more are unknown as we don't have contact with them much so we dont know their results, and about 7-10 are repeating. We had rougly 70 people in course, now I expect to see around 50-60

LFCFan

Crash Override wrote: »

True, and what specialisation was that? Gaming and Multimedia or Software?

Both as far as I know. From what I can see only the Cloud Computing and the Mobile/Networking specialisations survived.

arleitiss

What is cloud computing specialization? I mean like what can you learn in it? Open google drive, upload, done. That's it?
Or does it teach also how framework of cloud computing service is formed, how to set up such, how to code it and so on?

LFCFan

arleitiss wrote: »

What is cloud computing specialization? I mean like what can you learn in it? Open google drive, upload, done. That's it?
Or does it teach also how framework of cloud computing service is formed, how to set up such, how to code it and so on?

Well, obviously it's how to develop Cloud computing services!!

Clanket

I've received an email back from NCI saying:-

"Cloud Computing and Mobile and Multimedia specialisations were by far the most popular choice with the final year part-time students".

So they're the only two going ahead this year.

The email also said that this is the first year of specializations. So there's no track record to guess what way it will go in future.

I'll be sick if I don't get my first or second choice come 4th year. It's a bit off so no point worrying about it until it comes around.

Clanket

Can anyone tell me what 3rd year part-time students did for the work placement this year? Did you get a job? How many hours did you have to do? Was there something else available if you were unable to do work placement because of full-time job?

clubcrown

LFCFan wrote: »

Well, obviously it's how to develop Cloud computing services!!

I'd imagine it would be similar to:

MSC part time

which is the module list for both the MSC and the postgrad diploma which we're just finishing up at the moment. Probably just the deployment and cloud computing modules, as you guys would be doing most of the other stuff already.

liamog

Clanket wrote: »

Can anyone tell me what 3rd year part-time students did for the work placement this year? Did you get a job? How many hours did you have to do? Was there something else available if you were unable to do work placement because of full-time job?

I think only 2 people in the course didn't get exemptions based on prior work, there was also some wrangling over students who were on the Free Fee's scheme due to work experience cancelling your dole money.