Science in DCU

KKBL

Hello there, I'm in 6th year and I want to study science next year. I can see myself specialisng in one of the cell biology/biochemistry or pharmaceutical areas, but I intend on keeping my options open by also studying maths & physics in 1st year. The science common entry course in DCU seems quite inflexible and boring compared to that of TCD and UCD where there are like 15 different areas you can specialise in but they have higher points. Can anyone offer me an insight into what the science school in DCU is like?

ironictoaster

You're right in saying that other universities have a more flexible general science course, but the science courses in DCU are tailored so that you're fully prepared for the working world as the courses are heavily linked with many companies in different industries.

Science in DCU is grand in 1st year, if you do the work and not leave it last minute! However, I would say that if you're interested a particular area of science I'd go for the course most related to it rather than common entry and there's very high demand for places, particularly in biotech and you could be left disappointed.

Most of the lecturers are really nice and easy to approach if you have a problem with a particular module in my experience.

p1akuw47h5r3it

I wrote this back in March, so I'm now doing first year exams...I added in stuff were appropriate.

I'm in first year, which is common so someone else will have to tell you about later years.

Physics: Most people tend to hate it, though it's not THAT difficult, just boring (I like it however). I know this is a cliche but you just have to work at it really. It's started from a beginners level and built from there. Van Kampen is the lecturer we had fr the first twelve weeks. He goes fairly fast but is a good lecturer. Eilis McLoughlin is second and a decent enough lecturer, though I found these six weeks the most boring. The girl we have now is doing Electronics and she is a great lecturer. She writes out the maths for us so it's easy to follow.
We had a bloke called Bert Ellingboe next. He did Optics and Electromagnetic Waves. This was slightly harder and he was a different kindof lecturer to Eilis. I thought he was fine and most were happy with him, though a lot complained that he gave us a lot of work (it's college though!!)

For the first part of the module we had 3 CA's that went towards our CA worth 20%. This system was very unpopular so for this term we use Mastering Physics, meaning earning the full 20% is easier although you do tend to learn more using this. I dunno what systems will be used next year.

Maths: As I do CES, I get to choose what science to do next year. I'm leaning towards Physics so work a bit at Maths. It's fairly easy-ish (I also did Pass). Again a bit of work is required but it isn't too difficult. The lecturer we had for Semester 1 is terrible, but what she covers isn't very hard. It's pretty much just all differentiation. I personally studied for the CA's (you do 2 one in week 6 and one in week 12) using YouTube videos and Google. Her notes aren't great and she explains it using more maths which complicates things.

The semester 2 lecturer (cant remember her name) is simply brilliant. She is probably the best lecturer we have. She breaks everything down and simplifies it so everything is easy to follow. It is all explained well. Imo she makes Maths fun, she is also bit nuts!! Approach Maths with an open mind and it should be fine, it's not too difficult.

With Maths you do 4 CA's over the 2 semester as the module is a year long one (as opposed to Physics Chem and Bio which are split into 2 modules each).

Chemistry: Our first lecturer was Conor Long. He's a great lecturer though I found what he taught to be hard to understand, probably because I focused mainly on Physics during the first six weeks. He did things like Molecular Orbitals and stuff. I didn't do Chemistry in school so I was a bit lost.
Odilla Finlayson is the lecturer for the second six weeks of semester 1. She covers Physical Chemistry which is pretty much all based around the gas laws. This has been my favorite part of Chemistry so far, and is the reason I passed the exams in January! it's not too difficult, at least compared to Conor Long's part.

The Chem we are doing now deals with Titrations, acid dissociation constants etc. it's not too hard. The labs for this part fit in with the lectures fairly well meaning it's a bit easier. The lecturer, well some ppl don't seem to like him. I think he's grand though and a good lecturer.
The bloke we had for the second 6 weeks was also grand, the stuff he comes out with is gas aswell, even though he doesn't mean to be. He covers Organic Chem, again which I find hard (I prefer working with numbers)

Talking to some people who did Chemistry, they say that having done it for the Leaving Cert hasn't helped all that much as it's a bit different. I don't know though as I didn't do it so maybe some one else can clear that up.

The CA with Chemistry is done through Mastering Chemistry. I have found the MC's this term have been a lot harder than last terms ones so maybe this part is a bit harder than last terms.

Biology:The lecturer in the first term was DREADFUL. She does labs aswell and is pretty sound, just a terrible lecturer. It's easy enough though, especially if you did Bio for the LC. I did my LC a few years ago but I still remebered the odd thing. The first term lectures are very laborious and are very easy to skip if I'm honest (and what you actually learn by going to them is very debatable!). I did a year and a bit in a different Uni before switching courses and going DCU. The Bio test in January was genuinely the first test I have ever crammed the night before for. I came out with 48% and only answered 7 of 10 questions so guess that shows how easy it is.

Semester 2 so far has really bored me, I used to like Bio but since coming here have hated Bio (which is down to me not the Bio faculty or anything, in fact a lot f people I've talked to have changed their minds in regards to what they liked in school and now. This is why I think CES is a good choice for keeping your options open). We are currently doing Genetics. There is LOADS to know, a lot of information. The lecturer is quite good but lectures are very tiring as there is a lot to take in. I originally wanted to do Biotech but got CES in the CAO offers, and am delighted as I really hate Bio now and much prefer Chem and Physics.
Studying for Bio exam at the moment. it's on Wednesday and I literally have to study EVERYTHING as I did nothing in this during the year as I hate. I concentrated on the other too. I'm hoping to just wing it!

The CA in term one was done through Mastering Biology, and Semester 2 the exam is worth 100% which is a bit strange tbh.

Chem Lab: These are grand enough. It isn't too hard (though some are harder then others) and are my favorite Lab. They are run by Pat O'Malley who is sound enough. They are strict enough about being on time though and take by far the most effort. You have to a pre-lab which can sometimes take up to 40 mins to do and a post lab where you are looking at an hour probably, on average anyway.

You have to one lab report in the first semester and two in the second. We have done 2 of these so far and both times have taken me about 3hr 30mins, so they take ages! If you do Chemistry in year 2, you have to do these after every lab afaik, though I don't know how long they usually take it wouldn't surprise me if they took a similar amount of time.

Bio Labs: Really easy, really boring imo. They are run once every two weeks which is a god send as couldn't see myself doing these every week. Not a lot of work goes into them.

Physics: These can be boring sometimes, and usually are. They are good laugh though and are very laid back. Fun enough I guess. Again not a lot of work involved before or after.

Interdisciplinary Science: You only do this semester 2. IT.IS.****E. Biggest ****ing waste of time, and it takes up a good bit of it too. Could really do without it tbh. You have to do reports and stuff, for example on home Brewing (maybe sounds interesting, trust me it's not). You get put into teams of four and have to do the projects together. it's really ****.
^^^ mustve had IS that day:pac:!! It's true though what I wrote. it's terrible. I wouldn't be suprised if they got rid of it or changed it next year tbh.

Too sum up, Pass maths shouldn't be a huge problem and you should be fine with Physics with a bit of effort.

Anyway I think that covers most of first year any questions just ask.

p1akuw47h5r3it

ironictoaster wrote: »

You're right in saying that other universities have a more flexible general science course, but the science courses in DCU are tailored so that you're fully prepared for the working world as the courses are heavily linked with many companies in different industries.

Science in DCU is grand in 1st year, if you do the work and not leave it last minute! However, I would say that if you're interested a particular area of science I'd go for the course most related to it rather than common entry and there's very high demand for places, particularly in biotech and you could be left disappointed.

Most of the lecturers are really nice and easy to approach if you have a problem with a particular module in my experience.

Just to say, if you want to keep your options open then do CES. I was dead set on Biotech but didn't get the points and got CES. I was lucky cos I hate Biology now and want to do Applied Physics instead. As I said a lot of people have found that what they liked in school they don't now so unless you definitely want to do a course, do CES. The competition for places exists only for Biotech and GCB. More or less everyone who wants to do Chem or Physics gets their place.

River Song

DanDan6592 wrote: »

Interdisciplinary Science: You only do this semester 2. IT.IS.****E. Biggest ****ing waste of time, and it takes up a good bit of it too. Could really do without it tbh. You have to do reports and stuff, for example on home Brewing (maybe sounds interesting, trust me it's not). You get put into teams of four and have to do the projects together. it's really ****.

Eeeehhh, while the assignments themselves are a bit odd at times, it serves a very good purpose. It looks at the theory we do now, and have done up to now, in all our learning beyond college (i.e. Leaving Cert., etc.), and applies it in a way that will be applicable to our respective careers when we graduate. While I didn't start it until the third week of semester two (changed courses from one which does not do IS), I still thought it was a good module. Even if you don't think it's a good module, and I get what you're saying, I definitely do think it's a defining factor in what makes DCU Science so good. It in itself is very career focused, tailored to our careers in the future. It shows us how we can apply stuff like PV=nRT and the quadratic formula to real life problems which, lets face it, we will probably encounter beyond the confines of education.

Sure, if nothing else, you should have would have learned how to reference correctly :P (and also how to make alcoholic beverages cheaply :P)

p1akuw47h5r3it

Michael_E wrote: »

Eeeehhh, while the assignments themselves are a bit odd at times, it serves a very good purpose. It looks at the theory we do now, and have done up to now, in all our learning beyond college (i.e. Leaving Cert., etc.), and applies it in a way that will be applicable to our respective careers when we graduate. While I didn't start it until the third week of semester two (changed courses from one which does not do IS), I still thought it was a good module. Even if you don't think it's a good module, and I get what you're saying, I definitely do think it's a defining factor in what makes DCU Science so good. It in itself is very career focused, tailored to our careers in the future. It shows us how we can apply stuff like PV=nRT and the quadratic formula to real life problems which, lets face it, we will probably encounter beyond the confines of education.

Sure, if nothing else, you should have would have learned how to reference correctly :P (and also how to make alcoholic beverages cheaply :P)

It's a huge waste of time. Everyone I've talked to hated it. I mean I get what your saying too but I'm sorry I just don't ever see myself trying to collect methane from cows! if they want to something like this it should be cut to every two weeks or even better have a group project once a term in all the labs, similar to what we did in Chemistry.

Also it didn't help me to reference properly at all!! (Though as said was in Uni before so can do it)

ironictoaster

DanDan6592 wrote: »

Just to say, if you want to keep your options open then do CES. I was dead set on Biotech but didn't get the points and got CES. I was lucky cos I hate Biology now and want to do Applied Physics instead. As I said a lot of people have found that what they liked in school they don't now so unless you definitely want to do a course, do CES. The competition for places exists only for Biotech and GCB. More or less everyone who wants to do Chem or Physics gets their place.

Looking at the prospectus online now, seems GCB isn't an option no more.

p1akuw47h5r3it

ironictoaster wrote: »

Looking at the prospectus online now, seems GCB isn't an option no more.

I think it varies from year to year. We were told at the start of the year it would not be an option but it turned out to be (it has 8 places available). My tutor also told us that even if it had not been an option if you get really good grades (he said in top 2% so is a long shot all the same) you may get a place.

In saying all that it's very hard to get into none the less.

niq

Common entry is great for keeping your options open, however I wouldn't recommend it if you're aiming to go into physics afterwards, loads of second years apparently have trouble catching up on stuff that common entry doesn't cover.
I do physics myself, and apart from chemistry in first semester, all the modules are very much physics oriented, so I wouldn't know what you would be missing out on.