Science :september 2013

Javire

Im currently in sixth year and im hopng to do physics or undenominated science in nuig in the comming september .

But I have a problem Im not sure weather to do undenominated science or a straight up physics degree ,what is the advantage of doing undenominated science specialising in physics over say just a physics degree or vice versa ?
Which are most saught after by employers ?
I like the small class sizes that come with the physics degree but is this enough to choose it over a possibly superior undenominated science physics degree ?Also id like to have the option to go on and do a HDip after my degree to be able to be a physics and maths teacher if thats possible .

Also when renting accomidation in first year is it best to get your own appartment?


Any help is much apprececiated

ciano1

Javire wrote: »

But I have a problem Im not sure weather to do undenominated science or a straight up physics degree ,what is the advantage of doing undenominated science specialising in physics over say just a physics degree or vice versa ?
Which are most saught after by employers ?
I like the small class sizes that come with the physics degree but is this enough to choose it over a possibly superior undenominated science physics degree ?Also id like to have the option to go on and do a HDip after my degree to be able to be a physics and maths teacher if thats possible .

Also when renting accomidation in first year is it best to get your own appartment?


Any help is much apprececiated

If you enter NUIG through the undenominated science route, you can easily transfer into one of the denominated physics courses after first year (Physics with applied physics/Astrophysics/medical physics etc).

All of the classes will be big in first year as all the science students will be mixed together for physics/maths lectures.

As for accommodation, do a search of the NUIG forum,. There have been many discussions about it in the past

ChemHickey

I'm not sure if it'd be as easy as other years to transfer over from undenominated seeing as they are introducing the new physics course which encoporates and amalgamates all the other denom. physics into one, so keep that in mind too.

ciano1

ChemHickey wrote: »

I'm not sure if it'd be as easy as other years to transfer over from undenominated seeing as they are introducing the new physics course which encoporates and amalgamates all the other denom. physics into one, so keep that in mind too.

Really? Didn't know that! So NUIG will only have one undergraduate physics course?

Javire

ChemHickey wrote: »

I'm not sure if it'd be as easy as other years to transfer over from undenominated seeing as they are introducing the new physics course which encoporates and amalgamates all the other denom. physics into one, so keep that in mind too.

Thanks but what id really like to know is weather im better off to do the denominated vs undenominated

ciano1

Javire wrote: »

Thanks but what id really like to know is weather im better off to do the denominated vs undenominated

Well if you're 100% sure you want to go down the physics route then do the denominated course. If you wanna try out other subjects, do undenominated.
Either way you'll be in massive classes in first year, except for the specialist physics modules which would be part of the denominated course.

Javire

Thanks What kind of hours could I expect in first year ? Oh and also I do HL maths and physics so is the first year just going to be alot of repetition for me ?:)

ciano1

Javire wrote: »

Thanks What kind of hours could I expect in first year ? Oh and also I do HL maths and physics so is the first year just going to be alot of repetition for me ?:)

I don't know about the physics course as it's gonna be the first year the new course will be running.

In first year of undenominated science anyway (Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology), you have 3 lectures per week in Physics, Chemistry and Biology and 4 lectures a week in maths. You also have a 2 hour lab in Biology and Physics and a 3 hour lab in Chemistry. That's 20 hours per week + any tutorials you decide to go to.

As for maths, I only took pass maths in first year so I can't comment!

MadYaker

You'll have more contact hours in science than everyone except for med and engineering students, but you won't get lots of essays and assignments like you would in other courses so in my experience it kind of balances. I'm in my third year of a science degree and my advice would be have the craic in first year because the next 3 years are tough if you want to get a good degree. I went to very few lectures in first year and I still did fairly well in my exams. Don't skip labs.

biddywiddy

ciano1 wrote: »

If you enter NUIG through the undenominated science route, you can easily transfer into one of the denominated physics courses after first year (Physics with applied physics/Astrophysics/medical physics etc).

Yes, the NUIG Physics courses are changing this year, with a single entry to denominated Physics. One of the modules in first year Physics will include "tasters" of the specialist topics such as Biomedical Physics, Astrophysics etc and then you decide on your specialisation. You also have to choose between Applied Maths and Biology in first year, and AFAIK Biology is required to choose a specialisation in Biomedical Physics.

There's more info here.

If you choose Undenominated Science and decide to specialise in Physics, then you will have a degree in Physics with Applied Physics. The other options (Biomedical, Theoretical and Astro) will only be available to you if you officially transfer to denominated Physics. So really, if you think you would like to take an option other than Applied Physics, it's probably a good idea to choose denominated Physics from the beginning.

Javire

biddywiddy wrote: »

Yes, the NUIG Physics courses are changing this year, with a single entry to denominated Physics. One of the modules in first year Physics will include "tasters" of the specialist topics such as Biomedical Physics, Astrophysics etc and then you decide on your specialisation. You also have to choose between Applied Maths and Biology in first year, and AFAIK Biology is required to choose a specialisation in Biomedical Physics.

There's more info here.

If you choose Undenominated Science and decide to specialise in Physics, then you will have a degree in Physics with Applied Physics. The other options (Biomedical, Theoretical and Astro) will only be available to you if you officially transfer to denominated Physics. So really, if you think you would like to take an option other than Applied Physics, it's probably a good idea to choose denominated Physics from the beginning.

If I wished to go on and do a postgraduate diploma in education could a denominated physics course give me the maths requirement ?

biddywiddy

Sorry, I have no idea about the requirements for the PDE.

MadYaker

Denominated science courses tend to involve more hours and more work than non denominated science courses. But there are benefits, for example I'll be getting a diploma in french with my degree and this year I get to do a 3 month work placement in a foreign country.