Computer courses ?

war2k10

Hi i'm looking at different courses to do with computing but don't know what one is the right one for me :O i want to be more on the side of making/ fixing computers and a small bit of programming is there anything like that ?

JD Dublin

similar to you I was looking at doing a course. I currently work in finance but I am interested in getting up to speed in technology. I read about this course MSc in Computing which is a conversion course for non-IT graduates. Any views boardies? Basically looking for something that will bring my knowledge up to date and give me a basic knowledge of programming etc.

the evil lime

I have that degree and had some prior experience going into it. In general, given my prior knowledge of some of the areas and my experience on other post-grad courses, I feel it wasn't challenging enough until the final 3 months where I chose my own courses.

However, if you're looking for the basic introduction to the area building to some reasonable competency, it's decent enough. I'd have just liked it to go further, which they could have achieved by pushing harder, and be less practically focused. Very little discussion of what I'd term computer science, though a lot of coverage of the basic skills of programming and database development etc. Some hardware too.

JD Dublin

the evil lime wrote: »

I have that degree and had some prior experience going into it. In general, given my prior knowledge of some of the areas and my experience on other post-grad courses, I feel it wasn't challenging enough until the final 3 months where I chose my own courses.

However, if you're looking for the basic introduction to the area building to some reasonable competency, it's decent enough. I'd have just liked it to go further, which they could have achieved by pushing harder, and be less practically focused. Very little discussion of what I'd term computer science, though a lot of coverage of the basic skills of programming and database development etc. Some hardware too.

Do you use the degree in your job now? Or did the degree help you to get a job? I think the prospects are better job-wise for someone that has an IT qualification, I am just wondering if this is the one for me.

the evil lime

I do get some use out of what I learned from the degree in my job. It's not applicable to the core of what I do, but it is tangentially useful. However, I can't answer whether it helped me get the job. I hadn't applied for a job like this before I did the degree and I don't know how the hiring process would have gone without my having had it.

ironclaw

war2k10 wrote: »

Hi i'm looking at different courses to do with computing but don't know what one is the right one for me :O i want to be more on the side of making/ fixing computers and a small bit of programming is there anything like that ?

No computer science program in the country will teach you very much about hardware. They are very science based, very mathematical in places (UCD for instance) On the whole, they teach Java, C and not a whole lot else. Most people learn their programming themselves once they have a basic knowledge of one language. Most IT people spend about half their time in official courses, and make up the rest with seminars and day courses. They're worth a lot more in the IT world.

Unless you need a degree, your better off picking up a few 'For Dummies..' books and reading in your spare time. You'll get a lot more out of it as opposed to sitting in a classroom for 2 years. Then if a particular area takes your fancy, grab a night course and get an accreditation.