Enterprise Computing Vs. Computer Appliactions

therower1995

I'm in sixth year now and looking to do either of these course. Could someone just help me with choosing between the two.

Darren1o1

therower1995 wrote: »

I'm in sixth year now and looking to do either of these course. Could someone just help me with choosing between the two.

What are you looking to achieve from the course? Career path? Interests?

Cravez

I'd say the best way to put it would be that Computer Applications is purely computer focused and you would come out of the course with strong programming skills. If you would be interested in Programming and Software Engineering as a career this would be a good option.

Enterprise Computing would focus more on management of Technology. So for example perhaps seeing yourself in a career of IT Management, Technology Management, Project Management for an Tech/IT company etc. It does have programming modules but you wouldn't come out of the course with as strong programming skills as someone from Computer Applications.

In short Enterprise Computing would be a computer science course but focusing on management aspects of the Industry while Computer Applications would be a full on computer science course with alot of hands on experience with programming, computer architecture, networking etc.

pheno

I study Enterprise Computing, ask me anything.

By the way, the post above mine is absolutely correct.

Michael Cravez

Michael Cravez wrote: »

In short Enterprise Computing would be a computer science course but focusing on management aspects of the Industry while Computer Applications would be a full on computer science course with alot of hands on experience with programming, computer architecture, networking etc.

As far as I know, there is a lot more networking in the Enterprise Computing course

pheno

Deleted User wrote: »

As far as I know, there is a lot more networking in the Enterprise Computing course

Correct!

My advice overall is to do Enterprise Computing - that gives you a much better overall view of not only the SDLC but also how Enterprises use IT - build your programming skills then in your spare time -> the combination of the 2 will stand with you for life

therower1995

Thanks very much lads that's exactly what I was looking for

therower1995

pheno wrote: »

I study Enterprise Computing, ask me anything.

By the way, the post above mine is absolutely correct.

What is the maths like in it? I do higher maths and an hoping for a c3 in it so I'm not hopeless at maths or anything!
Secondly what kind of job prospects are there after you graduate?

pheno

therower1995 wrote: »

What is the maths like in it? I do higher maths and an hoping for a c3 in it so I'm not hopeless at maths or anything!
Secondly what kind of job prospects are there after you graduate?

Maths is not too difficult but you do have to keep up. You should be fine.
Job prospects include: IT Manager, IT Professional, IT Analyst, Web Developer (not software engineer). I done my research and found that careers are quite rewarding especially in the US and Oz.

If you have anymore q's, fire away.

internet_user

sorry to intrude your thread, but is computer applications basically a computer science course?

pheno

internet_user wrote: »

sorry to intrude your thread, but is computer applications basically a computer science course?

Yes!

Nordie Durdle

Deleted User wrote: »

My advice overall is to do Enterprise Computing - that gives you a much better overall view of not only the SDLC but also how Enterprises use IT - build your programming skills then in your spare time -> the combination of the 2 will stand with you for life

I am starting this course in September as a mature student, I was told the exact opposite of the above at the open day by a member of staff at a display stand. Very glad I paid them no attention. Can't wait to get started.

polkabunny

Deleted User wrote: »

My advice overall is to do Enterprise Computing - that gives you a much better overall view of not only the SDLC but also how Enterprises use IT - build your programming skills then in your spare time -> the combination of the 2 will stand with you for life

In fairness that's a little biased, seeing as OP wasn't quite clear on what he wants to do. If you were more interested in programming as a course but also in business you could do a postgrad course in eCommerce or the likes after.

pheno

It's very simple:

In Enterprise Computing you will learn how IT is applied in business (You will also learn programming however it won't be as forward as CA).

In Computer Applications you will basically learn programming and eventually become a software developer.

NOTE: In the EC degree you do not qualify as a programmer, however you do qualify as a web developer and IT Management.

Both courses have twists because in EC you can learn more programming on top of what you will be taught and in CA you can learn what EC learn.

Both great courses, with bright futures. Also DCU is supposed to be the centre hub to study computing in Ireland. That's what I read.

pheno

pheno wrote: »

Both courses have twists because in EC you can learn more programming on top of what you will be taught and in CA you can learn what EC learn.

Not sure if I was clear here. What I meant was, you can learn it more extensively on your own or get help from somebody.

the butcher

Graduated in 2008 from DCU with the Information Systems stream (What Enterprise Computing is now).

Started working that summer as a DBA/.NET Developer. Did that for 4 years and now a senior SQL DBA.

I wouldn't be too concerned if you like programming a lot and decide to pick Enterprise Computing instead because you want to broaden your degree a bit. If you look at the pay scales for database admin jobs you will be wanting to go into that field

Mizzstefan

what jobs could you get with enterprise computing?????????

Art_Wolf

Mizzstefan wrote: »

what jobs could you get with enterprise computing?????????

President.

koffee_rb

Mizzstefan wrote: »

what jobs could you get with enterprise computing?????????

Cool your jets.
Get past first year.

But Jobs wise, the course is aimed at management and the integration of Computers and Computing systems into a business, how to correctly undertake change management in a company.

tl;dr :
EC = Middle Management/ Consultant in I.T.
CA= Software Engineer

In saying that, I'm going into third year and have a full time job in Systems and Network Operations. It's a decent module, pretty business focused, some basic programming (Java,PHP) Databases (MySQL) and some basic bash scripting.

I enjoy the course, there's a lot of theory in it when you get to second year.

From what I've seen of CA it's much more in depth and low-level programming (from first principles; not simple) when you get into second year.

Both courses have Maths elements, with CA focusing more on it in later years; it's aimed at people who want a broad and relatively in depth education on programming & computer science.

FergusD

Okay - first off, I have to declare that I'm a CA graduate from the late 90's so there may be some bias in what I'm about to say and that my experience of CA may have been radically different from the CA course of 2013.

I am in IT management and do not think that CA does a poor job of preparing people for working in that environment.

I have interviewed Intra students recently - both CA and EC and on asking them what happens when you type www.google.com into a browser, the answers were radically different between the two groups. The CAs (generally) either understood what was happening or with some probing could come up with the sorts of things that need to happen (knowledge and analytical skills). The ECs (generally again!) were happy that it worked but not concerned with how/why.

My conclusion (rightly or wrongly) is that if I want people to solve problems, be they technical, business or programming - I am better off with CA graduates rather than EC graduates. That is not to say that there are no EC graduates that I would employ, merely to say that on a somewhat unscientific basis, I think CA forces users to have more skills in this area.

One of the key things that is missed when 18 year olds are looking at courses and course content is that what matters at the end (in the workplace and this will vary hugely) is split something like this:

- 15% what technologies/languages you learned - and this is in year 1, as you go on this reduces to practically zero.
- 45% your ability to think and apply what you know, problem solving! So if you learned systems analysis and some crazy mainframe language in 1980, the skills you learned can be applied to working on Python today.
- 40% your ability to work with others, to understand the human and other aspects of work, to get the job done, working with and around others.

Clearly there is overlap in all of these and no matter what you learn, some of it will be applicable in the workplace something I didn't appreciate when I was skipping lectures for things I considered irrelevant.

In summary then, no matter what course you select, I would suggest that in college you should work not just on the subjects that interest you, but also try to see how some of the other stuff may be either a foundation for or of use in some future role (IT manager, programmer for relevant business, etc.) I would also strongly suggest that you carefully consider and work on your people skills (and I do say this as a techie where this stuff does not come easily) - this is going to be one of the key areas that will make a difference to your career.

The ultimate aim here isn't to get a degree, it's to build the best career you can.

HTH,

Fergus.