Applied Computing or Software and Systems Development

Budds94

Hi, I've got a choice to make between either Applied Computing and Software and Systems development in WIT and I'm not really sure which way to go, the deadline is tomorrow so I'm hoping some of you will be able to give me some insight into what the courses are like (at least a further insight than the WIT website gives me which is basically saying to me that they're the same).

Also, a question about the Applied Computing course, could someone explain to me what 'Discrete Maths' is as I've looked online and can't really come up with a proper explanation, thanks.

(also apologies if there's already a place for this kind of post)

Sully

Might be a tad late to reply.

Looking at the course outline for Software and Systems Development, there similar topics covered but it has more programming orientated subjects. If programming is what you want to focus on, this appears to be your course.

Applied Computing would cover a wider and possibly deeper range of topics including programming. Covers areas including networking, gaming, artificial intelligence, and forensics. More Maths modules. The Maths is very much like Applied Maths in Leaving Cert. It is a more catch all computing course, tough but some of the modules can be very interesting.

Some of the topics like Networking, Maths and Database Systems may very well be shared with the Applied Computing classes.

Sully

Some of the Maths topics I covered (probably has changed);

1 linear algebra and vector
2 linear dependance and combinations
3 linear equations
4 eigen vectors
5 transformers
6 partial differentiation and applications
7 vector calculus and applications

Functions;

Zero Function
Polynomial
Rational Functions
Trig Equations
Logarithmic Functions
Hyperbolic Functions
Limits

1. Preliminaries
2. Differentiation and Applications
3. Integration and Applications
4. Differential Equations and Applications
5. Numerical Methods for calculus
6. Complex Numbers

This is what I have on my notes from doing Applied Computing. I can't recall what Discrete Maths covered, as some of that covers other maths modules later in the course. Its likely the course has changed a bit, so some of those topics may not be covered.

MOC88

Budds94 wrote: »

Hi, I've got a choice to make between either Applied Computing and Software and Systems development in WIT and I'm not really sure which way to go, the deadline is tomorrow so I'm hoping some of you will be able to give me some insight into what the courses are like (at least a further insight than the WIT website gives me which is basically saying to me that they're the same).

Also, a question about the Applied Computing course, could someone explain to me what 'Discrete Maths' is as I've looked online and can't really come up with a proper explanation, thanks.

(also apologies if there's already a place for this kind of post)

The applied computing is level 8 honours degree and software systems development is level 7.

The applied computing works quicker and gets you farther in your professional development. It also allows you to specialise in one elective which are games/cloud Computing/embedded systems/forensic security.

Speaking for what I saw this year of the final year projects - the majority (not all) of the applied computing final year projects were head and shoulders above the SSD projects. While the level 8 looks better you should be doing a lot of your own work on the side though. As far as I'm concerned applied computing is more demanding and offers more opportunities to develop as a software developer.



I'm only finished first year as a mature student but all the maths was relatively handy if you put in any work.
For first year applied computing it was

Sets,relations and functions

Proofs and predicate logic

Enumeration and Probability

Graph Theory

Recurrence Relations

MOC88

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056968890

Royal.Baby

Ive been looking into the various IT courses available at the college and have read quite a few threads in this forum, I'm interested in applying for one of these courses next year if all goes well.

The general vibe that i have got is that level 8 courses are better for employment overall than the level 7 courses and that Systems Software Development is seen as being the most valuable of the level 7's (that's my uneducated view of it!)

Semester 5 in the level 7 courses is flexible, I'm just wondering what are the chances of actually gaining some work experience for the few months or do most not get any at all?

brian plank

Royal.Baby wrote: »

Ive been looking into the various IT courses available at the college and have read quite a few threads in this forum, I'm interested in applying for one of these courses next year if all goes well.

The general vibe that i have got is that level 8 courses are better for employment overall than the level 7 courses and that Systems Software Development is seen as being the most valuable of the level 7's (that's my uneducated view of it!)

Semester 5 in the level 7 courses is flexible, I'm just wondering what are the chances of actually gaining some work experience for the few months or do most not get any at all?

there's no guarantee you'll get something but if you should if you apply early and keep applying as the jobs come up. you can also go on and do level 8 in ssd as a one year add on.

Budds94

Thanks guys, I picked Applied Computing at the end! I hope I'll be alright with the maths, as long as it's not done the same was as it was in the Leaving Cert I think I'll be fine.

MOC88

Budds94 wrote: »

Thanks guys, I picked Applied Computing at the end! I hope I'll be alright with the maths, as long as it's not done the same was as it was in the Leaving Cert I think I'll be fine.

It's not so much the teaching but your own motivation that's the difference. It's different when you start to see how the study impacts on your results and how it all has a knock on effect on how well you do in your degree and end up getting paid. I'd say just hang out with the crowd that does the work from the start so you don;t become complacent or lazy. The maths is designed so that you can nearly get a pass with continuous assessment if you put in the work.

Most importantly do not miss a single lecture for programming, I can't stress it enough. You'll probably have either Siobhain or Mairead - I found both are fantastic and you can ask them anything if you don't understand. Also, if you can't write the code from scratch you don't know it. Work hard form the start of the year and things will get easier. If you leave it for a few weeks to start working you'll find it very difficult to catch back up.

After that scare attack, don't worry too much, I found first year quite fun and the class is relatively small so you get to know most people in your class fairly well. If you put in the work early it will give you breathing space over the year to enjoy other stuff. You might be mixed in with other groups like forensics and enterainment systems for some lectures as well though.

PM me or post here if you've any questions about anything else you want to know about first year, and I'll get back to you!

Oh and best of luck!!!!

MOC88

Royal.Baby wrote: »

Ive been looking into the various IT courses available at the college and have read quite a few threads in this forum, I'm interested in applying for one of these courses next year if all goes well.

The general vibe that i have got is that level 8 courses are better for employment overall than the level 7 courses and that Systems Software Development is seen as being the most valuable of the level 7's (that's my uneducated view of it!)

Semester 5 in the level 7 courses is flexible, I'm just wondering what are the chances of actually gaining some work experience for the few months or do most not get any at all?

You've to build a portfolio of work doing either one and its normally ability but applied gives you more opportunity and help to develop the skills you need. Someone in level 7 could get a job before someone in level 8 if they're portfolio of projects is better.

Of course there's the recruitment agencies that can;t tell the difference between a great candidate and others so the level of the degree and results might be the only thing they're looking at. My experience of the difference was in seeing the final year projects and the majority of the applied were far better than the ssd except for one quite good one that obviously had a massive amount of work put in to it.

After all that, either should get you a job with a good result and portfolio. Level 8 would probably get you farther in the start of your career though. ANd it makes it easier if you want to do a masters etc.

fozz10

well lads. im startin in wit on the 9th doing applied computing. can someone whos doing it or done it please help me out with this query ive a family wedding out foreign on the 20th for a week so im gonna miss a full week of lectures.week 3. a nightmare i know... but it is booked and paid for and i have to go with my family. im prepared to give 200% all year and cant wait to get going but will i be able to recover in the first semester from this? this was all paid for before i even made a decision to go to college so i dont need to be told how much of a bad idea it is. i wanna know will it be possible to recover? cheers im already prepared to give my weekends and evenings to college.

Sully

fozz10 wrote: »

well lads. im startin in wit on the 9th doing applied computing. can someone whos doing it or done it please help me out with this query ive a family wedding out foreign on the 20th for a week so im gonna miss a full week of lectures.week 3. a nightmare i know... but it is booked and paid for and i have to go with my family. im prepared to give 200% all year and cant wait to get going but will i be able to recover in the first semester from this? this was all paid for before i even made a decision to go to college so i dont need to be told how much of a bad idea it is. i wanna know will it be possible to recover? cheers im already prepared to give my weekends and evenings to college.

First year isn't so bad, it gets tougher as the years go on. Just ensure you get a copy of your notes and spend some time in the library catching up. If you fall behind, its tougher to clime back and can get very confusing. Especially with Maths!

MOC88

fozz10 wrote: »

well lads. im startin in wit on the 9th doing applied computing. can someone whos doing it or done it please help me out with this query ive a family wedding out foreign on the 20th for a week so im gonna miss a full week of lectures.week 3. a nightmare i know... but it is booked and paid for and i have to go with my family. im prepared to give 200% all year and cant wait to get going but will i be able to recover in the first semester from this? this was all paid for before i even made a decision to go to college so i dont need to be told how much of a bad idea it is. i wanna know will it be possible to recover? cheers im already prepared to give my weekends and evenings to college.

I'd agree with Sully you can cope with it if you study yourself. But the important two are programming and web development. Print off the lecture notes - the lecturers will give them to you before you go if you tell them and learn and practice every inch of them before you go. Its all about basic concepts at week 3 so make sure you have them down. You'll probably only be starting in to blue-j setters and getters anyway but still know how to write them.

Media999

Seriously biased view there from someone who i assume studied Applied Computing.

"applied gives you more opportunity and help to develop the skills you need"

Nonsense. No ones gonna hold your hand and code for you.

Study whatever course you like and put the effort in to developing your coding skills. Your portfolio will get the same results either way. Coding is all about teaching yourself.

I know an applied computing graduate who cant find work now cause hes a lazy bastard who learned to pass tests instead of learning to code. Im sure those people exist in every IT course in the country.

Pretty much every ad ive seen for a job asks for a degree in an IT related discipline rather than specifically asking for someone who studied applied computing or software systems. Its your portfolio that will get you the job.

Royal.Baby

Media999 wrote: »

Seriously biased view there from someone who i assume studied Applied Computing.

"applied gives you more opportunity and help to develop the skills you need"

Nonsense. No ones gonna hold your hand and code for you.

Study whatever course you like and put the effort in to developing your coding skills. Your portfolio will get the same results either way. Coding is all about teaching yourself.

I know an applied computing graduate who cant find work now cause hes a lazy bastard who learned to pass tests instead of learning to code. Im sure those people exist in every IT course in the country.

Pretty much every ad ive seen for a job asks for a degree in an IT related discipline rather than specifically asking for someone who studied applied computing or software systems. Its your portfolio that will get you the job.

So the degree only gets you the interview and you're own skill/expertise gets you the job?

I'm enquiring as if i do decide to do the 3 or 4 years in the college i would rather do it in the best course available. Im not sure which course that is as of yet but buts thats why i am here, to try and gather as much info as possible.

Media999

Give them 4 years and you have a level 8 degree that will get you interviews for the same jobs.

No one is better than the other. You and your portfolio are what makes the difference.

fozz10

Sully wrote: »

First year isn't so bad, it gets tougher as the years go on. Just ensure you get a copy of your notes and spend some time in the library catching up. If you fall behind, its tougher to clime back and can get very confusing. Especially with Maths!

cheers for that i was hoping for a reply like that.

MOC88

Media999 wrote: »

Seriously biased view there from someone who i assume studied Applied Computing.

"applied gives you more opportunity and help to develop the skills you need"

Nonsense. No ones gonna hold your hand and code for you.

Study whatever course you like and put the effort in to developing your coding skills. Your portfolio will get the same results either way. Coding is all about teaching yourself.

I know an applied computing graduate who cant find work now cause hes a lazy bastard who learned to pass tests instead of learning to code. Im sure those people exist in every IT course in the country.

Pretty much every ad ive seen for a job asks for a degree in an IT related discipline rather than specifically asking for someone who studied applied computing or software systems. Its your portfolio that will get you the job.

Eh yeah I've said I just finished first year applied. Said what I saw with my own eyes in final year projects. I also stressed that the portfolio you build is the most important thing. Talked to the fourth year applied students who just finished up plus some who cam back after specializing in embedded systems. If anyone wants to dismiss what I'm saying on that absis I don;t really care - I'm offering my semi-informed view on the topic.

Applied does give more opportunity - if you want to go down cloud computing path/ forensic path/ games path/ embedded systems path, heck you can even do audio if you want. None of those opportunities exist in the I.T degree. These specializations give you that opportunity and you're final project will be based in those fields adding to your portfolio.

If you want a good degree in applied you'll be building a good portfolio. There is also more pressure to do better ie. in IT event driven programming is a module in second year whereas we had a project on that worth about 40% in the second semester this year(first year).

I never said they hold your hand but they're more than happy to give you more time than what they've on their schedule and what were, looking back the most stupid questions you could ask. Examples of these lecturers are Siobham D. , Mairead M. and Eamonn D.L. If you've done applied computing you know who I'm on about.

Yeah you can get by and if thats all you do you'll struggle to get a job, that much is obvious. A pass doesn't look great and if you're lazy in the first place you're probably not looking for jobs.

Plus many H.R departments will give you an interview on the level of degrees because they don't have a clue before you get to get in to a technical interview with actual developers.

MOC88

Royal.Baby wrote: »

So the degree only gets you the interview and you're own skill/expertise gets you the job?

I'm enquiring as if i do decide to do the 3 or 4 years in the college i would rather do it in the best course available. Im not sure which course that is as of yet but buts thats why i am here, to try and gather as much info as possible.

What do you want to specialise in... any idea? Since you've a lot of time I'd email the course heads and go to the open day they have every year for the i.t courses.

Media999

MOC88 wrote: »

Eh yeah I've said I just finished first year applied. Said what I saw with my own eyes in final year projects. I also stressed that the portfolio you build is the most important thing. Talked to the fourth year applied students who just finished up plus some who cam back after specializing in embedded systems. If anyone wants to dismiss what I'm saying on that absis I don;t really care - I'm offering my semi-informed view on the topic.

Applied does give more opportunity - if you want to go down cloud computing path/ forensic path/ games path/ embedded systems path, heck you can even do audio if you want. None of those opportunities exist in the I.T degree. These specializations give you that opportunity and you're final project will be based in those fields adding to your portfolio.

If you want a good degree in applied you'll be building a good portfolio. There is also more pressure to do better ie. in IT event driven programming is a module in second year whereas we had a project on that worth about 40% in the second semester this year(first year).

I never said they hold your hand but they're more than happy to give you more time than what they've on their schedule and what were, looking back the most stupid questions you could ask. Examples of these lecturers are Siobham D. , Mairead M. and Eamonn D.L. If you've done applied computing you know who I'm on about.

Yeah you can get by and if thats all you do you'll struggle to get a job, that much is obvious. A pass doesn't look great and if you're lazy in the first place you're probably not looking for jobs.

Plus many H.R departments will give you an interview on the level of degrees because they don't have a clue before you get to get in to a technical interview with actual developers.

Sorry but its fairly obvious that youve never worked in IT and your making lots of assumptions.

Your assuming that if you go for a job in Google or Facebook the HR department wont understand the difference between lvl 7 and lvl 8? They will have specialists who will know how to code themselves. A friend of mine actually works in HR specialising in Software. He knows exactly what to look for when hiring. He was through college himself and knows well how many lazy "Theres jobs in IT" entitled bastards there are who think they just scrape tests and have no interest in coding compared to people who code as a hobby and genuinely love learning new technologies and consider it enjoyable to be always learning a new programming language and working on projects.

Trust me when i say in effect if you do the 4 years you will get the same interviews. The difference will be the effort you put into your own work. Programming needs a ton of initiative. Its not like any other degree as far as im aware in that way.

Dont get me wrong here either im not trying to start an argument with you im just stating facts from experience. As has been repeated god knows how many times and will i guarantee be heard again it all depends on a portfolio.

Best analogy i can use is programmers are like artists. They create a product. A programmer with a crap portfolio graduating would be like someone studying music and having crap songs. Best tip i could give OP is get a notebook and jot down ideas about products you want to create. Jot down what needs to be done to make them become a reality even if you cant code now just write down sites or programs that are similar and try figure out how they work and youll have a great advantage.

MOC88

Media999 wrote: »

Sorry but its fairly obvious that youve never worked in IT and your making lots of assumptions.

Your assuming that if you go for a job in Google or Facebook the HR department wont understand the difference between lvl 7 and lvl 8? They will have specialists who will know how to code themselves. A friend of mine actually works in HR specialising in Software. He knows exactly what to look for when hiring. He was through college himself and knows well how many lazy "Theres jobs in IT" entitled bastards there are who think they just scrape tests and have no interest in coding compared to people who code as a hobby and genuinely love learning new technologies and consider it enjoyable to be always learning a new programming language and working on projects.

Trust me when i say in effect if you do the 4 years you will get the same interviews. The difference will be the effort you put into your own work. Programming needs a ton of initiative. Its not like any other degree as far as im aware in that way.

Dont get me wrong here either im not trying to start an argument with you im just stating facts from experience. As has been repeated god knows how many times and will i guarantee be heard again it all depends on a portfolio.

Best analogy i can use is programmers are like artists. They create a product. A programmer with a crap portfolio graduating would be like someone studying music and having crap songs. Best tip i could give OP is get a notebook and jot down ideas about products you want to create. Jot down what needs to be done to make them become a reality even if you cant code now just write down sites or programs that are similar and try figure out how they work and youll have a great advantage.

No I know what Google and Facebook have lined up - several rounds of interviews where everything is consulted with it experts/team leads or interviews directly with them and Microsoft find you not the other way around. However, there are also a lot of other companies that are not tech focused and so use their HR department who consult their IT team leads after theyve filtered candidates. There are also the recruitment agencies who make everybody sick apparently. I also know that certain companies are prone to ringing the course leaders/lecturers of courses.

I'd also add some of my older cousins are in IT and I stay close enough in contact with them to know what I should be doing and get advice from them - and yeah they think any degree doesn't prepare you for working in the real world but I'd still say that at least you've a stronger foundation. Like I pointed out SSD has event driven programming in semester 4, we had it in semester 2 as a part, albeit major part, of our programming fundamentals.

Yeah I'd agree with the whole analogy I've used it myself before oddly enough. However, I can guarantee you though especially with the embedded systems it is something that no other course in the country offers outside of a masters/postgrad option and would be extremely hard to get a job in without a qualification. Forensics and cloud also push you more. If you know exactly what you want from day one and are brilliant and don't want to do research and it doesn't involve the specializations.

I always like to think of lego as well though. Anyone who builds lego knows that you never stop building you just keep adding, adding and adding. Then you build different structures etc and play with it for about 5 minutes until you move on. But with good lecturers and a good course you'll be introduced to new sets and expected build bigger and better than a less challenging course. Sure you cans till do all the things the other course are doing but its harder without that help and that pressure to get it done.

When I look at the the difference in final year projects which I would assume (yes Im using that word) would be indicative of the portfolio of projects they have to date then the applied computing students graduating had the better projects which would make them more employable. Of course it mightnt have been the course it might have been the makeup of the class.

What I'd add to your analogy is that its a lot easier to be introduced to something by someone whose already an expert in that field and be able to ask them a million questions about it. BY doing applied you're giving yourself an extra year to develop with the help and guidance of lecturers and tutors in their chosen field.

Royal.Baby

MOC88 wrote: »

What do you want to specialise in... any idea? Since you've a lot of time I'd email the course heads and go to the open day they have every year for the i.t courses.

I have tried coding before on my own accord - mainly in Java but i have also done some HTML, CSS and JavaScript, all of which i enjoyed so maybe a course that leans towards programming would suit me?

I do not think the Multimedia course would before me, based on what modules are in it and i also had friend who was in the course. SSD or IT look very similar in first year i far as i can tell, so maybe one of these would suit me? I see the IT course has web design also in the first year.

I will take you're advice about the open day and course heads, im just making uneducated guesses really. Thanks for replying i really appreciate it.

MOC88

Royal.Baby wrote: »

I have tried coding before on my own accord - mainly in Java but i have also done some HTML, CSS and JavaScript, all of which i enjoyed so maybe a course that leans towards programming would suit me?

I do not think the Multimedia course would before me, based on what modules are in it and i also had friend who was in the course. SSD or IT look very similar in first year i far as i can tell, so maybe one of these would suit me? I see the IT course has web design also in the first year.

I will take you're advice about the open day and course heads, im just making uneducated guesses really. Thanks for replying i really appreciate it.

They're all going to cover the basic programming through java though so you're already ahead . Applied computing do html, css and a framework in first year for its web dev and app&dev modelling.

Look at the modules fairly closely and the specializations in applied either cloud computing or embedded systems. If you like the look of the forensic stream there's also a dedicated forensic course from year 1.

There's some more threads in the forum if you want to know more about the it and ssd (and some heated debates ) it if you look through he history.
No worries I'd probably be better equipped at answering questions about first year, but I'm bored out of my head and can't wait to go back!

Media999

Royal.Baby wrote: »

I have tried coding before on my own accord - mainly in Java but i have also done some HTML, CSS and JavaScript, all of which i enjoyed so maybe a course that leans towards programming would suit me?

I do not think the Multimedia course would before me, based on what modules are in it and i also had friend who was in the course. SSD or IT look very similar in first year i far as i can tell, so maybe one of these would suit me? I see the IT course has web design also in the first year.

I will take you're advice about the open day and course heads, im just making uneducated guesses really. Thanks for replying i really appreciate it.

For the love of god stay away from IT . SSD or applied all the way. Even Entertainment Systems.

I used to work with several people who graduated from the IT and they could barely manage a wordpress blog. Absolute joke. Perfect example of the "Theres jobs in IT" mentality. Not all like that but thats the people it tends to attract. Had a conversation with one before and asked him does he like it. He said he likes "everything but the coding" . Steer clear as thats contagious.

If its definitely more the web programming your interested in do anyone of the other courses but start as many web sites as you can and constantly experiment with them. Study search engine optimization aswell as thats extremely important. Maybe start up and experiment with a forum in a subject your interested in. Its all a learning experience and shows great initiative when you have sites with lots of traffic and content developed. Experience with servers and search engines is good to have. Also it might even pay your way through college like it did for me.

Drop us a PM and ill give you more info about what i was doing and a few tips to help you if you want.

MOC88

Media999 wrote: »

For the love of god stay away from IT . SSD or applied all the way. Even Entertainment Systems.

I used to work with several people who graduated from the IT and they could barely manage a wordpress blog. Absolute joke. Perfect example of the "Theres jobs in IT" mentality. Not all like that but thats the people it tends to attract. Had a conversation with one before and asked him does he like it. He said he likes "everything but the coding" . Steer clear as thats contagious.

If its definitely more the web programming your interested in do anyone of the other courses but start as many web sites as you can and constantly experiment with them. Study search engine optimization aswell as thats extremely important. Maybe start up and experiment with a forum in a subject your interested in. Its all a learning experience and shows great initiative when you have sites with lots of traffic and content developed. Experience with servers and search engines is good to have. Also it might even pay your way through college like it did for me.

Drop us a PM and ill give you more info about what i was doing and a few tips to help you if you want.

What are you saying? Your advice to someone who likes programming is to stay away from programming courses? Where do you get off advising people to stay away from the best college courses in wit and do what you did... when you're just after returning to college yourself and just finished first year in SSD?

Don't mind media999 or me ask the course leads, see what information they give you and see what suits you best.

If they really are focused on apps/cloud computing and not just websites then applied and specializing in cloud computing would be the most obvious choice.

Media999

Where did i say stay away from programming? What are you talking about?

MOC88

Media999 wrote: »

Where did i say stay away from programming? What are you talking about?

Media999 wrote: »

For the love of god stay away from IT . SSD or applied all the way. Even Entertainment Systems.

Media999 wrote: »

If its definitely more the web programming your interested in do anyone of the other courses

You directed them away from the best IT courses in the WIT. But then you think entertainment systems is the toughest course so I wouldn't expect much more from you. Then you try to insinuate you have loads of experience in IT when you've just finished first year SSD and are already sh###ing bricks about what to do on the development forum.

Don't be so patronizing just because I disagree with you. You were patronizing here in case you were wondering

Media999 wrote: »

Sorry but its fairly obvious that youve never worked in IT and your making lots of assumptions.

Media999

Theres a full stop there in case you missed it.

MOC88

Media999 wrote: »

Theres a full stop there in case you missed it.

Hilarious...

so do tell what is the great experience you have in working in i.t that makes you so much more qualified than everyone else and you've seen all the different types of programmers in your previous workplace... and yet you didnt understand the difference between the for loops.

Sully

Relax a little lads, getting a bit tense for no real reason.

You can walk through any course in any field if you are academically smart. Plenty of people like that, who can just look at a book or code and walk through exams. So you may walk out with an honours degree, first class, and think you are all set. But it comes down to a lot more than that when it comes to interviews and seeking employment from firms of various sizes. Your skill set, your actual ability to work as a team and get the job done on time, efficiently and correctly. The ability to adapt, learn new languages, improve on existing and so on.

But what relevance is that to this particular topic? The fact remains that different courses have different opportunities for graduates. These courses are not replicas, they all do different things. You look at what the course does, compare it with other similar courses and decide which course is for you.

MOC88

Sully wrote: »

Relax a little lads, getting a bit tense for no real reason.

You can walk through any course in any field if you are academically smart. Plenty of people like that, who can just look at a book or code and walk through exams. So you may walk out with an honours degree, first class, and think you are all set. But it comes down to a lot more than that when it comes to interviews and seeking employment from firms of various sizes. Your skill set, your actual ability to work as a team and get the job done on time, efficiently and correctly. The ability to adapt, learn new languages, improve on existing and so on.

But what relevance is that to this particular topic? The fact remains that different courses have different opportunities for graduates. These courses are not replicas, they all do different things. You look at what the course does, compare it with other similar courses and decide which course is for you.

Sums up a lot of what I said and whereas I pointed out the opportunities to specialize in what in applied media has been pontificating about how the OP shouldn't do any level 8 but only SSD which media had been doing.

MOC88 wrote: »

Applied does give more opportunity - if you want to go down cloud computing path/ forensic path/ games path/ embedded systems path, heck you can even do audio if you want. None of those opportunities exist in the I.T degree. These specializations give you that opportunity and you're final project will be based in those fields adding to your portfolio.

a fat guy

I'd just like to vouch for Media that the I.T. courses focus a lot less on the "pure programming" modules, and that these modules are what you'll need in order to actually make anything.

MOC, Media said "For the love of god stay away from IT . SSD or applied all the way. Even Entertainment Systems." I thought he was saying to stay away from all of the programming courses for a moment too, but if you read over it again, you'll see that Media just meant the I.T. course. I disagree with the "even entertainment systems" part, as the best final year project of this year came from ES and a friend of mine has done the course. Honestly, ES seems like the "fun" course, in the sense that you get to go to competitions and the like in fourth year. It certainly beat sticking around WIT all day!

And I.T. certainly does focus a lot less on programming than any other computer course. I just graduated from my fourth year in SSD and one of the guys in my class (who hates programming and has admitted that he isn't good at it) switched from SSD to I.T. when fourth year started (You can do this because both I.T's and SSD first three years are a level 7, level 8 is your add-on year). He was much happier in I.T. than he ever was in SSD. He just couldn't program and hated it, the Business side of computing was more of his thing anyway, which he certainly enjoyed more.

We shared non-programming modules with them, and they had extra non-programming modules (Something to do with Web Services that we didn't do). We had extra programming modules. I don't know the full make-up of I.T., but SSD focused on Databases, Business-related stuff and programming.

We learned Database theory and languages (If you'd even call SQL a language.) as well as how to set up a data warehouse and how to be the administrator of a database(fancy way of saying how to fine-tune a database because they're useless).

We learned Business software and for some reason had to do profit and loss accounts in second year. The software was much more endurable thank god, it's called SAP and you'll learn how the logistics of product creation operate. For example, product A needs parts B and C. How many should we sell before giving out a discount?

We learned various filler modules, which probably account for an extra year. Critical Thinking, which is a lot like English I suppose... Maths in first year, German in second and so on. They seem to drop these after second year. The Security modules popped up later on in fourth year as well. They weren't as "filler-y" as German, etc, but they still seemed out of place. Fun though!

The core of SSD was programming. We always had at least one module of programming in every semester. We did a huge amount of Java programming for the first three years, as well as various bits of web programming (PHP, HTML, JavaScript) and did Android programming for third year. In fourth year, we learned Rails, Ruby, JSP/Servlets and learned more about how to make an API in Rails.



I have a feeling that Applied was basically SSD without the Business and filler modules (As we never shared those classes with them), but with a lot more programming-related modules, like cloud stuff. It was meant to be much harder than SSD due to having one less year to get that level 8, and I remember hearing that they were given more privileges than the other courses.

WIT also tried to give our SSD degree title away to Chinese erasmus students, but our class rep kicked up a storm about it and we ended up merging with the Chinese erasmus students, much to the Chinese university's dismay (They were promised all sorts of stuff that they never got). We were supposed to end up with the I.T. courses title on our degree's and were told that we could tell employers to ring up the year head to confirm that we had actually done the SSD course. You can imagine the problems that would have caused us, and that would never have happened with the Applied course.


I should probably mention that I know of plenty of students who learned how to pass assignments, but not how to cope with programming. There is a former Applied student who (I have heard) is way in over his head at a new job because he isn't actually any good at programming in the real world. A three-year level 8 is no good if your skills aren't up to scratch unfortunately...

Anyway, this post has rambled on a bit too long and has made me want to work on a project of mine, so while the mood has me... I'm off!

Good luck!

Media999

Yeah spot on. Stay away from IT and do any of the other courses if your looking to be a programmer.

Wasnt even gonna bother replying as i thought that was obvious.

MOC88

a fat guy wrote: »

I'd just like to vouch for Media that the I.T. courses focus a lot less on the "pure programming" modules, and that these modules are what you'll need in order to actually make anything.

Makes a lot more sense but with the stuff he/she had been saying it would have hardly been a surprise

a fat guy wrote: »

WIT also tried to give our SSD degree title away to Chinese erasmus students, but our class rep kicked up a storm about it and we ended up merging with the Chinese erasmus students, much to the Chinese university's dismay (They were promised all sorts of stuff that they never got). We were supposed to end up with the I.T. courses title on our degree's and were told that we could tell employers to ring up the year head to confirm that we had actually done the SSD course. You can imagine the problems that would have caused us, and that would never have happened with the Applied course.

Yeah thats pretty shocking tbh.

a fat guy wrote: »

I should probably mention that I know of plenty of students who learned how to pass assignments, but not how to cope with programming. There is a former Applied student who (I have heard) is way in over his head at a new job because he isn't actually any good at programming in the real world. A three-year level 8 is no good if your skills aren't up to scratch unfortunately...

yeah thats why I'm always stressing about the portfolio which is what any employer worth their salt will be checking these days. If they don;t then they don;t really understand what they need. (four years)

a fat guy wrote: »

Anyway, this post has rambled on a bit too long and has made me want to work on a project of mine, so while the mood has me... I'm off!

Good luck!

Fair enough