Computer Science UCD

war2k10

Hi i am currently in 6th year and have a very big interest in computers, i am thinking about doing computer science and am just wondering what it covers and is it good in UCD all and any feed back would be great.
P.s maths is not one of my strong point i am ok/ average will this be a very big problem ?

Amy teehee

In first year, most/all cs courses will teach you how to program (learning a language like Java as well as learning how to solve problems) and give you a general overview of how a computer works (stuff ranging from how an operating system works to how a microprocesser decodes instructions and right down to how basic circuits can compute simple mathematical operations). There will also be some maths, and it really isn't any harder than LC maths, it's mostly just lot of the same stuff taught a slightly different way. Depending on the course there can also be a handful of other pisstake modules like "Computers and Society" along with some interesting specialist modules like Telecommunications and Artificial Intelligence, etc.

this'll show you all the things you'd be learning in UCD https://sisweb.ucd.ie/usis/w_sm_web_inf_viewer_banner.show_major?p_term_code=201300&p_cao_code=DN201&p_major_code=CSS1

trinners for winners though

beardedmaster

Amy teehee wrote: »

trinners for winners though

Trinners for rimmers

OneOfThem Stumbled

beardedmaster wrote: »

Trinners for rimmers

All joking aside the two courses (TCD and UCD) are quite similar.

Shocked to hear some employers prefer DIT graduates (more practical experience).

If you want to mix in business subjects into a Comp Sci degree, TCD alone will cater to that.

I'm not amazingly impressed by the degrees in either university, but I would, on the whole, opt for UCD.

Both courses have buckets of maths modules for reasons that date back to the 1970s.

Creamy Goodness

OneOfThem Stumbled wrote: »

Shocked to hear some employers prefer DIT graduates (more practical experience).

why is that shocking to you? A graduate with more hands on experience is a lesser expense to a company than someone who has less practical experience.

OneOfThem Stumbled

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

why is that shocking to you? A graduate with more hands on experience is a lesser expense to a company than someone who has less practical experience.

Oh the explanation isn't shocking, it's just given the reputation re: UCD and TCD.

war2k10

So would i be better going to somewhere like DIT and then if i wanted do a masters in UCD or something, and where would you feel the best place to do it would be. like i said im not a very big maths person so would i find the course very hard.
P.S i was also looking up about computer engineering any opinions on that ?
Any and all info or thoughts would be great

Creamy Goodness

war2k10 wrote: »

So would i be better going to somewhere like DIT and then if i wanted do a masters in UCD or something, and where would you feel the best place to do it would be. like i said im not a very big maths person so would i find the course very hard.
P.S i was also looking up about computer engineering any opinions on that ?
Any and all info or thoughts would be great

personal opinion here, (4 years Comp.Sci. in DIT, and 5 years in the industry).

a masters for a programmer is not hugely necessary. You will still at the end of the day be going into a graduate role when you start working and be expected to know as much as a graduate with a degree.

the world of computer science jobs is _ALL_ about experience, and in my mind a years more experience is better than a year doing a masters.

war2k10

Ok that sounds cool, where would i be looking to go for a job with that (i know its a stupid question but it has to be asked).
And you dont know anything about computer engineering ?
Thanks for the help.

OneOfThem Stumbled

war2k10 wrote: »

Ok that sounds cool, where would i be looking to go for a job with that (i know its a stupid question but it has to be asked).
And you dont know anything about computer engineering ?
Thanks for the help.

computer engineering? I know that some engineers cover some computer science, but I wouldn't outside of that.

You might consider taking a private tour of the UCD campus while you're still deciding. The student ambassadors who do the tours are current students - you could ask for a computer science student as your guide so you can get a better feel for the UCD course. I *think* the tours are free - but they'd have to be on a weekday.

Fad

OneOfThem Stumbled wrote: »

computer engineering? I know that some engineers cover some computer science, but I wouldn't outside of that.

You might consider taking a private tour of the UCD campus while you're still deciding. The student ambassadors who do the tours are current students - you could ask for a computer science student as your guide so you can get a better feel for the UCD course. I *think* the tours are free - but they'd have to be on a weekday.

They are free

ironclaw

OneOfThem Stumbled wrote: »

computer engineering? I know that some engineers cover some computer science, but I wouldn't outside of that.

If you study Electronic Eng. you will do a good deal of Computer Science (CS) modules. There is a great bit of cross over. Following on from that, you can do a Masters in Electronic & Computer Eng. Takes 5 years, 3 years for your undergrad and a further 2 for the Masters. Its what I did.

If you want to be a programmer or very software based, do CS straight out of the box. But if you have any Engineering desire (Hardware or Software) I would recommend the Engineering route. Job opportunities are generally considered wider with an Engineering degree. However, that said, experience is a key player these days. I know people with pHD's doing the same work as undergrads or conversion course recipients.