Web Design / Development Masters

dahayeser

After 10 years of commercial web design and development I should probably know the majority of what any masters on these subjects could teach me at this stage. However for me it is still a box worth ticking.

Having not been the most diligent in my college years I can out with a pass degree in computer applications. Now all these years later I still see honours degree or masters mentioned on many job specs. The pass degree also cuts off the possibility of lecturing.

I am based in Cork and now have a family. There doesn't seem to be a part time web masters in either of our local colleges so I am looking for some remote learning option with the content delivered on line.

Any recommendations?

smash

dahayeser wrote: »

Now all these years later I still see honours degree or masters mentioned on many job specs.

Companies who outright ignore an experienced candidate to choose a degree qualified candidate need a slap. You'll find that most job specs will state "or equivalent experience"

fuse

Do you plan on being a web developer long term? If you look ahead at where you'd like to go, maybe you could do a course in that?
With 10 years of web development behind you, a masters in it might just frustrate you?

You could look at project management, business analysis, UI/UX specialist, data analytics, digital marketing etc. and find something to add to your skillset while continuing the web dev.

dahayeser

I really like web development and It's definitely where I'd want to stay. I have many of the areas you mentioned covered at this stage with UI/UX being my most prominent skill right now. What I am angling for is more flexibility. I have found most jobs want you on site 5 days, regularly there is some crisis or another so staying late is a regular enough occurrence.

I am in Cork and I have a family I am here to stay. Going fully self employed having to sell and churning out a high volume of websites doesn't seem look like a great option. I have always had my eye on a bit of lecturing, if I could lecture part time and do some freelancing I thing that would be my ideal mix. Maybe there will be more option to teach web design and development in secondary schools in the future. With a pass degree lecturing is out and I am guessing qualifications would be scrutinised for teaching too.

With regard to being board doing a masters in web design given my experience that wouldn't be a problem. Due to busyness with work an kids the easier I could get the qualification the better. It really is a box ticking exercise.


On Smash's point about companies being foolish not to accept experience over a qualification, I couldn't agree more. The last job I got I was doing a killer interview and next thing it came up. I was able to dismiss it but if it came down to me an one other candidate who had a 1H I am guessing they might just lean towards the other. It's a crack I'd like to paper over and as easily and painlessly as possible.

smash

Are you a designer or a developer?

fuse

So the question is... are there any web dev/design masters? Or what's the closest thing?
I was in a similar situation, with a pass degree in CA. Went back and did a part time masters in Smurfit iBusiness. Learned a lot from it and got more business minded. But it took a lot of work over the 2 years. A few on the course had children, and I wondered how they managed!
I don't really think you'll find a proper MSc course that's not going to be demanding and challenging.

You could go down the line of getting certified in PM stuff, java, DBA etc. but once again, what web qualifications are there that will really stand up in an interview?
Would you be better off beefing up a portfolio for yourself? Would that give you more backing in an interview?

tramoreman

dit
MSc in Mobile and Web Applications Design

national college of ireland
MSc in Web Technologies - part time

came across the above look for courses that you can study online also

make sure if you are doing any courses they are certified if you are going down that route

Joe Doe

Read while ago that only a couple of colleges/uni's in Ireland are recognised as 'approved or recognised institutions' for the purposes of international migration points testing, may be worth considering as factors in any choices if this is an intention.

KonFusion

Joe Doe wrote: »

Read while ago that only a couple of colleges/uni's in Ireland are recognised as 'approved or recognised institutions' for the purposes of international migration points testing, may be worth considering as factors in any choices if this is an intention.

Do you have a source for that data?

Joe Doe

KonFusion wrote: »

Do you have a source for that data?

From memory, it was stated on link from the Aussie Imm site, (they have since removed the list of accredited institutions) (for each country) and now has to be verified from a separate pre-main application to the relevant assessing authority relevant to nominated occupation.

Naturally one of those 'general degrees' from an new independent 'English language type school', may have some issues here.

If I can recall it only listed TCD, UCD and possibly NCofI. Queens in Belfast was also listed (is part of the Russell group), but UUJ wasn't. This again is from memory. Related to the Skilled Independent visa #189. Saying that am sure degrees from long-standing universities are maybe still considered, but preference may be given to those from the 'approved' list where there is a surplus pool of demand (common).

They still have a list available for the #476, but this is just a special temporary visa only related to 'Engineering recent graduates visa', and shows that only x5 institutions are approved for the whole of Germany, for this type of visa, which says something.

One of those migration agents, that peruse boards, may have access to a more recent list. Each assessment authority may have their own list and standards. E.g. ACS can only approve skill for occupations within ICT.