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Computer Science

johnmcdnl

Computer science??? yes? no? maybe?

any opinions on whether I should do this course next year or not..

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Killer Pigeon

betafrog wrote: »

You see the problem lies in what you define as being able to programme. You may well think that you can program by the end of the degree but you will vastly under qualified for any jobs.

Try this one OP,

http://dcu.ie/prospective/deginfo.php?classname=CA&degree_description=B.Sc.+in+Computer+Applications+%28Bachelor+Honours+Degree%29

Ah, is that the same computer applications course in DCU that had the largest drop out rate of any other degree in the Republic of Ireland (not just for computer science). Just wondering.

Xhristy

This post has been deleted.

Killer Pigeon

betafrog wrote: »

Where'd you hear that from? Cause I can tell you it is a crock of ****e...

Having spoken to a number of industry insiders including Google, Ebay and a few others, the Computer Science courses in Ireland are looked upon very poorly in general. The only graduates that are in anyway desirable are the ones that went out of their way to extend their knowledge outside of college, eg getting internships, getting involved in Open Source Development etc.

If you're looking to get a decent job in the IT industry you'll need to work hard outside of the course to have a chance. If you just want a piece of paper at the end of 4 years that makes it look like you know what you are talking about then go ahead.

It's completely understandable that a college degree isn't enough to secure a job, this is true in every technical field, work experience in paramount. CS degree aren't all looked down upon either. I think someone in google said that they were only accepting people who had degrees from UCD/TCD/UCC. My earlier comment, if you read back on it, was entire based on the education you receive in comparison to other Irish universities, not the likelihood of getting a job afterward, however you probably would have a better change if you had a 1.1/1.2 computer science degree from UCD plus 2-3 years experience than someone from DCU or elsewhere with the same amount of experience.

Seifer

johnmcdnl wrote: »

ahhh that's not so bad..

I just really really don't want to end up in a course where theory means everything basically

i just wanna be able to do stuff and not learn about it sorta lol

if i don't know a whole lot about programming now am i at much of a disadvantage.. i know the basics but that's all

You won't be at a disadvantage, no. They cover everything from the beginning.
If you don't start programming beyond what you are told to do in college you will be at a disadvantage when it comes to finding a job.

johnmcdnl

ahhh that's not so bad..

I just really really don't want to end up in a course where theory means everything basically

i just wanna be able to do stuff and not learn about it sorta lol

if i don't know a whole lot about programming now am i at much of a disadvantage.. i know the basics but that's all

Seifer

meathawk wrote: »

Hey now, there's a lot of practical work. You general spend like 6 hours a week in the active learning centre in the computer science building. All your projects are programming based. I find it very hard to believe that someone could get through the 4 years without being able to program. There is also a support centre if you run into difficulties with programming. The only theory module in first year is comp architecture. Which is a bit **** but the rest is practical work.

There are assignments that require you to program but not much of it is practical

Wait until you get to 4th year and you'll see. UCD's culture of as long as you keep paying we'll keep letting you repeat ensures that people that cannot program graduate with a computer science degree thus devaluing it for those who can.

rainbow kirby

meathawk wrote: »

I find it very hard to believe that someone could get through the 4 years without being able to program.

Rare, but it does happen. I've known a few people who got to 4th year with minimal programming skills.

meathawk

Hey now, there's a lot of practical work. You general spend like 6 hours a week in the active learning centre in the computer science building. All your projects are programming based. I find it very hard to believe that someone could get through the 4 years without being able to program. There is also a support centre if you run into difficulties with programming. The only theory module in first year is comp architecture. Which is a bit **** but the rest is practical work.

johnmcdnl

i'm getting the vibe that this course is pretty much all theory with not much practical work basically??

dunno if that'd suit me to much tbh i'd be much more at home if i could actually do stuff make stuff etc etc

is there any similar course which focus more on the practical side of things

Fad

Dont do it through Science Omnibus, you're just in for a head ache that way...

Seifer

Just coming to end of 4th year now and I can't really recommend it.
If you do well in all of your modules every year you will still not be in any way desirable to good software companies. You have to be willing to program on your own time, as a hobby. As somebody said above, this is because you are supposedly learning the theory of computer science but the theory is pretty useless if you can't apply it.
The course has visibly dumbed down as I've progressed through it and there will be people that graduate who can't program.
Tbh I don't know if all Irish computer science courses are like this but I haven't heard of any that are much better.

Killer Pigeon

johnmcdnl wrote: »

Computer science??? yes? no? maybe?

any opinions on whether I should do this course next year or not..

Comp. Sci in UCD is arguable the best in the country. You have around 8/12 (which include 5/12 comp. sci. modules and 3/12 maths modules) compulsory modules 2/12 option module which you can chose from the science omnibus (like Physics, chemistry, biology) and a further 2 elective modules that you can chose from anywhere in the university. I'd say go for it.

Jack Bracken

rog871 wrote: »

~snip

Heh, I think he meant UCD's course specifically.

I'm just finishing up first year of CS and I love it so far. Learned a lot, made a lot of great friends, and most of the material is interesting. Just eh, make sure you do continuous assessment and you won't run into any of the problems I had.

If it really is something you're interested in then go for it. You can always change to something else if you don't like it.

rog871

Im doing it now, i just finished my first year and have exams in a couple of weeks. See if you can find out a bit about the course in the college of your choice. Apparently, alot of computer science courses dont involve much programming and are based on theory. I am in IT Tallaght, there is a alot of practical work, which is good. Just make sure you know it's the right course for you...alot of people drop out. Anyway take a look at my course, tis a bitta craic.;)

http://www.it-tallaght.ie/FullTimeCourses/Computing/Name,17463,en.html

meathawk

Well, I've been doing it this year and just make sure you keep on top of everything. Software engineering is probably the best/worst module ever. You make small games from code purely and you get accustomed to Eclipse which is like a environment to use most computer programming languages and Graphical User Interfaces. I say it's the worst because it's the most tricky and the most work. Also in first year you take two programming modules which are supposed to help you with java in general which is what software engineering uses as its primary language. This year they made a cock-up and instead we were taught processing so we had to learn java in three weeks to get ready for Software Engineering. If you are denominated you'd be in a different class so you'd be learning java from the start anyways which next would be like.
One other thing is you take maths modules within science and algorithmic problem solving. Both are fairly manageable but algorithmic problem solving is a bit of craic if you have mates in the class but a bit stressful when you have to do assignments. First year in general is not too stressful. I can only imagine what software engineering two has in store for me.