Getting a real Qualification! , is this the right path?

EKRIUQ

(Not to sure if the right section, mod’s please move if not)

I’ve done a couple of part time courses mainly web design with development and although they help, there very basic and I generally learned more by self taught methods and books and just by learning the hard way. Now I want to get into programming and building applications and software development. Becoming a full time student is out of the question at the moment (I’m involved with the rat race, house owner, car owner, spouse, getting more grey hairs etc. etc.)

Now like most things being self taught is fine but unless you have a qualification it doesn’t really matter much. I’ve looked around at courses in Ireland to do by distance learning or part time but can’t seem anything suitable, And the only course which I can find which could suit is the Open University computer courses which seem flexible and can start with a cert, then Dip and then Degree.

Downside apart from the time and effort is the cost! Each module costs about €795 and to go all the way to a degree could cost nearly €10,000 which is quite an investment as I’m really only doing it for my own personal gain not for a job (But would like to do consulting down the road, possibly security).

Here are a couple of courses I’m looking at

http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?Q01B29
http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?Q01D12
http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?Q01C47


I’m just looking for any advice people may have and suggestions that they might help or am I going about this the wrong way and I go about it differently.

Thanks

conceited

There should be plenty of part time courses near where you live.
For example here in cork we have the following,

M.Sc. in Software Development
http://www.cit.ie/parttime.cfm/section/details/id/96/nkey/3//action/page/aID/188/CatName/Courses.html

Higher Certificate in Science in Computing
http://www.cit.ie/parttime.cfm/section/details/id/93/nkey/3//action/page/aID/188/CatName/Courses.html

Bachelor of Science in Computing
http://www.cit.ie/parttime.cfm/section/details/id/92/nkey/3//action/page/aID/188/CatName/Courses.html

It's only 2 days a week! So whats stoping you doing one of them ?

pwd

industrial certification such as mcts might suit you better and would be a lot cheaper. The courses you put up seem to be good enough at a glance - quite focused on skills you will be likely to use in a job rather than things to learn for purely academic reasons.

uasal2000

Hi There,

I believe DCU's oscail programme is a distance learning programme although that it seems to have a more general orientation to it than specific programming course.

I myself have done the OU's diploma programme and found it to be very good, In particular because it jumps in at the deep end (direct to 2nd year type courses). The courses are very well laid out and allow you to work out a study plan that best suits your needs.

However as mentioned by another poster they are expensive, if you looking at quick entry into a job then perhaps going for something like Java certification of Microsoft certified programmer would be useful. However the OU courses definitely do give you a certain breadth of understanding that you won't get with certification in particular platforms. Obviously the 2 together would give you the best chance of landing the job as an entrant.

Hope this helps