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MSc in Computer Science by Negotiated Learning
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06-08-2010 1:56pm#1
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omnisynergy wrote: »Be interesting to hear what you think about the conversion course in comparison:
http://www.csi.ucd.ie/content/msc-computer-science-conversion
I've been accepted and I'm a Fine Art graduate so I have to wonder how easy that will be for me!
The conversion course is exactly that "a conversion course". It will help Non-Computer Science graduates to have a basic understanding of three streams in IT that is Programming, Databases and Networks. It is far too basic by what I can see and I don't know why this course is called a masters course as you don't actually specialise in anything by masters standards. There is hardly any maths involved. The little that is included is at most of ordinary level LC standard.
The good thing about this is that you will have an understanding of computer science at almost the same level of an undergraduate and spend less than 1/3 of the time compared to getting to that level doing an undergraduate degree.
But at the end of the day I doubt you will get a programming or database or network administrator etc job with this degree... I guess you will have to do another course before any IT company will actually consider you for a job over an undergraduate with a high grade. For all you know, even a pass class undergraduate might be better qualified over the 4 years...
Coming to the 30 credits modules you have to choose in the 4th semester, you will have to do very well in your previous modules before they will even consider you for the 4th semester. I have no idea what the modules will be like but I guess there will be some restrictions to what you can choose.
I am really surprised that you only have to do a 15 credit project... masters students to a 30 credit project and undergraduates do at least a 15 credit project with most doing a 20 credit project. So here again I don't know why this is called a masters course.
To be honest with you I don't know the direction which UCD is going in by offering these courses! I would have expected this from DBS or the like, not UCD. I say this because it is highly unlikely you will understand and come up to the level to be considered employable. UCD also offered a 1 week java course, last year i think, which stated that you will be brought up to the standard set out by Sun for the certified exams. How it is possible to grasp over 500 pages of text and code in a week(around 20 hours) is beyond my understanding... I wouldn't be surprised if they offer a "be a bank manager" in a week course at this rate... or an MBA Conversion for Agriculture/Forestry/etc students in a year etc... it just doesn't click.
I wouldn't worry to much about it being easy or difficult. Now that UCD has made this course they will see that it is really easy for the students to at least pass considering that this course is funded by the HEA. And because all students will have no idea what they are doing and so will start from scratch.
High failure rates = below average course = loss of funding = loss to UCD :rolleyes:
High pass rate = good course = more places = more funds.
(The above two lines are what I think, might not actually be true but this is usually the way funding is decided. More places = more funds.)0 -
The conversion course is exactly that "a conversion course". It will help Non-Computer Science graduates to have a basic understanding of three streams in IT that is Programming, Databases and Networks. It is far too basic by what I can see and I don't know why this course is called a masters course as you don't actually specialise in anything by masters standards. There is hardly any maths involved. The little that is included is at most of ordinary level LC standard.
The good thing about this is that you will have an understanding of computer science at almost the same level of an undergraduate and spend less than 1/3 of the time compared to getting to that level doing an undergraduate degree.
But at the end of the day I doubt you will get a programming or database or network administrator etc job with this degree... I guess you will have to do another course before any IT company will actually consider you for a job over an undergraduate with a high grade. For all you know, even a pass class undergraduate might be better qualified over the 4 years...
Coming to the 30 credits modules you have to choose in the 4th semester, you will have to do very well in your previous modules before they will even consider you for the 4th semester. I have no idea what the modules will be like but I guess there will be some restrictions to what you can choose.
I am really surprised that you only have to do a 15 credit project... masters students to a 30 credit project and undergraduates do at least a 15 credit project with most doing a 20 credit project. So here again I don't know why this is called a masters course.
To be honest with you I don't know the direction which UCD is going in by offering these courses! I would have expected this from DBS or the like, not UCD. I say this because it is highly unlikely you will understand and come up to the level to be considered employable. UCD also offered a 1 week java course, last year i think, which stated that you will be brought up to the standard set out by Sun for the certified exams. How it is possible to grasp over 500 pages of text and code in a week(around 20 hours) is beyond my understanding... I wouldn't be surprised if they offer a "be a bank manager" in a week course at this rate... or an MBA Conversion for Agriculture/Forestry/etc students in a year etc... it just doesn't click.
I wouldn't worry to much about it being easy or difficult. Now that UCD has made this course they will see that it is really easy for the students to at least pass considering that this course is funded by the HEA. And because all students will have no idea what they are doing and so will start from scratch.
High failure rates = below average course = loss of funding = loss to UCD :rolleyes:
High pass rate = good course = more places = more funds.
(The above two lines are what I think, might not actually be true but this is usually the way funding is decided. More places = more funds.)
Thanks for the info! Good to hear about the level of maths! I think this is the first year of the course so I would also presume they are looking for a high pass rate... I do think it's a bit of a ridiculous idea. Still though, won't this mean I have a level 9 as opposed to a level 8 if I had done the undergraduate degree?
Does this mean we'll be attending a lot of the undergraduate lectures?0 -
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The negotiated learning masters seems to have been increased in demand this year with the number of applications increasing and the standard of them being much better than last year. I just graduated and got a job but I'm thinking about going to post-grad study next year so if you have been accepted to this I'd love to hear about your experience of it
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The negotiated learning masters seems to have been increased in demand this year with the number of applications increasing and the standard of them being much better than last year. I just graduated and got a job but I'm thinking about going to post-grad study next year so if you have been accepted to this I'd love to hear about your experience of it
What subjects did you choose?0 -
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Congratulations, you will have to let me know what you think of it as I may do it in the future
As for selecting modules, it depends a lot on what areas of computer science you are interested. I went through the process of picking them before and you just need to go through the list first and cross off any that you definitely dont want to do. Then just keep going until you have only the modules left to obtain the required credits.
Out of interest what area of computer science do you like the most? And have you done any computer related courses in the past?0
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