The more adventurous students may well be tempted by the array of new courses on offer this year. There are exciting offerings in all disciplines ranging from German and historical studies in NUI Maynooth to forestry engineering in Tralee RTC and European commerce in UCC.
The problem is that researching these courses requires some work on the part of students. Students are also making an act of faith in the sense that they will be travelling a new path and there are no reassuring statistics as to past graduates' successes. Parents may also take a little persuading, as courses in mechatronics, polymer science and management engineering simply did not exist when they were making their own career choices.
College Choice will explore some of these new courses today and tomorrow.
Engineering
Engineering options have broadened in the University of Galway with a new undenominated-entry option. This allows students to enjoy a common first year and then decide which of the college's seven special options would best suit them. This type of approach is already in use in the engineering faculties in UCD and TCD and is ideal for students who are interested in engineering but not quite sure whether ultimately they hope to specialise in mechanical, electrical, chemical, civil . . .
The University of Galway is also offering a new option, biomedical engineering, within mechanical engineering. At present, students can take this option in third year, but it is anticipated that it will become a completely separate stream in the future. The programme is geared towards the needs of the healthcare and medical devices companies which are clustered in the west of Ireland. Unusually, it allows students to unite an interest in biology with an interest in engineering.
Management engineering with a language is another new engineering programme being offered by the college this year. An enthusiastic Professor Jim Browne, dean of engineering, explains that management engineers are concerned with the planning, control and evaluation of work programmes and business processes. Job opportunities exist in the services and manufacturing industry, he says. This course is not listed in the CAO handbook, but is available through the CAO (Course code: GY407).
All students who begin an engineering degree in the University of Galway this year will do an industrial placement.
At Athlone RTC, a new national diploma in mechatronics is on offer. The course is not listed in the CAO handbook and students must apply directly to the college. Dr Eliathamby Ambikairajah, head of the college's school of engineering, explains that mechatronics is "the integration of mechanical engineering, electronic engineering and computer control". Mechatronic products include washing machines, camcorders and robotic devices. "There's a real need in industry for people who have this multi-disciplinary technology", according to Dr Ambik airajah. The programme was introduced in response to contact with companies such as Hewlett Packard and Analog Devices.
Two years ago, DCU introduced a degree in mechatronic engineering and it is possible that diploma graduates may be able to transfer on to this programme. Dr Lisa Looney, of DCU's School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, says that the college's policy is to encourage this type of cross-transfer. DCU's course has a very strong design element and there is a six-month work placement in third year.
Computing
Last year the number of places on software degrees increased by more than 650 and it is expected that the number will be increased by a further 350 this year. A number of new computing courses came on stream while established courses increased their intake.
This year, NUI Maynooth is introducing a degree in computer science and software with 80 first-year places. The four-year programme will include a six-month industrial placement. The core curriculum is supplemented by areas such as signal processing, business organisation and organisational behaviour. Professor David Vernon says that computer programmers don't work in isolation in front of a screen - they must understand the decision-making processes.
The department of computer science has produced a high-quality CD ROM which it is sending to schools in an attempt to attract students.
Cork Institute of Technology introduced a BSc in software development and computer net working late last year. It is not listed in the CAO handbook, but applicants must apply through the CAO system, quoting the course code (CR116). Despite the late introduction of the course, the cut-off points reached 400, and the college anticipates even greater demand this year.
Mr Aidan McDonald, course director, explains that students will follow six compulsory streams or options - computer programming, software programming, computer networking, telecommunications, computer architecture and mathematics. "It's an expensive area in terms of laboratory equipment and we've had great industrial support", Mr McDonald says. There is a mandatory six-month work placement for students, starting at the end of March in third year.
Science
UCD's new Theoretical Physics course, which will have about 15 first-year places, is the brainchild of the departments of mathematical physics and theoretical physics.
Dr Peter Duffy, of the department of mathematical physics, says that graduates could go into areas as diverse as teaching, financial services or actuarial work. Employers are looking for people who have problem-solving skills in a whole lot of environments, he says.
In first year students will study mathematical physics, experimental physics, maths and one other subject, such as chemistry or computer science. In second year they will drop this fourth subject. In third and fourth years they will concentrate on specialist courses, such as astro-physics and nuclear physics. There will be a heavy emphasis on problem solving on computer", Dr Duffy says.
Trinity College introduced a degree in computational chemistry/computational physics late last year. Dr Sara McMurry, senior lecturer in the department of physics at TCD, explained: "There is an enormous demand for scientists with good numerical and good computational backgrounds. There are very good employment prospects." In the first two years students study maths, physics and chemistry from the natural sciences programme. Then, in the final two years, they opt for physics or chemistry.
Biomedical Sciences
The University of Galway is bringing in a new degree in biomedical sciences which is essentially a combination of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry with information technology. It is not laboratory sciences and should not be confused with medical lab sciences. Equally, it is not a back door into medicine. Jean Folan-Curran, professor of anatomy, notes that anatomy was traditionally associated with the medical faculty. It is now being offered, in the University of Galway, as a subject within science and biomedical science.
Additional research by Catherine Foley
Group Orders
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Helpline
Students, parents and teachers, with queries about colleges, courses and application procedures, are invited to call the College Choice helpline between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. today. Tel: (01) 679 2350.