Advice on study path

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Precision

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Hey guys

I need some advice on which study path to take. I am currently finishing my third year in Bsc. Computer Science at UCT(Information Systems second major) , and I am in line to graduate this year. I have applied for Computer Science honours, but something in the engineering booklet caught my eye.

The engineering faculty offers a 2-year conversion course for Science degree holders. I was thinking that getting an Electrical and Computer Engineering degree via this program is another option. I have the required credits for Maths, Physics and Computer Science, so the workload shouldn't be too much.

So basically if I do this programme I will be holding a Bsc. and a Bsc(Eng) compared to an honours degree in Computer Science if I go the honours route (although I will be done in a year less).

What do you guys suggest? I like Computer Science (and hate the IS side of things), but I feel like it would be great to expand my options, and the engineering side really interests me as well.
 
Well, they're both good degrees to have. I expect it will really come down to your preference of course material. More options are great, but I personally never found the options available after my BSc(Hons) CS (also from UCT), to be a limiting factor. There were a lot of interesting options available to me, so I worked a bit, and also studied some more (this was the 90's though so in terms of what is out there in SA now, YMMV). Also, something to consider is that you'll be adding 2 years to get the Eng degree, when adding 2.5-3 years, could get you an M.Sc., which may be more attractive.
 
An engineering degree is a gateway into a recognised profession, with better career prospects over time, so certainly that is recommended if you have the competence and interest to pursue it.
 
ads said:
An engineering degree is a gateway into a recognised profession, with better career prospects over time, so certainly that is recommended if you have the competence and interest to pursue it.
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IMO , the engineering route has better long term prospects.
 
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Unless you have a passion for a specific area of engineering, I think the B.Sc Hons CompSci has better career prospects. I think it will be easier for you to get work with a B.Sc Hons CompSci in a much wider range of companies.
 
I tried something similar 5 years ago. A word of warning is that engineering is alot tougher than a CS degree. if Maths is not a strong point, I suggest not pursuing this idea.
 
I have finished first and second year pure maths, so I doubt I need to do any maths courses (but obviously engineering courses involve maths). I have always enjoyed maths though, so that doesn't really put me off.
 
I work for a large company (2000+ employees) and there a BEng Electronic degree will always be preferred above a BSc Comp Sci, even for pure software development.
 
Precision coudl you send me a link to information about that beng conversion course, really interested in it.
 
Precision said:
I have finished first and second year pure maths, so I doubt I need to do any maths courses (but obviously engineering courses involve maths). I have always enjoyed maths though, so that doesn't really put me off.
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If the course contents sounds more interesting than the Hons course to you and maths does not scare you go do the Eng conversion course I say.

You'll always be able to do the Hons part time while working via unisa if you so wish but you will never be able to do that for Eng, you would have to quit work. As far as I'm concerned an Eng degree carries more weight and is applicable to more fields out there.
 
Ludjer said:
Precision coudl you send me a link to information about that beng conversion course, really interested in it.
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https://www.uct.ac.za/downloads/uct.ac.za/apply/handbooks/Handbook7AEBEUndergraduateStudies2014.pdf

Bottom of Page 41 of the engineering handbook (It's not very detailed though).

I spoke to the student advisor, and he said since I am currently a UCT student, I simply have to fill in a change of curriculum form, speak to the head of department to sort out your courses, and I will be fine for a 2 year program.

However, he said that the process was simplified, since a Bsc in Computer Science, and a Bsc.Eng in Electrical and computer engineering share many courses, so if you hold a different degree, or you are not a current UCT student, this process might be a bit more complicated for you.
 
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Thanks for the replies guys, Ill take it into consideration when I decide.
 
Precision said:
Hey guys

I need some advice on which study path to take. I am currently finishing my third year in Bsc. Computer Science at UCT(Information Systems second major) , and I am in line to graduate this year. I have applied for Computer Science honours, but something in the engineering booklet caught my eye.

The engineering faculty offers a 2-year conversion course for Science degree holders. I was thinking that getting an Electrical and Computer Engineering degree via this program is another option. I have the required credits for Maths, Physics and Computer Science, so the workload shouldn't be too much.

So basically if I do this programme I will be holding a Bsc. and a Bsc(Eng) compared to an honours degree in Computer Science if I go the honours route (although I will be done in a year less).

What do you guys suggest? I like Computer Science (and hate the IS side of things), but I feel like it would be great to expand my options, and the engineering side really interests me as well.
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Don't go for Computer Engineering. You already have a Computer Science background, rather go for Electrical/Electronic Engineering (avoid Power or Mechatronics. I doubt you will like it).
Maths is pretty much intense. The undergrad maths includes things like differential and integral calculus (which should look familiar), Laplace transforms, Practical Applications, Linear Algebra (which I think is done in computer science) and Fourier Series (the cursed section which they saved for last). This is from maths 3, which you would obviously need for post-grad studies.
The most familiar module will be from Digital Systems (aka Digital Electronics). Most of the stuff here is from computer science (we did a really cool project, where we had to assemble and program a microcontroller).
There's a lot of hard work, but the benefits are there.
 
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<![SoUL-rEapER]>;13769576 said:
Don't go for Computer Engineering. You already have a Computer Science background, rather go for Electrical/Electronic Engineering (avoid Power or Mechatronics. I doubt you will like it).
Maths is pretty much intense. The undergrad maths includes things like differential and integral calculus (which should look familiar), Laplace transforms, Practical Applications, Linear Algebra (which I think is done in computer science) and Fourier Series (the cursed section which they saved for last). This is from maths 3, which you would obviously need for post-grad studies.
The most familiar module will be from Digital Systems (aka Digital Electronics). Most of the stuff here is from computer science (we did a really cool project, where we had to assemble and program a microcontroller).
There's a lot of hard work, but the benefits are there.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice

I have done Differential and integral calculus, as well as Linear Algebra (Plus Abstract Algebra and Real Analysis) in MAM2000W (second year pure Maths) so I won't have to take any of those maths modules. In fact from what I understood from the student advisor, I won't have to take any more maths modules, since they are directly transferable.

Obviously subjects like Control Engineering require maths, but as I said, I generally enjoy maths anyway. Doesn't mean the maths will be easy though :P, but I don't like running away from a challenge.
 
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