Higher Certificate In Computing

Course details

What is the Higher Certificate in Computing course about?

Across the world and across business sectors, Irish companies are key suppliers of innovative products and services. Information Communication Technology (ICT) is a key growth sector for Ireland and the availability of highly skilled IT professionals here has attracted many high profile companies that continue to reinvest and recruit. In addition, the IT outsourcing market is booming as employers increasingly look to third-party providers in order to cut costs and increase eff ciencies. A comprehensive new survey of Ireland’s indigenous technology companies published in June 2014 shows a significant rise in confidence levels, with 81.5% stating that they were more confident about their business than they were three months ago. There are already more than 105,000 people employed in the technology sector in Ireland, while the government ICT Skills Action Plan indicates a continuing strong demand for high-level ICT skills with 44,500 job openings forecast to arise over the period to 2018.

This Higher Certificate in Computing is a two year full-time programme offered at Wexford Campus that prepares you for a wide range of software development opportunities in both Irish and multinational companies. Students will be following our new “learning by doing” model in first year with continuous assessment replacing final exams.

What will I be able to do when I finish the course?

Graduates of the higher certifcate would seek employment as programmers in the world of business, as well as opportunities in the area of software support and sales. Graduates of IT Carlow are working with companies including UNUM, Google, IBM, Microsoft, HP, Sun, Sage and Intel.

What follow-on study opportunities are available?

Graduates may apply to progress to Year 3 of the BSc in Software Development (CW207) at IT Carlow at the main Carlow Campus, where you extend and expand your programming skills. Following successful completion of year 3 you may apply for entry to the final year of the BSc (Honours) degree in Software Development (CW238).

What subjects will I study?

Year 1

Mandatory Subjects

• Mathematics 1
• Programming
• Computer Hardware
• Operating Systems
• Networking
• Applications & Interpersonal Communications

Year 2

Mandatory Subjects

• Mathematics 2
• Web Programming & Databases
• Object-Oriented Programming
• Systems Analysis
• Computer Architecture
• Management Accounting
• Project

What are the minimum entry requirements?

Leaving Certificate: 5 subjects at Ordinary Level grade D3 or better.

Subjects required: English or Irish at Ordinary Level Grade D3 or better and Mathematics at Ordinary Level grade D3 or better.

Mature applicants will be interviewed and assessed on an individual basis.