• » Bachelor of Science in Computing For Multimedia and Digital Entertainment Technology

    Programme Title  Bachelor of Science in Computing for Multimedia and Digital Entertainment Technology
    CAO Code  LY747
    LYIT internal code  
    Duration  3 Years ab initio
    Standard Code Places:  24
    National Framework Level  7
    Award Type  Major
    Awarding Body  LYIT, under Delegated Authority from HETAC
    Is this Programme for Me?
    Computer technologies have reshaped the way in which media content is produced, distributed and marketed. Traditional media companies have adapted Internet and computing technologies to provide entertainment which is interactive and on-demand. The media and computing industries are experiencing a convergence, as media companies increasingly move towards the production and distribution of digital content. The entertainment industry is rapidly and increasingly being driven by computer technology and by computer games technologies in particular.
    The same computer technologies have also re-defined the borders of the entertainment industry. Individuals and non-traditional entertainment companies can produce and distribute multimedia content.
    This BSc in Computing for Multimedia and Digital Entertainment Technology was developed because we recognise that the entertainment industry needs computer scientists who understand the technologies used in producing and distributing digital entertainment content. The course has been designed with this outcome in mind and includes a number of strands in general computing allied to strands in digital entertainment, multimedia, media distribution and e-learning.
    According to the 2006 report International Digital Media Industry: Implications for Ireland by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs: “A high quality mix of creative and technical skills will be required to meet the needs of the Digital Media industry of the future. The report examines how Ireland can best position itself from a skills perspective in order to benefit from an industry which was worth over $965 billion in 2004 and is projected to grow to $1.5 trillion by 2009.“
    Course Structure
    The B.Sc. is a three year taught programme in computing, which focuses on core computing skills plus topics applicable to the multimedia and digital content industries. Its aim is to provide students who participate in it with the range of both theoretical and practical skills required for them to participate fully in a strong and vibrant computing industry with a particular emphasis on multimedia and digital content. In addition graduates from this course will be able to do a planned one-year add-on Honours BSc in Multimedia and Digital Entertainment Technology.
    For some general information about why you might consider a career in computing: Careers Evenings and Computers.
    Minimum Academic Entry Requirements
    Grade D3 or higher in at least five ordinary level subjects at Leaving Certificate, including Mathematics and either Irish or English, or an equivalent qualification.
    • FETAC applicants click FETAC
    • Applicants presenting non-Irish exams as a basis for entry, please check the IOTCEF listing to search for the entry relevant to your country
    • Applicants who are interested in taking selected modules only from this programme and/or those interested in studying this programme in a part-time mode, click Part-time Study
    What will I have to study?
    Year/SemesterModulesMandatory/
    Elective    		No of creditsClass hours per week
     1/1  Introduction to OO Programming I Mandatory  5  5
     Communications Mandatory  5  4
     Discrete Mathematics Mandatory  5  4
     Student Development Mandatory  5  4
     General Computing Mandatory  5  4
     Computer Applications Mandatory  5  4
     1/2  Introduction to OO Programming II Mandatory  5  5
      Multimedia and the Web Mandatory  5  4
     Mathematics for Computer Graphics Mandatory  5  4
     Computer Architecture Mandatory  5  4
     Introduction to Computer Games Mandatory  5  4
     Introduction to Digital Entertainment Mandatory  5  4
     2/3  Graphics and Interactive Design for the Web Mandatory  5  5
     E-Learning and Multimedia Mandatory  5  4
     Database Technology Mandatory  5  4
     Operating Systems Mandatory  5  4
     Digital Entertainment Devices Mandatory  5  4
     Applications Scripting Mandatory  5  4
     2/4  Web Authoring Mandatory  5  4
     Structured Query Language (SQL) Mandatory  5  4
     E-Learning Course Development Mandatory  5  4
     Data Communications Mandatory  5  4
     Digital, Audio and Video Production Mandatory  5  4
     Game Authoring and Animation Mandatory  5  4
     3/5  Dynamic Web Design and Development Mandatory  5  4
     Object Oriented Analysis & Design Mandatory  5  4
     EMarketing Mandatory  5  4
     Research Methods Mandatory  5  4
      Digital Audio and Video Production and Post-production for the WWW Mandatory  5  4
      Digital Multimedia and the Semantic Web Mandatory  5  4
     3/6  Interactive Application Design and Development Mandatory  5  4
     Project Management Mandatory  5  4
     Client/Server Database Architecture Mandatory  5  4
     Team Project Mandatory  5  4
     Digital Media Distribution Mandatory  5  4
     Web Services for Digital Media Mandatory  5  4
    Are there follow-up Programmes Available?
    Progression to a planned programme leading to a Level 8 Honours Bachelor Degree in Multimedia and Digital entertainment Technology will be available internally at LYIT.
    On completion of this programme graduates may go on to study for their Honours Degree at other ITs and Universities in Ireland and abroad. Progression internationally to second cycle (i.e. ‘Bologna Masters’) degree programmes.
    Career Opportunities
    Current forecasts about the future of the computing industry in Ireland are excellent. It is projected that students who enter third level colleges this year are likely to find there are more professional computing jobs available when they graduate than there are computing graduates to fill them.
    During the past decade, Ireland has gained increasing recognition as Europe’s premier location for software development. Since the 1980s, most leading US software vendors, including Microsoft, Oracle, Google, Facebook and Symantec, have based their European operations centres in Ireland. The country has also become the number one site for software development in Europe. All the big players such as Microsoft, Google, EBay, Symantec and Amazon are now based in Ireland.
    Alongside the big international players Ireland also has a thriving software development industry that has been created in Ireland by Irish computer graduates. It comprises of over 600 companies, about 250 of which have significant levels of overseas sales. Ireland has now overtaken the USA as the biggest exporter of software in the world. 60% of all software sold in Europe originates in Ireland.
    In addition to the national demand for computing graduates there are several large computing companies in the Northwest such as Pramerica which is based in Letterkenny, Northbrook which has operations in Derry and Strabane and SITA which is owned by the air transport industry and has recently announced a major jobs expansion.
    And for an idea of what computing might look like in the future see the following video by Microsoft on YouTube: Microsoft Future of Computing or see Microsoft's Future Vision 2019 You can be part of it.
    For independent information on employment and salaries in the IT industry see the following report which covers 2010-2011 : Jobs and Salaries in IT. Also see Ireland is becoming the Internet Capital of Europe and Gaming in Ireland. For the latest update on employment in the IT Sector see 2,500 Unfilled Jobs in Irish Tech Sector.
    For articles from 2012 which you might find helpful see:
    High-tech sector better for jobs than traditional areas, says IDA
    Increase in demand for IT professionals at the end of 2011 - report
    State ignoring tech skills gap at its peril
    This course begins in September each year. How to Apply
    If you would like to learn more about computing attend our Summer Computing Camp .
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
    • Contact Thomas Dowling, Head of Department of Computing, Letterkenny Institute of Technology by
    • E- Mail: thomas.dowling@lyit.ie
    • Telephone: (074) 918 6304