By I've been thinking for quite a while now that I would really like to try my hand at studying towards a degree with the Open University. Back in November I decided that with being out of work for a year and having no luck at interviews that now was the time to do something about it. I ordered a prospectus and sifted through the courses on offer. I'm not really an Arts kind of guy and tend to lean more towards Sciene and Technology. Anyway, I orginally liked the look of the BSc (Honours) Information and Communication Technologies degree and signed up for the 2 courses that they suggest you start with. Thinking on what sort of optional courses I could bring into the degree to make up the 60 point shortfall led me to some of the Astronomy courses. After a bit more digging I came across the BA/BSc Open degree, which allows you much greater flexibility to tailor the degree to your own liking. You still have to take courses at levels 1, 2 & 3 to meet the point requirements but the choice of courses are virtually wide open. This has given me much greater flexibilty in how I structure my degree and I have come up with the following plan:
Level 1
Data, computing and information (M150)30
Networked living: exploring information and communication technologies (T175)30
How the Universe works (S197)10
Introducing astronomy (S194)10
Planets: an introduction (S196)10
Using mathematics (MST121)30
Level 2
Computers and processors (T224)30
Exploring mathematics (MS221)30
Planetary science and the search for life (S283)30
Astronomy (S282)30
Observing the Universe (SXR208)15
Level 3
Computer algebra, chaos and simulations (MS325)30
Graphs, networks and design (MT365)30
Natural and artificial intelligence (M366)30
The energetic Universe (S381)30
Total points in this qualification plan: 375
This is 15 points over the 360 total that I need but includes the two courses that I originally signed up for, and an optional residential course based at an observatory in Mallorca; an opportunity not to be missed. The main bulk of the course is Astronomy and Computing but with the addition of the complementary Mathematics that I am going to need for the level 2 & 3 Astronomy and Computing courses. I have concerns that S381 appears to have been pulled from the prospectus and I may need to pick another level 3 course but nothing is set in stone yet.
My first 2 course, M150 and T175 both start next month and I'm really looking forward to getting stuck into them. My only real concern is trying to ensure that I don't get too distracted to study.
Meta
