School of Computing Celebrates Launch of
New M.Sc. Programmes

On Monday, 6th October, staff from the School of Computing welcomed the first ever intake of students to its new M.Sc. in Bioinformatics and M.Sc. in Security & Forensic Computing programmes. Speaking at a drinks reception in The Hub, Professor Joe Morris, Head of the School of Computing, welcomed the students and expressed his satisfaction with the high level of industry and student interest in these innovative new programmes. Both programmes have attracted students from a wide variety of backgrounds, with participants coming from as far afield as China, India and the United Arab Emirates.

With the recent rise in incidents of computer-related crime, the M.Sc. in Security & Forensic Computing programme will focus on equipping graduates to carry out the sophisticated technical work involved in the detection, analysis and presentation of digital evidence in a legally admissible manner. Students will also explore effective methods which may be used to assist in the prevention of computer crime. Delivered over one year full-time, it is the first programme in Ireland to address this exciting, rapidly expanding area.

The M.Sc. in Bioinformatics, for its part, will focus on instilling participants with the inter-disciplinary skills required to prosper in the expanding bioinformatics and biotechnology sectors. Bioinformatics is a relatively new science whose development has been propelled by recent work such as the Human Genome Project, where the entire genetic information of the human has been laid out before scientists. The M.Sc. in Bioinformatics programme aims to provide graduates with the skills necessary to manage and interpret this colossal amount of data. Jointly run by the School of Computing and School of Biotechnology, it is a one-year full-time programme featuring a common core curriculum with two distinct streams, Computing and Life Sciences, to appeal to both kind of specialist.

The launching of these new programmes reflects DCU School of Computing's innovative, forward-looking approach. Also offered by the School are existing M.Sc. in Electronic Commerce and Grad. Dip./M.Sc. in Information Technology programmes.

Students and staff from the M.Sc. in Security & Forensic Computing (MSSF)

Students and staff from the M.Sc. in Bioinformatics (MBIO)