Deciding to enrol on a new third-level course requires a leap of faith. It is easier to go with a course which has a proven track record and plenty of famous alumni to sing its praises.
Employers may not be familiar with new courses and this causes school-leavers and their parents to wonder about the wisdom of entering them.
On the other hand, many new courses are created in answer to a demand in the economy and consequently what you get from them can be more current and valuable than more established options.
Serious research is required. Read the college prospectus closely and, if possible, make contact with some of the academic staff.
Make sure you know what subjects you have to do and that the college tells you what employment options are available at the end of it.
Below is a selection of some new and interesting courses available through the CAO. They are not ranked in any order and you should consult the colleges directly for more information about them:
UCC - BA in drama and theatre studies (CK112)
This is a three-year degree programme offered by the faculty of arts.
A restricted application course, it has 15 places on offer. Applications are made through the CAO followed by a workshop and interview in the college in April or May. "This is the first time a drama qualification has been offered at UCC," says Dr Ger Fitzgibbon, programme co-ordinator of the faculty.
The course, he says, has been introduced to meet the increasing demand for drama and performing arts qualifications.
"There is a similar course already in Trinity and the ratio of applicants to places is about 20 to one," he says. "The arts are burgeoning so there is a definite need for more courses."
Dr Fitzgibbon warns applicants it is not an actor's training course.
"It will contribute to the skills involved in being an actor, but students should remember it is a university degree offering broad intellectual and practical training which can be applied to a number of different areas."
NUI Galway - BSc in physics and astronomy (GY312)
This is the first time this degree has been offered through the CAO. There are 10 students who applied directly to the college last year currently doing the course. The college intends to offer 20 places for autumn 2001, but this may change.
Prof Michael Redfern, head of the experimental physics department, says the course will give students a good technological education. "Graduates will be very acceptable for all sorts of careers and continued training."
While other physics degrees offer astronomy as an option in their third or fourth years, this course allows students to get to grips with it from day one. "Students in other physics courses might find it distressing to have to wait three years before getting to the subject they want," says Prof Redfern.
The entry requirements are not too stringent, with either a C3 in honours maths or an A2 in pass required.
However, Prof Redfern says the course involves more computing than other science courses in the college.
TCD - BSc in the physics and chemistry of advanced materials (TR076)
This degree is taught jointly by the physics and chemistry departments at Trinity.
There are 20 places for the course, which, according to director Dr John Donegan, "combines the traditional disciplines of physics and chemistry while addressing different areas of advanced technology".
Advanced materials, he explains, are things like silicon and optical fibres, used in Internet connections, microprocessors and laser systems. "Essentially, they are the driving force behind the information revolution."
Dr Donegan says companies such as Intel and Hewlett Packard have been pushing for this sort of degree for many years. "This cross-discipline approach is far more useful to them than a traditional degree."
DIT (Cathal Brugha Street) - BSc food technology/pharmaceutical technology (DT 490)
Years one and two are common to food technology and pharmaceutical technology options. Divergence occurs in year three and specialisation is the main feature of year four.
This new course replaces the certificate in food technology and the diploma in healthcare technology, which are now defunct.
Dr Seamus Cassidy, acting head of the school of food science and environmental health, says the decision to amalgamate the courses was due to the common elements of both disciplines.
"The basic sciences, materials and techniques of both subjects are common and the protocols of quality control which are well developed in the pharmaceutical area can be used in food technology."
UCD - BSc in sports management (DN 024)
UCD has 40 places on offer on this three-year degree with five or six places reserved for mature students.
Programme co-ordinator Ms Anne-Marie Harvey says the course offers a similar qualification to a commerce degree and graduates should find employment as sports development officers, facility managers or coaching development officers.
The course evolved out of UCD's diploma in sports management which was launched five years ago to train sports professionals to continue working after their sporting careers were over.
"Increasing professionalism in sport has led to a demand for a degree in sports management," says Ms Harvey.
A B3 or higher in ordinary level maths is required for the course but students graduating with a distinction from the diploma course may be admitted to the second year of the degree.
DCU:
The university has notified this column of several changes to its courses, some of which are not included in its literature or the CAO handbook.
Its degree in pure and applied chemistry (DC162) has been revamped and the title of the course is now chemical and pharmaceutical sciences.
The revamp means students in third year can specialise in the traditional route (chemistry) or opt to take pharmaceutical studies.
The university is also offering a course which is not in the original CAO handbook, a degree in electronic and communications engineering (DC 200). Students can still put it on their CAO degree list.
Agriculture/horticulture courses:
For the first time agriculture and horticulture courses run by Teagasc are being offered through the CAO.
The certificate and diplomas have received accreditation from the National Council of Educational Awards and bring agricultural training into mainstream education.
A two-year certificate in agriculture will be provided in the following Teagasc colleges/institutes of technology:
Kildalton Agricultural College and Waterford Institute of Technology (WD098);
Clonakilty Agricultural College and Cork Institute of Technology (CR010);
Mountbellew Agricultural College and Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology (GA049).
A new three-year diploma in horticulture will be provided in the following Teagasc colleges/ institute of technology:
Kildalton Horticultural College and Waterford Institute of Technology (WD 096);
Warrenstown Horticultural College and Blanchardstown Institute of Technology (BN 007);
College of Horticulture, Botanic Gardens and Blanchardstown Institute of Technology (BN008).
(Additional research by Olivia Kelly)