New courses mean more choices for students. Today's column looks at new offerings in humanities, music, forestry, business and interior architecture NUI Maynooth's four-year degree course in German and historical studies includes one year in Germany.
Dr Andrea McTigue, head of the German department, says first-year students will take German, historical studies and one other arts subject. They drop this third subject in second year.
The following year they leave Maynooth's leafy environs to spend the entire year at a German or Austrian university. In fourth year, they resume their studies in Ireland.
Dr McTigue says that graduates of this "specialised course will be absolutely fluent in German and also good historians."
Students wishing to gain one of the 10 first-year places must apply through the omnibus arts programme (Course code MH101).
Economics And Finance
This new three-year degree course has been established by UCD's commerce faculty. First-year subjects include accounting, mathematics, statistics and introductory economics.
In their second year, students will be introduced to the principles of finance, taxation and business law, together with courses in economic theory, introductory econometrics and the Irish economy. In their final year there will be a range of specialised courses in finance, banking, economics and econometrics.
The degree is expected to provide good prospects for those students who want to pursue a career in banking and financial services.
B Comm International (SWEDISH)
Also in UCD, the B Comm international degree has added Swedish to its list of languages. Students now have the option of studying French, German, Spanish, Italian, Irish or Swedish.
Prof Frank Bradley, dean of UCD's faculty of commerce, says that it is one of the most popular degree programmes because "it appeals to the students who want to maintain both sides to their life - the language, arts and literature as well as the business side."
The Swedish option has been established in response to the number of Swedish companies which are now based here, explains Prof Bradley. UCD already has links with several Swedish universities. Interior Architecture And Design
This innovative three-year national diploma offered by Sligo RTC is designed to produce graduates with an expertise in the design of interiors for a range of uses - commercial, industrial and domestic. The course includes graphic communications, cultural studies, technology, computer studies, maths and law, as well as European languages.
A link is being established with Napier University in Edinburgh so that diplomates will be able to transfer to its honours degree course in interior architecture.
Forestry
Ireland's increasing tree cover is the spur to three new courses. Agricultural engineering - forestry New entrants to Tralee RTC's national certificate in agricultural engineering can now specialise in forestry.
Mr Brendan O'Donnell, of the college's engineering department, says the course has been introduced to address the increasing level of mechanisation in forestry. It is primarily concerned with the design, manufacture, modification and maintenance of equipment used in the industry.
Other aspects of agricultural engineering, including land drainage/reclamation and surveying, will be covered. Students who successfully complete the two-year course may proceed to the college's diploma in agricultural engineering.
WIT introduced a national diploma in science in forestry last year and Galway RTC is beginning a new national diploma in forest management, which includes a six-month industrial placement.
Music Foundation
DIT's new music foundation course is designed to bring students up to scratch for entry to the college's degree course in music performance or the diploma course in music teaching.
The course is not in the free fees scheme. It will cost £545 plus an acceptance fee of £250. Applicants will be auditioned for the 25 places.
Ms Paula Hughes, a course tutor at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, says that the course should suit people who have auditioned for a performance course but who may need another year to mature. It would also suit students who play in bands and are good performers, but who have no theoretical experience or who may be academically weak.
Administration
WIT has introduced a BA in administration. This three year full-time course replaces the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators course and will equip graduates to function as professional administrators in industry, local government, the civil service and higher education.
BA In Economic And Social Studies
Students spend the first two years in St Angela's College, Sligo, and their final year in the University of Galway, which will award the degree.
In year one, students study economics, political science, sociology and information technology. In second year they will concentrate on areas such as microeconomics, Irish economic history, classical social thought, modern political thought, techniques of analysis in the social sciences and European politics.
In their final year they will study a wider range of disciplines within this general framework.
National Certs In Humanities - Applied Languages, Applied Language For Communication And Administration, And Languages With Heritage Studies
Tallaght RTC has three new courses on offer in the humanities area this year. Ms Helen O'Connell, head of the department of languages, explains that all of these courses include modules in computer applications, business studies and marketing.
The applied languages course and applied languages for communication and administration have a common first year. The purpose of all three courses is to produce students with a high level of proficiency in both written and spoken skills in two European languages - French and German.
The plan is that certificateholders will be able to proceed to a diploma in the future, says Ms O'Connell. It is also hoped that there will be an avenue to degree level.
B Comm (European)
UCC will offer five new B Comm (European) degree programmes this year - commerce with French, German, Italian, Spanish and Irish. The programmes are designed to ensure that students are competent in their chosen language and have a broad business studies foundation.
The course has been introduced in response to the growing cultural, economic, and financial integration of Ireland within the European Union. Students (other than those taking Irish) will spend their third year abroad studying in appropriate universities.
"The year abroad will make a tremendous difference to the cultural experience and the level of language that the student would have to achieve," says Mr Donncha Kavanagh of UCC's department of management and marketing.
Students pursuing year three of the B Comm (European) degree programme in Irish will spend a period in placement and must also complete and pass a series of projects/reports.
Private Colleges
This is the first year that places in private third-level colleges are being offered through the CAO. There are six certificate/diploma and 16 degree courses on offer through the CAO in LSB College, Portobello College, and American College, all in Dublin. LSB will hold an open afternoon on January 21st from 2 to 5 p.m.
Additional research by Catherine Foley
Group Orders
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Helpline
Students, parents and teachers with queries about colleges, courses and application procedures are invited to call the College Choice helpline between 2 and 3 p.m. today at (01) 679 2350.