Wide range of subjects on offer in media degree studies

JournalismThe points requirements for journalism are high. Last year it was 440 in the DIT (FT353) and 455 in DCU (DC132), both of which offer four-year degrees.

Areas covered include media technology, reading media, news reporting, law, feature writing, and radio journalism. Work placements are built into the third and fourth years.

For those who are prepared to pay tuition fees, Griffith College (GD450) and Dublin Business School (DB565) in Dublin offer three-year degrees. The entry points last year were 260 and 230.

Communications

DCU (DC131) - 445 points last year - offers a communications degree. Graduates will be able to pursue careers in the media, in IT, advertising, public relations and community and public service. NUI Galway is introducing a four- year communications degree (GY106) based in the Gaeltacht.

Media studies

The course at NUI Maynooth (MH109) combines hands-on practical training in television and radio production with academic courses in areas such as sociological analysis of media and film history. The points required in 2005 were 455.

Dublin Business School has a fee-paying course, arts (media studies DB564), costing €4,100 at 215 points. Dún Laoghaire IADT offers a broad degree programme, English, media and cultural studies (DL241), which required 370 points in 2005. Social science

Social science level 8 degree programmes are available from UCD (DN007), Maynooth (MH107), Cork (CK102), Trinity (TR083) sociology and social policy, (TR084) social studies, the DIT (DT571), and Athlone (AL054) IT.

DBS has introduced a fee- paying (€4,400) programme. Applied social studies (social care) level 8 degrees, are offered by Limerick (LC921) and Blanchardstown (BN107) ITs.

Level 7 degrees with options for add-on higher degrees are available from ITs in Cork (CR031), Blanchardstown (BN011), Dublin (DT570), Dundalk (DK764), Sligo (SG233), Tralee (TL190) and Waterford (WD018). Level 6 programmes are offered in Athlone (AL006) and Carlow College (PC404).

UCC recently launched new degrees in social science (CK114) and social work (CK115), open only to mature students with a background in relevant. In September, UL will begin a BSc in software development and social change. Points for social science degrees would fall between 480-400 points.

Agricultural science and other options

UCD offers nine bachelor of agricultural science degree programmes. Agricultural science (omnibus entry) (DN010) lets students take common courses in basic sciences in first year, with the option of pursuing any of the following nine degrees in year two: animal and crop production (DN045); animal science (DN046); food and agribusiness management (DN043); applied environmental sciences (DN044); food science (DN040); engineering technology (DN047); horticulture landscape and sports turf management (DN048); landscape architecture (DN041) and forestry (DN042).

The third language is no longer a requirement for entry.

Other level 8 programmes

UCC offers programmes in nutritional science (CK504), food science and technology (CK505) and food business (CK501), and international development and food Policy (CK506), aimed at Third World development.

UL recently introduced food science and health (LM068) which blends the traditional core food science modules with new health and lifestyle-oriented modules. DIT (DT480) offers food technology/pharmaceutical technology.

Environmental and related options

Increasing concern for the environment is addressed by the development of programmes such as applied environmental sciences in UCD (DN044); environmental science and health at DCU (DC166); environmental science at UCG (GY308), UL (LM066), and Sligo IT (SG441); environmental and earth systems sciences at UCC (CK404); and forensic and environmental science at DIT (DT203).

UCD restructuring has brought together geography (formerly in arts) and planning and environmental policy (formerly in architecture). This new school offers a topical degree in geography, planning and environmental policy (DN063), which can be used as a pathway to professional qualification in regional and urban planning.

Tomorrow: science