There are an increasing number of degree courses and diploma courses with add-on degrees available for studying media, journalism and film studies at various campuses around the country.
Studying these subjects to degree level, or in some cases as a conversion course at postgraduate level, is becoming an ever more popular choice and there are good options, in terms of employment, available after graduation for the diligent student. Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (DLIADT) has one of the most well resourced schools of art, design and media around. There are courses available in many areas of media production and visual art.
This year, many of the courses, which were previously available to national certificate level, are being extended in their ambit to degree level. This is the case for national certificate courses in radio broadcasting, model making and special effects, television and video production, design communications, design communications incorporating animations and photography.
Degree courses, which are already on offer from the DLIADT include a national degree in film/video and a bachelors of design in production design, interactive media and a BA in fine art.
At postgraduate level there is an MA in scriptwriting on offer. You need to be careful to research properly the application procedures for these courses as many of them require portfolio work and application direct to the college as well as or instead of application through CAO.
Students need to start thinking about portfolio work well in advance. All the necessary requirements are set out in the prospectus which has a small accompanying booklet which is entitled Portfolio Requirements.
Within the school of science and technology at DLIADT there are a number of courses which focus on digital media technology, multimedia and information technology systems. There is a national certificate in technology (audio visual media technology) and a BSc in Psychology applied to information technology.
This degree course concentrates on various mainstream topics of scientific psychology initially, before going on to subjects such as graphic design and ergonomics (or human and machine interaction to you and me). One of the aims of the course is to have graduates who can work within the IT industry to make software and computer applications more user-friendly. One of the aims within DLIADT is to look at increasing future possibilities for crossover between the different schools whereby perhaps more artistic elements can be combined with technology in some courses. There is a strong emphasis on technology at present so that every course in the institute will contain some level of computer use. University College Dublin is home to some of the most comprehensive and academic degree courses in relation to the study of film. Through the Centre for Film Studies, based at UCD, graduates can study for an MA in film studies as well as an MLitt or a PhD. There is a BA modular degree course available as an evening course which is not available at foundation level. THE MA in film studies is one year in duration for full-time students or two years for part-time students. The course concentrates on the history, theory and practice of film making in Europe and the US with particular reference to Ireland.
Assessment on the course is carried out by way of examinations, practical assessments and there is also a thesis component. The UCD School of Film is an associate of the Centre for Film Studies. It conducts practical courses in film production and screen writing. At the University of Ulster there are a number of degree opportunities in the area of media studies. At the Coleraine campus there is an opportunity to study for a BA in media studies either as a single subject of as a combined humanities degree.
There is also an MA in media studies. The media studies degree course is composed of modular elements so students can opt for the subject choices which most interest them to assemble the elements of their degree. The course lasts three years and has a compulsory dissertation as the culmination of the third year's work.
At the University of Ulster campus in Belfast students can study for a BA in visual communication. The course is IT-based with a strong emphasis on multimedia design and is three years in duration but students are encouraged to take an option of a four-year course which incorporates a placement year in industry. A BA in design - visual communication is a similar course which is on offer from the Dublin Institute of Technology. Based at the DIT Mountjoy Square campus the course is four years long and includes course options such as graphic design, illustration and new media design.
DIT Aungier Street offers a BSc (communications) as reward for a four years honours degree in journalism. Aspects of communication covered in the course include communications theory, media analysis, media representations and issues of contemporary journalism.
The communications school also offer a BSc in film and broadcasting. This, too, is a four-year degree programme with an emphasis on media analysis of broadcasting and film.
