DURATION
One Year full-time (part-time over two years)

INTRODUCTION

This course has over 16 years experience in educating and training people in the multidisciplined field of Irish culture and heritage. It is particularly suited to participants, both young and mature, who are impassioned by subject areas such as archaeology, history and folklore and who would like to materialise their interests into real employment potential. In addition to its first-class tuition in the broad cross section of Irish culture and heritage, it offers practical and professional instruction in the applied fields of interpretation, communication and management.

MAIN AREAS OF STUDY

• Archaeology
• Local History
• Folklore and Ethnology
• Cultural and Social History
• Heritage Resource Management
• Literary, Visual & Performing Arts
• Tourism Studies and Guiding Skills
• Communications
• Museum and Gallery Management
• Computers with Internet Skills
• Language and associated Cultural Studies (French, Spanish or Italian, Conversational Irish)

SPECIAL FEATURES

Over 25 full day-trips are conducted to an extensive number of cultural tourism and heritage based institutes and enterprises, where students share the expertise of management and staff and realise a clear awareness of employment needs and potential. An extensive five-day field-trip to the Aran Islands is undertaken each year.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Students spend a number of weeks working and gaining practical first hand experience with a cultural tourism/heritage employer. Work practice within the college in respect of exhibition development and event production augments such placements and major heritage centres such as Craggaunowen, Co. Clare and the Navan Centre, Co. Armagh have commissioned specialist exhibitions which the students have researched, presented and curated.

CAREER PROSPECTS

Graduates are particularly successful in securing employment in a wide range of different areas: e.g Tour Guiding, Heritage Centres, Archeological Excavation, Museum Work, Art Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Genealogical Research Centres &c.

Employers include : Bord Fáilte, Dúchas (The Heritage Service), Local Authorities, Regional Enterprise Groups, Tourism, Heritage & Arts Projects in receipt of National Grant support. Cork has been designated European Capital of Culture in 2007.

FURTHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Candidates should look upon this course as an excellent foundation course for the Bachelor of Arts Degree Programme at UCC. A number of places On the BA Degree (CK101) have been set aside for students who achieve FIVE distinctions or higher in this course. Additionally, there is an excellent placement record in UCC for mature students who complete the course. In addition there are a number of Institutes of Technology countrywide who offer access to relevant programmes.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Each applicant will be interviewed and places awarded on suitability.

CERTIFICATION

• National Certificate - FETAC (NCVA) Level 5 in Cultural and Heritage Studies (NCVA award code:ECHSX)
• CHNTO Validation, UK (Cultural Heritage
National Training Organisation) Q-mark
• CERT Certificate in Tourism Awareness
• Health and Safety Authority: First Aid
• College Certification - City of Cork VEC

COURSE DIRECTOR

- Shane Lehane