Courses in

Heritage includes almost anything that one generation hands down to the next, or anything from the past that people identify with. It involves the use of the past in the present – in commemorations, conservation plans, museum exhibitions, local economies, national identities, tourist attractions, etc. Today, the historic environment sector supports 40,000 jobs in Ireland and accounts for €1.5 billion revenue annually.

The BA in Heritage Studies will provide you with a broad-based knowledge of the built, cultural and natural heritages of Ireland and Europe. It will also provide you with an understanding of the role that heritage resource management plays in the safeguarding of national monuments, architecture, artefacts, archives, cultural landscapes, habitats, flora and fauna.

Year 1

Mandatory

• Communications (PDF 304KB)
• Computer Information Systems (PDF 307KB)
• Irelands Linguistic Traditions (PDF 310KB)
• Irish & European History 1200 - 1600 (PDF 323KB)
• Irish & European History 400 - 1200 (PDF 315KB)
• Learning & Innovation Skills (PDF 315KB)
• Natural Heritage Geography 1 (PDF 310KB)
• Natural Heritage Geography 2 (PDF 300KB)
• Reading Irish Literature(PDF 308KB)

Elective 

French (PDF 302KB); Gaeilge (PDF 302KB), German (PDF 309KB), Spanish (PDF 310KB), Rural Field Studies (PDF 304KB), Tourism Geography (PDF 303KB)

Year 2

Mandatory

• Approaches to Archaeology (PDF 310KB)
• Biogeography & Natural History (PDF 303KB)
• Early Irish Literature (PDF 303KB)
• French Language & Culture (304KB)
• Gaeilge Language & Culture (PDF 337KB)
• German Language & Culture (PDF 354KB)
• History of Art And Design (PDF 311KB)
• Introduction to Archaeology & Built Heritage (PDF 311KB)
• Irish Biogeography & Natural History (PDF 299KB)
• Irish Folklore (PDF 317KB)
• Later Modern International History (PDF 372KB)
• Modern Irish History & Memory (PDF  372KB)
• Spanish Language & Culture (PDF 339KB)

Elective

French 2A (PDF 300KB); French 2B (PDF 300KB); Gaeilge 2A (PDF 305 KB), Gaeilge 2B (PDF 306KB), German 2A (PDF 312KB), German 2B (PDF 314KB), International Tourism (PDF 303KB), Spanish 2A (PDF 305KB), Spanish 2B (PDF 306KB), Urban Field Studies  (PDF 299KB)

Year 3

Mandatory

• Approaches to Archaeology 2 (PDF 323KB)
• Database & Geographic Information Systems (PDF 319KB)
• Digital Heritage 1(PDF 301KB)
• Digital Heritage 2 (PDF 300KB)
• Historical Geography (PDF 341KB)
• Irish Local History & Genealogy (PDF 348KB)
• Modern Irish Literature (PDF 288KB)
• Museology Introductions to Principals & Practice (PDF 311KB)
• Research Methods for Dissertation (PDF 316KB)
• The Irish Musical Tradition (PDF 316KB)

Elective

Contemporary Art in Rural Contexts (PDF 304KB), Event Management 1 (PDF 306KB), Event Management 2 (PDF 306KB), French 3A (PDF 297KB), French 3B (PDF 299KB), Gaeilge 3A (PDF 304KB), Gaeilge 3B (PDF 307KB), German 3A (PDF 309KB), German 3B (PDF 310KB), Historical Cultural Politics & Visual Production (PDF 302KB), Rural Development (PDF 300KB),  (PDF 305KB), Spanish 3B (PDF 308KB, Work Experience (PDF 306KB)

Employment opportunities exist in the following areas:

• Arts administration
• Archaeology
• Business
• Charities & NGOs
• Civic trusts
• Civil service
• Community development
• Conservation & restoration
• Creative digital media
• Genealogy
• GIS
• Heritage agencies & centres
• Hospitality
• Journalism
• Leisure
• Libraries
• Local authorities
• Museums
• National parks
• Technology companies
• Tourism

Graduates may progress to the final year of GMIT’s Level 8 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Heritage Studies, by taking a ONE-YEAR ADD-ON PROGRAMME. Progression to similar programmes in other higher education institutions is also possible.

Students learn through lectures, tutorials, active learning, class discussions, film viewings, practical learning in computer and language labs, and online learning. There is also a strong emphasis on offsite teaching, with fieldtrips to heritage sites, museums and interpretative centres in Ireland. Students can do a Work Experience module and can also study abroad for one or two semesters at one of our partner institutions in Europe or the USA.

Materials Fee
Students will be liable for an additional materials fee of €100 per year for certain full time programmes. This fee is not covered by Granting Authorities. Material Fees are not applicable to either Erasmus, Part-Time or Full time Non-EU students.