College Choice: Last year more than 25 per cent of all first-preference degree and 14 per cent of cert/diploma applications were for arts and social science courses. Because of the shortage of places in many high points faculties, more than 30 per cent of applicants eventually accept a place in an arts/social science degree course.
In UCD alone in 2004, 1,303 places were given on its standard arts degree, a further 115 places were awarded on its denominated arts degrees and 153 places were awarded on its social science degree. More than six in every 100 first-year degree student in Ireland are studying arts or social science at UCD.
When you take into account similar numbers in Trinity, as well as those taking an arts degree at NUI Cork, Galway (including a joint degree with St. Angela's Sligo), Maynooth, UL (through Mary Immaculate), St Patrick's, Drumcondra, and the Dublin Business School (fee- paying), one can see that this area of study is of the greatest interest to prospective students.
Also under the general heading of arts would be theological/ philosophical/liberal arts programmes offered by Carlow College, Pontifical Maynooth, Milltown and All Hallows. Milltown Institute for example offers degrees in theology and pastoral care - with work placements for students in hospitals, prisons and schools.
This degree can also lead to teaching when followed by a higher diploma in education and a BA in theology and anthropology - for work in the caring professions here or abroad.
Students taking social science/ applied social studies/social care degrees, diplomas and certificates have a wide range of options. Central to all such programmes are the subjects of social policy (the study of the social services and the welfare state) and sociology (the study of society and social life, why people behave the way they do).
Existing degree programmes are available from NUI Dublin, Maynooth, Cork, Trinity, and the DIT. Last year Athlone, Dublin and Limerick Institutes of Technology launched new degree programmes. Applied social studies (social care) diplomas, with options for add- on degrees, are also available from the institutes of technology in Blanchardstown, Dundalk, Sligo, Tralee and Waterford as well as from Carlow College.
In 2004, UCC launched two new degrees in social science (CK114) and social work (CK115), open exclusively to mature students with a background of work in these fields. This year UCC is no longer offering direct entry into CK105 - European Studies - and CK113 - language and cultural studies. Students who complete year one of CK101, their arts degree with the required subject will have the option of transferring to these streams in year two of CK101.
It may come as a shock to many arts graduates to find that prospective employers are often not particularly interested in the specific subjects that a student studies in his or her degree.
For many potential employers considering an arts graduate as a potential employee, it is not the fact that they have an in-depth knowledge of geography and Italian, but that they have made their way independently through three or four years at university, have learnt the skills of self- motivation and have negotiated a whole series of project deadlines, formal examination, etc.
Also relevant is that in doing so, they were involved in numerous college societies, learning the skills of public debating, as well as actively participating in the sporting life of the college. Therefore they prove to the employer their suitability to be similarly self- motivated in acquiring the specific skills necessary to perform new responsibilities.
In other words they have proved through achieving their degree and participating actively in college life, that they have a wide range of transferable skills.
There is no clearer rationalisation of the benefits of taking a liberal arts/social science option in college.
Recent UCD statistics show that within 12 months of graduation, 47.7 per cent were involved in postgraduate study, up nearly 4 per cent on last year, while 43.8 per cent were in employment, a fall of 1.2 per cent.
The range of careers open to such liberal arts graduates is enormous: teaching, civil service, local authorities, journalism, public relations, advertising, recruitment, management consultancy, customer service, entertainment, insurance, sales, marketing, social work, politics, telesales, e-commerce, tourism; the list is endless.
Arts and social science graduates have the flexibility to move in any direction they wish.
Many of them take post- graduate masters in specific career areas, such as journalism or business administration. The key strength of the qualification is its flexibility.
There are major differences in the programmes on offer in the area of arts. Whereas most colleges will allow students to apply for a general arts degree, involving taking three subjects in first year (NUI Galway has a four-subject first year), and two in the remaining two years, others such as Trinity insist on applicants selecting a two- subject combination (TR001) or a separately coded degree, e.g. English studies (TR023).
Such denominated courses are available in various universities, e.g., in economics, history, philosophy, English and psychology at UCD, each with its own code and points requirement.
In UCD from this year's entry forward, it will not be possible to take psychology as a second-year subject unless the student entered via the denominated psychology CAO code. BA (international) degrees are also available in a number of colleges over four years, involving the study of a language within the programme and a year at a continental university.
The number of applicants and the quality of their examination results will determine the points requirements for the various programmes available.
Taking previous years as a rough guide, arts degrees tend to fall between 365-410 points, with Trinity and UCD-denominated programmes being somewhat higher.
A social science degree would be somewhat similar, with ordinary degrees, previously called diplomas, falling between 310- 360 points.
For those prepared to pay fees, entry to an arts degree can be obtained through the Dublin Business School, at about 250 points.
Brian Mooney's column on CAO options will appear each weekday in the run-up to the deadline at the end of this month.
