Program Overview
The Higher Diploma in Arts - Geography is a conversion course designed for non-Geography graduates seeking to add Geography to their skillset or pursue further studies in the field. It emphasizes developing a geographical perspective and provides comprehensive coverage of physical and human geography. The program equips students with transferable skills, technical geographical expertise, and a range of career opportunities in planning, environmental management, teaching, research, and more.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Higher Diploma in Arts - Geography is a conversion course designed for individuals holding a degree in Arts or Science, excluding Geography. It aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of geographical perspectives on the world, preparing them for further studies and employment opportunities. The program focuses on developing a geographical perspective, often sought by those seeking to pursue a career in geography or add Geography as a second-level teaching subject.
Outline:
The program consists of 60 credits worth of modules, chosen from a range of existing second and third-year Geography modules. These modules cover the main thematic areas in Geography, including:
- Physical Geography: Quaternary Environments and Geomorphology, Introduction to Geoinformatics, Atmosphere, Weather and Climate, Coastal and Marine Geomorphology, Advanced Geographical Information Systems, Environmental Remote Sensing, Landscape Palaeoecology and Palynology.
- Human Geography: Cities of Diversity, Geography of Tourism, Economic and Rural Geography, Contemporary Human Migration and European Settlement, Geography as Human Ecology, Sustainable cities and communities, Regional and Local Planning Issues and Policies, Geography of Heritage, Geographies of the Irish Diaspora, Historical Geographies of Urbanism and the Anthropocene, Geopolitics and Geostrategies.
Required Modules (25 credits):
- GG2038 Geographical Research Methods (5 credits)
- GG2022 Field Work (5 credits)
- GG3001 Geographical Ideas (5 credits)
- GG3006 Research Methods and Dissertation (10 credits)
- At least one Physical Geography module
- At least one Human Geography module
- Five additional 5-credit modules from the department's second and third-year undergraduate program, ensuring at least 30 credits from the third-year program (GG3xxx modules, including required modules).
Course Practicalities:
- The program can be taken part-time over two years, taught during weekday working hours.
- All students are required to attend a week-long residential field methods course, typically held at the end of Semester 2.
Assessment:
Geography modules are assessed through a combination of end-of-year examinations and continuous assessments.
Careers:
The program equips students with transferable skills, including:
- Understanding the spatial dimensions of physical, environmental, and human phenomena
- Appreciation of the importance of a broad, international, and comparative perspective
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Independent learning
- Self-directed research
- Remote sensing
- Quantitative and qualitative research methods
- Social surveys and analysis
- Landscape evaluation/planning
Career Paths:
- Planning
- Local/community development
- Environmental assessment and management
- Housing policy
- Regional development
- TV news production/research
- Geo-informatics
- Journalism
- Diplomatic service
- Financial services and global business
- Public relations
- European space agency
- Market research
- Teaching
- Tourism
- Academic teaching and research
- Museum/heritage management
Other:
- The program is not a secondary school teacher training program. Graduates must complete the Professional Master of Education (PME) to qualify as a Secondary School Teacher.
- The integrating nature of geography is considered a major asset in a world of constant change. Its unique combination of humanities, social, and physical sciences allows geographers to develop a perspective on the world that is especially relevant to key global issues such as climate change, migration, food security, and urbanization.
Postgraduate EU and International Fees 2024/2025 Deposits If your course requires a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January. Fee payment Fees are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration and the balance usually by the end of January. page.
