If you’re a sixth-year student interested in studying arts or if you’re the parent of such a sixth year, it is likely that there are currently heated discussions taking place over the dinner table and it’s likely that polarising views fall into the Bill Gates or Steve Jobs schools of thought.

Bill Gates argues that government money should be invested in courses more closely linked with job creation. However, Steve Jobs once said: “It’s in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough – it’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the result that makes our heart sing ...”

It’s not surprising then that Loretta Brady, recruitment projects officer in the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences in UCC, agrees with Steve Jobs.

“All humanities examine what it is to be human through a range of different subjects. Arts students are taught to think and engage with ideas in a critical way. They become independent thinkers and, as a result, they develop creativity and innovative skills. They can think outside the box and are very good problem solvers. Employers understand that more than students do.

“People think that those who study arts don’t know what they want to do. But it’s not necessarily that they don’t know what degree they may want to do, it’s more that they haven’t decided on a specific career path,” contends Loretta.

Loretta says the priority for such students when they do come into arts is to study something they enjoy and something they’re good at.

“UCC offer over 30 subjects through arts. In first year, students take four subjects and then drop two at the end of the year. Students will be familiar with some of the subjects from school but there are also many new and exciting subjects on offer.

“If students find they don’t like any of the subjects they have chosen in first year, they will have the opportunity to change their subjects in the initial weeks of term. In the same period they can sit in on any subject, whether they are registered or not. Often, it is a subject a student hasn’t experienced in school that becomes the one they fall in love with.”

Job Opportunities

“Everyone associates arts with second-level teaching, but only a small percentage go into second-level teaching,” says Loretta. She notes that new employment opportunities have opened up for arts graduates, such as in sustainable planning and development, digital media and in the digital sector in general.

UCC now offers a new arts work placement module for those studying arts (although with approximately 600 students entering arts in UCC every year and only 120 places, availability is limited). The work experience options often include journalism, marketing, event management, museums, libraries, schools and many more. UCC arrange all placements and it’s a fully credited module.

Interestingly, UCC has gone very new-age with the introduction of the new digital humanities and IT degree. This degree offers two elements – an IT subject and a traditional arts subject – and gives students the opportunity to examine what it is to be human in the digital age.

“IT companies could get IT people and they could get people with arts degrees, but there is a shortage of graduates who have skills in both areas.”

Postgraduate/Masters and Arts

While work experience as part of an arts programme is very welcome, it’s likely that many students will have to specialise after their degree in the form of a postgraduate course.

However, Loretta says students are no longer just specialising in the subject they took at degree level. For example, a student with a degree in English may previously have gone on to do an MA that explores English at an even deeper level, but students also choose to add on a postgraduate degree in IT or business.

Loretta’s CAO advice

“There tends to be two types of Leaving Cert students. There are those who know exactly what they want to do. These students are usually in the minority but they have an advantage in that they can focus on exactly what they need to do to achieve their goal.

“Then there are those students who are unsure about what they want to do. It is often the case that these students have an interest in several areas and this is what makes choosing a course more difficult.

“Firstly, think of what you really enjoy studying in school and what you’re good at. Secondly, think of hobbies and interests outside of school and if it might be possible to follow a career in one of those areas. Sometimes students don’t sit down and connect their interests and hobbies with career opportunities. They keep academic interests and life interests separate. It’s about making that connection.

“Rule out courses or areas of study you know you definitely don’t want to do – this is a good starting point.

“Students come up to me and say they want to do a certain course but they don’t think they’ll get the points, so they have put this course as their fourth or fifth choice on their CAO form and I say to them: ‘So you’re telling me that at 18 you’ve decided to give up on your dream?’ You always put down the course you really want to do as your first choice. If you don’t get the points, there may be another route into your dream course. You can go the FETAC route or do another degree and then a postgrad in the area of your choice.”

Loretta has a final piece of advice regarding arts courses: “The most important thing when choosing your degree is to choose something you are interested in and that you think you will enjoy studying. If you enjoy what you’re studying, you’ll do well if you work at it.”