Higher Certificate In Arts In Heritage Studies in Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Ireland

Higher Certificate In Arts In Heritage Studies in Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology

This two-year Higher Certificate in Heritage Studies at GMIT Galway campus provides students with a broad-based knowledge and understanding of the built, cultural, natural, and digital heritages of Ireland and Europe.

Heritage involves the practical application and use of the past in the present – in heritage tourism, visitor attractions, museum exhibitions, public history, community archaeology, conservation/restoration projects, festivals, reenactments, commemorations, national identities, genealogy, film, TV, radio, libraries, archives, and creative digitalisation.

With an interdisciplinary and applied focus, this two-year course aims to provide a broad-based knowledge and understanding of the built, cultural, natural, and digital heritages of Ireland and Europe.

It will also equip students with language, communication and information technology skills for functioning effectively in a professional context.

The course will also provide a hands-on learning experience by adopting a strongly applied focus, grounding as much classroom learning as possible within the context of fieldtrips to heritage sites and attractions.

Career Opportunities

This course will appeal to students who are seeking a shorter period of study and a quicker route to up-skilling for operational positions in the cultural heritage, historic environment or tourism industries.

Employment opportunities will exist in areas such as the following:

• Arts administration
• Antiques and collectibles
• Archaeology
• Business
• Charities and NGOs
• Civic trusts
• Civil service
• Community development
• Conservation and restoration
• Creative digital media
• Environmental consultancies
• Family history centres
• Genealogical companies
• Government departments
• Heritage agencies
• Heritage centres
• Hospitality
• Journalism
• Leisure
• Local authorities
• Museums
• National parks
• Publishing houses
• Retail outlets
• Technology companies
• Tour guiding
• Tourism agencies
• Visitor attractions

Follow-on Studies: 

Level 6 graduates may progress to the final year of the Bachelor of Arts in Heritage Studies (Level 7).

Level 7 graduates may then progress to final year of GMIT’s Level 8 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Heritage Studies, by taking a ONE-YEAR ADD-ON PROGRAMME.

Possibilities also exist for Level 6 graduates to progress to similar programmes in GMIT and other higher education institutions in Ireland and overseas.