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 tourist attractions, commemorations, museum exhibitions, conservation plans, national identities, local economies, etc. Today, the historic environment sector supports 40,000 jobs in Ireland and accounts for 1.5 billion revenue annually.
The BA (Honours) in Heritage has an applied focus and is interdisciplinary in nature linking heritage with history, geography, archaeology, tourism, genealogy, museum studies, folklore, literature, planning, computing, digital media, business and languages.
This programme is particularly appropriate for students wishing to acquire a broader knowledge and understanding of the built, cultural and natural heritages of Ireland, Europe and the wider world.
It will also provide you with an understanding of the role that heritage resource management plays in the safeguarding of archaeological and historic sites, national monuments, architecture, artefacts, archives, cultural landscapes and identities, habitats, flora and fauna.
Students learn through a combination of 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. Students can do a Work Experience module and can study abroad for one or two semesters.