The AFA major in musical theatre provides a comprehensive education in the practical and academic aspects of musical theatre. Each semester is based around development of skills and competencies in the central areas of musical theatre performance: acting and voice, dance and singing. The degree offers a broad and holistic approach to the musical theatre, one that not only concentrates on performance from a participatory perspective (that is to say, on being a performer), but also prepares the student for the wide and exciting range of careers available in the performing arts industry. While musical theatre performance remains a central aspect of the program, students are also prepared for the vast array of work that supports and produces performance, such as directing and staging, creating written material for performance, production, management, marketing and funding of the performing arts. The program concentrates on live musical theatrical performance (with elements of recording used for diagnostic and development purposes), but at the same time a graduate is prepared for further study in the cognate specialisms in the performing arts, as well as for direct entry into a professional career. This is because the degree produces a wide spectrum of transferable skills such as effective presentational technique, expertise in using the voice and the body as communicative instruments, interpretational and compositional competency with written texts, management, marketing and fundraising abilities, and organizational skills. These are applicable not only in the context of the many career paths within performing arts, but also in a wide variety of social, cultural and business vocations.

The BFA major in musical theatre provides a comprehensive education in the practical and academic aspects of musical theatre. Each semester is based around development of skills and competencies in the central areas of musical theatre performance: acting and voice, dance and singing. The degree offers a broad and holistic approach to the musical theatre, one that not only concentrates on performance from a participatory perspective (that is to say, on being a performer), but also prepares the student for the wide and exciting range of careers available in the performing arts industry. While musical theatre performance remains a central aspect of the program, students are also prepared for the vast array of work that supports and produces performance, such as directing and staging, creating written material for performance, production, management, marketing and funding of the performing arts. The programme concentrates on live musical theatrical performance (with elements of recording used for diagnostic and development purposes), but at the same time a graduate is prepared for further study in the cognate specialisms in the performing arts, as well as for direct entry into a professional career. This is because the degree produces a wide spectrum of transferable skills such as effective presentational technique, expertise in using the voice and the body as communicative instruments, interpretational and compositional competency with written texts, management, marketing and fundraising abilities, and organizational skills. These are applicable not only in the context of the many career paths within performing arts, but also in a wide variety of social, cultural and business vocations.

This BFA degree offers a broad and holistic approach to the performing arts, one that not only concentrates on performance from a participatory perspective (that is to say, on being a performer), but also prepares the student for the wide and exciting range of careers available in the performing arts industry. While performance remains a central aspect of the programme, students are also prepared for the vast array of work that supports and produces performance, such as directing and staging, creating written material for performance, production, management, marketing and funding of the performing arts. The programme is based around live theatrical performance (with elements of recording used for diagnostic and development purposes), but at the same time a graduate is prepared for further study in all cognate specialisms in the performing arts, as well as for direct entry into a professional career. T his is because the degree produces a wide spectrum of transferable skills such as effective presentational technique, expertise in using the voice and the body as communicative instruments, interpretational and compositional competency with written texts, management, marketing and fundraising abilities, and organizational skills. These are applicable not only in the context of the many career paths within performing arts, but also in a wide variety of social, cultural and business vocations.

Creative writing touches on all aspects of written communication, with particular emphasis on those that lie outside the purely academic and technical fields. Creative writing draws on the author’s imaginative capacity, stylistic felicity, and originality of composition, insight and expression. It encompasses a wide range of approaches, including prose fiction, poetry, drama, screenwriting, and writing for stage. Thus, an undergraduate degree in creative writing is one of the most useful programs of study that a student can contemplate, offering not only the means to explore and develop one’s expressive abilities in a variety of written forms, but also providing the means to develop advanced skills and competencies in written communication and academic research. In a digital age that is heavily reliant on effective, interesting, original and attractive writing, a BFA in Creative Writing is an exciting, relevant and vocationally desirable course of study: it provides a range of opportunities for artistic and intellectual growth, enhanced expressive ability, a rich variety of career development possibilities in the arts and business, and many avenues for further development in graduate study. The BFA program examines all of the main areas of creative writing, with introductory courses on the discipline as a whole, courses on the technical requirements and the analysis of creative writing, and specific courses exploring the practical aspects of composing novels, short stories, poems, scripts and screenplays. As the student progresses, the program makes increasing use of the workshop method of teaching, and in the final stages there are opportunities for approved students to undertake extended independent writing projects. The student may combine the major in creative writing with other majors offered by the institution, depending on his or her interests; these include performing arts, liberal arts and international business, either as a double major or as minors.

The BA (Hons) in Liberal Arts (a level-8, QQI-accredited, award) provides an intellectually stimulating and challenging course of undergraduate study in the liberal arts, with a wide range of foundation courses combined in the latter stages with specialised study in four concentrations. The programme is structured around two common years, with specialisations developing out of the common curriculum in the third year of study. In the third year students are required to major in one of four concentrations: Irish Studies, American Studies, History, or English. In this way the study programme broadens the students’ knowledge and advances their communication skills in a wide range of intellectual areas, and provides them with an understanding of other cultures, their intrinsic values and historical experience. As far as it is possible the programme helps students to make ethically and intellectually informed decisions which take account of the complexity and diversity of the world in which we live. The BA (Hons) in Liberal Arts is designed to prepare students for a number of future avenues. The degree is particularly useful as a preparation for postgraduate study in the liberal arts, business studies and the law. Vocationally, the degree supports career development in such fields as business, social services, the arts, administration, teaching and research. To be in a position to advance, students will be expected to develop intellectual, practical and transferable skills. When students complete the course, they will command a number of intellectual skills, including the critical abilities of being able to read and analyse a large variety of texts, appreciate visual evidence, and assess valid supporting dialogue. For their future development they will also have developed a range of practical skills, including effective essay writing and, where appropriate, an element of creative writing.

The College offers a four-year degree in event management, awarded under the institution’s American accreditation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The degree can also be taken on an accelerated track, which allows the student to complete the programme in three years by taking the internship components (normally taken in the second and third years) during summer semesters. The degree provides a sound foundation of business courses in the first year, and thereafter offers a well-rounded selection of general education classes, two event management internships and a range of courses focusing on the essential elements of event management and its related fields in the international business, hospitality management and tourism disciplines. In the course of the final year the student also completes an event management research project. Graduates of the BA in Event Management will be well prepared for employment in a variety of event management concerns. The programme also serves as an effective platform for successful participation in a variety of graduate business programmes.

The BA in Hospitality Management is awarded under the institution’s accreditation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The degree may be taken on an accelerated track, which allows the student to complete the programme in three years by taking the internship components (normally taken in the second and third years during summer semesters. The blend of theory and the two semester-long internships give students the best of both the practical and academic worlds. The programme provides a firm foundation of business courses in the first year, and subsequently offers two hospitality industry internships, a selection of interesting general education classes, and a range of courses examining aspects of hospitality management and its related fields in the international business, event management and tourism disciplines. In the course of the final year the student also completes a hospitality management research project. There is a worldwide demand for highly-trained and quality staff in the hospitality industry. Graduates of the BA in Hospitality Management programme can expect to have a range of career opportunities within the management structures in the hospitality sector and the broader services sector. Career paths include management positions in hotels and resorts, travel agencies, tourism providers and suppliers, self-employment, project management, financial institutions and bar, club, and conference management. In addition, graduates of the BA in Hospitality Management may progress to post graduate studies. Graduates may take bridging modules in order to allow them progress to the MB or MBA in International Business.