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history,politics and social studies info?
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19-01-2008 7:56pm#1
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Hi there. I'm in my final year of this course and I have to say I've had a great experience over the four years. It's equipped me with a lot of skills regarding independent research and critical thinking as well as the ability to write a well researched concise essay. It's a great general course that gives you a good foundation without being as broad as a liberal arts degree but not as specific as a two-major degree, like History and Politics in TCD.
In first year you pick four of 7 subjects from history, politics, sociology, women's studies, economics, public administration and geography. Then, from those four that you choose, in 2nd year, you take one major + two minors OR two majors (a major means doing two modules of a subject; minor means 1 module of a subject) - but you can only choose these from the subjects you actually studied during 1st year. E.g You could choose to double major in History and Politics (i.e. Two modules of History, two of politics), or, like me, for example, major in History and minor in Economics and Public Administration, having done history, politics, public admin and economics in first year. There are lots of combinations!
It is an interesting course. I found first semester of first year difficult, and even wanted to drop out by the end of the term! But I decided to stick it out for the year and I'm glad I did. I think what's difficult about it, and particularly so for first years, is the completely new college perspective on humanities subjects, particularly history. It's very difficult to obtain good grades in history, and third level history is nothing like secondary school history. It can be demoralising to see an essay you thought you did a good job in be slated completely by a tutor! But once you understand what is asked of you it becomes much easier and enjoyable.
With any humanities' course there is a lot of free time - in HPSS you'd only have 12 hours of classes a week! (4 modules with 3 hours each - 2 lectures and 1 tutorial, each an hour), and even dropping to 9 hours for two semesters in third year and fourth year when you also have your Final Year Project. Having so few contact hours may seem great and gives the rest of the University the illusion that it's a doss course (be prepared for quite a number of comments relating to this!) but you soon discover that you really do need put in the hours doing coursework. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking your work is done in the classes: it's not! For humanities, it's what you put in outside the class hours that make or break you. Now I'm not saying that you need to do 40 hours of study a week, but essays do take time, and dedication.
You need to love history to do it at third level, because you will need to read books (or at least a chapter or two in lots of books - you learn to become a pro as skimming contents and indexes for what you're looking!!) and if you're not interested it's impossible to motivate yourself. Lecturers aren't like teachers: they DON'T CARE whether you turn up or not, whether you bother doing the readings, so it's entirely up to yourself to drag yourself to the library (your new home for a few weeks every semester!). Tbh, attending lectures - especially history ones - on their own won't make you pass, no matter how good your notes are...You need to read, and read widely, and show a good understanding of both core and other texts.
With regard to essays: yes, there are plenty! Bar Economics which falls under the direction of the Kemmy Business School, humanities subjects generally involve a fair proportion of coursework which sometimes can be worth up to - or even more - than 50 per cent of the module. Essays play a big part in the coursework, as do tutorial presentations. Don't worry about them though - you get the hang of them and that's what first year is for: to get used to writing academic essays at third level.
You mentioned that you'd be entering as a mature student. Here's some comforting advice: HPSS has the highest proportion of mature students on any course in the University
There are usually around 40ish students in a HPSS class and of them 10 - 20 would be mature students, so you definitely wouldn't be on your own returning back to education. Because of the high number of maturies (our affectionate name for our 23+ age group 
), it means that traditional students and mature students mix quite a bit and get on more so than in other courses.
But in saying that, I do love my course now. There's a lot of choice, the subjects are interesting. If you do choose to go for it, give it the full 1st year if you're finding it tough at the beginning. It's an enjoyable course if you're into the topics. Check the UL website for a breakdown of the module titles over the years. Also, all HPSS students go on a co-op placement (Work experience) in the second semester of 2nd year and then go on Erasmus (study-abroad) for first semester of 3rd year. Just to note, however, that mature students have the option of opting out of these if they wish. I did my co-op in Leinster House, in the Houses of the Oireachtas - absolutely brilliant experience! I spent my Erasmus placeemnt in Warsaw, Poland. HPSS is one of the very few courses that allows students to do both co-op and Erasmus.
With regard to employment opportunities, there is no simple 'vocation' arising from HPSS. It's a very broad arts degree: you can do what you want afterwards. Many people do go into further studies, be it a masters or to doctoral level. Some people go into teaching; if you do the 1 year H-Dip in Education you can become a secondary level teacher, and teach history up to LC Higher level if that was your major -the other subjects apply also. Graduates also enter into the civil service; a lot go into the public sector. Journalism and media is also another area; in fact a well-known journalist for a national broadsheet regards HPSS as the best course in the country for entering into journalism and rates it above any BA in journalism because of its broad nature. HPSS - like any Arts degree - is not the precursor to a predetermined job, like an IT degree or science degree. You have to use a lot of your own initiative and discover what you have an aptitude for; many people would therefore do a one-year taught masters to specialise in an area they are interested in having fine-tuned many skills at undergrad level.
Besides all that, UL is simply amazing! It's one of the only colleges that is all together on one campus and has student accommodation both on-campus as well as being surrounded by private housing estates that are all students effectively! There's a brilliant atmosphere on the campus and I wouldn't change it for the world!
Hope I sold it to ya!
Sorry if I rambled on a bit too much...that's another skill developed through HPSS: the ability to waffle!
If you need any more info or you have any specific questions on the course or anything at UL don't be afraid to PM me
Aoife0 -
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wow, thanks so much for all the information bluedolphin!
its nice to read a break down of the course from the students point of view rather than just reading the prospectus books!
i have just one more question(just one,promise!) do u think its possible to hold down some sort of job while studying such a course, as in evening or weekend? iv been looking up the mature students grant, think ill be needing a second income somewhere along the line!
well, im still considering this course, its fast becoming a toss up between this and doing arts in NUIG, of which id follow through with history and one other subject.as its ur final year, ill wish u all the best with the exams, u sound dedicated to the course,so i hope it pays off for u!
I'd say you'd be able to hold down a job all right; especially in first year when your QCA (like a grade point average, sort of!) doesn't count towards your final degree. You'll do 4 modules in first year (= 12 hours) and first semester of second year; 3 modules + FYP (= 9 hours + mini-thesis, c.10,000 words) in second semester of 3rd year and first semester of 4th year; back up to 4 modules for your last semester in 4th year. If you balance things well and organise yourself you could definitely manage some part-time work as well if needs be. Just be aware that most of your essay deadlines will probably fall around the same dates (usually weeks 6 - 9 each semester), but as you're given the topic titles at the start of the semester you can always pace it out over the time and work out a schedule for yourself. Just make sure not to get too bogged down with either college or work and have some free time too!
Arts in NUIG was my second choice when I was filling out my CAO form a few years ago. I definitely don't regret choosing HPSS or UL. The modules on offer are available to view here.
Thanks for the good wishes; I can't believe I'm finishing this semester - I don't know how the four years have gone so fast. I've had such an enjoyable experience at UL and it's overwhelming to think it's all coming to an end soon
In the meanwhile, I have an FYP to do... 
Best of luck making your choice! Either way I hope you enjoy it (...but come to UL!) 0 -
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