Full time/career courses

sineadw

Been meaning to ask about this for a while now.

A bit of background - Owing to some fairly major life changes I switched jobs a few years back from 10 years in NGO project management. I kind of fell into web and graphic design and have been doing relatively ok for a while now. I have no formal qualifications in it though which restricts my learning curve, client base and the fees I can ask for. I was supposed to start a two year course last September but the feckers pulled it at the very last minute (literally, as I was there registering :mad: ) which left me too late to apply for anything else. I've learned my lesson and am planning on applying for a wide range of stuff this year. I have GOT to get back to college, for my own sanity.

I'd like to do something now that incorporates photography as well as design (the web bit is kind of optional). My question - is there anything anyone would recommend? Or thoroughly not? I have an appt with the adult guidance counsellor in my local CDVEC and also hit FAS on Monday. I'm looking to do something two or so years long so I get something decent out of it - fetac level 6, HND, I'd also be willing to do degree but only if I knew it'd be really *really* worth it.

I saw too that FAS are running an Introduction to photography course. 3 months full time so I'm guessing its fairly comprehensive? I know FAS though and how wrong assumptions can be with them! It starts in Feb and would occupy me nicely till the summer, might even help towards a portfolio? Does anyone have any experience with that one?

Any feedback would be well and truly appreciated. I don't really trust the counsellor - she's just reading the brochure like everyone else..

Fajitas!

I did a fetac course 2 years ago (Jesus...saying that makes me feel old), and while it was a fair bit different than what your looking at, I had some mates doing courses in Media, which I think is the area you are looking at. Basically, in my college in Waterford at the time, you'd be doing classes in communications, web design, digital editing, darkroom skills, photography, work experience, print design... and plenty of other bits and pieces. It's a one year course, and gives you a fetac award at the end of it. I'm sure there's courses the exact same about Dublin. Unfortunatly, the college I was in only did full time, for a year, again, not sure what Dub is like.

The FAS course would be grand I'd say. The best thing would be to keep on shooting etc, and I'm sure if you had someone telling you what to shoot and giving you projects, it might help you direct things easier. An impressive portfolio would be good to have by the summer, but, are you going to use it for a job or for another college course such as in IADT or DIT?

If it's for another college course, they require their portfolios in by March I think?

Xios

I've been trying to get into a degree in photography in DIT, although it's 4 years long, i'm still young and time ain't on my mind, but i'm sure you can get in as a mature student no bother, contact geoff white, he's a pretty level headed guy.

I think it's a very wide course, that looks at taking the image, processing it, understanding the technology and maybe even the manufacture if camera's, i ain't sure, but ya gotta do something to fill up four years

melekalikimaka

diploma in griffith then degree in dit...sorted