Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Audio and Music Production
Overview
This four-year, honours degree programme is aimed at producing professionals for the recording industry capable of assuming key creative and architectural roles in the process of analysing, developing and realizing the creative intentions of the client to a commercial conclusion. The course is designed to continuously strengthen the student’s understanding and awareness of a wide range of aspects of Audio Production.
Provider Locations and Structure
This is a new tertiary-level programme taught across 4 years.
The programme providers are Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) and Cavan Institute (Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board). The providers have designed the programme together with a delivery model of:
- Years 1 + 2 will be based in Cavan Institute (Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board)
- Years 3 + 4 will be based in DkIT.
Course Content – for all years
Course content for this programme is as follows:
Year 1
- Music Theory and Practice
- Sound Engineering and Production
- Music Technology
- Communications
- Work Experience
- Desktop Multimedia Audio Production
- Music Performance
- Radio Programme Production
- Music Industry Studies
Year 2
- Sound Design for Film
- Music Business and Promotion
- Personal and Professional Skills
- Audio Mixing and Mastering
- Audio Engineering and Production
- Composing with Technology
- Musicianship for Production
- Live Sound and Lighting
- Audiovisual Production
Year 3
Semester 1
- Audio Industries
- Electroacoustic Composition
- Work Placement (6 Weeks)
Semester 2
- Advanced DAW Techniques
- Studio Acoustics
- Advanced Live Sound
- Sound Design & Implementation
- Production Project 3
Year 4
Semester 1
- Advanced Mixing
- Culture, Society & Popular Music
- Major Project (year-long)
- Production Sound for Media
- Research Project
Semester 2
- Mastering
- Preparation for Industry
- Major Project (year-long)
- Post-Production Sound for Media
* All module titles are subject to change and are for indicative purposes only.
Accreditation and Embedded Awards
The proposed programme structure of this joint tertiary degree is a 2 + 2 structure delivered over four years as outlined below. Students have an opportunity to exit from each stage/year of the programme with a qualification.
| Year | Award Title | Award achieved upon completion | Delivery location |
| Year 1 | Music and Sound Production | 5M2149 Level 5 NFQ |
Cavan Institute |
| Year 2 | Audio Music Production | 6M22095 Level 6 NFQ |
Cavan Institute |
| Year 3 | BA in Audio and Music Production | Level 7 NFQ | DKIT |
| Year 4 | BA (Hons) in Audio and Music Production | Level 8 NFQ | DKIT |
Planned intake (number of places)
An intake of 15 students per year is planned for this programme.
Entry requirements and eligibility
Candidates who have completed Leaving Certificate or Leaving Certificate Applied or LCVP or QQI Level 4 Award will be eligible for entry to this programme.
Equal consideration will be given to mature applicants (those aged over 23) who do not meet these entry requirements.
Onward pathways
This programme aims to provide students with a broad range of music and audio skills in addition to forward-focused technological skills increasingly required by the evolving music and creative industries in Ireland and beyond to include music production skills, digital composition, and collaboration. The programme will also equip graduates with the breadth and depth of knowledge and competencies required within the rapidly changing creative industries.
The programme will be delivered with a focus on developing audio and technology skills required for multiple sectors, including the live and recorded music industry, film and television and digital media sectors. Graduates will develop transferable skills in entrepreneurship and production and will complete modules that prepare them for a diversity of potential career paths in both industry and community settings.
Upon completion of the degree, students will have the benefit of having worked on a wide range of projects and collaborated with students across a variety of disciplines. They will be equipped with a strong industry standard portfolio of production projects and compositions, which will provide them with a competitive advantage when applying for jobs in the creative industries.
Alternatively, graduates of the degree will be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to enable them to progress to further study at postgraduate level. This could include participation in taught MA programmes or research MA / PhD such as Master of Arts/Master of Science in Music Technology (DkIT) or MA by Research/PhD.
Contact details
Cavan Institute (Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board) – admin@cavaninstitute.ie
Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) – admissions@dkit.ie