BA (Hons) in Arts
What is Arts? The BA (Hons) in Arts degree offers an attractive opportunity to pursue a widely varied and yet closely integrated programme of study across a range of historically important and contemporary academic disciplines. Within a progressively specialised course structure, the programme first introduces students to the basic concerns and methodologies of a number of key humanities subject areas, and then allows them to pursue more specialised studies in those subjects they find most interesting and intellectually satisfying. As well as being an excellent preparation for the workplace, the BA (Hons) in Arts degree provides one of the most engaging and interesting educational experiences, allowing the student to range over a wide variety of approaches to the key concern of humanistic studies: human action and expression, and competing approaches to their meanings.
Aims and Objectives The BA (Hons) in Arts aims to provide a course of study that is specifically designed to appeal toa wide variety of student interests and needs. The course is suitable for anyone interested in developing their knowledge and understanding of a range of humanistic disciplines, whether for personal or professional reasons, and for anyone who wishes to gain a good general humanistic education. While the course is primarily academic, focusing on the development of knowledge and of intellectual and critical skills, students will also acquire a number of practical skills and a range of transferable personal skills that will be of direct benefit to them and their future careers, whether in further academic study or in numerous employment contexts. The objectives of the programme can be broadly summarised as follows:
- To promote an understanding of humanistic diversity in a multiplicity of liberal arts contexts
- To encourage students to think critically within several contexts
- To appreciate a thorough grounding in a range of central cultural, theoretical, methodological
- and philosophical concepts
- To develop a critical understanding of the most prominent theories, research and principles and
- use these as a basis for further study.
Programme Structure The programme is divided into three levels, with students commencing the programme at levelone and progressing through to level three. The programme is taken in it’s entirety. Students choose one of the two common foundation years (A or B), and then in level two specialise in two subject streams of their choice and these subject streams continue into level three.
Level 1 modules introduce the broad historical and theoretical foundations of five academic disciplines and develop core skills of reading, thinking and analysis. In addition, students also take the ‘ARTS Learning Lab’ a year long module which introduces the academic conventions of higher education. The learning lab is a learner centered module which develops academic awareness, communication skills, research skills and encourages learner participation. At Level 2 students select the two subject streams that will continue to form the basis of their study to the end of the degree. Each stream offers two modules that further develop the students’ interests and knowledge across a wide range of specialised historical and theoretical areas within the discipline, building on the knowledge and intellectual skills introduced at level 1. At level 2 students also take ‘The Arts Today: Tradition and Modernity’, an interdisciplinary module designed to link their learning across subject areas. In accord with the interdisciplinary ethos of the programme, this module encourages students to think across the boundaries of their subject
areas through a focused exploration of ideas and issues common to the humanities in general.
Level 3 provides a further two modules from the two selected subject streams that will extend the student’s understanding of the theory, conceptual frameworks and contemporary practice of the disciplines to a high level. At Level 3 students also write a supervised thesis on an academic topic of their own choice. Each level thus incrementally builds the student’s skills across the span of the programme Programme Duration This programme can be completed in four years, attending classes on 2 nights per week from 6:15 to 9:30 pm. Advice on module selection will be available to all students prior to the commencement of the course. Teaching & Assessment The programme employs a wide variety of teaching and assessment methods. Course delivery is primarily through interactive lectures, seminars, practical and instructional activities, support workshops and direct personal supervision. Assessment methods are designed to develop and test the student’s acquisition of skills of written and oral expression, thinking and research, and will include written examinations, essays and case studies, individual and group presentations,
research and, sometimes, practical projects. Further Career & Study Options
The course will be of use to those interested in pursuing a career in any area of work that requires high order skills of written expression, oral presentation, and conceptual and critical analysis. It is good preparation for working in education, the arts, the media industries, library and information work, and business. Graduates from the programme are currently working in the film and theatre industries, teaching, lecturing, advertising, and a range of other areas. The course also has an excellent record of inspiring students to go on to further study, with progression onto masters programmes in one of the disciplines being one of the most popular choices with our graduates. Programme Content Level 1 | Common Foundation Year A:
• Practical Criticism/Drama in Contexts
• War & Peace in the 20th century
• Cinema History
• Introduction to Media, Culture and Society
• Introduction to Psychology/Introduction to Psychoanalysis and the Unconcious
• Arts Learning Lab
| Common Foundation Year B:
• Practical Criticism/Drama in Contexts
• War & Peace in the 20th century
• Cinema History
• Introduction to Social Science
• Introduction to Economics/Introduction to Politics
• Arts Learning Lab
| Level 2 | | Film Studies • New Waves in European and World Cinema • Film Styles, Stardom and Performance Literature & Drama • Drama from Shakespeare to Chekhov • The Rise of the Novel/Poetry: Romanticism to Modernism Social Studies • Exploring Social Thought • Exploring Political Issues/Exploring Economic Issues History • From Enlightenment to Revolution: America, France & Ireland 1798-1922 • The Making of Modern Ireland 1798-1922/The Making of Modern Ireland1922-2000 Politics and Economics • History of Economic Theories/Political Economy
• Political Systems
Media and Cultural Studies • Exploring the Body • Media & the Modern World Psychology and Psychoanalysis
• Cognitive Psychology/Cognitive Psychology II • Psychoanalysis as a Clinical Practice - At Level 2 all students also take an inter-disciplinary module: The Arts Today: Tradition and Modernity.
| Level 3 | Film Studies
• Cinema and Nation
• Contemporary American Cinema/Contemporary World Cinema
Literature & Drama • Contemporary Drama/Twentieth Century Irish Literature • Contemporary Fiction and Poetry/Critical and Cultural Theory Social Studies
• Conceptualising Work and Family • Globalisation and Identity History
• The Age of Extremes
• Historical Perspectives on Globalisation/Northern Ireland 1900-2000
Politics and Economics • Economic and Political Change in Ireland • Contemporary Global Challenges Media and Cultural Studies
• Culture, Gender and Sexuality • Social Theory I/Social Theory II Psychology and Psychoanalysis
• Personality Theory, Intelligence and Individual Differences • Psychology of Health and Mental Illness - At Level 3 students also complete a Thesis/Project in the subject stream of their choice.
| Learner protection for this programme is provided in accordance with Section 43 of the Qualifications (Education and Training ) Act 1999.
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