BA (Hons) Arts (General)
What is ‘Bachelor of Arts’? The BA (Hons) in Arts degree is a broad and flexible programme that provides a course of study across a range of historically important and contemporary academic disciplines and the opportunity to significantly specialise within areas of the students’ choice. Within a progressively specialised course structure, students are first introduced to the basic concerns and methodologies of a number of key humanities subject areas, and then required to select more advanced studies in the 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 DBS School of Arts has to offer, allowing students to range over a wide variety of approaches to the key concerns of humanistic studies: human culture, action and expression, and competing approaches to their interpretation and meanings.
The BA (Hons) in Arts therefore provides a course of study that is designed to appeal to a wide variety of student interests and needs. The course is suitable for anyone interested in developing their knowledge and understanding of a range of 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. Aims and Objectives
The primary aim of the BA (Hons) in Arts is to prepare and equip the student for a lifetime of engagement with academic thought and learning. The Common Foundation Year provides a base of academic and personal skills and a broad knowledge in a range of areas that are key elements of modern intellectual life and culture; years two and three develop subject specific knowledge and understanding to an advanced level, and instill the habit and practice of interdisciplinary investigation and thought. 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 provide thorough grounding in a range of central cultural, theoretical, methodological and philosophical discourses and concepts
- To develop in students a critical understanding of the most prominent theories, research and principles within key subject areas and use these as a basis for further study
- To enable students to develop high order skills of written expression, oral presentation, and conceptual and critical analysis.
- To provide a student centred learning experience allowing skills and knowledge to be developed within a supportive and co-operative environment.
Programme Structure This is a three year programme divided into three levels. Students take one of the two Common Foundations Years in its entirety, and then focus their studies into two subject areas.
Level 1 (Common Foundation Year)
consists of modules drawn from 5 academic disciplines and develops core skills of reading, thinking and analysis. In addition, students pursue a year long course in academic skills and methods which allows them to develop their confidence and key academic competencies under close guidance from academics. At point of entry, students choose between Common Foundation Years A or B, which feature slightly different subject elements.
At Level 2 students select the 2 subject streams that will continue to form the basis of their study to the end of the degree. Each stream offers a number of 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 this level students also pursue an interdisciplinary module designed to link up their studies. Level 3 provides a further 2 modules from 2 subject streams that will extend the students’ 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 students’ skills across the span of the programme. Transfer Learners Learners holding relevant qualifications at Level 7 may qualify for entry to the final year of this degree. Teaching and Assessment The BA (Hons) in Arts degree offers a balance of practical and analytical tasks, with the emphasis on attaining a broad knowledge of the many facets of the disciplines. Throughout the course modules are assessed by examination, others by a combination of coursework and examination, or by coursework alone. Coursework includes essays, case studies, individual and group presentations, practical projects and a dissertation. Career Opportunities 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, radio and theatre industries, teaching, lecturing, advertising, business, the health services, government, the media 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 related subject areas being one of the most popular choices with our graduates.
Programme Content At year one, students choose between two common foundation years; at year two, students select two specialised subject streams that will form the basis of their study to the end of their degree.
Year 1 | Common Foundation Year A: - Practical Criticism: Poetry/Drama in Contexts
- War & Peace in the 20th century
- Cinema History
- Introduction to Media, Culture and Society
- Introduction to Psychology/Introduction to Psychoanalysis
- Arts Learning Lab
| Common Foundation Year B: - Practical Criticism: Poetry/Drama in Contexts
- War & Peace in the 20th century
- Cinema History
- Introduction to Social Science
- Introduction to Economics/Introduction to Politics
- Arts Learning Lab
| Year 2 | | Film Studies • New Waves in European and World Cinema • Film Styles, Stardom and Performance Literature & Drama • Drama from Shakespeare to Chekhov • Poetry: Romanticism to Modernism/The Rise of the Novel Social Science • Exploring Social Thought • Exploring Political Issues/Exploring Economic Issues History • From Enlightenment to Revolution: America, France & Ireland 1715-1815 • The Making of Modern Ireland 1798-1922/ The Making of Modern Ireland 1922-2000 Politics and Economics • Microeconomics/Macroeconomics • Political Systems Media and Cultural Studies • Exploring the Body • Media and the Modern World Psychology and Psychoanalysis
• Cognitive Psychology I/Cognitive Psychology II • Psychoanalysis as a Clinical Practice In addition, students at this level pursue an interdisciplinary module: • Issues in Contemporary Life and Culture
| Year 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: Fascism, communism & democracy 1919-45 • 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 Final Year Project |
Learner protection for this programme is provided in accordance with Section 43 of the Qualifications (Education and Training ) Act 1999.
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