Arts

Pathways within Bachelor of Arts

In year 1, you choose four subjects from the groups below, selecting no more than one subject in each group. You will study these subjects for the whole of your first year. When choosing your year 1 subjects, it is essential to have a least two subjects from two different year 2 subject groups as subjects within the same group cannot be studied together. It is important to bear in mind that places in Psychology are limited from year 2.  

Notes

German and Spanish are available at both beginners and post leaving certificate level. 

French is available at post leaving certificate level only. 

Places in Psychology are not limited for first year, but there are only 30 places available for years 2-4. Those places are allocated on a competitive basis based on semester 1 grades. 

After first year

Towards the end of first year, you will select two subjects to continue with and specialise in to degree level (years 2-4). Note "“ A limited number of subjects are available as Single Honours "“ this is where you will study one subject for the remainder of the degree.  See the end of the table for subjects available as Single Honours. The table below displays the groups from years 2-4. Your selection is based on your year 1 subjects and you cannot choose two subjects from the same group. The table at the end of this section illustrates all the combinations available to degree level.

~ Subject available as Single Honours to degree level

^ Places on Psychology are limited after year 1

"  Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Off-Campus programme

In semesters 4 and 5 (year 2 Spring and year 3 Autumn) you will participate in an off-campus programme. Semester 4 is dedicated to a period of cooperative education/work experience in a sector related to your field of study. Semester 5 is spent on study abroad in one of our many partner institutions across Europe, the Americas, and Australasia. UL's dedicated Coop and Careers Office will help you find you the work placement that best suits your course of study and your aspirations, while our International Education Office will find you a place at one of our partner institutions most suited to your course of study in a part of the world that appeals to your intellectual and cultural curiosity.

Final Year Project

In your final year, you will complete a Final Year Project in the subject(s) of your choosing. This is a unique opportunity to complete an extended piece of research and analysis in your chosen topic, designed with guidance and direction from an academic supervisor in your chosen subject. The Final Year Project will develop your research and analytical skills with a view to employment or further study. 

Subject Combinations

The table below shows the full list of subject combinations you can choose from for your degree. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Employability skills from this degree

• Understanding, assessing and evaluating issues
• Organising and working to deadlines
• Reading text to pick out the essential points
• Absorbing and retaining large amounts of information
• Writing well in a variety of formats
• Conveying meaning precisely

• Conducting research and evaluating sources, leading and participating in discussions, working independently
• Developing opinions, proposing ideas and theories
• Debating and persuading
• Drawing conclusions from statistical research objectively
• Confidence in formulating opinions
• Critical thinking and creativity

The year after graduating with this degree

The University of Limerick Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS) is a detailed review of the employment outcomes of UL graduates conducted annually by the University and supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The survey forms part of a nationwide review of the employment outcomes of Irish University Graduates. The table below illustrates a five-year trend for UL graduate employment levels and location the year after graduation.

Follow-on Study

Many Arts graduates undertake postgraduate courses in order to specialise in a particular subject or area. Information related to the career prospects associated with individual disciplines can be found on the specific subject pages. 

 The wide choice of subject areas available in this degree will open possibilities for research-based or taught postgraduate programmes offering many pathways to interesting and challenging careers. Some examples include:

• Diploma in Human Resource Management
• MA in Gender, Culture and Society
• LLM/MA in Law, Human Rights in Criminal Justice
• MA Business Management
• MA in Psychology
• MA in Sociology (Youth, Community and Social Regeneration)
• MA/PhD in Sociology
• MA in Technical Communication and E-Learning
• MSc in Ecomomics & Policy Analysis
• MSc in Financial Services
• MSc in Project Management
• Professional Masters in Education

Job titles for graduates with this degree

Graduates progressing directly into employment take up a wide variety of roles. The following provides a sample of initial roles listed on the Graduate Outcomes Survey by graduates approximately one year after graduation:

• Administrator
• Parliamentary Assistant
• Branch Official
• Business Development Executive
• Customer Service Advisor
• English Teacher
• Student Union Representative

• Insurance Broker
• Radio Editor
• Teacher (International School)
• Teaching Assistant
• Interpreter
• Technical Support Services Administrator