Bachelor of Arts
About
What is the Bachelor of Arts?
MIC is delighted to announce that we have added Business Studies to our Bachelor of Arts (MI002) subject choice, bringing our offering to 14 subjects. Anyone undertaking the BA at MIC from September 2023 onwards will now be able to study Business Studies to degree level in combination with a second subject.
The Bachelor of Arts is a four-year, full-time, honours degree (Level 8) offered at our Limerick campus. Due to the range of subjects to choose from on this flexible and wide-ranging undergraduate programme you really can explore many career options. You'll also get to expand your knowledge and skills through opportunities to work, travel and study abroad.
This long-established undergraduate programme this year celebrates a remarkable 30 years and over the past three decades we have seen graduates succeed in a wide-range of careers from the film industry to financial services, teaching to tourism, politics to public relations, and much more.
So, if you're looking for a diverse and exciting career path, then the BA at MIC is for you!
Check out our video testimonials to see what MIC students and graduates have to say about the different subjects on offer.
Year 1
In first year, students choose four subjects. Any subject combinations can be selected, however, when choosing your subjects in first year, it is essential to have at least two subjects from different second year subject groups (see below) bearing in mind that those who choose Psychology in first year may not be offered a place in Psychology in second year.
Years 2-4
Towards the end of first year, you will receive advice and guidance before selecting the subjects you will continue with from Years 2-4. At the beginning of Year 2 you will choose two of the four subjects taken in first year. You will continue with these two subjects to degree level as joint honours. No more than one subject can be taken from any one of the following groups outlined below.
| Group 1 | Psychology or English |
| Group 2 | Gaeilge or Business Studies |
| Group 3 | Media & Communication Studies or Geography |
| Group 4 | Gaeilge or Philosophy or Drama & Theatre Studies or Theology & Religious Studies |
| Group 5 | History or Music |
| Group 6 | German (beginners or advanced) or French (beginners or advanced) or Philosophy |
Business Studies | Drama & Theatre Studies
Business Studies
If you are interested in gaining knowledge and expertise in core business areas, then studying Business Studies as part of the BA programme will allow you to acquire the necessary skillset to succeed in the business world. You will gain a broad knowledge in business education that you can apply in a corporate or business setting. It will equip you with critical and analytical skills, an understanding of organisational behaviour, structure and the business environment, an ability to research and interpret data, and a creative approach to problem-solving.
Drama & Theatre Studies
The Drama and Theatre Studies programme will allow you to acquire a broad knowledge in drama and theatre studies. It will equip you with the critical, analytical and literary skills necessary to analyse live performance and play-texts, and locate them within a socio-cultural context. The programme has a special emphasis on contemporary theatre and on applied drama/theatre, and will provide you with a deeper understanding of how drama can be a powerful social form, as well as one for entertainment.
Languages
English Language & Literature
The English Language and Literature programme will enable you to develop critical and analytical skills through an appreciation of the English language and its literature, as well as through the study of the social, cultural and historical contexts in which that literature was produced. The programme covers a wide range of topics including modern drama, 20th century literature, literary interpretation, neoclassical literature, Irish poetry and prose, romantic literature, Elizabethan-Jacobean theatre and literary modernism.
French Studies
On the French Studies programme you will learn about French society, literature and culture, as well as improve your language skills. You will use a wide range of materials to aid your study, including textbooks, newspapers, film, radio, TV and online resources. As French is the fourth most spoken language in the world, to communicate in French means you will share in a vibrant and diverse cultural heritage whose presence is felt on every continent around the globe.
Students who did not study French for their Leaving Certificate can take French for beginners in first year, before deciding whether to continue with French to degree level.
Gaeilge
Is dlúthchuid d’oidhreacht teanga agus chultúrtha na tíre seo í an Ghaeilge. Nuair a roghnaíonn tú an Ghaeilge mar ábhar léinn i gColáiste Mhuire gan Smál, tugtar deis duit tógáil ar an líofacht atá agat sa Ghaeilge, agus faigheann tú léargas ar litríocht, ar theanga agus ar shaíocht na Gaeilge, léargas nach foláir a bheith ag an té ar mian léi/leis tuiscint a fháil ar ár gcultúr agus ar ár bhféiniúlacht féin.
German Studies
On the German Studies programme you will have the opportunity to engage in an exciting and wide-ranging language programme that will enhance your language and intercultural skills. German Studies not only includes language learning but also offers a different perspective on European media, film, literature, history and different cultures, and provides students with skills much needed in today's workplaces.
Students who did not study German for their Leaving Certificate can take German for beginners in first year, before deciding whether to continue with German to degree level.
Geography | History
Geography
The Geography programme focuses on both physical and human geography. In physical geography, you will gain an understanding of the processes at work in the natural world and of environmental changes in both past and present times. The human geography programme includes modules on historical, economic, political and social geography, and deals with contemporary issues that range in scale from the global to the local, including globalisation and its geographical impacts, geo-political conflict, economic restructuring and dislocation, urbanisation, and the challenges of sustainable development.
History
History is not just about discovering what happened in the past, it is also concerned with understanding and interpreting the past. On the History programme you will explore Irish history from the medieval period to the present day, European history from the 16th century to the late 20th century, and North American history from the colonial era to the contemporary period. Using a range of innovative teaching methods, from small-group discussions to larger lectures, you will gain the skills necessary to undertake historical research, to present your findings effectively, and to contribute to historical debates.
Mathematics | Music
Mathematics
The Mathematics programme includes several modules in the main branches of pure mathematics: Analysis (calculus in one and in several variables), Algebra (elementary number theory, linear algebra and abstract algebra) and Geometry. The programme is open to students who have taken Ordinary Level Mathematics for their Leaving Certificate, as well as those who have taken it at Higher Level. In first year you will get a taste of what it is like to study Mathematics before you decide whether or not to continue with Mathematics to degree level.
Music
The Music programme explores the history and language of music and is designed to enable students to develop technical, analytical, critical, performing, aural and creative skills. You will study harmony and counterpoint, choral arranging, string quartet writing, orchestration and composition, musical analysis, Irish traditional music, popular music and music technology. You will have access to practice rooms, a music technology studio and a comprehensive library, and will also have the opportunity to take part in performing ensembles, such as the MIC Choral Society, the University of Limerick Orchestra and Irish traditional music groups.
Media & Communication Studies
The Media and Communication Studies programme will give you a solid foundation in theory and production practice so that you are well equipped to work in the media industry in Ireland and beyond. You will engage in hands-on learning in the on-campus TV studio and editing labs, and gain in-depth experience of scriptwriting, broadcast production and journalism. Graduates of Media and Communication Studies at MIC are now working in every television station, radio station and newspaper in Ireland, as well as further afield.
Limerick’s student radio station, Wired FM, is also located on our Limerick campus. Students on any programme can volunteer with the station and avail of the excellent opportunities to present or produce live radio.
Philosophy | Psychology
Philosophy
Our Philosophy programme consists of a broad, flexible and accessible introduction to Philosophy, and is structured to provide students with the skills necessary to appreciate more fully the central concerns of human existence. Studying Philosophy will teach you to think logically and critically about issues, to analyse and construct arguments and to be open to new ways of thinking. You will also develop skills in problem-solving, reflective communication, writing and critical thinking.
Psychology
Psychology finds reason in why we think the way we think, feel the way we feel and do the things we do. By studying Psychology you will not only improve yourself but you will also gain an understanding of why others think, feel and behave the way they do. Our Psychology programme is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland, and students studying Psychology at MIC have access to dedicated facilities, including testing rooms, one-way observation facilities and an eye-tracking lab.
Theology & Religious Studies
Theology and Religious Studies entails an intellectual exploration of the belief systems that have played a vital role in the shaping of our world throughout the centuries. Whether you are interested in the study of different cultures, history, art, ethics, spirituality and mysticism, you will find something that appeals to you on the programme. You will study a wide range of topics, including world religions, the world of the Bible, Christology, moral theology and critical issues in modern religion.
- About
- Business Studies | Drama & Theatre Studies
- Languages
- Geography | History
- Mathematics | Music
- Media & Communication Studies
- Philosophy | Psychology
- Theology & Religious Studies