Course Summary
Do you want to develop your creative making and critical thinking skills in a meaningful and tangible way? If so, this Professional Certificate in Art and Ecology may be just what you’re looking for.
This module introduces learners to fundamental principles, working methods, skills and theories relating to intersections of contemporary art with ecology. A special emphasis will be placed on ‘learning through doing’ in a series of workshops and situated environmental learning.
The course and programme work directly with an urban embedded novel ecology of the NCAD FIELD site. This taskscape acts as an outdoor classroom, a site for nature connection, commoning and a testing site for multi-species futures. Connecting to the site and its seasonal activity, nature/culture connections are explored and enacted allowing learners to expand their research, creative making and critical thinking skills in meaningful and liveable ways.
A grounding in the social, political, economic and historical issues that frame ecology’s of the surroundings site are explored. Through the programme practitioners will expand, develop and question their practices using the NCAD FIELD as a testing site and shared learning space.
This course introduces learners to the contemporary and historical field of art and expanded ecologies through situated environmental learning. Using and responding to NCAD’s physical inner city location learners will connect with inspiring ecological practices, environmental justice community projects and artists spearheading this emerging field.
College Link
Career Sectors
This course prepares you for working in the Career Sectors below. Follow the links to get a fuller understanding of the sectors you are preparing for.
Entry Requirements
Pre-requisites
All applicants are expected to present an approved Bachelor degree at minimum level of 2nd class honours (2.2)
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) – Applicants who do not meet the minimum academic entry requirements for admission may be considered on the basis of a recognition of previous learning whether based on prior relevant experience or other relevant credited or non credited or learning (RPL). In such cases each applicant will be considered on a case-by-case basis based on a review of the applicant’s CV and other supporting documentation.
Please contact [email protected] for further information.
Qualifying Examination – In certain cases the academic team may choose to set a qualifying assignment in order to assess an applicant’s suitability for admission.
- A statement framing your reasons for applying to the programme, i.e. how attending the above selected course will benefit you and your practice (500 words)
- A recent CV
- Certified transcripts of previous programmes followed
- Certified copies of degree / certificates and/or other appropriate third level qualifications bearing the official stamp of the institution.
- English Language Proficiency certificate
- This is only required if English is not your first language.
You can see the full list of the English Language Qualifications NCAD recognises at this link.
Application Details
There is a fee of €600 for this programme. It is free to apply.
Students eligible for the Human Capital Initiative HCI Pillar 3 Micro-Credentials Subsidy are paying only €120 (see more below).
Apply via NCAD HERE
CFA Scholarship:
A CFA scholarship encourages the participation of learners from sections of society that are significantly under-represented in higher education by offering one free place on all of our CFA short courses.
Find out if you are eligible to apply HERE
Fill in the CFA@NCAD scholarship application form HERE
CFA Contact
Joanna Crawley [email protected]
Programme Contact
Gareth Kennedy [email protected]
Seoidin O’Sullivan: [email protected]
Mark Clare: [email protected]
Admissions Contact
Application Date:
21/08/2025
The Student
Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests. If these interests do not describe you, this course may prepare you for work you may not find satisfying.
Creative
Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.
Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.
