Sociology describes and explains social structures and processes. The Sociology programme at UL will enable you to develop critical and analytical skills to look more objectively at our societies. It directs attention to how the constituent parts of society fit together and change, and the consequences of that social change. By focusing on the external forces that affect values, attitudes and behaviors, it helps us better understand ourselves and the motivations of others around us. In addition to core modules you can choose electives to suit your own interests.

The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) makes available to you a wide range of Humanities and Social Science subjects in a course that is comparable to Arts degrees nationally and worldwide.

Students of the course are encouraged to see the world anew through the study of subjects such as English Literature, Sociology, Irish and other Modern European Languages, Religious Studies, Psychology and others and, over a three year period, not only to develop expertise in two subjects areas but to develop a questioning and creative approach to the modern world.

NB The individual subject option is not required on CAO application - it is chosen at college registration

Sociology is concerned with identity and multiculturalism; sexuality and intimacy; media and popular culture; environment and sustainability; law and justice; crime and deviance; anthropology, civilisation and religion; art, culture and literature; health and well-being; politics and community; economy and society.  

You will  learn research methods and useful skills such as interviewing, surveys and questionnaires, onsite observation and ethnography, discourse analysis and archival research.

 As a student of Spanish, you will have a twin focus on language and culture. Through language classes and with supporting material such as film, literature and cultural events, you will aim to become a fluent speaker and writer of Spanish. If you’re a beginner, you can take intensive language classes.

Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Learning Spanish opens up access to many other countries, new markets and exciting cultures. Students study the Spanish language alongside the literatures and cultures of the Hispanic world.

As part of an Arts degree, this subject is one of three subjects you choose in first year. In second and third year you continue with two of the subjects taken in First Arts. It may be possible to take an extra year studying abroad.

Spanish can be taken as part of the UL Arts Degree as a joint honours combination. Review the subjects you can study with Spanish by looking on the BA Arts course page. In this course will learn about Spanish and Latin American societies, cultures, and literatures, as well as improve your language skills at all levels and develop your intercultural awareness. 

The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) makes available to you a wide range of Humanities and Social Science subjects in a course that is comparable to any Arts degree nationally and worldwide.

Students on this programme are encouraged to see the world through the study of subjects such as English Literature, Sociology, Irish, French, Spanish, Law, Religious Studies, Psychology and Theatre Studies over a three year period; not only to develop expertise in two subjects areas, but to develop a questioning and creative approach to the modern world.

NB The individual subject option is not required on CAO application - it is chosen at college registration

In this degree you will study Spanish and the languages and culture of Spain, Portugal and Latin America through literature, art, theatre, film, music, history and media.

A degree in Statistics will provide you with tools to address problems of critical importance to humans such as climate change, developing cancer drugs or managing traffic flows.

We offer Statistics as a Double Major subject which can be combined with most other academic subjects in the Bachelor of Arts degree. This flexibility means you can combine your interest in aspects of society with knowledge of the statistical tools needed to understand data from those fields.

Studies in Music is a broad introduction to the study of music as part of human society; it makes available Modules about music from all over the world and in many periods of history.

The course embraces historical, sociological, ethnographic, political and educational approaches, among others, and will enable you to develop your knowledge in key areas of modern music studies.

The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) makes available to you a wide range of Humanities and Social Science subjects in a course that is comparable to Arts degrees nationally and worldwide.

Students of the course are encouraged to see the world anew through the study of subjects such as English Literature, Sociology, Irish and other Modern European Languages, Religious Studies, Psychology and others and, over a three year period, not only to develop expertise in two subjects areas but to develop a questioning and creative approach to the modern world.

NB The individual subject option is not required on CAO application - it is chosen at college registration

The Department of Theology & Religious Studies offers a wide-ranging perspective on the phenomenon of religion, and Christianity in particular. It does so by drawing on a great number of sub-disciplines, such as philosophy, history, literary criticism, sociology, the study of art, and so forth.

Theology & Religious Studies at MIC covers a wide range of topics including world religions, the world of the Bible, Christology, moral theology and critical issues in modern religion.

If you are looking for a platform to progress to a wide range of careers in the General Arts, Humanities, Psychology or Sociology, then this course is for you. The course provides a foundation for progression to Higher Education study in general Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. You’ll get a real taste for what’s required at third level before committing to a four-year degree, and it an ideal first step for school-leaver and mature students returning to education.

The B.A. (Hons) in Arts and Humanities is a 3-year multidisciplinary degree, commonly known as a Joint Honours degree. On this programme, students explore a range of subject areas: History; Philosophy; English & the Creative Imagination; Psychology; Theology and Politics, before developing expertise in two subject majors.

This degree equips students with the essential tools needed for the 21st century by nourishing critical thinking, developing communication skills and preparing for future choices. Students who take this programme can open their mind to different ways of thinking and understanding; they become reflective thinkers who are socially engaged and appreciate learning as a lifelong activity.

This degree fulfills Teaching Council requirements for English, History, Politics & Society and Religious Education.

Arts (International) includes a year abroad at one of our partner institutions in Europe, the United States, Canada, South America or Asia, and is open to language and non-language students. 

This four-year BA honours degree will give you the opportunity to enhance your learning experience and increase your cultural awareness by living and studying in another country. Students who select a language and opt to spend Year 3 in the country of that language will also be able to demonstrate an increased linguistic ability to prospective employers.

Develop hands-on experience working in the business side of the creative industries. Run events in music, visual arts, and the performing arts. Learn to market and manage in the exciting world of heritage, tourism and the cultural industries.

It provides a business education but with a twist, by combining public relations and event management with the study of arts administration, the music industry and cultural policy, it gives graduates the opportunity to work in the creative sector or in more general business roles.

Galway offers three exciting programmes dedicated to Children’s and Youth Studies, an interdisciplinary area, which examines the social, cultural, legal, psychological and historical discourses shaping the lives of children and youth today. The three programmes have been designed to provide graduates with different skill sets and academic knowledge. It is important to familiarise yourself with the differences between these programmes and make an informed choice about which one best suits your aspirations.

This course involves project based work, educational placement in the community, portfolio preparation, creative practice, a period of study abroad at an international university, service learning, and placements within NGOs (non-governmental organisations). Students examine the philosophical basis, history and origin of human rights.

At registration, choose two from the following list of subjects:

• Up to two permitted from English and Gaeilge
• Only one permitted from Human Development | Philosophy
• Only one permitted from History | Music
• Only one permitted from Geography | World Religions and Theology

English
You’ll engage with a wide range of literature and become familiar with the vital characteristics and contexts of drama, poetry, film and fiction.

Gaeilge/Irish
You’ll learn about Irish culture and tradition as well as developing your practical language skills.

Human Development
You’ll develop an understanding of human needs and capacities at crucial stages of the development process through your studies of Psychology, Sociology and Philosophy.

History
You’ll explore how human beings behave grounded on a close examination of how they have behaved in the past in all spheres of the world but with a particular emphasis on Ireland.

Music
You'll develop your musicality and deepen your understanding of music including classical, traditional, popular and other music styles drawing on a range of practical, analytical and critical approaches.

Geography
You’ll examine human activity, human-environment relations and physical environments at a variety of scales, from the local through to the global.

Philosophy
You will critically engage with a range of questions about issues such as truth, beauty, value, knowledge, and the nature of reality. In doing so, you will develop enhanced skills in clear analysis and rigorous argumentation.

World Religions and Theology
You'll critically engage with the big questions about life in order to understand the historical and contemporary significance of religious faith agus contemporary ethical dilemmas.

If you would love the challenge of problem solving and helping people in practical ways in their daily occupation, then this is the course for you.

Working in day-care facilities, nursing homes, community centres, in client’s homes or residential settings requires healthcare workers who can support clients in their day-to-day living.

Our specialist and experienced tutors will guide you as an assistant in occupational therapy to support older, injured, ill or disabled patients manage everyday activities. You’ll enjoy learning how to help these clients develop, recover and improve as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working.

The term sports injury refers to the kinds of injuries that most commonly occur during sports or exercise. In this honours degree, students will become skilled in the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries related to physical activity. 

Our Bachelor of Science in Athletic Therapy and Exercise Rehabilitation is a four-year programme that equips learners with the knowledge and clinical skills to successfully diagnose, manage, and treat injuries in high-performance athletes, recreational exercisers, and the general public. The first two years provide the core foundation of the degree, including anatomy, physiology, and musculoskeletal assessment while the last two years develop clinical skills through student-led clinics, a work placement, and a clinical research project. 

The Athletic Therapy and Training programme will equip you with skills in preventing, assessing, treating and rehabilitating injuries associated with physical activity, including those experienced by elite athletes.

Incorporating multiple work placements, this course gives you extensive theoretical knowledge of how the body works and then shows you how to apply that expertise. It is an intensive, highly practical programme that immerses students in musculoskeletal medicine from an early stage.

Practical experience at home and abroad:
You’ll learn how to assess, treat and rehabilitate in theory and, from second year, in real-world settings. You’ll complete placements in sports medicine clinics and rehabilitation clinics, as well as undertaking pitchside and team placements. In your final year, you’ll do a semester-long immersive placement, which could be in an athletic therapy clinic or a professional sports team. These placements may be completed in Ireland but most students go to the US, Canada, Australia or Britain.

This course is accredited by Athletic Rehabilitation Therapy Ireland. When you graduate, you’ll be eligible to become a certified Athletics Therapist. As an independent, highly skilled clinician with a wealth of experience, you’ll be highly sought after in sports medicine, by musculoskeletal clinics or with a sports team, or you can go on to work as a researcher in musculoskeletal medicine.