If you are interested in people, you will be interested in sociology. It is relevant for understanding almost every aspect of our lives. We are all part of society, we are connected with each other and we are affected by the people around us. In the same way, we shape the social context for others as well. Sociology provides you with the mindset and the research tools to observe the social world, make connections, understand differences, norms, cultures or inequalities.

Spanish is a truly global language, spoken by more than 400 million people around the world. Taught through interactive language classes, Spanish is not only accessible in the initial stages of learning, it is also richly rewarding for those interested in the more advanced subtleties of linguistic study.

In tandem with learning to communicate effectively in Spanish, a combination of lectures, tutorials and group work enables you to pursue your own readings of and reflections upon works by major authors. This will deepen your knowledge of Hispanic culture, as well as sharpening your critical faculties.

Studying folklore involves the exploration of traditional popular culture, in the past and in the present. It is primarily concerned with the history and culture of ordinary people, and with the evolution and role of tradition at a vernacular level. As an academic discipline, Folklore (or ethnology) involves the exploration of oral literature, social tradition, material culture, popular belief and practice, as well as traditional music and song.

It explores the dynamics of communal memory and of culture as a collective phenomenon. It looks at the nature of popular tradition and the way in which such tradition is transmitted, usually outside of official channels and often across vast distances of time and space.

Irish Studies is an interdisciplinary programme that examines the variety and diversity of Irish history, society, cultural practice and the complex processes through which Ireland and Irish identities have been constructed.

If you are interested in studying Statistics with an Arts and Humanities or Social Science subject, then this degree could be for you.

Statistics is the science of transforming data into knowledge and understanding, providing a principled approach to making data-informed decisions. Statistical methods enable us to gain insights from data, and with the advent of powerful computing technology, these methods have become widely used in many sectors. 

Drama Studies is for students who are interested in learning about theatre and performance in theory and practice. Drama Studies has a range of modules that bring together scholarly, creative, and practical “on-your-feet” tasks and assignments. Drama Studies educates students in the history and practices of theatre and performance, in current theoretical methods and approaches to research and analysis of theatre and performance, and in a wide range of generic, historical, national and international traditions.

Media literacy is a vital 21st century skill and the cultivation of such literacy stands at the centre of this degree path. Students are encouraged to make connections between literary, cinematic and televisual forms, to deepen their knowledge of screen cultures and, in particular, to ask serious questions about how representation, culture and politics interrelate.

If you have a passion for media, this degree provides a unique opportunity for you to acquire key interpretive skills and hone your ability to make critically reasoned arguments. Film Studies will give you the tools to better understand how all the things we think of as entertainment actually create the world in which we live.

As so much of European culture looks back to Classical Antiquity, studying Classics will give you insights not just into the ancient past but also into the ideas and texts that shaped the present. Three subjects are offered within the BA degree, which you can take separately or combine:

• Greek & Roman Civilisation
• Latin
• Greek

Greek & Roman Civilisation explores the Classical World, through history, literature, art, archaeology, mythology and philosophy. You do not need any previous knowledge of the subject, nor will you have to learn the ancient languages.

As so much of European culture looks back to Classical Antiquity, studying Classics will give you insights not just into the ancient past but also into the ideas and texts that shaped the present. Three subjects are offered within the BA degree, which you can take separately or combine:

• Greek & Roman Civilisation
• Latin
• Greek

Greek & Roman Civilisation explores the Classical World, through history, literature, art, archaeology, mythology and philosophy. You do not need any previous knowledge of the subject, nor will you have to learn the ancient languages.

Portuguese is a global language, spoken across four continents by more than 250 million people. Studying Portuguese offers valuable career opportunities in many areas of business and society both in Ireland and abroad. During your degree at UCD, you will delve into the language and the cultural diversity of the Portuguese-speaking world. You will also enhance your critical thinking, intercultural understanding and communication skills.

You will study Classics, Art History and Archaeology in great detail. If you are interested in understanding the visual, material and textual remains of societies from prehistory to the present, this unique interdisciplinary course is for you. You will learn to evaluate and interpret evidence and to present your ideas, while developing a greater understanding of the ancient world and of how the past has shaped the present.

Do you want to develop a deep understanding of human experience in Europe and its associated cultures from earliest times to the very present? Do you want to explore issues of memory, truth, curiosity and understanding that have fascinated people at all times and at all places?

This programme will bring students to the heart of vital questions about society, history, culture and life itself, and deep into the array of texts that are the result of millennia of lives lived.

Study English, Drama and Film if you are interested in the relationships between literature, drama, film, and media cultures. Refine your critical engagement with a wide variety of texts and cultures, in different genres and media, and across different national and historical locations.

Consider the role of cultural representation across a diverse range of genres, forms and time periods in shaping community and societal structures and beliefs. Explore how the study of English, Drama and Film intersects with questions of gender, race, and identity. Become a critical and creative thinker.

If your interest in literature extends to an ambition to write creatively, this degree programme will support that ambition through classes, workshops, and seminars dedicated to the development of your creative talent. In the final year, you will work on – and complete to high standard – a substantial writing project. To help you reach this standard, you will be advised and directed by one of the supervisors on the Creative Writing or English team.

You will study texts ranging from the Old English, medieval and early modern periods to the nineteenth and through to the twenty-first century – writing which extends across national boundaries and regions, from British to Irish to American to World Literature, and covering multiple genres. You will explore literary production, value and impact – how fiction, poetry and drama are inspired, shaped, released and received in particular historical and cultural contexts. You will learn how the meanings of literary texts change and renew across time and space.

This course is designed for students who are seeking a high level of language and intercultural competency by developing effective communication and analytical skills. The programme takes a holistic approach to language by fostering linguistics, alongside literary and cultural approaches. Students can choose from Irish, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Latin and Ancient Greek. Modules are available in Portuguese and Welsh.

Music, Film and Drama are art forms that speak to the very core of human experience; they impact our lives every day. This 4-year programme allows students to immerse themselves in the close study of these forms, to understand them from cultural and historical perspectives, and to explore the ways in which they influence and transform each other.

Learn how to understand the inner workings of these art forms. Deepen your knowledge of their historical development. Research and write about the important place of these arts in society.

History is the pursuit of how we got here and the stories that we tell ourselves to explain the past. Working from ordinary to extraordinary, local to global, fact to fiction, you’ll develop critical thinking, argument and analysis skills that lie at the heart of careers in media, government, culture and education.

History and Politics is a classic combination of subjects for students looking to investigate the workings of government and society in contemporary and historical perspectives. You will examine why society has changed and seek to understand the issues facing societies across the globe today. Through both subjects, the course will teach you the essential skills of writing, critical thinking, evaluating evidence, and assessing data. This course offers an excellent interdisciplinary preparation by combining historical research with political science.

• Má tá tú ag iarraidh barr feabhais a bhaint amach sa Ghaeilge.
• Más spéis leat ard/sainscileanna teanga a bhaint amach agus a fhorbairt
• Más spéis leat gairm bheatha trí mheán na Gaeilge ag leibhéal náisiúnta agus idirnáisiúnta a bheith agat ina lán réimsí sa tsochaí aistriúchán, oideachas, cúrsaí foilsitheoireachta, na meáin chumarsáide, earnáil na hoidhreachta agus an chultúir, mar shampla.

European Studies is an exciting and challenging new UCD BA Humanities course for 2021, taught by some of Ireland’s leading academics. Transnational and interdisciplinary in perspective, the course is designed to inspire in-depth exploration of the rich and varied cultures and histories of Europe. This course will equip students with valued skills in research, communication and language.

Global Studies invites students to ask how a deeply connected world has come into being, why barriers and divisions remain and how ‘local’ relates to ‘global’. We ask how people experience and make sense of globalisation, as an opportunity, challenge and threat. We analyse the impact people have on the global environment. We give students the skills, historical background, cultural context, and linguistic knowledge, to live and work in globally connected societies. This is the only undergraduate Global Studies degree available in Ireland.

Irish Studies is an interdisciplinary programme that examines the variety and diversity of Irish history, society, cultural practice and the complex processes through which Ireland and Irish identities have been constructed.

It asks a series of provocative and stimulating questions about ideas of Ireland and Irishness, such as how can we understand the ways in which place, history, culture and society have shaped Ireland, past and present? How do processes of emigration and immigration impact on Irish culture, society and identity? What influence have identity categories such as gender, sexuality, ethnicity and class had on Irish culture, society and identities?

If you are interested in the performing arts, television and film, fashion, music, festivals, media, visual arts and museums — or aspire to work creatively in business, the public sector, and digital technology — this course is for you! Combining project-based work with high-level career mentorship, this new four-year course prepares students for careers in the cultural and creative industries.

This course is running in partnership with Creative Futures Academy (CFA).

This course will enable you to develop your creativity and musicianship through classes in composition, performance, and theory. You will enrich your knowledge of the role that music has played in the past, and continues to play in societies around the world, through classes in history and culture. You will dive deeper into your own musical interests – whether as a composer, performer, or thinker – through research. You will find out and experience why music is so foundational to contemporary life.