The BA (Hons) in Liberal Arts (a level-8, HETAC-accredited, award) provides an intellectually stimulating and challenging course of undergraduate study in the liberal arts, with a wide range of foundation courses combined in the latter stages with specialised study in four concentrations. The programme is structured around two common years, with specialisations developing out of the common curriculum in the third year of study. In the third year students are required to major in one of four concentrations: Irish Studies, American Studies, History, or English. In this way the study programme broadens the students’ knowledge and advances their communication skills in a wide range of intellectual areas, and provides them with an understanding of other cultures, their intrinsic values and historical experience. As far as it is possible the programme helps students to make ethically and intellectually informed decisions which take account of the complexity and diversity of the world in which we live.
The BA (Hons) in Liberal Arts is designed to prepare students for a number of future avenues. The degree is particularly useful as a preparation for postgraduate study in the liberal arts, business studies and the law. Vocationally, the degree supports career development in such fields as business, social services, the arts, administration, teaching and research. To be in a position to advance, students will be expected to develop intellectual, practical and transferable skills. When students complete the course, they will command a number of intellectual skills, including the critical abilities of being able to read and analyse a large variety of texts, appreciate visual evidence, and assess valid supporting dialogue. For their future development they will also have developed a range of practical skills, including effective essay writing and, where appropriate, an element of creative writing.
The BA (Hons) in Liberal Arts is accredited by HETAC and is placed at level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications. The programme’s first two years offer general liberal arts modules (ten in each year), followed by one year of specialisation in one of the followings fields: Irish Studies, American Studies, English, and History. In the final year learners complete five specialised modules followed by a dissertation. For students taking the four-year programme under the institution’s Middle States accreditation, ten additional elective modules (30 credits) should be taken, either as an extra year or as summer semester classes. The sequential programme schedule includes the following subjects:
Year 1
- Academic communication
- War and peace in the modern world
- Western arts
- The digital revolution
- Imagination and storytelling
- Anglo-Irish writers
- Cinema and society
- Western religions
- The Enlightenment
- American culture abroad
Year 2
- Shakespeare
- Contemporary China
- Irish migration
- Romanticism
- Representations of sexualities
- Modern art
- Scramble for Africa
- Literary modernism
- India
- The Scientific Revolution
Year 3 (award stage)
- Specialisation: Irish Studies
- Irish nationalism
- The Great Irish Famine
- Oscar Wilde and his circle
- James Joyce’s Ulysses
- Research methods
- Irish cinema
- Research seminar: Irish studies
- Dissertation: Irish studies
- Specialisation: American Studies
- American literature
- Migrations to America
- The American Civil War
- Hollywood
- Research methods
- America after 9/11
- Research seminar: American studies
- Dissertation: American studies
- Specialisation: English
- Oscar Wilde and his circle
- James Joyce’s Ulysses
- American literature
- The rise of the novel
- Research methods
- Modern poetry
- Research seminar: English
- Dissertation: English
- Specialisation: History
- Irish nationalism
- The Great Irish Famine
- The American Civil War
- The Spanish Civil War
- Research methods
- The Cold War
- Research seminar: History
- Dissertation: History
For those taking the four-year programme under the institution’s Middle States accreditation, ten additional elective modules must be completed, either as an extra year or as summer semester classes.
Entry requirements
American College Dublin has three intakes per year: in September, January and May.
There are two ways to apply to the College: through the CAO system or directly to the Admissions office. All of the College’s HETAC programmes are available for application through the CAO system: BA (Hons) in Liberal Arts, BA (Hons) in International Business and BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance. A prospective student may submit an application for all other courses directly to the Admissions Office at American College Dublin.
Applicants whose first language is not English should have an IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent).
Further education students
The College accepts students from further education colleges to all of its courses. Students must have gained three distinctions in a cognate area of the degree programme that they wish to study. Students must have a full level 5 or level 6 award and this award may have been taken over a number of years. Students with a FETAC qualification can gain access to both American College Dublin and American College Delaware.
Mature student application
Mature applicants can apply through the CAO for the September intake or make a direct application for the College’s other intakes. Mature applicants must be 23 years of age on 1 January of the year that they wish to begin their course. Mature applicants must be interviewed by one of the admissions team. All applicants must submit a CV and a personal statement to the College.
Other EU applications
Every student who has taken examinations in an EU member state is expected to have completed mathematics and English in his or her final year. The only exception to this is students who have completed the A-Levels. These students must have taken mathematics and English for their O-Levels. Please refer the Admissions section for full listings of entry requirements for non-EU students.
More information is available in the Admissions section or by contacting the Admissions Office, Tel: +353 1 6768939; Email: admissions@amcd.ie
Do you have a question? Need some advice? Contact the Admissions Office.