Key Info
Bachelor of Arts Professional Pathways
At UL we are introducing a new, unique and exciting undergraduate degree, the BA Professional Pathways.
This programme channels the power of an arts degree into four distinct pathways created with employer input to match the skills and knowledge they want to see in graduates.
In addition to the subject knowledge gained within their specific pathway, students also take workplace-focused transferrable skills modules every semester that again match the skills in demand from employers.
This unique degree fuses knowledge and skills. You will gain knowledge from subjects in your chosen pathways and you will develop a range of skills to help you apply that knowledge. As this degree is cutting-edge, its graduates will be too!
Course Director, Dr Chris McInerney
Course features
The BA Professional Pathways is not just a new degree, it is a whole new way of approaching your university education.
There are three distinct features of this degree:
1. First, you will be able to select from one of four, vocational, employability-oriented ‘pathway’ options. These four pathways are:
- Public Affairs – designed for those who want to play a role in shaping, guiding and understanding how our society, economy, political and administrative systems will operate, in Ireland as well as at a global level. Over your four years, you will mainly take modules in Economics, Sociology, Politics and Public Administration.
- Social, Economic and Physical Planning – designed for those who see themselves having a role in planning for the future, either in terms of social and economic development or physical planning. On this pathway you will mainly take modules in Geography, Economics and Public Administration.
- Communication and Digital Translation- designed for those who have an interest in communication and in acting as the interpreters and translators of our increasingly digital world. In this pathway, you will study modules from digital culture, journalism, communications and linguistics. You will also have the option to study a language.
- Social, Economic and Environmental Change – designed for those who are interested in understanding and shaping how our world needs to and can change in a more equitable and sustainable direction. On this pathway you will mainly take modules in Geography, Economics, Sociology, Politics and Public Administration.
2. Alongside your choice of pathway you will also participate in a specially designed core set of transferable skills modules. Transferable Skills, often called ‘Power Skills’, are the type of skills that are consistently identified as being essential to the workplace and the society we live in. They include critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, creativity, team work, curiosity, digital skills, and leadership, to name but a few. All students on the BA Professional Pathways will take 15 transferable skills modules designed to develop your core skill base.
3. Finally, on this degree, you will benefit from an extended, eight-month Co-operative Education work placement, giving you a hugely valuable experience of the world of work and an opportunity to make the connections between your learning in the classroom and the requirements of the workplace.
Why choose BA Professional Pathways?
You should consider this BA if you wish to:
• Consider a career related to the pathway of your choice;
• Combine carefully selected, cutting edge arts, humanities and social science subjects with a bespoke set of transferable skills modules;
• Have a degree that uniquely prepares you for the workplace and will distinguish you from the vast majority of other graduates;
• Have a degree that is concerned both with how you acquire knowledge, and most especially, with how you continually, critically and creatively use that knowledge to understand
Career opportunities
The BA Professional Pathways has been designed with employability at its centre. Graduates from the degree are likely to find careers across the following areas:
• Public affairs specialist in government
• Parliamentary support roles
• Public relations
• Graduate-level entry positions in the civil and wider public sector, in Ireland and internationally.
• Physical planner/town planning in local government
• Public affairs consultancy
• Economic planning and analysis
• Social planning, policy analysis
• Communications management
• Digital communication/transformation
• Sustainability management
• Corporate social responsibility specialist
• Community development
• Not-for-profit operations
Follow-on study
Some students may choose to take up further study options on completion of their undergraduate degree. From the BA Professional Pathways students may pursue postgraduate studies in:
• Planning/Urban design and planning
• Planning and sustainable development
• Peace and Development
• Digital Transformation/Digital Innovation
• Youth and community work
• Master in Public Administration
• Business management
• Arts to Industry
• Social Policy
• Voluntary and community sector management
• Economic and policy analysis
• Project management
What you will study
Please note: Modules in bold are transferrable skills
Year 1
Semester 1
AH4011 ACADEMIC AND DIGITAL CAPABILITIES
EC4111 MICROECONOMICS (NON BUSINESS)
PO4051 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS I
SO4001 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
Electives (select 1)
GY4001 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
HI4071 DOING HISTORY: PAST, PRESENT AND PRACTICE
LI4211 LINGUISTICS 1
PA4001 INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 1
Semester 2
AH4012 APPLIED DIGITAL SKILLS
EC4112 MACROECONOMICS (FOR NON-BUSINESS)
PO4052 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS II
SO4032 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY 2
Electives (select 1)
GY4002 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
HI4142 GAMES OF THRONES: GENDER, POWER AND IDENTITY, IRELAND AND THE WIDER WORLD, 1500-1950
LI4212 LINGUISTICS 2
PA4022 INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION II
Year 2
Semester 1
AH4123 ETHICS, VALUES AND LEADERSHIP IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
SO4021 DATA LITERACY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
EC4213 INTERMEDIATE ECONOMICS (FOR NON-BUSINESS)
PA4003 ISSUES AND CONCEPTS IN DEVELOPMENT
PO4013 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS IN IRELAND
Semester 2
AH4124 PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES FOR THE WORKPLACE
AH4134 APPLIED CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING
EC4014 INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
PO4015 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF THE EU
SO4078 INEQUALITY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION
Cooperative Education work placement:
Starts summer after Year 2
Year 3
Semester 1
Cooperative Education
Semester 2
AH4126 RESEARCH AND ITS ROLE IN COMPLEX PROBLEM SOLVING
AH4136 INNOVATION, CREATIVITY AND STORYTELLING
AH4146 DESIGN THINKING FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INNOVATION
AH4156 UNDERSTANDING AI AND ITS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS
AH4166 PLANNING FOR DEVELOPMENT
Year 4
Semester 1
AH4127 COMPLEX PROBLEM-SOLVING PROJECT 1
JM4067 PROFESSIONAL WRITING
EC4055 ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
PO4027 INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
SO4067 SOCIOLOGY OF WORK
Semester 2
AH4128 PRACTITIONER SEMINAR SERIES
AH4138 COMPLEX PROBLEM SOLVING PROJECT 2
EC4108 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
PA4008 PUBLIC POLICY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
SO4128 SOCIOLOGY OF THE INTERNET
Please note: Modules in bold are transferrable skills
Year 1
Semester 1
AH4011 ACADEMIC AND DIGITAL CAPABILITIES
EC4111 MICROECONOMICS (NON BUSINESS)
GY4001 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
GY4033 POPULATION DYNAMICS
PA4001 INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 1
Semester 2
AH4012 APPLIED DIGITAL SKILLS
EC4112 MACROECONOMICS (FOR NON-BUSINESS)
GY4002 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
GY4012 MIGRATION, MOBILITY AND PLACE
PA4022 INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION II
Year 2
Semester 1
AH4123 ETHICS, VALUES AND LEADERSHIP IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
SO4021 DATA LITERACY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
EC4213 INTERMEDIATE ECONOMICS (FOR NON-BUSINESS)
HI4103 IMAGINING IRELAND: FROM EARLY MODERN TO MODERN
Electives (select 1)
GY4037 A SUSTAINABLE WORLD?
GY4051 EARTH SCIENCE AND SOCIETY
Semester 2
AH4124 PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES FOR THE WORKPLACE
AH4134 APPLIED CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING
EC4014 INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
PA4047 COMPARATIVE PUBLIC POLICY
Electives (select 1)
GY4006 PRACTICING GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH
GY4027 LANDSCAPE EVOLUTION
Cooperative Education work placement:
Starts summer after Year 2
Year 3
Semester 1
Cooperative Education
Semester 2
AH4126 RESEARCH AND ITS ROLE IN COMPLEX PROBLEM SOLVING
AH4136 INNOVATION, CREATIVITY AND STORYTELLING
AH4146 DESIGN THINKING FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INNOVATION
AH4156 UNDERSTANDING AI AND ITS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS
AH4166 PLANNING FOR DEVELOPMENT
Year 4
Semester 1
AH4127 COMPLEX PROBLEM-SOLVING PROJECT 1
JM4067 PROFESSIONAL WRITING
EC4055 ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
GY4005 NATURAL HAZARDS
PA4037 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
Semester 2
AH4128 PRACTITIONER SEMINAR SERIES
AH4138 COMPLEX PROBLEM SOLVING PROJECT 2
EC4108 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
GY4028 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
PO4048 ISSUES IN WORLD POLITICS
Please note: Modules in bold are transferrable skills
Year 1
Semester 1
AH4011 ACADEMIC AND DIGITAL CAPABILITIES
CM4203 COMMUNICATIONS
JM4061 JOURNALISM, POLITICS AND SOCIETY
TW4001 DIGITAL MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION
Electives (select 1)
LI4211 LINGUISTICS 1
FR4141 FRENCH LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY 1: INTRO FRENCH STUDIES1
GA4141 TEANGA, SOCHAÍ AGUS SAÍOCHT 1
GE4141 GERMAN LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY 1: INTRO GERMAN STUD 1
GE4211 GERMAN FOR BEGINNERS 1
JA4111 JAPANESE LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND SOCIETY 1 (ADVANCED)
JA4211 JAPANESE LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND SOCIETY 1
SP4131 SPANISH FOR BEGINNERS 1 (EUROPEAN STUDIES)
SP4141 SPANISH LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY 1
Semester 2
AH4012 APPLIED DIGITAL SKILLS
CU4112 CULTURAL STUDIES 2: LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
JM4006 SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOCIETY
TW4006 WRITING FOR NEW MEDIA
Elective (select 1)
LI4212 LINGUISTICS 2
FR4142 FRENCH LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY 2: INTRODUCTION TO FRE
GA4142 TEANGA, SOCHAÍ AGUS SAÍOCHT 2
GE4142 GERMAN LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY 2: INTOD GERMAN STUD II
GE4212 GERMAN FOR BEGINNERS 2 (APPLIED LANGUAGES)
JA4112 JAPANESE LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND SOCIETY 2 (ADVANCED)
JA4212 JAPANESE LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND SOCIETY 2
SP4132 SPANISH FOR BEGINNERS 2
SP4142 SPANISH LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY 2
Year 2
Semester 1
AH4123 ETHICS, VALUES AND LEADERSHIP IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
SO4021 DATA LITERACY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
BR4012 BROADENING: COMMUNICATION ACROSS CULTURES
JM4513 INFORMATION DESIGN
Electives (select 1)
CU4027 VISUAL CULTURAL STUDIES
LI4023 LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY IN IRELAND
LI4113 LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGY
FR4143 FRENCH LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY 3 EDUCATION AND WORK E
GA4143 TEANGA, SOCHAÍ AGUS SAÍOCHT 3
GE4143 GERMAN LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY 3: LIVING AND WORKING GER
GE4213 GERMAN FOR BEGINNERS 3 (APPLIED LANGUAGES)
JA4213 JAPANESE LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND SOCIETY 3
SP4133 SPANISH FOR BEGINNERS 3
SP4143 SPANISH LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY 3
Semester 2
AH4124 PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES FOR THE WORKPLACE
AH4134 APPLIED CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING
JM4062 DATA JOURNALISM
JM4514 LEARNING DESIGN
Electives (select 1)
LI4004 MEDIA DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
FR4924 FRENCH FOR BUSINESS 4A
GA4146 TEANGA, SOCHAí AGUS SAÍOCHT 4
GE4924 GERMAN FOR BUSINESS 4A
JA4914 JAPANESE FOR BUSINESS 4
SP4166 SPANISH FOR BUSINESS 4
Cooperative Education work placement:
Starts summer after Year 2
Year 3
Semester 1
Cooperative Education
Semester 2
AH4126 RESEARCH AND ITS ROLE IN COMPLEX PROBLEM SOLVING
AH4136 INNOVATION, CREATIVITY AND STORYTELLING
AH4146 DESIGN THINKING FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INNOVATION
AH4156 UNDERSTANDING AI AND ITS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS
AH4166 PLANNING FOR DEVELOPMENT
Year 4
Semester 1
AH4127 COMPLEX PROBLEM-SOLVING PROJECT 1
JM4067 PROFESSIONAL WRITING
JM4057 GETTING THE MESSAGE, THE INTERSECTION OF PR AND JOURNALISM
SO4033 SOCIOLOGY OF MEDIA
Electives (select 1)
LI4017 LINGUISTICS 5: MULTILINGUALISM IN A GLOBALIZING WORLD
LI4037 APPLIED LINGUISTICS AND THE PROFESSIONS
FR4147 FRENCH LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY 5 FRANCE, EUROPE AND B
GA4147 TEANGA, SOCHAÍ AGUS SAÍOCHT 5
GE4147 GERMAN LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY 5:GERMANY EUROPE AND BEYON
JA4247 JAPANESE LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND SOCIETY 5
SP4147 SPAIN EUROPE AND BEYOND
Semester 2
AH4128 PRACTITIONER SEMINAR SERIES
AH4138 COMPLEX PROBLEM SOLVING PROJECT 2
JM4052 MEDIA CHALLENGES IN THE DIGITAL AGE
TW4118 Content Development and Information Management
Electives (select 1)
LI4018 LINGUISTICS 6: LANGUAGE POLICY, POLITICS AND POWER
FR4148 FRENCH LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY 6 MEDIA/CURRENT ISSUES
GA4148 TEANGA, SOCHAÍ AGUS SAÍOCHT 6
GE4148 GERMAN LANGUAGE AND SOCIETY 6: ISSUES AND DEBATES
JA4248 JAPANESE LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND SOCIETY 6
SP4148 MEDIA AND CURRENT ISSUES IN THE SPANISH SPEAKING WORLD
Please note: Modules in bold are transferrable skills
Year 1
Semester 1
AH4011 ACADEMIC AND DIGITAL CAPABILITIES
EC4111 MICROECONOMICS (NON BUSINESS)
GY4001 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
PO4051 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS I
SO4001 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
Semester 2
AH4012 APPLIED DIGITAL SKILLS
EC4112 MACROECONOMICS (FOR NON-BUSINESS)
GY4002 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
PO4052 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS II
SO4032 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY 2
Year 2
Semester 1
AH4123 ETHICS, VALUES AND LEADERSHIP IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
SO4021 DATA LITERACY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
EC4213 INTERMEDIATE ECONOMICS (FOR NON-BUSINESS)
GY4033 POPULATION DYNAMICS
SO4083 INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMIC SOCIOLOGY
Semester 2
AH4124 PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES FOR THE WORKPLACE
AH4134 APPLIED CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING
EC4014 INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
GY4006 PRACTICING GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH
SO4078 INEQUALITY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION
Cooperative Education work placement:
Starts summer after Year 2
Year 3
Semester 1
Cooperative Education
Semester 2
AH4126 RESEARCH AND ITS ROLE IN COMPLEX PROBLEM SOLVING
AH4136 INNOVATION, CREATIVITY AND STORYTELLING
AH4146 DESIGN THINKING FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INNOVATION
AH4156 UNDERSTANDING AI AND ITS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS
AH4166 PLANNING FOR DEVELOPMENT
Year 4
Semester 1
AH4127 COMPLEX PROBLEM-SOLVING PROJECT 1
JM4067 PROFESSIONAL WRITING
EC4055 ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
GY4037 A SUSTAINABLE WORLD?
SO4052 SOCIOLOGY OF RACE AND RACISMS
Semester 2
AH4128 PRACTITIONER SEMINAR SERIES
AH4138 COMPLEX PROBLEM SOLVING PROJECT 2
EC4108 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
GY4028 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
SO4082 POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY
Entry requirements
| Minimum grades |
Minimum requirements: 2 H5 and 4 O6/H7 English: O6/H7 2nd language: O6/H7 Maths: F6/O6/H7 Note: Grade F6 in Foundation Mathematics also satisfies the minimum entry requirements. Foundation mathematics is not reckonable for scoring purposes. |
|---|---|
| Non-EU Entry Requirements |
|
How to apply
| Where are you applying from? | How to Apply |
|---|---|
| Ireland | Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found here. |
| The UK | Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
| The EU | EU students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. |
| Non-EU country | If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this degree here. |
Fees and funding
These scholarships are available for all courses
| Title | Award | Scholarships Available |
|---|---|---|
| All Ireland Scholarships - sponsored by J.P. McManus | €6,750 | 125 |
| Brad Duffy Access Scholarship | €5,000 for one year | 1 |
| Bursary for my Future Scholarship | €2,750 one off payment | 4 |
| Cooperative Education Award | 1 medal per faculty | |
| Elaine Fagan Scholarship | €1,500 | |
| Financial Aid Fund | ||
| Hegarty Family Access Scholarships | €5,000 for one year | 2 |
| Higher Education Grants & VEC Grants | ||
| Paddy Dooley Rowing Scholarship | €2,500 | |
| Plassey Campus Centre Scholarship Programme | ||
| Provincial GAA Bursaries Scheme | €750 | |
| Stuart Mangan Scholarship | ||
| The Michael Hillery and Jacinta O’Brien Athletics Scholarship | Various benefits equating to over €7,000 in value | |
| UL Sports Scholarships | Varies depending on level of Scholarship | Multiple |