Program Overview

Art and Design (Common Entry) – BA (Hons)

Course Overview

The programmes at Limerick School of Art & Design (LSAD) aim to assist students to become confident, articulate, informed, creative and expressive practitioners, who will be capable of making significant contributions in their own particular fields of contemporary culture. The Year One Art and Design (Common Entry) programme begins this process by providing students with the necessary stimuli to encourage self-confidence, self-motivation, and an appetite for knowledge, which will drive their creative practice. Year one recognises the wide variety of backgrounds from which it draws its students. It recognises ethnic, cultural and gender diversity which are the basis of individual originality. The programme provides students with the necessary skills, vocabulary and contextual knowledge to progress to 2nd year of honours degree studies in one of the following – Painting; Print Contemporary Practice; Sculpture & Combined Media; Animation & Motion Design; Ceramics in Expanding Practice; Fashion; Graphic Design Communication. LSAD is the largest centre for Art and Design outside of Dublin and has an award-winning reputation both nationally and internationally.

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of 2 H5 & 4 O6/H7 grades in six Leaving Certificate subjects, including English or Irish.
• TUS accepts QQI-FET/FETAC awards for entry on all courses of study.
• Candidates applying as mature applicants may be required to attend an interview and may be requested to take an aptitude test to prove their suitability for a place on this programme.
• International applicants should apply directly to the International Office at TUS, allowing plenty of time for completing the visa process.
• As well as meeting the Leaving Certificate/QQI FET/FETAC requirement, students will also need to pass a portfolio assessment.

Course Modules

Year 1 – Semester 1

• Semester One Studio Project (25 credits)
  • This project is introduced to students during Orientation Week. Throughout the project, students are introduced to a series of skills, technical processes, and conceptual considerations, by means of Seminar/Demonstrations each week.
• Critical & Contextual Studies (5 credits)
  • This module explores the history of art and design from 1400 to 1900, teaching students how to analyse, interpret, and discuss artworks.

Year 1 – Semester 2

• Elective Module (10 credits)
  • At the end of semester one, and following tutorial advice, students select three specialisations from the seven B.A. Programmes on offer.
• Selected Module (15 credits)
  • This module aims to further develop students’ knowledge of their selected discipline choice.
• Critical and Contextual Studies 2 (5 credits)
  • This module continues exploring the history of art and design from 1400 to 1900, further developing students’ ability to analyse, interpret, and discuss artworks.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this programme work in a wide variety of areas within the Art & Design sector. The career paths graduates take will depend on the area they specialise in during their 2nd, 3rd and 4th years.

Further Study

Students who successfully complete this one year programme will choose to specialise in one of the following eight disciplines from 2nd year to 4th year:

• Painting
• Print Contemporary Practice
• Sculpture & Combined Media
• Animation & Motion Design
• Ceramics in Expanding Practice
• Fashion Design
• Graphic Design Communication

Additional Information

• The programme – an inside view: At LSAD we recognise the wide variety of backgrounds from which we draw its students and support ethnic, cultural and gender diversity as being the basis of individual originality.
• Extra Costs: Students will be required to pay an extra €100 for class material fees.