Program Overview

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Creative Industries and Visual Culture

Overview

This course provides an industry-focused grounding in theories and practices of Creative Industries and Visual Culture. In the first year, you’ll study a wide range of contemporary issues, including arts policy, management, criticism, media law, and current discussions in the fields of art, design, film, photography, curating, museums, media, aesthetics, gender studies, and postcolonial studies. After the shared first year, you will select your own pathway, focusing on either Creative Industries or Visual Culture.

Course Details

TU Code

TU978

CAO Point Range 2024

265−506

NFQ Level

Level 8

Award Type

Major

Award

Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

ECTS Credits

180

Duration

3 years

Number of Places

35

Location

Grangegorman

What is... Creative Industries and Visual Culture?

This course provides an industry-focused grounding in theories and practices of Creative Industries and Visual Culture. In the first year, you’ll study a wide range of contemporary issues, including arts policy, management, criticism, media law, and current discussions in the fields of art, design, film, photography, curating, museums, media, aesthetics, gender studies, and postcolonial studies. After the shared first year, you will select your own pathway, focusing on either Creative Industries or Visual Culture.

Minimum Entry Requirements

Leaving Certificate Requirements

• Minimum Number of Subjects: 6
• Minimum Grade in Maths: N/A
• Minimum Grade in English: H4
• Minimum Number of Higher Subjects: 2 H5's

QQI/FET Requirements

• QQI/FET Award Required: Any full Level 5 or 6 award
• Additional Requirements: A distinction in 5 modules

Mature Applicants

Applications from mature students (23+) are welcome.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website. Applicants for this course should have a minimum IELTS (Academic Version) English Proficiency of 6 overall (or equivalent) with nothing less than 6 in each component.

Sample Timetable

Click on the link below to view an indicative timetable for this course. Timetables are subject to change and up to date timetables will be provided to students on commencement.

What are my career opportunities?

Graduates will typically pursue careers in the Arts, Culture, and Cultural Tourism sectors in Ireland and abroad. Depending on the pathway and specific modules selected, career and further study opportunities include:

• Exhibition Planner
• Archivist
• Cultural Policy Advisor
• Research Developer
• Cultural Journalist
• Arts Critic
• Administrator & HR
• Drama Facilitator
• Festival Manager
• Concert Promoter
• Arts Administrator
• Events & Marketing Executive
• Business Development
• Royalties Manager
• Visual Merchandiser
• Operations Manager
• Technical Manager
• Theatre Manager
• Museum Curator
• Gallerist
• Collections Manager
• Arts Programme Coordinator
• Arts Education Officer
• Digital Content Writer
• Arts Admissions Officer
• Assistant Producer/Writer
• Guest Relations
• Film/Art Critic
• Curatorial Assistant
• Arts Writer
• Arts Broadcaster
• Publication Assistant
• Academic

Module Listing

Year One

• Semester 1:
  • Introduction to Business for Creative Industries [Mandatory]
  • Key Concepts in Creative Industries [Mandatory]
  • Key Concepts in Visual Culture [Mandatory]
  • New Media: Technologies of Today [Mandatory]
  • Vision and Spectacle [Mandatory]
  • Design and Society [Elective]
  • Ensemble 1 [Elective]
  • Ensemble Performance 1 [Elective]
  • Everyday Objects [Elective]
  • Fine Art: Theories of History [Elective]
  • French Language 1A [Elective]
  • French Language 1B [Elective]
  • French Language 2A [Elective]
  • French Language 2B [Elective]
  • Gender and Design [Elective]
  • German Language 1A [Elective]
  • German Language 2A [Elective]
  • German Language 2B [Elective]
  • Ireland, Film and Documentary [Elective]
  • Irish Language 1A [Elective]
  • Irish Language 1B [Elective]
  • Irish Language 2A/Gaeilge Teanga 2A [Elective]
  • Irish Language 2B [Elective]
  • Italian Language 1A [Elective]
  • Italian Language 1B [Elective]
  • Italian Language 2A [Elective]
  • Italian Language 2B [Elective]
  • Media and the Natural World [Elective]
  • Myth Today [Elective]
  • Ornament and Culture [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 1A [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 1B [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 2A [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 2B [Elective]
  • Theory Seminar: Art & Society [Elective]
  • Virtual Environments: Is one life enough? [Elective]
• Semester 2:
  • Philosophy And Aesthetics [Mandatory]
  • Introduction to Law for Creative Industries [Mandatory]
  • Whose History [Mandatory]
  • Vision and Spectacle [Mandatory]
  • Visual Cultures of Natural Sciences [Elective]
  • Arts & Health [Elective]
  • Ireland: Politics, Society and Economics [Elective]
  • Design and Society [Elective]
  • The Value of Design [Elective]
  • Ensemble Performance 1 [Elective]
  • Fine Art: Theories of History [Elective]
  • French Language 1A [Elective]
  • French Language 1B [Elective]
  • French Language 2B [Elective]
  • French Language 2A [Elective]
  • German Language 1A [Elective]
  • German Language 2A [Elective]
  • German Language 2B [Elective]
  • Irish Language 1A [Elective]
  • Irish Language 1B [Elective]
  • Irish Language 2B [Elective]
  • Irish Language 2A/Gaeilge Teanga 2A [Elective]
  • Italian Language 1A [Elective]
  • Italian Language 1B [Elective]
  • Italian Language 2A [Elective]
  • Italian Language 2B [Elective]
  • Media, Memory, History [Elective]
  • Ensemble 1 [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 1A [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 1B [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 2A [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 2B [Elective]
  • Narrative in Visual Culture [Elective]
  • Virtual Environments: Is one life enough? [Elective]
  • Theories of Interpretation [Elective]
  • ABCs of Typographic History [Elective]

Year Two

• Semester 1:
  • Archive Studies [Mandatory]
  • Curating Public Space: Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions [Mandatory]
  • Marketing [Mandatory]
  • Theories of Culture [Mandatory]
  • Media and Intellectual Property Law [Mandatory]
  • Resistance: Cultures of Protest [Mandatory]
  • Myth Today [Elective]
  • Theory Seminar: Art & Society [Elective]
  • Archive Studies [Elective]
  • Curating Public Space: Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions [Elective]
  • Marketing [Elective]
  • Ensemble Performance 1 [Elective]
  • Ensemble Performance 2 [Elective]
  • Irish Drama and Modernism [Elective]
  • FA2: The Legacies of Modernism [Elective]
  • French Language 1A [Elective]
  • French Language 1B [Elective]
  • French Language 2B [Elective]
  • French Language 2A [Elective]
  • German Language 1A [Elective]
  • German Language 2A [Elective]
  • German Language 2B [Elective]
  • Modernism and Modernisms [Elective]
  • Erasmus CVC [Elective]
  • Year Long Erasmus 55 credits [Elective]
  • Irish Language 1A [Elective]
  • Irish Language 1B [Elective]
  • Irish Language 2B [Elective]
  • Irish Language 2A/Gaeilge Teanga 2A [Elective]
  • Italian Language 1A [Elective]
  • Italian Language 1B [Elective]
  • Italian Language 2A [Elective]
  • Italian Language 2B [Elective]
  • Media and Intellectual Property Law [Elective]
  • New Media and the Public Sphere [Elective]
  • Media Ethics [Elective]
  • Media and the Natural World [Elective]
  • Ensemble 1 [Elective]
  • Introduction to Irish Traditional Music Past and Present [Elective]
  • Foundations of Musical Theory [Elective]
  • Ensemble 2 [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 1A [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 1B [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 2A [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 2B [Elective]
  • Virtual Environments: Is one life enough? [Elective]
  • Gender and Design [Elective]
  • Modernism and Modernisms [Elective]
  • Ornament and Culture [Elective]
• Semester 2:
  • Real World Engagement [Mandatory]
  • Marketing [Mandatory]
  • Project Management [Mandatory]
  • Theories of Culture [Mandatory]
  • Cultural Policy [Mandatory]
  • Media and Intellectual Property Law [Mandatory]
  • Visual Cultures of Natural Sciences [Elective]
  • Arts & Health [Elective]
  • Real World Engagement [Elective]
  • Marketing [Elective]
  • European Union Politics [Elective]
  • Cultural Policy [Elective]
  • Locating Identity - Visual Culture and Decolonization [Elective]
  • The Value of Design [Elective]
  • Ensemble Performance 1 [Elective]
  • Ensemble Performance 2 [Elective]
  • Irish Drama and Modernism [Elective]
  • Renaissance to Romance [Elective]
  • FA2: The Legacies of Modernism [Elective]
  • French Language 1A [Elective]
  • French Language 1B [Elective]
  • French Language 2B [Elective]
  • French Language 2A [Elective]
  • German Language 1A [Elective]
  • German Language 2A [Elective]
  • German Language 2B [Elective]
  • Modernism and Modernisms [Elective]
  • Erasmus CVC [Elective]
  • Erasmus DSCA [Elective]
  • Year Long Erasmus 55 credits [Elective]
  • Irish Language 1A [Elective]
  • Irish Language 1B [Elective]
  • Irish Language 2B [Elective]
  • Irish Language 2A/Gaeilge Teanga 2A [Elective]
  • Italian Language 1A [Elective]
  • Italian Language 1B [Elective]
  • Italian Language 2A [Elective]
  • Italian Language 2B [Elective]
  • Media and Intellectual Property Law [Elective]
  • Media Audiences [Elective]
  • Ensemble 1 [Elective]
  • Introduction to Irish Traditional Music Past and Present [Elective]
  • Foundations of Musical Theory [Elective]
  • Ensemble 2 [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 1A [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 1B [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 2A [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 2B [Elective]
  • Ireland, Film and Documentary [Elective]
  • Narrative in Visual Culture [Elective]
  • Everyday Objects [Elective]
  • Theories of Interpretation [Elective]
  • Modernism and Modernisms [Elective]
  • Body Culture The Self Visualised [Elective]

Year Three

• Semester 1:
  • Communications [Mandatory]
  • Thesis Preparation Creative and Cultural Industries [Mandatory]
  • Event Fundraising and Sponsorship [Mandatory]
  • Thesis Preparation Visual Culture [Mandatory]
  • Myth Today [Elective]
  • Architectural Research (ARE) 1 [Elective]
  • Theory Seminar: Art & Society [Elective]
  • Graphic Design Now [Elective]
  • Intro to PR Skills [Elective]
  • Communications [Elective]
  • Ensemble Performance 1 [Elective]
  • Ensemble Performance 2 [Elective]
  • Fine Art 3: Postmodern and Contemporary Practices [Elective]
  • French Language 1A [Elective]
  • French Language 1B [Elective]
  • French Language 2B [Elective]
  • French Language 2A [Elective]
  • German Language 1A [Elective]
  • German Language 2A [Elective]
  • German Language 2B [Elective]
  • Design Now: 3D [Elective]
  • Erasmus DSCA [Elective]
  • Irish Language 1A [Elective]
  • Irish Language 1B [Elective]
  • Irish Language 2B [Elective]
  • Irish Language 2A/Gaeilge Teanga 2A [Elective]
  • Italian Language 1A [Elective]
  • Italian Language 1B [Elective]
  • Italian Language 2A [Elective]
  • Italian Language 2B [Elective]
  • Media Policy: national and international dimensions [Elective]
  • Media and the Natural World [Elective]
  • Introduction to Irish Traditional Music Past and Present [Elective]
  • Foundations of Musical Theory [Elective]
  • Ensemble 2 [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 1A [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 1B [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 2A [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 2B [Elective]
  • Event Fundraising and Sponsorship [Elective]
  • Entrepreneurship [Elective]
  • Virtual Environments: Is one life enough? [Elective]
  • Gender and Design [Elective]
  • Ornament and Culture [Elective]
  • Talking Points [Elective]
  • Independent Learning: Real World Research Project [Elective]
• Semester 2:
  • Extended Thesis [Mandatory]
  • Human Resource Management [Mandatory]
  • Talking Points [Mandatory]
  • Visual Cultures of Natural Sciences [Elective]
  • Architectural Research (ARE) 1 [Elective]
  • Arts & Health [Elective]
  • Graphic Design Now [Elective]
  • Human Resource Management [Elective]
  • Cultural Project [Elective]
  • Thesis/Dissertation [Elective]
  • Political Communication [Elective]
  • The Value of Design [Elective]
  • VC3 Design Now: Erasmus [Elective]
  • Ensemble Performance 1 [Elective]
  • Ensemble Performance 2 [Elective]
  • Fine Art 3: Postmodern and Contemporary Practices [Elective]
  • French Language 1A [Elective]
  • French Language 1B [Elective]
  • French Language 2B [Elective]
  • French Language 2A [Elective]
  • Games in Society, Culture and Context [Elective]
  • German Language 1A [Elective]
  • German Language 2A [Elective]
  • German Language 2B [Elective]
  • Design Now: 3D [Elective]
  • Irish Language 1A [Elective]
  • Irish Language 1B [Elective]
  • Irish Language 2B [Elective]
  • Irish Language 2A/Gaeilge Teanga 2A [Elective]
  • Italian Language 1A [Elective]
  • Italian Language 1B [Elective]
  • Italian Language 2A [Elective]
  • Italian Language 2B [Elective]
  • Introduction to Irish Traditional Music Past and Present [Elective]
  • Foundations of Musical Theory [Elective]
  • Ensemble 2 [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 1A [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 1B [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 2A [Elective]
  • Spanish Language 2B [Elective]
  • Ireland, Film and Documentary [Elective]
  • Narrative in Visual Culture [Elective]
  • Everyday Objects [Elective]
  • Theories of Interpretation [Elective]

Advanced Entry

Advanced Entry applications are accepted to this course. For further information on how to make an Advanced Entry application, please visit our CAO Hub. A full list of courses open for Advanced Entry are listed on the CAO website.

To qualify for Advanced Entry applicants must be currently studying, completing, or have successfully completed, studies at Level 6, 7 or 8 in a Higher Education Institution (HEI) or an equivalent, in a related area. You must demonstrate by providing transcripts of results that you have achieved the learning outcomes for each stage you wish to advance past, for example:

• To enter Year 2 via Advanced Entry, you must demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for Year 1.
• For entry to Year 3, you must demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for Years 1 and 2.
• For entry to Year 4, you must demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes for Years 1, 2, and 3.

If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website.

What our students say

A thoroughly enjoyable course, covering multiple areas of design, history, and contemporary/digital culture. Throughout the course I was really able to improve my writing style and my ability to analyse from a critical perspective.

Joanna Begley, Graduate, 2019

This course is great for anyone who knows that they want to work in the creative field but is not sure exactly what they want to do. It allows you to explore art, design, media and film among other things and gives you the tools to direct your own learning towards the area you're most interested in.

Caoimhe Neeson

Progression

On graduation, you may proceed to postgraduate studies leading to the award of MSc, MPhil or PhD at research institutes and universities worldwide.

In addition, the focus on research-training provides an excellent grounding for advanced research qualifications including Masters and PhD, particularly in fields such as Museum Studies, Contemporary Visual Culture, Aesthetics, or the History of Art, Design or Material Culture.