Bachelor of Arts Government (Politics, Economics and Law)

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Further Education
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
Find Out More

Entry Points (2022)

429

Course Overview

Government has a profound impact on our lives. Government decisions affect everything from our health, the affordability of housing and transport, the quality of the environment and the viability of businesses and voluntary organisations. And these days the world appears to be changing rapidly too; think of Trump and Brexit among many other unexpected developments. All of this means the study of Government is more crucial than ever. The BA Government (Politics, Economics and Law) will enable you to better understand emerging critical issues and develop the skills to make sense of this world in order to make a difference in the public, private or not-for-profit sectors.

The BA Government (Economics, Politics and Law) provides you with a unique opportunity to study each of these three distinct disciplines and to develop an appreciation of how they interact. This programme gives you an understanding of how politics, democracy, the law and economics shape Ireland and the current global environment. You may also have the opportunity to study abroad or attain experience with a work placement for one year as part of this programme.

So if you want to understand how government works and how public policy can be improved, or if you interested in working in government, business, or law, then the BA Government (Politics, Economics, and Law) at University of Galway is for you.

Watch our introductory video from our May 2021 Virtual Open Day

Applications and Selections

Who Teaches this Course

Requirements and Assessment

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, another language, and three other subjects recognised for entry purposes.

Additional Requirements

Duration

4 years

Next start date

September 2023

A Level Grades (2022)

universityofgalway.ie/alevels

Average intake

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

2 (More Info)

Closing Date

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

GY132

Course code

Course Outline

YEAR ONE

• Principles of Microeconomics
• Principles of Macroeconomics
• Economics Coursework
• Introduction to Research in Public and Social Policy
• Irish Legal Systems
• Law and Social Policy
• Administrative Law I
• Introduction to Politics and Sociology
• Concepts and Practices in Politics and Sociology
• Problems in Politics and Sociology
• Public and Social Policy in Ireland

YEAR TWO
• Intermediate Microeconomics
• Mathematics for Economics
• Sociology of Law
• Constitutional Law I
• European Politics OR Social Issues and Policy Responses
• Public Administration
• Intermediate Macroeconomics
• Economics of Public Policy
• Constitutional Law II
• Health Law and Policy
• Modern Political Thought (Political Theory) or Classical Social Thought (Social Theory)
• Methods for Social and Political Scientists

YEAR THREE
Work Placement, Study Abroad, Research Project and Complementary Study Options.

YEAR FOUR
• Topics in Microeconomic Theory
• European Community Law I
• Development and Change
• Theories of the Policy Process
• Public Economics
• European Community Law II
• Comparative Public Policy
• Policy Seminar
• Choice of modules in Economics, Law, and Sociological and Political Studies

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Year 2 (60 Credits)

Year 3 (60 Credits)

Year 4 (60 Credits)

Further Education

With a solid base in three key disciplines this degree uniquely creates and enhances prospects for further study in business (such as an MBA), economics, political science, law, human relations, public policy analysis, sociology, and community development. Those who wish to pursue a career in law will be exempted from the first year of their LLB.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

This degree combines three core disciplines to give you a unique knowledge and background to develop a variety of careers in the private, public and non-for-profit sectors.

Career opportunities include roles in local and national government, business, non-profit organisations, consultancy, public affairs, professional services, and the EU and global development agencies. Furthermore, there are career opportunities in law, economics, management, public relations, journalism, public administration, policy analysis, industrial relations, social work, community work and political advocacy.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Students can avail of opportunities to study abroad with the Erasmus programme throughout Europe.

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€6,216 p.a. 2023/24

Fees: Tuition

€3,076 p.a. 2023/24

Fees: Student Contribution

€3,000 p.a. 2023/24

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2023/24

Fees: Non EU

€18,620 p.a. 2023/24

EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Contribution Charge + Student Levy** €140. **Payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI. Further detail here.

Find out More

College of Arts, Social Sciences,
and Celtic Studies
t. +353 91 493958
e. collegearts@universityofgalway.ie

QQI / FETAC Pathways Guide PDF (45MB)

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