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Bachelor of Arts Government (Politics, Economics and Law)
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
60
QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes
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)

Required EC135: Principles of Microeconomics - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required EC1108: Skills for Economics I - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required EC136: Principles of Macroeconomics - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Required EC1109: Skills for Economics II - 5 Credits - Semester 2

Required LW3109: Tort Law - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Required LW103.I: Irish Legal Systems - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required LW126: Legal Skills - 5 Credits - Semester 2

Required SP1120: Practicing Politics - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required SP1125: Introduction to Politics - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required SP1127: Practicing Government - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Required SP1124: Introduction to Government - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Year 2 (60 Credits)
Optional Subject: Economics (30 Credits):
If you choose this subject, you cannot choose Sociological And Political Studies.
If you choose this subject, you cannot choose Economics.
If you choose this subject, you cannot choose Law .
Optional EC207: Irish Economic History - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional EC219: Comparative Economic Thought - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required EC273: Mathematics for Economics - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required EC269: Intermediate Microeconomics - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional EC247: Introduction to Financial Economics - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional EC259: Economics of Public Policy - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required EC275: Statistics for Economics - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required EC268: Intermediate Macroeconomics - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional Subject: Economics (15 Credits):
If you choose this subject, you cannot choose Economics.
Required EC269: Intermediate Microeconomics - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required EC268: Intermediate Macroeconomics - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required EC259: Economics of Public Policy - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional Subject: Law (30 Credits):
If you choose this subject, you cannot choose Sociological And Political Studies.
If you choose this subject, you cannot choose Economics.
If you choose this subject, you cannot choose Law.
Required LW107.I: Legal Methods And Research - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required LW202: Contract I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required LW227: Constitutional Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW232: Housing Law & Policy - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW370: Comparative Disability Law - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW358: Environmental Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required LW205: Contract II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required LW228: Constitutional Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional Subject: Law (15 Credits):
If you choose this subject, you cannot choose Law .
Required LW227: Constitutional Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional LW370: Comparative Disability Law - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional LW358: Environmental Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required LW228: Constitutional Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional Subject: Political Science and Sociology (15 Credits):
If you choose this subject, you cannot choose Sociological And Political Studies.
Optional SP216: European Politics - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional SP2117: International and Global Politics - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional SP220: Methods For Social And Political Science - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional SP215.II: Modern Political Thought - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional Subject: Sociological And Political Studies (30 Credits):
If you choose this subject, you cannot choose Law .
If you choose this subject, you cannot choose Economics.
If you choose this subject, you cannot choose Political Science and Sociology.
Required SP2117: International and Global Politics - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required SPSK3101: Politics and Society: Themes and Topics - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required SP216: European Politics - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required SP215.II: Modern Political Thought - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required SPSK3102: Society and Politics: Ideas and Research - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required SP220: Methods For Social And Political Science - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Year 3 (60 Credits)
Optional SP162: Research Project - 15 Credits - Semester 5Optional SP3196: Sociological and Political Studies - 60 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP3206: Government Field Trip - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP3202: Governing the Poor: The Politics of Welfare - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional BSS1100: Digital Citizenship - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional BSS2103: Introduction to Sustainability 1 - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP493: Environmentalism - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP3119: Green Political Thought - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP3207: Public Policy & Government - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Required SP3204: Policymaking, Lobbying and Advocacy - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Required SP3203: Professional Skills for Government and Policy - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP508: Theories of the Policy Process - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP3101: 'Community' - Significance and Change - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3195: Equality, Diversity and Collective Action - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP404: Development And Change - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP2116: Sociology of Health - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional MG3115: Megatrends - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional BSS2104: Introduction to Sustainability 2 - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3194: Theories of Nationalism - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP721: Ocean and Marine Politics - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SPL315.II: Smart & Liveable Cities and Suburbs - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP419: Marxist Theory - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3144: Political Liberty - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3103: European Union: Political Theory and Pol. Economy - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3134: Human Rights Advocacy: Concepts, Law and Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3150: Teaching Methods for the Politics and Society Classroom - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3133: The Northern Ireland Conflict - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SPL304: Women, Men & the Economy: Critical Explorations of Theory & Policy - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3209: The Sociology of the Bioeconomy - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3210: Work Placement for Government and Policy - 30 Credits - Semester 6
Optional GG116: Independent Study - 15 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3193: Introduction to Social Work - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional BSS3101: Work Placement for Social Scientists - 30 Credits - Semester 6
Year 4 (60 Credits)
Optional Subject: Law (30 Credits):
Required LW4103: Administrative Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Required LW503: European Union Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Required LW409: Criminal Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Required LW4104: Administrative Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 8
Required LW504: European Union Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 8
Required LW413: Criminal Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 8
Optional Subject: Law (15 Credits):
Required LW4103: Administrative Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Required LW503: European Union Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Required LW504: European Union Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 8
Optional Subject: Political Science and Sociology (15 Credits):
Optional SP3208: Contemporary American Politics - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Optional SP3197: Thinking Politically: The Power of Ideas - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Optional SP219: Political Sociology - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Optional SP305: Comparative Public Policy - 5 Credits - Semester 8
Optional SP3139: Comparative Government and Politics - 5 Credits - Semester 8
Optional Subject: Sociological And Political Studies (30 Credits):
Required SP3204: Policymaking, Lobbying and Advocacy - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Required SP3208: Contemporary American Politics - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Required SP219: Political Sociology - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Required SP3197: Thinking Politically: The Power of Ideas - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Required SP3139: Comparative Government and Politics - 5 Credits - Semester 8
Required SP305: Comparative Public Policy - 5 Credits - Semester 8
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
Fees: Tuition
Fees: Student Contribution
Fees: Student levy
Fees: Non EU
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