Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Business and Irish

Course Summary

This three-year honours degree programme is a joint collaboration developed between ATU St Angelas and ATU Sligo. It covers the disciplines of Business and Irish simultaneously and equally. The Business strand is undertaken through the medium of English, and the Irish strand through the medium of Irish. Opportunities occur to marry both subjects throughout the degree. Graduates of this programme have the knowledge, skills, and attributes to progress to careers or further study in a variety of fields.

BUSINESS

The Business stream focuses on content which covers traditional business modules such as Organisational Behaviour, Marketing, and Business Law. However, the programme also covers innovative content such as Business Enterprise & Entrepreneurship, and Digital Transformation. While studying business subjects, students have the opportunity to put their in-class learning into practice. This degree ensures that class assignments are relevant to industry partners. Students have the opportunity to regularly work with industry experts on real life projects. 

IRISH

Beidh an deis ag mic léinn na céime seo staidéar a dhéanamh ar mhodúil litríochta agus ar mhodúil a bhaineann le cúrsaí teanga, cruinnis agus aistriúcháin. Students are given the opportunity to study both literature and language-focussed modules. These range from sociolinguistics, poetry, drama and regional literature, to content on communication and presentation skills, translation studies, report writing and language accuracy.

Le linn an chúrsa, déanfaidh mic léinn am a chaitheamh ar thaithí oibre i gcomhlachtaí Gaeltachta agus le heagraíochtaí Gaeilge. Freastalóidh siad ar chúrsaí Gaeltachta freisin; cabhróidh sé seo go mór lena gcumas agus lena gcruinneas teanga. The programme also supports students to engage in Gaeltacht-based and Irish-medium work placements, and to study on Gaeltacht-based language courses. There are regular opportunities for students to develop cross-curricular and interdisciplinary skills through various modules and modes of assessment.

Beidh na modúil Ghaeilge ar fad á dteagasc trí mheán na Gaeilge agus cuirfear clinicí teanga ar fáil do mhic léinn ar bhonn rialta.  All modular content on the Irish stream of this programme will be delivered through the medium of Irish.

PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATION AND MORE

This degree combines two disciplines to create unique graduates in high demand. It also comes with the added benefit of further study options in teaching, plus exciting professional accreditations.

Teaching 

The degree has been designed so that graduates are equipped to apply to complete Professional Master in Education (PME) in the subjects of Business and Irish. This degree aligns with the requirements of both subjects.

Microsoft Accreditation

Students on this programme have the opportunity to attain Microsoft Certifications, which are industry-recognised worldwide and differentiate graduates in the job market by giving them a competitive edge. Students become Digital Champions, acquiring Digital Badges that promote credentials and validate skills. Badges can be shared online, are linked to live job markets, and verified in real-time by employers.

Google Analytics Accreditation

Students complete a Google Analytics accredited course and have the opportunity to gain an internationally recognised Google Certification.

YEAR 1

Students study Business modules such as Marketing, Data Analytics and Microeconomics. Irish modules include Gaeilge agus Cumarsáid, An Fhilíocht sa Ghaeilge and An Gearrscéal sa Ghaeilge.

YEAR 2

Students continue to study Business and Irish in more depth. Business modules include Web and Social Media Analytics, Human Resource Management and Business Finance. Irish modules include An Ghaeilge agus an Saol Gairmiúil, Drámaíocht agus Scannánaíocht na Ghaeilge and An Litríocht Réigiúnach.

YEAR 3

In the final year of this degree, students study Business and Irish at an advanced level.  Students also complete a research project. This allows them to focus on a topic of their choice whilst combining the skills and knowledge they have obtained throughout their studies. 

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for CAO courses at ATU Sligo are available for download below:

• Download Entry requirements for just Level 8 programmes
• Download Entry requirements for all programmes

A minimum of a H5 in Leaving Certificate Irish, or an equivalent level of Irish, is an entry requirement for this programme.

For more information on the equivalent level of Irish, please email admissions.sligo@atu.ie

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this programme have the knowledge, skills, and attributes to progress to careers in a variety of fields.

Employment opportunities exist in arts and culture, public sector organisations, ICT, financial services, and marketing. There are also a variety of roles in communication and media, where the Irish language is core.

Graduates can also progress to a Professional Master of Education (PME) to become a secondary school teacher of Business and Irish. This degree aligns with the requirements of both subjects.

Graduates may progress to a Professional Master of Education (PME) to become secondary school teachers of Business and Irish. This degree ensures a talent pipeline of graduates with a high level of proficiency.

Many SMEs who trade internationally use their heritage as one of their unique selling points. With 60% of the Irish workforce employed in SMEs, BA (Hons) in Business and Irish graduates support businesses as they scale up their enterprise and capitalise on this heritage.

Further Study

Graduates may apply to progress to a Professional Master of Education (PME) to become secondary school teachers of Business and Irish. This degree aligns with the requirements of both subjects.

Graduates may apply to a range of level 9 and 10 programmes within Atlantic Technological University or at other higher education institutions.

Graduates may pursue further education awards that complement both fields of study, such as a Masters by Research or taught postgraduate programmes in business, policy, equality, financial management, or translation. Graduates may also pursue Masters studies in the field of Irish, such as the MA sa Nua-Ghaeilge, accredited translator status (EU/Brussels), or apply for Údarás na Gaeltachta paid work experience post-graduation.

Postgraduate studies at ATU Sligo

Did you know?

The BA (Hons) in Business and Irish is the only three-year honours degree programme in this field available within the Northwest and Midland region.

Students on this degree can obtain Microsoft and Google Analytics accreditation.

Students engage in Gaeltacht-based and Irish-medium work placements, and study on Gaeltacht-based language courses.

A research project concludes the final year. This allows students to focus on a topic of their choice and can be written bilingually, in English or entirely through Irish. 

Guest speakers and business insight trips to regional and national companies are a key part of this degree.

Class assignments and projects are relevant to industry partners. Students have the opportunity to regularly work with industry experts on real-life projects. 

This two-subject degree ensures graduates enjoy diverse career opportunities and further study options.

Graduates may progress to a Professional Master of Education (PME) to become secondary school teachers of Business and Irish.

The Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 has targets whereby 20% of public sector employees will be proficient in Irish by 2030.

As a joint award with St Angela’s College and ATU Sligo Faculty of Business and Social Sciences, students will get an opportunity to experience both campuses, situated a short distance from each other, with public transport links. Students will undertake some classes at St Angela`s College, which benefits from the most wonderful surroundings. For other learning, students will join us on the state-of-the-art Sligo campus, situated in the city of Sligo.

Course Format

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Semester 5

Semester 6