The BA in English and Media Studies in NUI Galway is an engaging arts degree that provides students with an enlightening approach to the study of literature and culture. This course consists of the study of both Media Studies and traditional English Literature offerings.
It incorporates the theoretical study of media in both critical and historical perspectives. Students studying this course will graduate with a ‘major’ in English, as well as a ‘minor’ in Media Studies, and a ‘minor’ in another subject of their choice. For this third choice, students are offered a wide variety of subject options, including, Sociology and Political science, Philosophy, Spanish, and Italian.
This degree offers an extensive and enriching study of English as a subject. Students taking this course will examine all forms of creative expression: novels, film, plays, art, and poems. As part of this degree, students study a diverse array of traditional English Literature modules, including, epic poems written in Middle English, modern Feminist plays, and Gothic novels. The ways in which social concerns are communicated through literature are also examined within this course.
The Media Studies aspect of this degree is particularly interesting. This subject aims to provide students with transferable communications abilities as well as critical thinking skills that will prepare them for success in the labour market. This course offers a complex analysis of media, both past and present, focusing on issues such as identity and representation.
The examination of the portrayal of social and political issues through the media is, in particular, an engaging area of study that this course provides. In the digital era, being equipped with developed analytical skills is imperative to be able to critically navigate an increasingly pervasive media landscape.
This is a four year undergraduate course which provides the option of work placement or study abroad. These opportunities aim to further enable students to become independent learners. If students are unable to secure a work placement, they have the option of completing a research project to achieve the required number of credits for the semester. One whole semester is dedicated to work placement in the third year of this course.
Invaluable experience
This placement provides students with an invaluable opportunity to gain practical experience in the professional realm, within a field that they are passionate about. Since students can complete their placement without the added pressure of studying, they are given the chance to dedicate an adequate amount of time and energy to exploring a professional environment in an area of their choice.
Students taking a language as their second ‘minor’ choose the study abroad option in third year. This is a highly exciting opportunity for students to develop their understanding of their chosen language. Through the Erasmus exchange programme, students can engage in courses like fashion journalism in their chosen language at a foreign university. Studying abroad is undoubtedly a memorable and beneficial chance for students to travel, gain invaluable experience, and broaden their horizons.
Students graduating with a BA in English and Media Studies will be qualified to teach English at post-primary level according to Teaching Council requirements. Furthermore, this course enables the development of valuable research skills that equip students with a strong basis for further educational opportunities at both a national and international level.
In fact, several MA programmes provide pathways for those graduating with this degree to engage in further education at postgraduate levels at NUI Galway. Moreover, with this fascinating combination of subjects, this course is a suitable option for those wishing to pursue a career in journalism, writing and publishing.
Overall, the BA in English and Media Studies is an advantageous choice for those seeking a fulfilling and complex degree in the discipline of English. Additionally, due to the integration of Media Studies in this degree, this course is a great choice for those wishing to gain critical skills that will help them prosper in the communications market.
