Burren College of Art  
   
   
Undergraduate Art in the Burren College of Art, Ireland

Individual Study Abroad at burren college of art

Creating a 15 credit undergraduate study abroad programme of study at Burren College of Art

An undergraduate student's programme of study is based on his or her artistic interests and academic needs. Normally it comprises five three-credit courses in each semester.

Studio courses are available in Drawing, Painting, Photography or Sculpture at Intermediate, Advanced or Independent level.

Additionally Adjunct Studio Courses are available in Mixed Media, Art in Context and Live Art as mixed-ability courses. Liberal Arts courses in Art History, Creative Writing and Irish Studies are also available.

A typical programme of study comprises:

  • The core of studio courses (normally no more than two in any one subject)
  • An option of one or two Adjunct Studio course(s)
  • A requirement of one or two Liberal Arts Courses.

We recommend that all students take Irish Studies as this course provides invaluable insights to the Burren and Irish culture.

All applicants should check the requirements of their programme of study with an advisor at their home institution before applying to us. We are pleased to provide advice at any time, and our faculty review course choices face to face with students in the first week of each semester before programmes of study are confirmed. Once confirmed, courses may be changed within the first two weeks of study. Credits transfer to the home college at the end of semester, with a formal transcript sent by us to the academic registry of students' home institutions.

Modes of study and course titles

Burren College of Art is often described as being at the confluence of cultures. Our undergraduate programme marries the best of the European and American traditions of art education. Like other art schools in Europe our students work throughout the week in dedicated studio space (available 24/7) with tutorial support, leaving the studios only for group teaching. Also, like art progrmmes in America, the learning experience is organized as a number of distinct courses. Therefore, we offer two modes of undergraduate study. Our courses are taught either as a Tutorial Course or a Group Course.

Tutorial Courses are taught through scheduled one on one contact within each student's dedicated studio space, supplemented by regular scheduled group presentations, discussions and critiques. Some intermediate and all advanced and independent courses are Tutorial Courses

Group Courses are taught as a unified class with all students present with the tutor at the one time. Group Courses also include some one on one contact teaching. All introductory and liberal arts courses and some adjunct studio courses are Group Courses.

Level of study

All courses assume students have had prior education in an art subject (art includes creative writing) at degree level. We do not provide any courses for absolute beginners.

Introductory Level
 We describe a course as Introductory when it is assumed that students have not studied the subject previously, but that they have studied some other art courses previously. These courses are suitable for students who wish to extend the range of their art studies by taking a new specialism. For example, Introductory Photography would be appropriate to Painting or Sculpture Majors who have not previously had the opportunity to extend their artistic interests through photography. Introductory courses are Group Courses.

Intermediate Level
We describe a course as Intermediate when it is assumed that students have previously taken an introductory course, but have not yet developed the knowledge, experience and ability to work on their own with the support of one on one tutorial. Often there are set assignments at this level. Intermediate courses are either Tutorial or Group Courses and the proportion of group activities, such as slide shows, discussions and critiques is normally greater than in advanced and independent level courses.

Advanced Level
We describe a course as Advanced when it is assumed that students have previously taken an intermediate course and no longer require the continuous close support and attention of faculty. Typically, advanced students negotiate their projects and work-plans with faculty and meet one on one with faculty in the studio, on a scheduled plan, with some scheduled group activities such as slide shows, discussions and critiques. All advanced courses are Tutorial Courses.

Independent Level
We describe a course as Independent when it is assumed that students have previously taken an advanced course and are capable of working autonomously with faculty support as necessary. Typically, students in independent courses negotiate their projects with faculty at the beginning of the semester and sign up to meet with faculty when advice or other support is required. Independent students may participate in group activities such as slide shows, discussions and critiques. All independent courses are Tutorial Courses.

Declaring an Emphasis

Students studying advanced or independent level courses in Drawing, Painting, Photography and Sculpture may elect to declare an emphasis or theme that will be reflected in the title of the course on the student's transcript. This means that students studying the same subject at the same level - alongside each other in the studios - normally engage in a wide diversity of projects, and may be awarded different course titles on their transcript. For example, three intermediate painters may work alongside each other, each with academic support from the same tutor, yet be awarded the following entries on their transcripts:

Student A: Intermediate Painting

Student B: Intermediate Painting - Narrative Painting

Student C: Intermediate Painting - Landscape Painting

The declaration of an emphasis is restricted to advanced and independent courses. The declaration of emphases enables students to have more than one advanced or independent course identified on their transcript. Emphases may not be declared in Group Courses.

We have identified emphases that have proved popular, and these are listed in the relevant subject areas. Additionally, students may propose an emphasis for faculty approval. Students may declare an emphasis either with their application or at the time of registration at the college. Faculty will be available to advise on emphases in the first week of each semester. Each course description indicates whether a course is a Group Course or a Tutorial Course.

Whole-School Group Critiques

Group Critiques provide opportunities to gain insights into the artistic ideas and creative practices of other students and to gain the benefit of their insights into each other's work. Most of the studio courses include group critiques, and additionally all undergraduate students are required to participate in whole-school group critiques that bring together all students of all subjects to share ideas about their work. Graduate students may opt to be included in these gatherings. These take place on two or three occasions in the second half of each semester once students have had the opportunity to produce a body of work. Typically, each student displays a selection of their work, introduces it briefly to the group and engages in dialogue with the group. While facilitated by members of faculty, or by graduate teaching assistants, the discussion is peer review and is not faculty-led.

List of Course Titles on BCA Transcript

 
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