Subject Group: Artistic
These subjects involve developing creativity and the appreciation of the work of others. This involves learning the methods and techniques of the subject and producing your own work using these skills.
What is Art?
Philosophy aside, the Art course for Leaving Certificate consists of two main parts. The practical side of the course is about developing the student's ability in a range of artistic fields and disciplines. The syllabus permits a huge number of media, from the fine arts such as sculpture, drawing, and painting, to puppet-making, embroidery, calligraphy, metalwork, and pottery.
Students are expected to spend the duration of the course practicing and developing their skills in several of these areas. Unlike the Junior Cert, the practical examination takes place over the course of a week in supervised sessions of up to five hours, during which students are to complete a project (such as a sketch or drawing) and submit it for evaluation.
The art course also features a written examination on History and Appreciation of Art, which counts for 37.5% of the marks. The exam is divided into three sections, one on Irish art, one on European art, and a final section on artistic appreciation. The course content is extremely broad, and covers everything from prehistoric art to the modern day, but students are free to focus their studies on a few narrow areas of interest such as renaissance or Celtic art. Diagrams and illustrative sketches are encouraged in the exam.
Note that the Leaving Cert Art course has nothing to do with the portfolio submissions which art and design colleges often require. The course does not aim to build a portfolio, and all marks are given for work done on the day. However, it is common to take Art while preparing a portfolio, and much of the practice work done in class can be included.
What kind of student might Art suit?
Students who have shown an aptitude for art, such as by getting high grades in Junior Cert Art.
Anyone considering a career in a creative discipline such as Architecture, Marketing, Film and Entertainment, Web Design, Fashion, Game Design, or Advertising.
Students who are weak in other areas such as languages or mathematics may find it easier to achieve points in Art.
Students who are looking for a break from intensive memory-work in their other subjects, or to reduce pressure on themselves in June by having a subject with exams in April/May.
Third Level Entry Requirements This subject is a requirement for entry into a number of third level courses. Click on the link below to view courses that definitly requires, or may require this subject for entry:
CAO Entry Requirements [Source: Qualifax] Note: Click on course titles to view the exact requirements for each course listed.
Data Sources: The information on these pages has been compiled from a variety of sources including the NCCA, Newbridge College / Brian Howard, Dept. of Education & Skills, and student interviews. Information in the 'People who took this subject' section reflects the views of those people interviewed on this website and is offered as informal and potentially useful information only.
While CareersPortal.ie attempts to keep this information as up to date and accurate as possible, we do not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of this information or decisions made on the basis of this information. Students should always discuss subject options with parents / guardians / guidance counsellors..
Generally I chose well & wouldn't change my choices. I started off studying Agricultural Science & Engineering for the Leaving Cert. which were both a help.
I attended Pallaskenry & Kildalton Agricultural colleges on route to completing the A.C.F.M. Course.
I also completed various stints of work placements.
For my leaving certificate, apart from the compulsory subjects, I chose History, Geography, French and Biology. In hindsight, I may have kept on business studies for the leaving cert. This was a subject I dropped after 4th year as I had more of an interest in the other subjects.
I think doing Arts in college was the key to my decision making as it gave me a broad view of many subjects, of which Economics was the one that interested me the most.
Maths, English, French, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Home Economics. All of them influenced my career as I need all of them eg. without maths I couldn't deal with the financial part of the job.
Subjects I took in my Leaving Cert were ~ Irish, English, Math, Accountancy, Biology, Art and Home Economics
When I read this question it really made me think about the subjects I took and how they have influenced my career today.
Irish ~ assisted me in learning German, the irony is that I can speak fluent German and hardly any Irish. English ~ I use everyday in letters, e-mail etc, Math ~ I use simple math everyday. Accountancy ~ I use this everyday and also in conjunction with computers. Biology ~ assists in my better understanding of Food Safety etc. Art ~ as much as I loved it I haven’t found a practical use for it in work. Home Economics ~ it’s theory I use everyday but not the cooking and baking.
However, I do believe that nothing you learn is wasted, as it is either a stepping-stone to greater understanding, or of direct use.
In secondary school I took Physics and Chemistry since I loved science. I also took Business Organisation but that was for the life skills it teaches rather than an intrinsic desire. I would gladly have enjoyed doing all the science subjects, to the complete detriment of all others but in hind-sight I am glad I took a subject such as Biz. Org. as it gave a rounding aspect to my secondary schooling.
I would have liked to have done Technical Drawing possibly but had to make a choice. I was only mediocre in German and Irish but again am glad I did them for at least secondary school as it challenged me and I did not get too narrowly focused on the technical subjects (there was plenty of time for that in third-level). In hindsight I realise that Maths was more important than I imagined and the two science subjects stood me in good stead. The choices I made for the subject selection was made by my passion for the sciences. Luckily I was afforded this leeway as the points for my intended course were not particularly high at the time.
Irish, English, Maths, Accountancy, Biology, Physics, French, Social & Scientific.
As already stated, my initial goal was accountancy following the Leaving Cert. The accountancy covered by the Leaving Cert was very beneficial during my first year at college. However I don't believe I had the personality to become an accountant.
Moving to my later choice of Nursing, I believe that biology was essential as it is a major part of nursing studies from the start. I also believe that experience at work itself will further one's career and may in fact lead to a change further down the career pathway.
During my studies at University I focused on financial orientated courses such as:
Money & Banking,
International Finance,
Corporate Finance,
Accounting (financial and management)
International Accounting,
Business Statistics,
Spreadsheet Applications,
as well as Philosophy, Psychology, Ethics, Negotiations and Art.
From my current perspective, now I understand that taking additional humanistic courses allowed me to widen my horizons. After all, it's not all about finance!
One of my biggest gripes about my time in school was the complete lack of any form of career guidance. I left school after the intermediate certificate to take a trade simply because I never considered that I had the ability to do anything else.
Back in the seventies you either took a trade, worked in the civil service, the bank or went to college. I took the trade like my father and his father before him. I would have loved to have studied English and it was the only subject I was any good at. I think that's partly the reason I went to UCC as a mature student, to prove a point to myself that I could actually do it.
So the short answer is that nothing I studied in school influenced me or prepared me for what I'm doing now and that includes the many years I spent trying to remember the Latin for “table” and “farmer” and bits about Hannibal crossing the Alps!
For my Leaving Certificate I took the subjects, French, Geography and Business. Prior to applying for my cadetship I found out that I required a Science subject which I took up in my Leaving Certificate.
A lot of my training and education through the Navy todate has been Maths and Science based particularly Physics. If I had a choice again I would have gone down this line in school to give me a better foundation. The subjects I chose just made everything slightly harder.
