Glossary of Terms

Year 1 (30 Credits)

RequiredDFS1130: Mathematics (Business Humanities)

DFS1130: Mathematics (Business Humanities)

Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 5

This module will facilitate students to follow an academic taster in Mathematics. The module is designed to develop an appreciation of and insight into specialist knowledge within this area and will enhance their critical thinking and problem solving abilities. Throughout the module students will be supported in developing the ability to write and complete exam papers to a standard which prepares them for the first year of an undergraduate degree programme. Students will improve their analytical and interpretive skills and will be able to discuss and debate on various topics covered in Mathematics.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. On successful completion of the first part of this module ('Mathematics I'), the student will be able to: Carry out arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with natural, rational and real numbers
2. • Carry out the above operations with symbols used to represent numbers of the above forms
3. • Convert fractions to percentages or decimals as well as calculate percentage increase/decrease
4. • Use mathematical rules and symbols to solve numerical problems , using a scientific calculator where appropriate
5. • Carry out arithmetic operations with algebraic expressions
6. • Solve/simplify algebraic expressions/equations using techniques such as factoring and removal of brackets
7. • Represent data using frequency distributions and histograms
8. On successful completion of the second part of this module (‘Mathematics II’), the student will be able to: • Recognise linear, quadratic and cubic functions and draw their graphs
9. • Compute the derivative of a function using basic rules of differentiation as well as product, quotient and chain rules
10. • Use the derivative of a function to locate maxima and minima
11. • Solve systems of linear equations using elimination of variables and represent solutions graphically
12. • Compute limits using the properties of limits
13. • Calculate measures of central tendency such as the mean, median and mode
14. • Calculate measures of dispersion such as the range, standard deviation and the interquartile range
15. • Solve a system of three linear equations in three unknowns
16. On completion of Mathematics II, Humanities/Business students should additionally be able to: • Carry out computations involving simple and compound interest

Assessments

• Department-based Assessment (100%)

Teachers & Administrators

Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.

•  GRÁINNE MORAHAN 🖂
  
•  IMELDA BYRNE 🖂
  
•  KATHLEEN HARTIGAN 🖂
  
•  MARY SURLIS 🖂
  
•  HELENA MORAN 🖂
  
•  TRISH BOURKE 🖂
  
•  SINEAD HIGGINS 🖂
  
•  KIRSTEN PFEIFFER 🖂
  
•  DANIEL WILLIAM SAVERY 🖂
  
•  Neil Humphries 🖂
  
•  OLGA O MAHONY 🖂
  

Reading List

1. "Foundation Maths" by Croft, Anthony and Robert Davison
   Publisher: Harlow: Pearson Education/Prentice Hall
2. "College Mathematics for Business, Economics, Life Science and Social Sciences" by Barnett, Ziegler and Byleen Pearson Education/Prentice (older editions of this book are fine).
   Publisher: Pearson Education/Prentice (older editions of this book are fine).
3. "Basic Engineering Mathematics" by Bird, John.
   Publisher: Oxford: Elsevier.

RequiredDFS1117: Business Skills

DFS1117: Business Skills

Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 5

This module will build up students’ confidence in their academic abilities in Business Skills. It will enhance students’ knowledge and basic understanding in these specialist areas and develop students’ analytical and problem solving skills. Students will gain a firm grounding in basic concepts and will become proficient in the interpretation and application of business principles. Throughout the module students will develop the ability to complete exam papers to a standard which shows s/he could pass the first year in Business Skills.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. • develop a basic business plan using relevant technology (some examples being excel, word, powerpoint);
2. • explain management concepts;
3. • apply key business concepts to the business plan (for example budgeting, strategic planning, marketing, human resources and communication skills);
4. • reflect on and learn from the process of completing the business plan.

Assessments

• Department-based Assessment (100%)

Teachers & Administrators

Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.

•  AIDAN KANE 🖂
  
•  GRÁINNE MORAHAN 🖂
  
•  IMELDA BYRNE 🖂
  
•  KATHLEEN HARTIGAN 🖂
  
•  MARY SURLIS 🖂
  
•  HELENA MORAN 🖂
  
•  TRISH BOURKE 🖂
  
•  SINEAD HIGGINS 🖂
  
•  DANIEL WILLIAM SAVERY 🖂
  

Reading List

1. "Digital Marketing Excellence" by Chaffey, Dave, & Smith PR
   Publisher: Routledge Publicaions
2. "Human Resource Management in Ireland" by Gunnigle, Patrick, Heraty, Noreen, & iMorley, Michael
   Publisher: Gill and Macmillan
3. "Professional Business Skills" by Perlitz, Lee.
   Publisher: Cengage Learning
4. "Business Analysis [Electronic Source]: Best Practices for Success" by Blais, Steven
   Publisher: Wiley Publications
5. "Social Media [Electronic Source]: Usage and Impact" by Noor Al-Deen, Hana S., & Hendricks, Allen John
   Publisher: Lexington Books
6. "Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis and Argument" by Cottrell, Stella.
   Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
7. "Make That Grade – Marketing" by Linehan, Margaret, & Cadogan, Thérèse
   Publisher: Gill and Macmillan
8. "Marketing, An Introduction for Students in Ireland" by Rogan, Donal
   Publisher: Gill and Macmillan
9. "Make that Grade – Management" by Linehan, Margaret
   Publisher: Gill and Macmillan
10. "The Business Analysts Handbook" by Podeswa, Howard. (2009) The Business Analysts Handbook
    Publisher: Cengage Learning
11. "How to Prepare a Business Plan" by Blackwell, Edward .
    Publisher: Kogan Page
12. "The Business Skills Handbook" by Horn, Roy
    Publisher: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. UK Higher Education Business Management.
13. "Digital Media: An Introduction" by Lewis, Richard. (2005)
    Publisher: Pearson Prentice Hall
14. "Enterprise Development" by Lessen, Ronnie
    Publisher: Gower Publications

RequiredDFS1116: Accountancy

DFS1116: Accountancy

Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 5

This module will build up students’ confidence in their academic abilities in Accountancy. It will enhance students’ knowledge and basic understanding in Accountancy and develop students’ analytical and problem solving skills. Students will gain a firm grounding in basic concepts in this specialist area and will become proficient in the interpretation and application of business principles. Throughout the module students will develop the ability to complete exam papers to a standard which shows s/he could pass a first year financial and management accounting course.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. • Outline the basic principles that guide the preparation of financial statements from summary information about an organisation’s activities
2. • Describe the different types of business entity: sole trader, partnership, and company
3. • Prepare a set of financial statements for a sole trader
4. • Identify and account for any adjustments which are required for year-end accounts
5. • Analyse and interpret a set of financial statements
6. • Discuss and utilise management accounting techniques such as cash budgeting, breakeven analysis and costing

Assessments

• Department-based Assessment (100%)

Teachers & Administrators

Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.

•  GRÁINNE MORAHAN 🖂
  
•  IMELDA BYRNE 🖂
  
•  KATHLEEN HARTIGAN 🖂
  
•  MARY SURLIS 🖂
  
•  HELENA MORAN 🖂
  
•  TRISH BOURKE 🖂
  
•  SINEAD HIGGINS 🖂
  
•  CLODAGH MCGARRY 🖂
  
•  DANIEL WILLIAM SAVERY 🖂
  

Reading List

1. "Accounting" by Jones, Michael
   Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

RequiredDFS1115: Economics

DFS1115: Economics

Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 5

This module will facilitate students to follow an academic taster in Economics. The module is designed to develop an appreciation of and insight into specialist knowledge within this area and will enhance their critical thinking and problem solving abilities. Throughout the module students will be supported in developing the ability to write and complete exam papers to a standard which prepares them for the first year of an undergraduate degree programme. Students will improve their analytical and interpretive skills and will be able to discuss and debate on various topics covered in Economics.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. • Distinguish between the concepts of microeconomics and macroeconomics and discuss the contributions of key economic thinkers
2. • Explore why markets are seen as a good way to organise economic activity and illustrate market outcome using graphs.
3. • Explain different types of market structure and the concept of market failure.
4. • Understand how economic activity is measured using the circular flow model.
5. Discuss money, prices, inflation and interest rates with reference to banking systems and European Economic and Monetary Union.
6. • Analyse how governments can use fiscal and monetary policy to influence the economy
7. • Explain the role of Globalisation and international trade on the macroeconomy
8. • Describe the costs, measurement and causes of unemployment

Assessments

• Department-based Assessment (100%)

Teachers & Administrators

Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.

•  GRÁINNE MORAHAN 🖂
  
•  IMELDA BYRNE 🖂
  
•  KATHLEEN HARTIGAN 🖂
  
•  MARY SURLIS 🖂
  
•  HELENA MORAN 🖂
  
•  TRISH BOURKE 🖂
  
•  SINEAD HIGGINS 🖂
  
•  SEAMUS LYNCH 🖂
  
•  DANIEL WILLIAM SAVERY 🖂
  
•  RACHEL COVENTRY 🖂
  

Reading List

1. "Foundations of Economics" by Gillespie, Andrew
   Publisher: Oxford University Press
2. "Economics" by Mankiw, Gregory N. and Mark P. Taylor
   Publisher: Cengage Learning
3. "Principles of economics, an Irish text." by Turley, Ger, Maloney, Maureen and Francis O’Toole
   Publisher: Gill and Macmillan

RequiredDFS1128: Academic Communications Skills and Engage: Skills for College and Career

DFS1128: Academic Communications Skills and Engage: Skills for College and Career

Semester 1 and Semester 2 | Credits: 10

This module is designed to meet the needs of individuals undertaking a foundation course. It is an integral part of an educational process as it involves helping the individuals to understand their starting points, to identify their next goals and to enable participants to move from one to the other. It enables the individual to acquire the necessary skills to benefit from, and participate in third level courses, build up students’ confidence in their personal and academic abilities and assist the students to identify and choose the University course that best suit their aptitudes. Participants also learn techniques and strategies that help them make better use of time and improve their learning capabilities and are encouraged to move forwards towards self evaluation and self correction. This module will provide students with an opportunity to practice writing in the different styles necessary for academic situations in University. During the course essays will be submitted which will give students the chance to improve their abilities and provide them with an alternative approach to writing. Advanced level Microsoft powerpoint, Microsoft word and internet explorer will also be covered as part of the IT component while students will gain an understanding of communication skills both verbal and body language through the communications element of the module.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes

1. ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGY - Use the NUIG Information system and tools
2. Organise and manage files (locally and cloud)
3. Utilise referencing software for citation purposes
4. Create and edit, documents, slides and worksheets for academic purposes
5. Use Social Media for collaborative academic group work
6. ACADEMIC WRITING - Demonstrate proficiency in the basics of grammatical construction, including sentence type and structure, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary
7. Identify and explain the component elements of a paragraph
8. Plan and execute a well structured piece of academic writing
9. Develop and sustain a written argument/critical analysis
10. Draft and redraft written work until the final result is satisfactory
11. Follow academic conventions with regard to the presentation, tone and technical requirements of written work
12. Explain the meaning of plagiarism and avoid plagiarism by using appropriate in-text citations and preparing a bibliography
13. ENGAGE - Navigate the University campus and identify and know how to access student services, including the library
14. Meet and engage with academic staff, and demonstrate that they have attended undergraduate lectures during the academic year
15. Demonstrate increased self-awareness and understand the implications of personality, skills, values, motivators and interests in careers decision-making.
16. Reflect on their career path to date and draw up a career action plan for the future.
17. Research careers, labour market information and higher education programmes.
18. Apply for third-level programmes of interest at NUI Galway and other institutions
19. Plan the financing of their third-level studies.
20. ACADEMIC STUDY SKILLS - Recognise their own learning style and evaluate personal strengths, weaknesses and skills (exam preparation and procrastination)
21. Establish and adhere to a plan of work that balances academic and personal commitments
22. Show that they have developed efficient listening, reading and note-taking skills
23. Demonstrate good communications skills, including the ability to deliver an individual and team presentation
24. Use revision and exam preparation techniques to minimise stress and maximise performance in exam situations

Assessments

• Department-based Assessment (100%)

Teachers & Administrators

Click a name to search for their researcher profile. Note: Only teachers publish research profiles.

•  GRÁINNE MORAHAN 🖂
  
•  JOSEPHINE WALSH 🖂
  
•  IMELDA BYRNE 🖂
  
•  VINCENT O'CONNELL 🖂
  
•  FIONA SHERIDAN 🖂
  
•  CLAIRE COMMINS 🖂
  
•  NIAMH DOHENY 🖂
  
•  KATHLEEN HARTIGAN 🖂
  
•  MARY SURLIS 🖂
  
•  HELENA MORAN 🖂
  
•  TRISH BOURKE 🖂
  
•  SINEAD HIGGINS 🖂
  
•  PAT MOFFAT 🖂
  
•  JAMES WADE 🖂
  
•  GABRIEL BOURKE 🖂
  
•  DANIEL WILLIAM SAVERY 🖂
  
•  ANDREA LYNCH 🖂
  
•  OLGA O MAHONY 🖂
  

Reading List

1. "Buzan’s study skills: mind maps,memory techniques,speed reading and more!" by Buzan, Tony
   Publisher: Harlowe:BBC Archive/Pearson
2. "The Study Skills handbook" by Cottrell, Stella
   Publisher: BasingStoke:Palgrave
3. "Skills for success:personal development and employability" by Cottrell, Stella
   Publisher: Houndmills:PalgraveMacMillan
4. "Write great essays! A guide to reading and essay writing for undergraduates and taught postgraduates" by Levin, Peter
   Publisher: Maidenhead:Open University Press
5. "Guide to citing and referencing." by Mulligan, Jane and Siobhan Carroll (eds)
   Publisher: Galway:James Hardiman Library.
6. "Developing work and study skills" by Lee-Davies, Linda
   Publisher: Andover: Cengage
7. "Reading at university: a guide for students" by Fairbairn, Gavin and Susan Fairbairn
   Publisher: Buckingham: Open University Press
8. "CAO Handbook 2013" by CAO
9. "The good study guide" by Northedge, Andrew
   Publisher: Milton Keynes: The Open University
10. "Guide to citing and referencing" by Mulligan, Jane and Siobhán Carroll (Eds)