Business Studies with Beauty and Spa Services - BA

Course Code: US792

Level

Duration

3 Years

Department

Hospitality, Tourism & Wellness

CAO Points

290

Course Type

Undergraduate - CAO

Location

Limerick

The beauty and spa sector provides highly valued and important services to clients, not only from a grooming perspective, but also in terms of added benefits such as enhanced self-confidence, positive mental health and general wellbeing. The sector is a very important component of the economy and provides employment opportunities all over the country and internationally. It is a dynamic industry that is constantly evolving and adapting to customer needs. A key characteristic is that practitioners spend a lot of time with their customers.

Business Studies with Beauty and Spa Management prepares you to meet the sector’s need for highly skilled and trusted professionals who can establish strong relationships with clients, deliver services in a professional, efficient and hygienic manner, and progress to management roles within the industry.

The course covers both the creative and business aspects of the beauty and spa sector. Learning and practising in well-equipped workshops, you are encouraged and facilitated to further develop your creativity and also acquire strong business know-how. By combining technical beauty and spa skills with business/management competencies, the course equips you to work and progress in a wide range of beauty and spa settings.

There is a full semester of work placement and/or the option to study at one of our partner universities across Europe, as well as regular field trips and guest lectures. In addition to the assessment requirements for your degree, you may also complete external examinations for professional qualifications from the International Therapy Examination Council (ITEC) and the Confederation of International Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (CIBTAC).

What are the entry requirements?

Leaving Certificate:

A minimum of 5 O6/H7 grades in Leaving Certificate subjects, including Mathematics and English or Irish. Foundation Level Mathematics at grade F2 or higher is acceptable as meeting the Mathematics requirement for this programme.

QQI FET/FETAC Applicants & Mature Applicants:

Refer to section ‘Entry Requirements’ for further information.

International Applicants

International applicants should apply directly to the International Office at TUS, allowing plenty of time for completing the visa process. Applications for September start should be made by 1st June at the latest to ensure visas are processed in time. You should familiarise yourself with visa processing times for your country of origin to ensure you make a timely application. Find out more here.

Who can I contact?

What modules will I study?

Year 1 - Semester 1

Title: Aesthetics Treatments - Skincare, Eye Treatments and Waxing

Credits: 10
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This module aims to equip learners with the theoretical underpining and practical skills required for the delivery of skin care with eyelash and eyebrow treatments and waxing treatments. Learners will develop key skills in order to select effective treatments for individual client requirements for assessment of treatments performed. To facilitate this, the module includes the application of practical beauty and spa skills to provide the learner with an appropriate base of knowledge and skills in preparation for advanced techniques and applications.

Title: Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

Credits: 5
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The aim of this module is to equip students with a knowledge of relevant anatomy and physiology of the human body. This is to enable students to understand how the body and its systems work together. How the body's systems relate to providing non‑invasive aesthetic therapies will be introduced. This module will provide essential underpinning knowledge and understanding for performing beauty and spa therapies and treatments and prepare learners for advanced applications.

Title: Principles of Financial Accounting

Credits: 5
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This module provides students with an introduction to the concepts, principles, and practices of financial accounting. No prior knowledge of accounting is required.

Title: Principles of Management and Marketing

Credits: 5
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The aim of this module is to provide learners with an introduction to the ley concepts and theories of management and marketing and to develop an understanding of the role of marketing and management in modern organisations. The module aims to develop the student"s ability to apply knowledge, techniques and skills in order to solve marketing and management problems.

Title: Academic Writing

Credits: 5
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This module aims to equip students with a range of academic writing competencies by providing an opportunity for students to practise the writing, revising, editing and referencing skills necessary in third level education.
Year 1 - Semester 2

Title: Anatomy and Physiology

Credits: 5
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The aim of this applied module is to equip students with a knowledge of relevant anatomy and physiology of the human body. This is to enable students to understand how the body and its systems work together including the endocrine system, lymphatic system, muscular system, nervous system and skeletal systems.This module will provide essential underpinning knowledge and understanding for performing beauty and spa therapies and treatments.

Title: Business and Professional Practice

Credits: 5
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The aim of this module is to introduce students to the knowledge, understanding and skills required to ensure good salon and spa operations and customer care practices within the beauty and spa sector. Learners will also demonstrate the ability to carry out treatments theoretically and practically in line with beauty treatment practice and procedures.

Title: Business Decision Making and Applications

Credits: 5
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The aim of this module is to introduce learners to accounting tools and techniques that can aid management decision-making process in any modern organisation. Topics to be included are budgetary process, preparation of operating budgets in particular focusing on cash flow budgeting, variance analysis, and internal control procedures. Learners will also actively learn the use of a widely recognised accounting package.

Title: Make Up application

Credits: 5
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The module is designed to equip learners with the skills necessary to enhance the appearance using make-up. Learners will develop key skills in order to select effective treatments for individual client requirements for assessment of treatments performed. To facilitate this, the module includes the application of practical beauty and spa skills to provide the learner with an appropriate base of knowledge and skills in preparation for advanced techniques and applications.

Title: Manicure and Pedicure

Credits: 5
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This module aims to equip learners with the theoretical underpining and practical skills required for the delivery of cosmetic treatments for hands and feet. Learners will develop key skills in order to select effective treatments for individual client requirements for assessment of treatments performed. To facilitate this, the module includes the application of practical beauty and spa skills to provide the learner with an appropriate base of knowledge and skills in preparation for advanced techniques and applications.

Title: Web Design & Implementation for the Beauty Industry

Credits:
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This module has been developed to enable learners to keep pace with emerging demands for online business presence. During this module students will acquire the requisite skills to plan, develop and analyse an integrated digital presence for organisations in their industry. Students will also use Interactive technologies to generate creative content for their website. Furthermore, through this 100% CA based module, learners will have practical exposure to digital analytics.
Year 2 - Semester 1

Title: Anatomy and Physiology for Massage

Credits: 5
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The aim of this module is to provide all of the necessary underpinning knowledge of anatomy and physiology to enable the Learner to understand the human body, its structures and functions and how they work together. Developed knowledge of anatomy and physiology will enable the Learner to know when to safely and confidently apply beauty therapy treatments, by making informed decisions relating to Clients" needs and requirements.

Title: HRM Concepts

Credits: 5
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This module equips students with an understanding of the core concepts in HR management, taking students on a journey from the earliest origins of the discipline to the present day role of HR as an operational and strategic organisational function. Students will develop a strong applied knowledge of HRM systems, processes and best practice in the planning, staffing and reward of employees. They will appreciate the practical operation of HRM in small, medium and large organisations, as well as the increased devolution of HR activities to line management. Students will also develop practical people management skills through in-class and assessment activities, as well as highly transferable soft skills.

Title: Indian Head Massage

Credits: 5
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This module covers all the practical applications and required underpinning knowledge of Indian head massage. It will enable learners to provide a massage treatment adapted to the specific needs of the Client, with effective selection and use of a medium. Learners will maintain effective health, safety, and hygiene procedures while demonstrating professional standards of behaviour and communication throughout their work.

Title: Legal Environment for Business

Credits: 5
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A key feature for the management and operation of any business is the regulatory environment in which it trades. In turn it is both controlled and protected by the legal instruments and requirements of that environment. An understanding of the legal environment, through a business lens, is thus a central feature in the academic grounding of a rounded business graduate and allows them to reflect upon the many and varied interacting influencing aspects of business life.
This module will consider the role and necessity of legal regulation and, in turn, how that regulation is created and developed through various legal tools. This - consideration of the interaction of law and business - presents students with the opportunity to take a holistic viewpoint of their chosen career path. Students will see how law is created and then through the use of various case studies how it has applied traditionally and in more modern times. Such an approach provides a solid grounding in business law for the emerging business person and highlights the linkages and interactions within their course of study

Title: Social Media & Mobile Apps

Credits: 5
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This module engages the learner in the application of strategy and marketing to a social media and mobile app environment. It emphasises both the processes and the tools, in an overall marketing strategy, from planning and implementation to the analysis of digital campaigns and mobile app functionality. Learners will examine how best these communication tools and strategies can be applied to compete effectively both offline and online.

Title: Swedish Body Massage

Credits: 5
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This module will assist in providing an understanding of the skills, technical processes, and procedures involved in providing body massage. It will enable the learner to prepare for and provide body massage designed to meet the needs of the client, whilst working in a safe and secure manner. It will provide the knowledge required to identify possible contraindications to treatment, as well as indications for, and benefits and effects of, professional body massage treatments.
Year 2 - Semester 2

Title: Advanced Anatomy and Physiology for Massage

Credits: 5
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The aim of this module is to equip students with advanced knowledge of relevant anatomy and physiology of the human body. This is to enable students to understand how the body and its systems work together and how the systems relate to selected massage therapies. This module will provide essential underpinning knowledge and understanding for performing advanced beauty and spa therapies and treatments.

Title: Global HRM Practice

Credits: 5
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The aim of this module is to provide students with a strong practical knowledge of human resource management (HRM) as it operates globally. They will be exposed to the latest HR practices that organisations deploy to maximise competitive advantage through their human resources. Students will track evolving trends in HR management practice globally, critically evaluating their effectiveness and applying this knowledge to in-class activities and practical assignments. They will further develop practical soft skills that are directly transferable and beneficial to their work placement in third year.

Title: Health, Safety and Client Care

Credits: 5
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This module will enable the learner to monitor and maintain health and safety practices within a working salon/spa environment. Learners will improve on consultation techniques and communication, along with an essential understanding of how to evaluate the information gained and formulate recommendations. Learners will improve their knowledge of health and safety and develop supervisory skills to enable them to carry out risk assessments and monitor health and safety issues in the salon. A thorough knowledge by the therapist, of a variety of methods of communicating and providing Client care, will be achieved.

Title: Hot Stone Massage

Credits: 5
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This Module will enable the learner to develop practical skills in providing relaxing and stress relieving treatments of massage,using hot and cold stones. It covers both massage and the placing of stones, on the head, face, and body. The learner will have the ability to adapt stone therapy treatments to individual client needs, to a high level of occupational ability while adhering to health and safety practices and procedures.

Title: Marketing Communications Practice

Credits: 5
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The aim of this module is to engage learners in the importance of comprehending the key communication concepts within a marketing context and then to engage these learners with specific marketing communication techniques that organisations use in reaching their target audiences.

Title: Professional Practice

Credits: 5
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The aim of this module is to expand the professional understanding of beauty and spa treatments through direct engagement with clients and to continue the development of core skills essential to future practice. This module provides learners with the opportunity to further integrate theory and practice and facilitate the development of practical skills while developing a portfolio of work.
Year 3 - Semester 1

Title: Applied therapeutic practice

Credits: 10
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The aim of this module is to expand professional understanding through direct engagement with the professional world of practice and to continue the development of core skills essential to future practice. This module provides learners with the opportunity to further integrate theory and practice and facilitate the development of practical skills.

Title: Integrated Marketing Communications

Credits: 5
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The aim of this module is to provide the learner with a clear insight into how the various tools and techniques within the field of marketing communications can be utilised in practice in order to allow the organisation achieve competitive advantage and commercial success. This module will also provide insight into the role played by internal organisational communications and its associated importance In addition, an in-depth examination of the key media options available to both traditional and contemporary marketing organisations will be undertaken.

Title: Nail Technology

Credits: 10
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This module aims to equip learners with the theoretical underpining and practical skills required for the delivery of applying and maintaining nail enhancements in the form of liquid and powder, gel and wraps Learners will develop key skills in order to select effective treatments for individual client requirements for assessment of treatments performed. To facilitate this, the module includes the application of a wide range of practical beauty and spa skills to provide the learner with an appropriate base of knowledge and skills in preparation for advanced techniques and applications.

Title: Positive Health and Wellbeing

Credits: 5
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Learners on the module will reflect on contemporary issues in health and wellbeing. Students wil develop their own personal health resources, particularly in relation to lifestyle related health behaviours. The module will also consider what drives these behaviours and the broader social determinants of health.
Year 3 - Semester 2

Title: Work Placement/Study Abroad

Credits: 30
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This Work Placement/Study Abroad component is an integral part of all academic programmes of the Institute and is provided in compliance with HEA/DES requirements for practice-based learning on all third level courses as laid out in the "Higher Education System Performance Framework 2018-2020" . The overall aim of the module is to offer the student the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained throughout their course of study up to this point in a new and relevant experiential setting. This is to achieved whilst facilitating the student in developing the practical life-skill competencies and communication skills necessary to function as an effective member of the work environment and wider society. Students choosing to study abroad will be provided a comparable programme of study in an approved foreign partner Institution.

Are there opportunities for further study?

On successful completion of the programme, students can progress to year 4 of the BA (Honours) degree in Business Studies with Beauty and Spa Management.

What are the career prospects?

Graduates will have experienced all facets of Beauty and Spa Services to provide them with the best education to suit today’s economy and diverse Beauty and Spa industry.

A graduate will find a diverse range of career opportunities both in Ireland and abroad and they can expect to find employment in a variety of roles such as, beauty therapist, advanced skincare therapist, beauty and spa consultant, make up artistry, with employment for talented individuals in fashion, stage and TV make-up and spa and beauty product salesperson.

More Information

Who is the programme suited to?

The BA in Business Studies with Beauty and Spa Services is very suited to students who have a keen interest to advance skill development in the beauty and spa sector, which will in turn promote job creation, economic success and employment opportunities.

The nature of this programme will allow graduates to work in a wide range of beauty and spa settings. As such, this programme aims to support the growing beauty and spa industry by providing graduates with a combination of practical beauty and spa technical skills and applied management competencies.

Exams

Students will complete the I.T.E.C. and C.I.B.T.A.C. external examinations during the duration of the programme. These are both internationally recognised qualifications.