BA (Hons) in Social Care Practice

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care Practice

When you study for the BA (Honours) in Social Care Practice, you receive the education and training to equip you to work as a practitioner with marginalised youth. You will learn the attitudes, knowledge, skills and proficiencies that are unique to the social care practitioner. You will also undertake detailed studies in the areas of therapy to facilitate the involvement of the care practitioner in the work environment.

This ab initio degree focuses on relationships which are the essence of child and youth care practice. This is important because young people may frame their experiences in the context of meaningful relationships. Within a genuinely caring and mutual relationship, children and young people find new ways of (re)structuring their experience of the world and their encounters with others.

Child and youth care work is different from other forms of helping and caring in a number of ways. One of these is how ‘everyday life-events’ are utilised for therapeutic purposes.

Minimum Entry Requirements

Leaving Certificate

Grade C3 at higher level in two subjects, plus Grade D3 at ordinary level in four other subjects in the Leaving Certificate examination. Two of these subjects must be Mathematics and a language (English or Irish).

Note: A B2 in Alternative Leaving Certificate Mathematics or Foundation Level Mathematics will be accepted as meeting the minimum Mathematics requirements for entry to this course.

FETAC

FETAC applicants to this programme must hold one of the following awards: Childcare (DCHSC) or Nursing Studies (DCHSN) or Community Care (DCHCC) or Community and Health Services (DCHSX). They are also required to have the module Social Studies (G20031) included in their award and they must possess distinctions in three modules.

Modules

Year 1 – Semester 1

Introduction to Psychology, Applied Social Care, Learning to Learn, Introduction to Health Promotion,

plus one module from

French, Spanish ab initio, Modern Irish Politics-An Introduction.

Year 1 – Semester 2

Applied Social Care, Principles of Sociology, Creative Approaches to Social Care,

plus one module from

French, Spanish ab initio, Modern Irish Politics – An Introduction.

Year 2 – Semester 1

Applied Social Care, Child Development Psychology, Creative Approaches to Social Care, Personal Development & Communications,

plus one module from

French, Spanish ab initio, Politics of Welfare.

Year 2 – Semester 2

Applied Social Care, Applied Sociology, Practice Placement, Fundamentals of Irish Law, Disability: Concepts and Practice,

plus one module from

French, Spanish ab initio, Public Policy & Advocacy.

Year 3 – Semester 1

Applied Social Care, Group Dynamics, Social Policy Perspectives, Creative Approaches to Social Care, Creative Approaches, Practice Placement,

plus one module from

Conflict Resolution, Business French,  Business Spanish, Social Psychology.

Year 3 – Semester 2

Applied Social Care, Abnormal Psychology, Rights-Based Law, Population and Community Health, Practice Placement,

plus one module from

Business French,  Business Spanish, Family Law, Introduction to Management, Children’s Rights.

Year 4 – Semester 1

Applied Social Care, Applied Research Project, Creative Approaches to Social Care, Disability: Promoting Citizenship, Sociology & Social Policy,

plus two modules from

Managing in Social Care Environs, CRS: Therapeutic Play and Drama, Business French, Business Spanish, Addiction Studies.

Year 4 – Semester 2

Applied Social Care, Counselling & Psychotherapy, Social Care Practice Law, Practice Placement,

plus two modules from

Business French,  Business Spanish, Older People in Modern Society, International Development.

Progression

As a graduate of this honours degree you may decide to pursue postgraduate training and research leading to Master’s and PhD (Level 9/10) qualifications. Our staff in the department or in the Careers Office can advise on the range of opportunities available at the institute, in Ireland and abroad for such postgraduate programmes.

Professional Recognition

N/A

Career Opportunities

When you graduate after four years you will have excellent employment prospects in the voluntary and statutory sectors (community care, residential care and project work). These positions carry with them inter-transferable skills in both front-line practice and supervisory grades. Emerging areas of employment include teaching on child care programmes within the VEC and private sector, and working in higher education as lecturers/instructors/tutors.

Additional Information

Garda Vetting Procedure

All students on this programme will undertake Garda vetting procedures prior to commencing their work placement. Failure to disclose previous convictions will result in students being dismissed from the programme. Previous convictions, depending on their nature, could result in student dismissal from the programme.