The BA (Applied Social Studies) is a one-year progression programme for candidates who have already attained the requisite standard in a Level 7 professional programme (including supervised fieldwork practice) in community development, youth work, social care or a cognate professional area. Applicants should normally have achieved second class honours or a “merit” grade or equivalent in a relevant Diploma, National Diploma or Ordinary Degree award, which must have a value of at least 120 credits on the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Minor awards with insufficient ECTS credits are not eligible.
The BA (Applied Social Studies) consists of 60 ECTS credits.
The programme offers advanced study in:
- Professional Practitioner Development
- Irish and European Social Policy
- Social Inequalities and Social Change
- Environment, Sustainability and Social Justice
- Research Skills for Policy and Practice
- Interagency and Multi-Professional Collaboration and Partnership
Career Options
The BA (Applied Social Studies), like other honours degrees in the social sciences, provides a valuable academic foundation for many vocations and occupations. It can enable graduates to progress further in their existing professional field, or to proceed to postgraduate professional training in social work, community development and youth work, and other areas.
Students attaining the requisite standard may proceed to a postgraduate research degree in the applied social sciences.
Graduates of the BA (Applied Social Studies) can also be found working in policy analysis, applied social research, public administration and management, civil society/non-governmental organisations, journalism and the media.
