COURSE CURRICULUM

The Social Care Practice BA (Hons) is a four-year professional degree that combines academic learning with extensive supervised practice placements to prepare students for careers in social care. In Year 1, students are introduced to the foundations of social care practice, including its history, professional standards, child protection, psychology, sociology, Irish law, group dynamics, and academic skills, alongside preparation for their first placement. Year 2 builds on this through applied sociology, mental health psychology, organisational management, supervision, and advanced child development, while further placement preparation strengthens reflective practice and professional competence. A major placement experience in Year 3 allows students to consolidate learning in real-world settings, supported by modules in research methods, professional practice, and creative approaches to working with service users, alongside electives in areas such as social psychology, children’s rights, and conflict resolution. In Year 4, students engage in advanced practice focusing on complex child protection, family intervention, rights-based law, sociology and social policy, therapeutic approaches, disability inclusion, and optional specialist areas such as addiction studies or ageing. The program also includes a major applied research project and dissertation, enabling independent investigation of social care issues. Overall, the degree develops highly skilled, reflective practitioners capable of working ethically and effectively with diverse and vulnerable groups across a wide range of social care contexts.