MA in Adolescent Studies

Program Overview

MA in Adolescent Studies

Overview

This programme is primarily designed for graduates from relevant undergraduate programmes in a range of disciplines who wish to develop appropriate knowledge and competence to empower and professionally support adolescent development. The programme has been designed to accommodate the needs of both new and recent graduates as well as those students currently holding positions in the children and young people’s workforce, including those wishing to advance or change careers.

Course Details

• Type: Postgraduate
• Duration: One Year Full-Time / Two Years Part-Time
• Validated by: QQI (by ICHAS)
• Mode: Part-Time / Full-Time
• Campus: Dublin Main Campus / Limerick
• NFQ Level: 9

Intake Dates

• Dublin - Part-Time - September 2025
• Limerick - Part-Time - September 2025
• Dublin - Full-Time - September 2025
• Dublin - Part-Time - September 2025
• Limerick - Full-Time - September 2026
• Limerick - Part-Time - September 2026
• Dublin - Full-Time, Part-Time - September 2026

Module Information

Module Outline

Timetables

Timetable

• Full-time: (1-year option) The full-time programme is normally scheduled over 3 consecutive days per week over 2 Semesters from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm.
• Part-time: (2-year option) would normally require attendance, either in class or online, on 1 evening per week from 6 pm-9 pm and approximately eight Saturdays from 9.30 am-4.30 pm in the academic year.

How to Apply

Entry Requirements

• The knowledge, skills, and competence required to successfully participate in and complete this Level 9 programme will normally require applicants to have successfully achieved a Level 2:2 award in a relevantLevel 8 Honours Degree **in areas such as Early Learning & Care, Primary & Post Primary Education, Nursing, Social Care, Psychology, Sociology, Social Science, Youth Work & Community Studies, and related Social Science disciplines.**
• Those who have completed other relevant educational programmes or have relevant professional experience etc., where Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) and Acquired Prior Learning (APL) can be applied to the programme by submission of programme content, qualification, and assignments equivalent to an appropriate Level 8 award at an Honours 2:2 standard, can also be considered.

English Language

• For non-native speakers of English, an IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent) is required.

Fees

Tuition Fees

• Irish/EU, living in Ireland
  • Study Mode: Part-Time
    • Dublin Main Campus: €4200.00 (includes Bursary of €3,000)
    • Limerick Campus: €4200.00 (includes Bursary of €3,000)
  • Study Mode: Full-Time
    • Dublin Main Campus: €4000.00 (includes Bursary of €3,000)
    • Limerick Campus: €4000.00 (includes Bursary of €3,000)
• Irish/EU, Living Abroad
  • Study Mode: Full-Time (only)
• International
  • Study Mode: Full-Time (only)

Progression

Careers

• Project Worker
• Family Support Projects
• Youth Workers
• Afterschool Assistant
• Childcare Development Officer
• Youth Advocate

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This Master's Degree is an ICHAS (Irish College of Humanities and Applied Sciences) programme. ICHAS are responsible for its delivery & all academic matters pertaining to it. Full-time classes: delivered at ICHAS, Walton House, Lonsdale Road, National Technology Park, Castletroy, Co. Limerick Part-time classes: delivered at Griffith College Dublin, South Circular Road, Dublin 8 This programme is primarily designed for graduates from relevant undergraduate programmes in a range of disciplines who wish to develop appropriate knowledge and competence to empower and professionally support adolescent development. The programme has been designed to accommodate the needs of both new and recent graduates as well as those students currently holding positions in the children and young people’s workforce, including those wishing to advance or change careers. Relevant undergraduate programmes include areas such as Early Learning & Care, Primary & Post Primary Education, Nursing, Social Care, Psychology, Sociology, Social Science, Counselling and Psychotherapy, Youth Work, Community Studies and related disciplines at the postgraduate level on either a full-time or part-time basis and who seek to gain specialist knowledge of childhood and youth to expand their knowledge and understanding of children and young people under the age of 18.

Outline:

• This is an ICHAS course promoted by Griffith College
Full-time classes: delivered at ICHAS, Walton House, Lonsdale Road, National Technology Park, Castletroy, Co. Limerick Part-time classes: Griffith College Dublin, South Circular Road, Dublin 8 Students will undertake a minimum of 150 hours of work placement in approved settings with the support of 15 hours of supervision arranged by the college (10 of which would be mentoring of small group tutoring with 5 hours of direct 1 to 1 placement supervision). This work-based learning represents an opportunity for students to have real exposure to working creatively with children and adolescents to develop transferable and adaptable professional skills, including the professional disposition to work confidently and independently in different settings. Students will draw on the practical and theoretical knowledge acquired through college-supportive tutorials and workshops. Examples of acceptable placement settings could include educational settings such as pre/schools, creches, primary schools, and secondary schools as well as broader structural contexts such as Childcare committees, Early Childhood Ireland, Bernados, Childhood, National Childhood Network or youth Provision, Family resource centres and social care. The timetable has been structured to optimise the utilisation of online learning where this allows. Still, skills-based components do require in-person attendance, and it is taught using a combination of classroom-based and blended learning techniques.

Teaching:

The timetable has been structured to optimise the utilisation of online learning where this allows. Still, skills-based components do require in-person attendance, and it is taught using a combination of classroom-based and blended learning techniques. In specific skill-based modules, attendance will be a mandatory requirement.

Careers:

Project Worker Family Support Projects Youth Workers Afterschool Assistant Childcare Development Officer Youth Advocate

Other:

This programme is congruent with the objective of providing accessible and flexible programmes to adult learners and has been designed with particular emphasis on the use of blended learning technologies to support traditional classroom learning This programme supports learners to develop personally & professionally to enable them to achieve a Master's degree in Adolescent Studies. Develop learner’s knowledge, skills & competence to an appropriate level of ‘Higher Order Practice’ The programme provides a progression opportunity to complete a range of Programmes at Level 10 nationally and internationally.

This programme is offered on a full-time (ICHAS Limerick) or part-time (Griffith College Dublin) basis and there are options around the payment of tuition fees with payment plans available to learners. A central component of the ICHAS vision is the provision of flexible and affordable education for all, with this in mind the college has established a bursary for this programme for 50% tuition fee reduction. Tuition Fees Irish/Eu, living in Ireland Irish/Eu, living in Ireland Full-time programme: ICHAS Limerick: €6,200 (reduced to €3,100 with the bursary) Part-time programme: Griffith College Dublin Campus: €7,200 for the (reduced to €3,600 with the bursary) Irish/Eu, Living Abroad Irish/Eu, Living Abroad Study Mode: Full-Time (only)Please refer to the Irish/EU Living Abroad Fees section. International International Study Mode: Full-Time (only) Non-EU students: a Student Services and Administration fee of EUR200 is payable each academic year in addition to the fees quoted. An Academic Administration Fee of EUR250.00 and a 2% Learner Protection Charge is applicable each academic year in addition to the fees quoted. In addition, students who opt for monthly instalments will incur an extra fee of €100 to avail of this facility. Protection of Enrolled Learners’ Policy All QQI accredited programmes of education and training of 3 months or longer duration are covered by arrangements under section 65 (4) of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 whereby, in the event of the provider ceasing to provide the programme for any reason, enrolled learners may transfer to a similar programme at another provider, or, in the event that this is not practicable, the fees most recently paid will be refunded.