Program Overview

Diploma in Social Studies

The Diploma in Social Studies is an interdisciplinary programme designed to introduce students to the social sciences. This diversity of disciplines allows students to develop a critical awareness of the key issues that impact on everyday life in contemporary society.

Course Outline

The course will provide participants with a firm grounding in theoretical areas and enable them to develop a capacity for critical thinking. Irish society has undergone rapid social change in recent years, and the Diploma in Social Studies aims to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the key trends from a social science perspective.

Course Practicalities

This course takes place on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm from September/October to May, plus some Saturdays. It runs over two years with the option of an exit award of Cert at the end of year one.

Assessment

All work is assessed on a continuous basis through a combination of essays, journals of learning in class tests, and oral presentations.

Why Choose This Course

The course will provide participants with a firm grounding in theoretical areas and enable them to develop a capacity for critical thinking.

Requirements

• Applicants must be at least 21 years of age by 1 January of the year of application
• Normally have Leaving Certificate or FETAC Level 5 or an equivalent qualification
• Applicants may be required to attend for interview
• English Language Requirement: All applicants whose first language is not English must have attained IELTS Level 6 or the equivalent TOEFL score or the equivalent Duolingo score
• On successful completion of this programme, students will have the opportunity to apply for entry into Year 2 of the full-time undergraduate Bachelors degree in Social Science in University College Cork
• Applicants will be asked to submit a Personal Statement, detailing their motivation to take this course and any work or life experience relevant to the subject (maximum one page)

Fees and Costs

• Fees: 1,500 per academic year
• Concession fee is 1,000
• All students pay 750 on application
• Those in receipt of concessionary fee must pay balance of 250 by 31st January

Additional Supports

• Students who are registered on this programme are eligible to apply for the Financial Aid Fund for Part-Time Students
• The UCC Student Assistance fund
• The Lough Credit Union

How to Apply

Applicants need to be aware of the IT student checklist before applying. To apply for this course, follow the steps outlined on the application portal.

Modules

Year 1

• AD1868 Introduction to Academic Writing
• AP1860 Psychology as a Science
• EC1803 Markets and Governments: An Introduction to Microeconomics
• SC1806 Introduction to Sociology
• SS1840 Introduction to Social Policy

Year 2

• AP2818 Social Psychology and Development
• EC2802 Markets and Governments: An Introduction to Macroeconomics
• PH2807 Social Philosophy
• SC2804 Key Issues in Sociology
• SS2833 Exploring Irish Social Policy

Similar Courses

• Social and Psychological Health Studies

Contact Details

For academic queries and course content queries, please contact the Programme Coordinator. For online application support, please click on the provided link.