Program Overview
The University College Cork's two-year Master of Social Work (MSW) program prepares students for professional social work practice. Combining academic study with fieldwork placements, it equips graduates with the knowledge, skills, and values to promote social justice, empowerment, and evidence-based interventions in diverse settings. Upon completion, graduates are eligible to register as social workers in Ireland and abroad.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Master of Social Work (MSW) program at University College Cork (UCC) is a two-year, full-time course that combines academic study with fieldwork placements. It is approved by CORU, the regulatory body for social workers in Ireland. Upon completion, graduates are eligible to register as social workers in Ireland and abroad.
Objectives:
The program aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to become competent and ethical social work practitioners. Upon completion, graduates will be able to:
- Apply knowledge of social systems and human behavior to promote social change, problem-solving in human relationships, and the empowerment of people to enhance their well-being.
- Critically examine and respond to the impact of social and political contexts on service users and social work.
- Promote principles of social justice, human rights, and anti-oppressive practice as intrinsic elements of social work practice.
- Demonstrate core social work practice skills in areas such as professional autonomy and accountability, interpersonal and professional relationships, effective communication, personal and professional development, provision of quality services, knowledge, understanding, and skills.
- Demonstrate knowledge of theory, legislation, policy, official inquiry reports, and international conventions, and apply them to assessment and intervention planning in social work practice.
- Illustrate an approach to learning that is self-directed, strengths-based, and reflective.
Outline:
The MSW program is a full-time professional training program running for 21 months over two academic years. It is divided into six thematically-based combinations:
Year I:
- Social Work, Counselling and Development Issues:
- SS6101 Social Work Approaches 1: Theory and Practice (10 credits)
- SS6102 Human Growth and Development (5 credits)
- SS6108 Child and Family Welfare I (5 credits)
- Social Work Practice and Fieldwork Placement I:
- SS6112 Practice Skills and Fieldwork Placement 1 (20 credits)
- Social Science, Law and Social Work Settings:
- LW6005 Social Work and the Law (Child Law) (5 credits)
- SS6105 Social Policy and Social Exclusion (5 credits)
- SS6106 Applied Social Research (5 credits)
- SS6107 Social Work Settings 1 (5 credits)
Year II:
- Social Work, User Groups, and Law:
- LW6003 Social Work and the Law (The Rights of Vulnerable Persons) (5 credits)
- SS6200 Social Work Approaches II: Theory and Practice (5 credits)
- SS6201 Child and Family Welfare II (5 credits)
- SS6202 Social Work Settings II (5 credits)
- Social Work Practice, Counselling Skills, and Fieldwork Placement II:
- SS6207 Practice Skills and Fieldwork Placement II (20 credits)
- Dissertation and Practice Research Presentation:
- SS6206 Dissertation in Social Work (20 credits)
Assessment:
Students are assessed through a variety of methods, including:
- Group projects
- Enquiry-based learning assignments
- Reflective portfolios and learning journals
- Essays
- Research presentations
- Minor dissertation
Teaching:
The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including:
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Group work
- Case studies
- Role-playing
- Fieldwork placements The program emphasizes a reflective approach to teaching and learning, which supports the development of skilled, reflective practitioners.
Careers:
Graduates of the MSW program are well-prepared for a variety of social work roles in diverse settings, including:
- Medical social work
- Mental health social work
- Child protection social work
- Probation social work
- Physical and intellectual disability social work
- Community social work
- Primary care social work
Other:
- The program includes two 14-week fieldwork placements, for at least one of which students are required to move outside Cork.
- Students on the program have the option to do an international social work placement in year 2.