Program Overview

Applied Social Care

Overview

The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Care is a four-year, full-time course that prepares students for a career in social care. The course is approved by CORU, the multi-profession regulator responsible for regulating health and social care professionals.

Course Details

• TU Code: TU997
• CAO Point Range 2024: 301−410
• NFQ Level: Level 8
• Award Type: Major
• Award: Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
• ECTS Credits: 240
• Duration: 4 years
• Number of Places: 60
• Location: Tallaght

What is Applied Social Care?

Applied Social Care is a dynamic, challenging, and rewarding career. Social Care Workers work with those at risk of poverty or social exclusion, and with those who find themselves at the margins of society. Social Care is very broad and workers work with people across the lifespan, including children, families, young people, and adults.

Course Structure

The course is delivered over four years and includes two 400 hours of supervised (unpaid) practice placement in a Social Care setting. Students complete their block placements in Year 2 and 3 of the course.

Professional Accreditation

The Applied Social Care course is approved by CORU, and upon successful completion of the level 7 or level 8 course, graduates will be eligible to register as a Social Care Worker.

Work Placement

Students will complete two 400 hours of supervised (unpaid) practice placement in a Social Care setting over the course of the course. In preparation for placement, students work closely with the placement coordinator and the lecturing team to ensure that specific needs are planned for and accommodated where possible.

Minimum Entry Requirements

• Leaving Certificate Requirements:
  • Minimum Number of Subjects: 6
  • Minimum Grade in Maths: F2/O6/H7
  • Minimum Grade in English OR Irish: O6/H7
• QQI/FET Requirements:
  • QQI/FET Award Required: Any full Level 5 or 6 award
  • Additional Requirements: Distinctions in 3 modules required
• Mature Applicants:
  • Applications from mature students (23+) are welcome.
• English Language Requirements:
  • If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website. Applicants for this course should have a minimum IELTS (Academic Version) English Proficiency of 6.0 overall (or equivalent).

Career Opportunities

• Graduate Job Titles:
  • Social Care Worker
  • Social Care Leader
  • Development Worker
  • Project Worker
  • Case Manager
  • Care Facilitator
  • Activities Coordinator
  • Youth Worker
• Graduate Employers:
  • TUSLA Child and Family Agency
  • St John of God Community Services
  • Stewarts Care
  • WALK
  • St Michael's House
  • Misty Croft
  • Peter McVerry Trust
  • Barnados Ireland
  • Daffodil Care Services
  • Gheel Autism Services
  • Depaul Ireland
  • Respond
  • Cheeverstown
  • Ashdale Care Ireland
  • Smyly Trust
  • Novas

Module Listing

• Year One:
  • Applied Social Care 1
  • Creative Approaches to Social Care Work
  • Critical Skills Development
  • Introduction to Psychology for Social Care
  • Introduction to Society and Social Care
  • Understanding Disability
• Year Two:
  • Childhood Growth & Development
  • Communicating for Social Care
  • Legal Studies 1
  • Professional Practice 1
  • Managing Relationships in Social Care
  • Applied Social Care 2
• Year Three:
  • Practice Placement 1
  • Health and Well-Being in Social Care
  • Working with people across the lifespan
  • Professional Practice 2
  • Society and Social Care
  • Society Mental, Emotional and Cognitive Health
  • Social Policy in Practice
• Year Four:
  • Understanding Behaviours that Challenge
  • Creative Group Work & Facilitation Skills
  • Legal Studies 2
  • Management and Supervision in Social Care
  • Professional Practice 3
  • Introduction to Research Methods
  • Addiction and Substance Misuse
  • Community Studies
  • Equality, Cultural Diversity and Intercultural competencies
  • Leadership and Organisational Change in Social Care
  • Advanced Research Methods
  • Trauma and Resilience in Social Care Work
  • Supporting children and families in Social Care
  • Counselling Skills in a Social Care Setting
  • Research Project
  • Contemporary issues in Youth work
  • Facilitating the Arts in Social Care Work (Elective)
  • Strategy and Governance in Social Care Organisations (Elective)

Progression

Graduates of this Level 8 course may be eligible to progress to Masters Degrees (Level 9) in a wide range of disciplines across the Social Sciences and Education.