Bachelor of Arts (Child, Youth and Family: Policy and Practice)

This programme is designed to provide students with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the key trends and changes in family life and child and youth development, complemented by in-depth sociological and political studies. There are two underpinning beliefs built into the programme, one being that children and young people need to be valued, listened to and enabled to reach their full potential and the other that at some stage, all families, no matter who they are need help and support to function.

Given this, the programme places specific emphasis on developing the knowledge and practical skills required to work in the youth work, family support and community development sectors. The policy and practice focus of the programme is enhanced by the study of sociology, which builds knowledge about society and how it shapes individuals and social relationships, and political science, which ensures a solid understanding of key aspects of political life and fundamental ideas such as freedom, democracy and equality.

The core strengths of this programme include: a nine-month work placement in year three; small group teaching delivered in the Institute for Lifecourse and Society, the University’s flagship Institute for applied social science research that informs policy and practice and teaching that is led by professionals working in practice, and staff from the School of Political Science and Sociology and the internationally recognised UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre

Year 1

• Introduction to Child, Youth and Family Studies
• Introduction to Politics and Sociology
• Practising Sociology and Politics
• Personal and Professional Development
• Applied Public Policy
• Applications Programming
• Youth Development
• Development Psychology
• Concepts and Practices of Politics and Sociology
• Applied Economics
• Internet and Web Development

Year 2

• Youth Work Principles and Practice
• Understanding Family and Society
• Economics of Public and Social Policy
• Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Families
• Child, Youth and Family Service Provision in Ireland
• Communities in Focus
• Professional Skills
• Social Issues and Policy Responses
• Research Methods

Year 3

• Work Placement

Year 4

• Connecting Research, Policy and Practice in Children’s Services
• Connecting Research, Policy and Practice
• Child Protection and Welfare
• Comparative Public Policy
• Project Planning and Evaluation
• Family Law
• Issues in Contemporary Families
• Youth and Society
• Advocacy, Diversity and Equality
• Option Modules
• Equivalent modules may be substituted from time to time for any of the above under exceptional circumstances and when approved by the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies