Postgrad

MA in Child, Family and Community Studies
Full time - DT576 Part time - DT577

Programme co-ordinator

Dr Carmel Gallagher
School of Social Sciences and Law
College of Arts and Tourism
Dept of Social Sciences
DIT Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1
T: 01-402 4197
E: carmel.gallagher@dit.ie

Duration

Full Time - 1 Year
Part Time - 2 Years

Closing date

Programme open for applications

Start date

September 2013

Introduction

Please note due to the great demand for our programmes early applications are assessed when received and dealt with promptly. Therefore it is advisable to make early applications for an early response. If you do not yet have your final degree results this will not hinder your application as we are happy to issue conditional offer letters in such circumstances.

This programme will be of interest to graduates of early education, social care, psychology, sociology, community studies and related disciplines, as well as professionals in the broad social services delivery area (example, social work, youth work, teaching,community work, early education, family support work).

The overall aim of the Masters is to examine how human capacity can be enhanced across the lifespan in the socio-educational sector. It will provide participants with a critical understanding of concepts and approaches to enabling individuals and groups to realise their potential as human persons and participative communities. The programme aims to educate students to high levels of contemporary theoretical awareness in fields central to social services provision and to create an atmosphere of rigorous academic enquiry and writing.

Course Content

Students shall take core modules in:

Perspectives on Family and Community
Cultural Diversity in Early Childhood Education and Social Care
Transitions across the lifespan
Management practice and theory
Research Methods
Dissertation

In addition, students shall select two from the following modules

Interventions in child and adolescent mental health
Contemporary issues in the early years
Youth Offending and Youth Justice Perspectives
Risk, Vulnerability and the protection of children and vulnerable adults
Victimology
Perspectives on Ageing

Location

Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1

Timetable / Hours

The programme will be a taught modularised programme, delivered in semesters of 15 weeks duration (12 weeks teaching, 1 review week and 2 weeks assessment). The programme will be offered in both full-time and part-time modes. Students may take the taught programme on a full-time basis over two semesters and complete a dissertation in the third semester. For students taking the programme on a part-time basis, coursework is completed over four semesters and a dissertation in the semester following. Students who do not wish to pursue the programme to Master level may opt to be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Child, Family and Community Studies after the completion of 60 credits of coursework.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must normally hold a second class honours degree, lower division (2.2) or higher in the area of social care, early education,social sciences, psychology, sociology, youth and community studies or cognate discipline.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum academic requirements, but who have significant professional or vocational experience in child, family and community services shall also be considered. In addition to an application form, this latter category of applicants may also be asked to present for interview. The Programme Committee will work to ensure a balance of recent graduates and professionals among the student intake.

Note: Due to the considerable competition for our postgraduate programmes satisfying the minimum entry requirement is not a guarantee of a place. Depending on the programme of study applications will be assessed based on your academic grades and may also take into account your work/life experience. Applicants may also be required to attend for interview for specific programmes.

Award

MA in Child, Family and Community Studies

Frequently Asked Questions

EU Fees for 2012/2013*

*The fees outlined for each course are provisional and are subject to change

For full-time postgraduate fees for 2012/13 click here

For part-time postgraduate fees for 2012/13 click here

For information on funding please see the following link: Fees and Funding