MA Child, Family & Community Studies

Note: The MA in Child, Family and Community Studies shall be delivered in 40 - 45 Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1 during 2013-2014.  The Programme shall relocate to DIT Grangegorman from 1st September 2014

 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 (for example, social work, youth work, teaching, community work, early education, family support work).

Its overall aim 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. The programme aims to educate students to high levels of contemporary theoretical awareness and to create an atmosphere of rigorous academic enquiry and writing.

Please note that this programme allows students to examine concepts, topics and theoretical perspectives relating to children, families and communities in depth, in an environment of academic enquiry.  It does not lead to a professional qualification in social care or social work.

Programme content and structure

The programme commenced in 2007.  It is organised to facilitate full-time students and those working in full-time employment.  Consequently, modules are generally delivered in the late afternoon and evenings, generally on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Students 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 optional modules (which shall run subject to a viable cohort)

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

The programme is a taught modularised programme, delivered in semesters of 15 weeks duration. It is 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. Part-time students complete coursework over four semesters and complete a dissertation in the fifth semester.

Admission criteria

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 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 this programme, satisfying the minimum entry requirement may not guarantee applicants a place.  Applications will be assessed based on prior academic attainment and relevant work/voluntary experience.

Programme document

The Programme document (which details syllabi, assessments, reading lists for all modules) is available [click here].

Fees

EU Fees for 2010-2011 are €5400 + capitation (full-time) and €2700 + capitation (part-time). 

This programme is eligible for tax relief in 2011/12 under Section 473A Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 [details].

Apply

Applications should only be made on-line: [click here]

Testimonial

A recent graduate from the MA in Child, Family and Community Studies has indicated how the MA is relevant in the social care sector and how her thesis was useful in her organisation:

“My M.A in Child, Family & Community Studies thesis was to develop an outcome measurement tool for community services. The aim was to develop a tool which would measure the outcomes/benefits that service users/clients get from using our services. As a result of the thesis, my director asked me to roll out the tool throughout our agency with 15 different projects and I have been doing that since February. Having completed the initial tasks, I have been promoted to Practice Development Manager. The role is responsible for leading the development of evidence based practice in the organisation with the aim of improving the quality of our services.”

For more information, contact:

School Administrator, School of Social Sciences and Law
Tel.: 353-1-4024164
socialsciences@dit.ie