Social care professionals provide vital support, advocacy and care to some of the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in society including: people with disabilities, children and families at risk, asylum seekers, people with addiction, mental health issues and the elderly. The course provides graduates with the skills and expertise to work in the social care profession and work across this diverse sector, in fields such as residential care, disability and community-based services.
This programme is approved by CORU
Course Structure
SETU Carlow's strong links to practice facilitates students in professional practice placements throughout the course, further developing their professional skills and knowledge for future employment in areas of social care, social policy and social justice.
A variety of teaching, learning and assessment methodologies are used such as discussions, group projects, placements, facilitations, poster displays, problem-based learning and case studies.
Is this course for you?
If you are interested in advocacy, human rights, social justice and want to understand more about the factors influencing human behaviour andtherapeutic interventions with at risk groups and communities, then Professional Social Care Practice might be the course for you!
Special Features:
Supervised professional practice placements (taking place in Year 2 and Year 3) are an essential part of this course.
Students are encouraged to take part in national and international competitions such as the SPARK Social Enterprise Awards and Social Care Ireland Awards for high academic achievement.
A wide variety of external speakers from the sector deliver guest lectures on an annual basis.
Students take part in an annual Social Care Careers Seminar hosted by SETU Carlow and sector talks relating to social care practice.
Graduates are employed in a wide range of agencies providing social care services to clients with a variety of social care needs, including the HSE and the TUSLA Child and Family Agency.
Exit award - Higher Certificate in Arts in Applied Social Studies (NFQ Level 6) after Year 2 and Bachelor of Arts in Professional Social Care Practice (NFQ Level 7) after Year 3.
Entry willbe permitted at year one only and applications in relation to RPL, advanced entry and module exemption applications for any year will not be accepted and reviewed for this programme.
Applicants who seek entry into the year 4 of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Professional Social Care Practice programme, will be permitted once they have completed the Bachelor of Arts in Professional Social Care Practice programme, Carlow Campus and have obtained 180 credits.
Student mobility and transfer opportunities across SETU campuses is not permitted for Social Care programmes.
Year 1
Semester 1
Semester 2
Communications, Research and Study Skills
Creative Skills
Health and Safety in Social Care Practice
Introduction to Social Policy for Social Care Practice
Introduction to Psychology
Lifespan Development and Individual Difference
Introduction to Sociology for Social Care Practice
Professional Social Care Practice Contexts Models and Legal System
Professional Social Care Theory and Practice
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Persons
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
Year 2
Semester 3
Semester 4
Supervised Professional Practice 1
Community-based Social Care Services
Disability and Positive Ageing
Disability and Positive Ageing
Legal Studies 1
Psychology of Social Cognition
Sociological Perspectives on Contemporary Social Care Policy and Practice
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
Year 3
Semester 5
Semester 6
Alternative to Home Care
Supervised Professional Practice 2
Children and Families
Creative Skills 2
Legal Studies 2
Psychology of Mental Health and Neurodiversity
Social Research Studies
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
Year 4
Semester 7
Semester 8
Advanced Social Care Practice 1
Advanced Social Care Practice 2
Contemporary Approaches to Leadership and Change Management
Connecting Social Care Practice to a Globalised World
Ethics and Human Rights
Leading Self and Others
Global Issues for Social Care Practice
Psychology, Adjustment and Alternative Views
Psychology and Positive Change
Research Methods and Dissertation in Social Care Practice
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
What are the minimum entry requirements?
2H5 & 4O6/H7
English or Irish at O6/H7
Garda vetting required
What follow-on study opportunities are available?
Graduates can complete postgraduate studies to masters or doctoral level within the social care or associated social science field.
Graduates are also eligible to apply to progress onto the Masters in Child, Youth and Family Studies or a research masters through socialCORE at SETU Carlow.
What exemptions will I receive?
Entry willbe permitted at year one only and applications in relation to RPL, advanced entry and module exemption applications for any year will not be accepted and reviewed for this programme.
Notes
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What will I be able to do when I finish the course?
The course provides graduates with the skills and expertise to work in the social care profession and work across this diverse sector, in fields such as:
