Key information for BA (Hons) Social Science

Code: SE920 | Level: 8 | Duration: 3 years | Delivery: Fulltime | Credits: 180

Location for BA (Hons) Social Science

Location: Waterford | Campus: Cork Road

Application Information for BA (Hons) Social Science

Next Intake: Rolling Intake | Application Status: Open | Fee Information Link: /current-students/fees-and-grants/fees/lll-fees

Study Options for BA (Hons) Social Science

Study abroad options: Available (View details at https://www.setu.ie/global/global-mobility)

International Applicants information for BA (Hons) Social Science

International Application Status: Closed | Application Information Link: https://www.setu.ie/global/study-at-setu/applying-to-setu | International Fees Link: https://www.setu.ie/current-students/fees-and-grants/fees/global-fees

What modules are taught in BA (Hons) Social Science?

Year 1: Sem 1: Introduction to Psychology | Sem 2: Introduction to Social Psychology, Sem 1: Social Policy, Poverty and Social Exclusion | Sem 2: Irish Social Policy, Sem 1: Introduction to Sociological Problems | Sem 2: Developmental Psychology, Sem 1: Critical Thinking and Academic Skills | Sem 2: Development of the Irish Welfare State, Sem 1: Irish Society and the Media | Sem 2: Ireland: Race, Nation, Ethnicities, Sem 1: Introduction to politics in the Irish context | Sem 2: Introduction to Research | Year 2: Sem 3: Social Research Methodologies | Sem 4: Dissertation Proposal, Sem 3: Foundations of Ethics: Philosophical and Theological | Sem 4: Macroeconomic Environment, Sem 3: Citizenship, Social Justice and Rights | Sem 4: Modern Social Theory, Sem 3: Classical Social Theory | Sem 4: Sociology of Gender, Sem 3: Economics of the Market | Sem 4: The Politics of Welfare, Sem 3: Elective Modules | Sem 4: Elective modules | Year 3: Sem 5: Data Analysis in Social Research | Sem 6: Comparing Social Policies, Sem 5: Dissertation 1 Social Science | Sem 6: Dissertation 2 Social Science, Sem 5: Psychology and Crime | Sem 6: Economic Sociology, Sem 5: Social Studies in Context 1 | Sem 6: Social Ethics, Sem 5: The EU and Globalisation | Sem 6: Social Studies in Context 2, Sem 5: Elective Module | Sem 6: Elective module

SE920 Waterford

Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Social Science

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What is the BA (Hons) in Social Science Course?

The BA (Hons) Social Science is a multi-disciplinary three-year course. In times of rapid social and economic change, this programme offers students the opportunity to understand and critically analyse contemporary Irish society and Ireland’s place in an increasingly globalised world.

This course draws on core Social Science disciplines such as Social Policy, Sociology, Psychology, Economics and Politics, with an emphasis on Social Research and Social Studies in Context.

The implications of and responses to social problems for marginalised and vulnerable members of society are central to this programme.

Special Feature of BA (Hons) in Social Science Course

Students are offered an opportunity to take elective modules in Semesters, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Students may select from a wide range of modules such as (but not limited to) Personal & Professional Development; Social Care, Organisational Studies. Probation, Policing and the Police, and Sociology of Deviance.

If you are open-minded, interested in tackling some of the key issues of our time, and want to develop skills to think differently about and understand our complex world – then Social Science is for you!

The programme is structured to provide students with the opportunity to gain a solid academic foundation in a range of related disciplines. The programme is also structured to enable students to develop their critical understanding of the applied nature of social science, and the importance of social research in critical inquiry and analysis of contemporary society.

The programme emphasises the importance of inter-disciplinarity. These pillars of learning theory, application, research and integration) are the focus of this programme.

Year 1

Semester 1	Semester 2
Introduction to Psychology	Introduction to Social Psychology
Social Policy, Poverty and Social Exclusion	Irish Social Policy
Introduction to Sociological Problems	Developmental Psychology
Critical Thinking and Academic Skills	Development of the Irish Welfare State
Irish Society and the Media	Ireland: Race, Nation, Ethnicities
Introduction to politics in the Irish context	Introduction to Research

Year 2

Semester 3	Semester 4
Social Research Methodologies	Dissertation Proposal
Foundations of Ethics: Philosophical and Theological	Macroeconomic Environment
Citizenship, Social Justice and Rights	Modern Social Theory
Classical Social Theory	Sociology of Gender
Economics of the Market	The Politics of Welfare
Elective Modules	Elective modules

Year 3

Semester 5	Semester 6
Data Analysis in Social Research	Comparing Social Policies
Dissertation 1 Social Science	Dissertation 2 Social Science
Psychology and Crime	Economic Sociology
Social Studies in Context 1	Social Ethics
The EU and Globalisation	Social Studies in Context 2
Elective Module	Elective module

Leaving Cert: Minimum entry requirements for BA (Hons) in Social Science

2 subjects: H5
4 subjects: O6/H7
English or Irish: O6/H7
Mathematics: O6/H7

Advanced and Equivalent Entry for BA (Hons) in Social Science

Completion of a level 8 programme will also enable students to undertake taught Masters programmes or Masters degrees by research at SETU Waterford or other third-level colleges

BA (Hons) in Social Science Career Opportunities

The BA (Hons) Social Science offers graduates a wide variety of career opportunities such as Social Research, Policy Analysis, Human Resources, Administration and Social Work in Government and Non-governmental agencies. Some career options require further postgraduate qualifications and this programme provides an ideal pathway into a range of postgraduate options.

Follow on Study for Social Science Graduates

Graduates may proceed to postgraduate study, either research or taught, at SETU Waterford or other their-level colleges.

CourseCast 1 May 2026

Social Science

Here, we focus on the BA (Hons) in Social Science, a multi-disciplinary three-year course. This wide-ranging programme offers students the opportunity to understand and critically analyse contemporary Irish society and Ireland’s place in an increasingly globalised world.Programme lead Dr John McNamara outlines what Social Science is all about; drilling down into the various modules, and giving a flavour of the many and varied careers, and further studies options, available to graduates.First year Social Science student Niamh Purcell and recent graduate Imelda Morrissey spoke about the course itself, highlighting how it helps students engage in critical thinking (crucial in today’s world).

Listen on podcasts.setu.ie