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: Open | 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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Programme Overview

The BA (Hons) in Social Science is a multidisciplinary three-year degree designed to help students understand and critically analyze contemporary Irish society and Ireland’s role in an increasingly globalized world. Built around four key pillars—theory, practical application, research, and interdisciplinary integration—the course focuses on addressing social problems and evaluating their impact on marginalized and vulnerable members of society.

Practical Learning & Flexible Electives

Learning emphasizes social research methods, social studies in context, and applied social analysis. A key special feature of the programme is module flexibility: across Semesters 3, 4, 5, and 6, students can choose from a broad selection of elective modules, including Personal & Professional Development, Social Care, Organizational Studies, Probation, Policing and the Police, and the Sociology of Deviance.

Coursework

The curriculum provides a solid academic foundation by drawing upon major social science disciplines:

Core Disciplines: Sociology, Social Policy, Psychology, Economics, and Politics.
Applied Social Research: Training in critical inquiry, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and policy analysis.
Specialized Elective Streams: Opportunities to tailor studies toward legal systems, social care, criminology, or organizational management.

Career Opportunities

Graduates gain transferable critical thinking, research, and analytical skills that open pathways across public, private, and non-profit sectors:

Social & Public Policy Analysis
Community Development & Advocacy
Research Consultancy & Civil Service Roles
Probation, Youth Work & Social Services
Postgraduate Study & Advanced Academic Research

Upon completion of the degree, graduates are equipped to think differently about complex societal issues, evaluate public policies, and drive positive social change, or advance their education through master's and doctoral studies.

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 Podcast

Listen to our CourseCast Social Science episode to hear real insights from students and lecturers about this course, what you’ll learn, and where it can lead.

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