News and Events

Live Q&A, March 3rd: 7.30pm: MA/Postgraduate Diploma Family Support Studies

Course Overview

The primary focus of family support is on early intervention and prevention, aiming to promote and protect the health, well-being and rights of all children, young people and their families, paying particular attention to those who are vulnerable or at risk. The aim of this programme is to further the education and skills of professionals with a common interest in family support.

Established in 2003, this programme is the only one of its kind in Europe with an emphasis on applying a Family Support orientation across a wide range of practice and policy arenas.


Practitioners who participate in this programme will:

• Strengthen their knowledge base of Family Support theory, policy and practice;
• Understand core theoretical ideas underpinning Family Support;
• Apply this theoretical learning to develop key skills in Family Support practice;
• Enhance the quality of Family Support services delivered by relevant state, voluntary and community agencies;
• Develop their project management and evaluation skills;
• Develop research and report writing skills.
• Participants will be taught by a core programme team comprising of leading experts in Family Support along with regular

Career Opportunities
Graduates will have the opportunity to enhance their careers in a wide range of service areas at both practitioner and manager level, working in state and voluntary services on behalf of children and families. Reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the family support area, the programme is geared towards those working in social work, social care, community work, public health nursing, disability, education, justice, social welfare, early years, gerontology, and other related fields.


Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via https://nuigalway.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/Account/Login
 
Course Outline

This is a two-year part-time programme and students are required to attend classes two days every second week over four semesters with the agreement of their employers. There are seven modules in total on the programme; three of these are core modules and are taught in both years.

Entry Requirements

Participants will have a third-level qualification or a recognised professional qualification in a field broadly related to family support service delivery. In addition, as the programme is not geared towards individuals coming out of undergraduate programmes, a minimum of one years’ work experience in the health and social services area is required of candidates. As there currently exists a set of practitioners working with children and families who, despite a wealth of skills, have not attained a formal, recognised undergraduate qualification, two places may be offered on the programme at the PDip (Family Support Studies) level.
 
Duration: 2 years, part-time
Next start date: September 2022
Closing Date: 26 May 2022
Course code: 1FS2 (MA); 1FS3 (PDip)
Fees: EU: €1,945 p.a. 2022/23

https://www.nuigalway.ie/courses/taught-postgraduate-courses/family-support-studies.html#course_overview