Stream 2: BA (Children’s Studies) (GY110 ACS)

The best childhood professionals – be they youth workers, teachers, social workers, therapists, coaches, or other community leaders  – achieve their excellence because of their deep understanding of children.  The good news for you –  this means that on the BA (Children’s Studies) degree you get to sample the whole world of knowledge through a truly creative and inspiring interdisciplinary programme!   

Psychology, Sociology, Education, Anthropology, Children's Rights, History, Creativity, Law, Philosophy, Literature, Medicine, Critical Disability Studies – you will learn to look at childhood through all of these lenses, critically examining the most important issue facing children today.  The BA Children’s Studies will not only prepare you for excellence in your future work with children, it will also help you identify your passion and your preferred career path.  

Students love this course because it provides opportunities in every year to work hands-on with children in the community, and in third year there is a work placement, either in Ireland or abroad, or an opportunity to study abroad.  Students personalize their placement to match their career ambitions and interests.  

If you are committed to becoming a leading professional working with or on behalf of children, this is the course for you!  The BA (Children’s Studies) is dedicated to helping set you up for excellence in a career where you can help all children reach their full potential. 

Your Studies

The BA (Children's Studies) is an interdisciplinary degree designed to equip students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the lives of children and youth today. This four-year degree draws on expertise from a wide range of areas including the creative arts, literature, law, health, human rights, history, sociology and psychology, and incorporates the optional study of one modern language.

Community-based service-learning and enquiry-based learning are embedded across the degree and the third-year placement combines valuable practical experience with specific career-orientated goals.

The learning outcomes of this programme include a theoretical and practical understanding of the issues relevant to the study of children and children’s lives; competence in writing and communication skills; knowledge of social and community settings that have relevance to children’s lives; and research skills relevant to the study of children.

Year 1: Introduction to Children’s Studies: Core Concepts

The first year focuses on providing the foundations of Children’s Studies and builds core study skills by introducing students to essay writing, information literacy, basic research skills, service learning, and guided enquiry-based learning.

In Year 1, students will acquire:

• Study and research skills across the various disciplines (Social Sciences, Law, Humanities);
• Theoretical frameworks for the study of childhood and adolescence in Sociology, History, Psychology, Literature and Culture, Human Geography, and Health.

Year 2: Children in Context

The second year focuses on the position of children and young adults from historical, cultural, legal and societal aspects. It builds on the study skills acquired in first year and introduces the students to the skills required to carry out research.

In Year 2, students will acquire:

• Understanding of the position of the child in history, literature and culture and an overview of the legal, educational, and policy situations affecting children;
• Understanding of the health and well-being status of children;
• Basic research skills and participative research methods. 

Year 3: Children from a Global Perspective

The third year focuses on developing comparative views of children and young people across nations. It provides an opportunity for students to have real-life work experiences in the national and international community and it includes an optional international exchange. In year 3, students will:

• Develop global perspectives on children and childhood through class-based modules and work placement;
• Explores contemporary issues and debates around the status of children and young adults in society and culture from an interdisciplinary perspective.
• Learn about the ethics and methodology of child-centered research.
• Choose between student exchange, national or international work placements.

Year 4: Current Issues in Childhood and Adolescence

The fourth year focuses on current issues in the lives of children and adolescents, focussing on cutting-edge topics such as modern children’s culture, children’s rights and policy, and critical disability studies, building on the knowledge gained in the previous three years. This year builds on existing study skills, expands the student’s existing theoretical framework, enables students to specialise and guides them through an extended research project.

In year 4, students will:

• Develop an independent project;
• Gain understanding on various cutting-edge issues in children’s lives including:
• Critical Disability Studies
• Children’s rights
• Children, culture, and the media
• Explore future careers and professional development.

Option: Studying Children’s Studies with a Modern European Language

BA (Children’s Studies) students may study a modern European language (French, German, Italian, Spanish, or Irish) alongside Children’s Studies, if they choose (this is optional).

• There is a minimum requirement to study French (C1 or higher in Honours French) or Irish (C3 or higher in Honours Irish). Spanish, Italian, and German may be studied at beginner level. German may also be studied at advanced level.
• BA (Children’s Studies) students are required to undertake a 12-week work placement in the 3^rd year of their degree. Students studying modern languages will complete this placement in a country where the relevant language is spoken in order to fulfil the requirements for a BA (International) degree.

Students are encouraged to try out the various language modules in the first few weeks of the year to help them decide which language to study.

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

• An unmatchable preparation for those interested in primary school teaching, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, play therapy, work in children’s advocacy, social work, and many other career paths. Our students are incredibly successful in applying to postgraduate programmes in a variety of fields 
• An interdisciplinary degree, allowing you to sample the whole world of knowledge
• Progressive approaches to learning, with an emphasis on projects driven by student interests
• A variety of progressive teaching and assessment strategies, with approachable staff that are on the cutting edge of third-level pedagogy
• A focus on service-learning and hands-on experiences working with children in the community, allowing you to tie your classroom-based learning to real-life experiences
• The option to complete a work placement in Ireland or abroad, or to study abroad (half year or full year options)
• The opportunity to study a modern language to degree level alongside your core studies (optional)

 

The BA (Children’s Studies) is your foundation for a meaningful career where you can truly help children reach their full potential. 

The BA (Children’s Studies) – the only interdisciplinary degree of it’s kind in Europe - is a highly sought after qualification in Ireland and internationally. 

Many graduates go on to work in roles supporting children in the community, in areas such as education, youth work, community project work, the civil service, arts and arts administration, charity roles, and disability support.  

The BA (Children’s Studies) is also the ideal preparation for postgraduate study, and a very large number of our graduates successfully apply to Master’s programmes.  Typical professional postgraduate study pathways for  our students include primary school teaching (PME), speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, play therapy, music therapy, social work, nursing, art therapy, children’s rights, and disability rights.

The BA (Children’s Studies) will equip you with the key skills that today’s employers need, including:

• Critical thinking —the ability to consider complex problems from multiple angles, identify and question assumptions, examine evidence, and make informed and ethical decisions.
• Interdisciplinary Awareness – the ability to look at the most important issues facing children and society through many viewpoints, with a holistic understanding
• Intercultural awareness—understanding the different backgrounds and cultures that children are growing up within, and how to successfully work with a diverse range of children and families:
• Communication – learn to effectively take in information through research and listening to other’s perspectives, and to communicate you own viewpoints effectively through writing, public speaking, respectful debate, and creative and artistic methods
• Digital literacy — develop a critical understanding of the role that emerging technologies such as smart phones and AI have on our own lives, and the lives of children
• Teamwork—learn to collaborate with a group to plan and execute detailed projects

Past graduates are working in a variety of fields, and feedback from employers is overwhelming positive – our goal is to empower you so that you can empower the children you work with. 

Your Semester Abroad—Learn international perspectives on childhood by living them! In the third year, students have the option to spend a half year studying abroad at one of our international University partners, York University, Toronto, Canada or the University of Bologna, Italy. 

Students who take a modern language with Children’s Studies can also avail of the Study Abroad opportunities offered by the School of Languages, subject to approval. 

Living and studying abroad is an amazing opportunity that will allow you to learn about a new culture in a hands-on way, develop your confidence and interpersonal skills, and broaden your understanding of diverse ways of thinking about and working with children.

Students who complete the study abroad semester say they have:

• Discovered so much about themselves, and the future career paths that really speak to them
• Developed the confidence to chase their dreams by facing real-world challenges head-on and succeeding
• Gained a deeper understanding of different cultures and perspectives — understanding diversity not just in theory, but through lived experience.
• Gained life skills—from navigating a new city to making international friends.
• Made professional connections and friends internationally that they will have for the rest of their lives

The flexibility and variety of the work placement is a highlight of this degree.  We encourage and support students to craft placement opportunities that suit their own career ambitions, allowing them to gain valuable experience and create essential professional connections.

The placement in third year can be:

• One semester, or two semesters
• In Ireland, abroad, or a combination of both if you take the full-year option

Internationally, we have strong partnerships with SEK schools, Meraki projects, and Kaliede International School in Tenerife.  Students have also undertaken placements in many other European countries, South America, and Africa.  Between 17% to 25% of third year students complete a semester abroad, which is significantly above the university average in undergraduate programmes

For students who chose work placement in Ireland, popular choices include placements at Primary Schools and Special Schools around the country, Barretstown, Galway Autism Partnership, Foróige, Democratic Schools, disability service providers such as Brother’s of Charity and Ability West, TUSLA, with private speech and language and occupational therapists, and the Hospital Playrooms at UCHG and Crumlin.

All placements are a minimum of 12 weeks, and students are supported by a dedicated Career Placement Officer, starting in semester 2 of second year, to identify, source, and succeed at a placement that is individually tailored to their own goals.

Students who choose placements abroad in a European country are almost always supported by Erasmus funding, which most students find is sufficient to cover their room and board for the duration of the experience.  Most placements are unpaid, but some students do receive small stipends from their placement providers and this is not prohibited. 

Prof. Michal Molcho
Dr. Kate Harvey
Dr. Devon Goodwin
Dr. Anna Gasperini
Dr. Cassie Smith-Christmas
Dr. Amy Hannah
Dr. Julie Spray
Dr. Lorraine Burke
Dr. Siobhann Morrissey
Dr. Natasha Daniels
Dr. Sheila Garrity

Learning and Assessment

The BA Children’s Studies prides itself on using progressive and innovative teaching strategies that allow room for all learners to succeed, and for all students to demonstrate their unique strengths.  We know that how you learn will influence how you teach and work with children one day, so we keep things interesting!

How Will I Learn?

1. Creative Lectures—Students engage with lectures from leaders in their fields, who are experts at bringing fascinating research and topics to our students
2. Workshops and hands-on Tutorials – workshops with master storytellers and artists, outdoor sessions in forest schooling, yoga tutorials, designing and producing your own storybook and comic books for children, carrying out your own research projects; across the programme your lecturers build in hands-on learning to help you learn material in holistic ways
3. Service Learning—a unique feature of the BA (Children’s Studies) is the opportunity to work in the community in almost every semester, allowing you to tie your classroom learning to real-world experience
4. Work Placement or Study Abroad—A semester or year, in Ireland or abroad, allows students to gain on the ground experience and meaningful professional connections in an area of their choice

How Will I Be Assessed?

Wide Variety of Assessment Methods – our students are assessed using creative and unique assessment methods to allow all learners to succeed; projects, creative presentations, reflective journals, in-class writing assignments, group work, interactive oral assessments, and self-assessment opportunities are just some of the ways we make sure that students have more ways than just exams to evidence their learning. 

There are exams in many of the classes, but this is not the only way students show what they know and what they can do.  As a programme we are committed to the principles of Universal Design for Learning, which allow multiple ways for learners to demonstrate their ability. 

Course queries:
Interim Cover 2025/26:

Dr. Anna Gasperini
Lecturer Above the Bar in Children’s Studies
IRC Starting Laureate - MILC - "Medical Literature and Communication about Child Health (1850-1914)"
School of Education
College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies
E: anna.gasperini@universityofgalway.ie

Programme Director(s):
Dr Devon Goodwin
Lecturer Above the Bar in Children’s Studies, 
School of Education
College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies
E: devon.goodwin@universityofgalway.ie

Q: Should I apply for the BA (Children’s Studies) or the BA (Arts) with Children’s Studies? They both have the same CAO code, GY110
A: Students applying to GY110 have the flexibility to transfer from the BA (Children’s Studies) to the BA (Arts) with Children’s studies, and vice versa, during the first weeks of first year:

• The BA (Children’s Studies) is recommended especially for students who wish to pursue primary teaching, social work, or therapy professions (these require postgraduate study) and those who want to specialize in children and childhood.
• The BA (Arts) with Children’s Studies is a better fit for those who may wish to pursue post-primary teaching, as it allows students to study two teachable arts subjects to degree level, or for those students who have a genuine passion for one of the other arts disciplines. 

Q: Is this course what I need to work in a creche?
A: No, the BA Children’s Studies is a broad, interdisciplinary arts degree from which graduates pursue careers in many fields.  It is not a specific Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) qualification, and will not qualify you to work in a creche setting. 

Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate including Irish, English, another language, and three other subjects recognised for entry purposes.

Additional Requirements
Students must satisfy the Garda/police vetting requirements.

Alternative Pathways
The Access Centre at University of Galway provides a number of alternative entry routes to undergraduate programmes. See below some useful links:

• QQI/FET/FETAC Places
• Mature Students
• Access and Foundation programmes
• HEAR Scheme
• DARE Scheme

Other Qualifications
If you are a school leaver presenting results other than Leaving Cert results, please review the entry requirements relevant to you:

• A Level students
• International Baccalaureate students
• EU students

For applicants whose first language is not English, it is important to check our English Language Requirements.

Admissions Office
Our Admissions Office provides additional detail relevant to CAO applicants including key dates, FAQs and instructions for non-school leavers.

Irish and European (EU/EFTA/UK) Applicants
Apply via the CAO. See the CAO Handbook for useful information on applying through the CAO.

Mature Applicants
Apply via the CAO by 1 February. To apply for a place as a mature student, you must be 23 years of age on or before 1 January of the year of entry. Further information available here.

QQI/FET/FETAC Applicants
Apply via the CAO. See our QQI/FET/FETAC Applicants page for information on places available and entry requirements.

Fees for Academic Year 2025/2026

Course Type	Year	EU Tuition	Student Contribution	Non-EU Tuition	Levy	Total Fee	Total EU Fee	Total Non-EU Fee
	All	€2,598	€3,000	€19,000	€140	€3,140	€5,738	€19,140

• Most EU students applying through the CAO will be eligible for the ‘Free Fees Initiative’. You can find out more here.
• If you are eligible for a means tested SUSI grant this may cover 100% of this Student Contribution Charge. If you are 100% eligible SUSI will pay the Student Contribution Charge of €3,000 on your behalf. 
• The Student Levy It is payable by all students and it is not covered by SUSI
• Where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing year fees. This applies to non-EU fees.
• You can find additional detail on the Fees Office webpage including FAQs and how fee status is assessed.

Application Process
Students applying for full undergraduate degree programmes from outside of the European Union (EU), and who are liable for full non-EU tuition fees, should apply online via Apply to University of Galway. Our application portal opens on the 1^st October each year for each the following September.  

Further Information
Please visit the international application webpage for further information on closing dates, documentation requirements, application fees and the application process.