Bachelor of Arts (Child, Youth and Family: Policy and Practice) APP

Bachelor of Arts (Child, Youth and Family: Policy and Practice)

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Course Overview
Key Facts
Course Outline
Further Education
Why Choose This Course?
Course Fees
Find Out More

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Entry Points (2024)

358

Course Overview

This programme is designed to provide students with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the key trends and changes in family life and child and youth development, complimented by in-depth sociological and political studies. There are two underpinning beliefs built into the programme, one being that children and young people need to be valued, listened to and enabled to reach their full potential and the other that at some stage, all families, no matter who they are need help and support to function.Given this, the programme places specific emphasis on developing the knowledge and practical skills required to work in the youth work, family support and community development sectors. The policy and practice focus of the programme is enhanced by the study of sociology, which builds knowledge about society and how it shapes individuals and social relationships, and political science, which ensures a solid understanding of key aspects of political life and fundamental ideas such as freedom, democracy and equality.

The core strengths of this programme include: a nine-month work placement in year three; small group teaching delivered in the Institute for Lifecourse and Society, the University’s flagship Institute for applied social science research that informs policy and practice (www.universityofgalway.ie/ilas); and teaching that is led by professionals working in practice, and staff from the School of Political Science and Sociology and the internationally recognised UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre (www.universityofgalway.ie/childandfamilyresearch).

Applications and Selections

Who Teaches this Course

Requirements and Assessment

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

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

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

4 years

Next start date

September 2025

A Level Grades (2024)

universityofgalway.ie/alevels

Average intake

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

21 (More Info)

Closing Date

NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

GY137

Course code

Course Outline

This course is delivered through a series of modules centred around child, youth and family studies. These modules introduce students to the disciplines of political science, sociology, public and social policy, economics, psychology, the creative arts, information technology and law. Many of the modules have a strong focus on personal and professional skills development, equipping students with both research skills and the range of skills necessary to work in the sector.

Year 1

Introduction to Child, Youth and Family Studies
Youth Development
Children and Health
Introduction to Politics
Practising Politics
Introduction to Sociology
Practising Sociology
Introduction to Economic Policy
Community Development
Social Research Skills
Personal and Professional Development

Year 2

Understanding Family and Society
Youth Work Principles and Practice
Child, Youth and Family Service Provision in Ireland
Child Protection and Welfare
Economics of Family Policy
Social Issues and Policy Responses
Sociology of Health
Politics and Society: Themes and Topics
Economics of Public and Social Policy
Methods for Social and Political Science
Professional Development Skills

Year 3

Professional Work Placement (Sept-June). Examples of placement settings include: community, youth, education, family support or cultural organisations and government agencies.

Year 4

Research, Policy and Practice
Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults
Issues in Contemporary Families
Family Law
Youth and Society
Equality, Diversity and Collective Action
Children and Young People in Families Today
Key Words in Social Work and Social Welfare
Introduction to Social Work

Equivalent modules may be substituted from time to time for any of the above under exceptional circumstances and when approved by the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies

Curriculum Information

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

Glossary of Terms

Credits: You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module: An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject: Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional: A module you may choose to study.
Required: A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject: A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester: Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 1 (60 Credits)

Year 2 (60 Credits)

Year 3 (60 Credits)

OptionalSP3135: Work Placement - 60 Credits - Semester 5
OptionalSP3136: Community Based Research Project - 60 Credits - Semester 5

Year 4 (60 Credits)

Further Education

Upon completion of this programme, you will be eligible to apply for a range of MA courses subject to meeting programme specific entry requirements such as the following

MA in Social Work
MA in Family Support Studies
MA in Child
Youth and Community
MA in Public Policy
MA Politics and Sociology
MA Gender
Globalisation and Rights

Postgraduate courses that graduates of this degree will be eligible to apply for in other third level institutions include:

Masters in Community and Youth Work (NUI Maynooth)
Masters in Youth Work, Community Arts and Sports Studies (UCC)
MA in Child, Family and Community Studies (DIT)
LLM in Child and Family Law (UCC)
MA in Child, Youth and Community

The BA also provides excellent foundational preparation for the BA in Applied Policing, the programme delivered to Garda trainees by the Garda College in Templemore.

You Might Also Like MA, PDip (Child, Youth and Community)

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Graduates are well-prepared for employment in youth work, child welfare and family support, educational settings, community development practice, disability services, social work, social policy, civil or public service or research-focused opportunities.

The BA Child, Youth and Family Placement programme in 2023-2024 is supported by the following organisations:

Organisations

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€5,598 p.a. (€5,738 p.a. including levy) 2025/26

Fees: Tuition

€2,598 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Student Contribution

€3,000 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Student levy

€140 p.a. 2025/26

Fees: Non EU

€19,000 p.a. (€19,140 including levy). 2025/26

EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Contribution Charge + Student Levy* €140. *Payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI. Further detail here.

For 25/26 entrants, where the course duration is greater than 1 year, there is an inflationary increase approved of 3.4% per annum for continuing years fees**.
**Excludes Full-Time EU Undergraduate fees. These are fixed and do not change.