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Code
SE919
Delivery
Fulltime
Cao points
🛈260 -473
Level
8
Campus
College Street
Duration
4 years
Credits
240 ECTS
Placements
Available
International Applications
Accepted
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This course is approved by CORU. This means that graduates can apply to CORU for registration as social care workers once register opens in November 2023


What is the BA (Hons) in Social Care Practice?

This is a 4 year level 8 course of study designed to prepare students for professional careers in Social Care Work and facilitate students who wish to pursue a specific area of interest.

The overall aim of the course is to develop critically reflective, skilled and ethically aware practitioners with the capacity to build professional relationships, in partnership with vulnerable individuals and groups who experience marginalisation, disadvantage or special needs.

The course involves the study of related disciplines of Applied Social Studies, Professional Practice, Sociology, Social Policy, Psychology and Law and Personal and Professional Development.

Entry will only be permitted at year one and applications in relation to RPL, advanced entry and module exemption applications for any year will not be accepted and reviewed for these programmes. 

Applicants who seek entry into the BA (Hons) in Applied Social Studies in Social Care will be permitted once they have completed the Bachelor of Arts  in Applied Social Care, Waterford Campus or equivalent programme. 

Special Feature of the BA (Hons) in Social Care Practice Course

All student must successfully complete a supervised work-based placement in an SETU approved social care placement.  Placement occurs in Semester 3 and 6, and consists in total of 800 hours of supervised social care practice (400 hours per placement). Placements are spread across the South East region and beyond. There is no certainty that your allocated placement will be close to your home.

Students undertaking the BA in Applied Social Care must meet the requirements of the School of Humanities Student Fitness to Practise Policy and School of Humanities Student Garda Vetting Policy.

Entry will only be permitted at year one and applications in relation to RPL, advanced entry and module exemption applications for any year will not be accepted and reviewed for these programmes.

Student mobility and transfer opportunities across SETU campuses are not permitted for Social Care programmes.

Year 1
Semester 1Semester 2
Critical Thinking and Academic Writing SkillsIntroduction to Law for Carers
Developmental Psychology for Social CareIntroduction to Safety, Quality and Information Processes in Social Care
Introduction to Social Care Practice 1Introduction to Social Care Practice 2
Reflective and Creative Practice 1Reflective and Creative Practice 2
Social Policy and Social CareSociology for Social Care 1
Sociology for Social Care 1The Ethics of Care
Year 2
Semester 3Semester 4
Practice Placement 1Child Protection Law
Practice Placement Portfolio 1Conceptualizing Care: Social Theory for the Caring Professions
Practice Processes 1Continued Personal and Professional Development
Exploring Contemporary Social Care Issues 1
Psychological Disorders
The Politics of Welfare
Year 3
Semester 5Semester 6
Applied Personal and Professional DevelopmentPractice Placement 2
Citizenship, Social Justice and RightsPractice Placement Portfolio 2
Exploring Contemporary Social Care Issues 2Practice Processes 2
Research Skills for Social care
Social Psychology for Social Care
Status, Consent and Capacity in Irish Law
Year 4
Semester 7Semester 8
Applied Research Project Social Care 1Applied Research Project Social Care 2
Introduction to Therapeutic InterventionsComparing Social Policies
Law for Social Care Professionals 1Law for Social Care Professionals 2
Social Care Management and Professional Practice 1Narrative Approaches in Social Care Practice
Social Policy ProcessesSocial Care Management and Professional Practice 2
Systemic Approaches in Social Care PracticeUtilising and Applying Therapeutic Interventions

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

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

Advanced and Equivalent Entry for BA (Hons) in Social Care Practice:

For previous SETU Waterford / WIT students students, who wish to apply to complete their studies on either SE919 Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Social Care Practice or SE927 Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Care, please contact [email protected]

Due to professional validation requirements, this programme is not suitable for advanced entry, exemptions or recognition of prior learning

There is no health requirement for admission to this programme. However, some Placement Agencies may require students to be immunised against specific infectious diseases. 

Additional requirements for BA (Hons) in Social Care Practice:

  • Places are offered on the programme subject to satisfactory Garda Vetting clearance.

  • Students undertaking the BA (Hons) in Social Care Practice must meet the requirements of the School of Humanities Student Fitness to Practise Policy and School of Humanities Student Garda Vetting Policy.

Graduates of the BA in Applied Social Care may take up employment in the public, private or community based care sectors. Social Care Workers may work with:

  • Children and adolescents in residential care
  • People with physical, intellectual and or sensory disabilities
  •  People or families experiencing homelessness
  •  People with alcohol/drug dependency
  • Families in the community
  • Older people
  • Ethnic Minority groups

Follow on Study for graduates of the BA (Hons) in Social Care Practice:

Graduates can proceed to the MA in Social Studies and Masters by Research at SETU Waterford as well as Masters in Social Work and other similar courses.

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Contact

Course Leader
Danielle Douglas
Dr. Danielle Douglas
Programme Leader BA (Hons) in Social Care Practice, Lecturer in Social Care
Tel: 051 - 845677 [email protected]

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