Child Family & Community Studies - Grangegorman

What is... Child, Family & Community Studies?
This programme will be of interest to graduates of early education, social care, psychology, sociology, community studies and related disciplines, as well as professionals in the broad social services delivery area (example, social work, youth work, teaching, community work, early education, family support work).

The overall aim of the Masters is to examine how human capacity can be enhanced across the lifespan in the socio-educational sector. It will provide participants with a critical understanding of concepts and approaches to enabling individuals and groups to realise their potential as human persons and participative communities. The programme aims to educate students to high levels of contemporary theoretical awareness in fields central to social services provision and to create an atmosphere of rigorous academic enquiry and writing.

Course Content
Students shall take core modules in:

Perspective on Child, Family and Community
Equality, diversity and intercultural practice
Transitions across the Lifespan
Introduction to Management Issues in Child, Family and Community Services
Research Methods and Dissertation

In addition, students shall select two from the following optional modules*

Interventions in child and adolescent mental health
Contemporary issues in the early years
Youth Offending and Youth Justice Perspectives
Risk, Vulnerability and the protection of children and vulnerable adults
Masculinities, Care and Equality
Social entrepreneurship

*subject to numbers and staffing

Minimum Entry Requirements?
Applicants must normally hold a second class honours bachelor degree, higher division (2.1) or higher in the area of social care, early education, social sciences, psychology, sociology, youth and community studies or cognate discipline. In addition, applicants whose first language is not English must have an IELTS score minimum of 6.5 overall, with nothing less than 6 in each component.

Applicants who do not meet the minimum academic requirements, but who have significant professional or vocational experience in child, family and community services shall also be considered. In addition to an application form, this latter category of applicants may also be asked to present for interview. The Programme Committee will work to ensure a balance of recent graduates and professionals among the student intake.

If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency as detailed on our website. Applicants for this programme should have a minimum IELTS (Academic Version) English Proficiency of 6 overall (or equivalent) with nothing less than 6 in each component.

Applications will open in November 2021

Please note due to the great demand for our programmes early applications are assessed when received and dealt with promptly. Therefore it is advisable to make early applications for an early response. If you do not yet have your final degree results this will not hinder your application as we are happy to issue conditional offer letters in such circumstances.

Note: Due to the considerable competition for our postgraduate programmes satisfying the minimum entry requirement is not a guarantee of a place. Depending on the programme of study, applications will be assessed based on your academic grades and may also take into account your work/life experience. Applicants may also be required to attend for interview for specific programmes

1 Year Full Time
Method of Delivery Classroom

The programme will be a taught modularised programme, delivered in semesters of 15 weeks duration (12 weeks teaching, 1 review week and 2 weeks assessment). Students may take the taught programme on a full-time basis over two semesters and complete a dissertation in the third semester.

Commencement Date September 2020

Location City Centre Grangegorman

Many participants on the MA in Child, Family and Community Studies already have practice experience and use the MA to develop their careers in different directions or to move in to management roles. Graduates have gone on to work in a variety of sectors including development and policy work in social care, early childhood education and the voluntary care sector. It is not necessary to have prior professional experience, however, to find the programme beneficial for career development.