Politics & Society

This programme is a blended learning 60 ECTS programme taken over one year part-time. It is primarily designed to align with the core senior cycle curriculum to upskill teachers who wish to teach Politics and Society at a secondary level or in the senior cycle. The course also has a broader aim of developing learner awareness of the complementary disciplines of Politics and Society and their practical application in both the classroom and wider community.

Who is this programme for?
The programme is aimed at primary and post-primary teachers looking to upskill to teach Politics & Society at secondary level. It is designed in line with the Teaching Council’s curricular subject registration requirements for Politics & Society. It is also ideal for those who wish to pursue continuing education in politics and society to enhance career prospectus in the NGO, politics, human rights and advocacy sectors or for professional development for those already working in these sectors.

The Higher Diploma in Politics and Society is validated by the South East Technological University.

The programme is designed to introduce learners to the key elements of Politics and Society in a structured and manageable way. These are delivered over two 12-week semesters.

Modules include
Introduction to Politics
Contemporary Politics and Public Policy
Political Philosophy
Media Studies and Digital Media Skills
Citizenship, Identity, and Belonging
Colonialism, Development, and Globalisation
International Human Rights
Pedagogy for Politics and Society (2-day workshop on-campus, which may be delivered in semester one or two TBC).

Minimum requirements for this programme are:

Any Level 7 or Level 8 programme in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. This includes programmes where applicants may have accumulated fewer than 60 ECTS in Politics and/or Society in the course of their degree programme.

Applicants who have undertaken substantial non-certified learning or CPD in fields directly relevant to Politics and Society may be considered for entry if they can additionally show evidence of relevant career practice for a minimum period of three years, or who can evidence a portfolio of publication (for instance, reports, discussion papers, resource packs) in political, societal or cognate studies.

In exceptional circumstances, applicants who do not hold a degree at level 7 or level 8 on the NFQ, or who have not taken any relevant non-certified learning, may be considered for entry subject to evidence of relevant career practice for a minimum period of 8 years or who can evidence a relatively substantial portfolio of publication (for instance, reports, discussion papers, resource packs) in political and/or sociology/societal studies.

All such applications will be subject to the College’s Admissions Guidelines and Procedures for the Recognition of Prior Learning.

Carlow College reserves the right to require applicants to attend for interview to determine their suitability for the programme.

Applications are currently closed for this programme. You can express your interest in the course here to receive updates when applications open.

1 year.

Course Delivery
This course will be delivered fully online over two evenings per week and every second Saturday.

Start: January

Graduates of this programme will meet the Teaching Council of Ireland requirement for the purposes of teaching Politics and Society at second level. They can also pursue careers in the NGO, public policy, human rights, politics, community education, and advocacy sectors, as well as in the broader public sector.