Social Policy & Social Justice - Online

In your studies, you will be encouraged to think creatively about complex social questions. You will examine key social policy concepts, welfare state ideologies, and critical perspectives on justice, citizenship, and solidarity. You will explore issues relevant to race and ethnicity, religion, age, genders and sexualities, and class, and develop your personal and professional capacities to work alongside marginalised social groups to promote social justice, human rights, and social inclusion. You will also develop specialist knowledge on themes such as: sustainability and climate justice; disability and mental health; migration and mobilities; childhood and youth; and creativity and well-being.

You will also develop valuable social research skills – with the support of your academic advisor – for planning and undertaking ethical, robust, and thoughtful research that promotes social justice and advances social policy analysis.

Whatever your background, we welcome applicants who – in an increasingly polarised society – remain empathetic, courageous, and hopeful.

Our MSocSc Social Policy and Social Justice online course is designed to cater flexibly to your life and is suitable for people with employment and care responsibilities. Full-time and part-time options enable you to choose a mode of study that is appropriate to your life circumstances. Online delivery facilitates our students to engage with the course material as it suits, with some opportunities to meet online with lecturers and students.

Social Policy and Social Justice modules include short lectures, assigned readings, activities, small group sessions, and online discussions. This is an advanced degree and the workload for each module is considerable so you have to be able to manage time well. Regular communication from lecturers will allow you to gauge progress according to expectations.

On this course, you will produce a variety of academic outputs through coursework as a method of evidencing learning. Continuous assessment portfolios enable our students to showcase diverse skills in articulating social policy and social justice-oriented arguments and analyses in a variety of forms, such as short reflection exercises, policy reports, critical reading exercises, and essays. Formative (ungraded) assessments such as participation in group discussions, peer review exercises, presentations, and collaborative projects will also be used to promote your development and peer engagement. You will also complete a 15,000-word dissertation with the support of an academic advisor.

Subjects taught

Part I
Core Modules
SS6809 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Awareness (10 credits)
SS6811 Social Research: Methodology and Ethics (10 credits)
SS6812 Social Policy and Social Justice (10 credits)

Elective Modules
Choose three modules:
SS6814 Disability, Mental Health and Social Justice (10 credits)
SS6815 Sustainability, Climate Justice and Eco-Social Policies (10 credits)
SS6816 Migration, Mobilities and Social Policy (10 credits)
SS6817 Childhood, Youth and Society (10 credits)
SS6818 Culture, Creativity, Well-being and Social Justice (10 credits)

Part II
SS6813 Dissertation in Social Policy and Social Justice (30 credits)

Entry requirements

Applicants must have a Second Class Honours Grade 2 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in any of the following relevant subject areas, social policy, sociology, philosophy, politics and government, public policy, social care, social work, early childhood studies, public health, history, law, economics, archaeology, anthropology, theology or have completed the UCC Higher Diploma in Social Policy or the UCC Higher Diploma in Facilitating Inclusion & Disability Studies.

Applicants who have a minimum Second Class Honours Grade 2 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in subject areas not listed above but who have extensive relevant professional experience such as community activism, youth work, social work, trade union activism and development work will also be considered. Such applicants may be required to attend an interview to discuss motivation, experience to date, and readiness for undertaking study at this level.

Consideration under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may also be given to applicants who do not meet any of the above academic entry requirements.

For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.

International/Non-EU Applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.

English Language Requirements
Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Vsit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

Application dates

Closing Date Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.

Duration

1 Year Full-time; 2 or 3 Years Part-time, online.

Post Course Info

Skills and Careers Information
Our MSocSc Social Policy and Social Justice graduates will achieve a critical understanding of social policy and social justice issues, including advanced knowledge in special interest topics. They will gain advanced analytical, writing, communication, planning, collaboration, negotiation, and leadership skills, which will inform a purpose-driven, empathetic, and creative approach to problem-solving. These human-centric skills are highly sought after in the contemporary and future workplace.