University College Cork

Social Work

Course Outline
The Master of Social Work is currently open for applications 2020. All online applications must be submitted online by the closing date for this programme: 20 January 2020.

The Master of Social Work (MSW) is a two-year full-time course that combines academic study with fieldwork placements. The MSW course is accredited by the Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU). When you finish this course you will have an academic qualification that will enable you to register as a social worker with regulatory bodies in Ireland (CORU) and internationally.

All prospective applicants should also check the School of Applied Social Studies website at: http://www.ucc.ie/en/msw

This website has been designed to answer most of the questions you may have about the PGDSWS, social work and applying for the MSW/PGDSWS.

You will take modules in social work theory, skills, social policy and topics specific to social work settings such as child and family welfare and mental health. When you have completed this course, you will be able to:

apply knowledge of social systems and human behaviour to promote social change, problem-solving in human relationships and the empowerment of people to enhance their well-being

critically examine and respond to the impact of social and political contexts on service users and social work

promote principles of social justice, human rights and anti-oppressive practice as intrinsic elements of social work practice

demonstrate core social work practice skills in the areas of: professional autonomy and accountability, interpersonal and professional relationships, effective communication, personal and professional development, provision of quality services, knowledge, understanding and skills

demonstrate knowledge of theory, legislation, policy, official inquiry reports and international conventions, and apply them to assessment and intervention planning in social work practice

illustrate an approach to learning that is self-directed, strengths-based and reflective.

Further details on the curriculum and module descriptions are in the Postgraduate College Calendar

Fitness to Practise
This programme is be subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy - full details may be found Postgraduate Studies in Social Work Fitness to Practice details.

Why Choose This Course

The staff on the Master of Social Work/Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies provide a very successful and much sought-after course of professional education and training in social work. It is a leader in social work education in Ireland where it was one of the first courses to adopt a reflective approach to teaching and learning throughout the course, with the aim of supporting the development of skilled, reflective practitioners. The course has been accredited and commended by the Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU) for its delivery of a coherent, well-constructed and successfully executed course of professional social work education. The teaching and learning methods on the course are centrally concerned with building on students' prior knowledge and experience, and with developing and extending skills and competencies. Preparing you to meet the requirements for professional registration under (CORU) is a central objective of the course. Our graduates are much sought-after by the major national and international employment agencies.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

A limited number of placement opportunities outside of Ireland are available each year. The School has links with placement agencies in the US, India, South Africa and some European countries. Students are advised that international placements are more suitable in year 2 than year 1. These placements bring important comparative opportunities into the whole student group when placement experiences are deconstructed on return to college. It is School policy that all social work students should do at least one placement in Ireland.

Entry requirements

Requirements
Admission to the Masters of Social Work (MSW) CKE64 is open to a limited number of students holding at least a Second Class Honours (2H2) level in the BSocSc Degree (level 8) (or its equivalent) or graduates, who have successfully completed an approved conversion programme, i.e. the Higher Diploma in Social Policy with at least a 2H (or its equivalent).

There is a selection process based on the following combined elements: academic performance and research capacity; certified social work related experience and initiative; knowledge of social work and motivation, commitment and suitability.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants should NOT apply for both the Masters (CKE64) and Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies (CKC06) options as it is the ONE selection procedure for both options.

Applicants who should apply for the Masters of Social Work option (CKE64)

1) have already graduated with at least a 2H2 in BSocSc (level 8) (or its equivalent)
2) have already graduated with at least a 2H in an approved level 8 conversion programme, i.e. the Higher Diploma in Social Policy (or its equivalent)
3) Current FINAL year students in BSocSc (level 8) (or its equivalent) pending their final results in Summer 2019 OR
4) current students on an approved level 8 converstion programme, i.e. the Higher Diploma in Social Policy (or its equivalent) pending their final results in Summer 2019

Current FINAL year students/current Higher Diploma in Social Policy students who are successful at interview will be allocated places on the MSW, conditional on achieving a minimum 2H2 in their final degree/Higher Diploma in Social Policy exams. Should they not obtain a 3H, they will then be allocated a place on the PgDipSocWkStudies on confirmation of their results.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies option is aimed at graduates who have already completed their BSocSc level 8 degree (or equivalent) but achieved an overall 3H result. BSocSc Graduates (level 8) (or its equivalent) who have already completed their degrees and did not achieve at least a Second Class Honours but achieved an overall 3H result can apply for the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies option (CKC06). Please see http://www.ucc.ie/en/CKC06 for more details of the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies option entry requirements

GARDA CLEARANCE
All students on this programme will require GARDA CLEARANCE in order to attend student placements. University College Cork has made arrangements with the Gardaí in relation to Garda Clearance procedures. All candidates who accept places on this programme must complete and sign GARDA CLEARANCE FORMS and return them to UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, CORK.

Please note: All students must have GARDA CLEARANCE. Should matters arise in the Garda check form, a student may be asked to delay taking up a placement until a clearance is confirmed or, alternatively, they may be requested to leave the course. A further Garda clearance and fit-person's test will be undertaken by the professional registration body CORU upon successful completion of the course, should a graduate apply to use the title of social worker.

Click Postgraduate Studies in Social Work Fitness to Practice details for information on the Fitness to practise policies and procedures.

All applicants should also consult with the Frequently Asked Questions about the Selection Process: FAQs

English Language Requirements

Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university approved English language requirements available here.

For applicants with qualifications completed outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements, please find our grades comparison by country here.

International/non-EU applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure please 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.

Not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above.

For more information please contact the International Office.

Duration

2 Years, full-time

The MSW/PGDSWS is a full-time professional course that involves five full days in college or five full days in practice. Practice placements are an integral part of the course. You are required to complete two 14-week fieldwork placements, for at least one of which you will be required to move outside Cork. The course is split roughly 50/50 between college academic work and practice placements. Students on the PGDSWS go on placement to a wide variety of practice contexts all overIrelandand in year 2 have the option to do an international social work placement.

Careers or further progression

Skills and Careers Information

On graduation, you will have been prepared for professional registration and be in a position to demonstrate the core social work practice proficiencies (CORU) in the areas of: professional autonomy and accountability, interpersonal and professional relationships, effective communication, personal and professional development, provision of quality services, knowledge, understanding and skills. You will be able to exhibit a good knowledge of theory, legislation, policy, official inquiry reports and international conventions, and apply it to assessment and intervention planning in social work practice. Consequentially, you will be well prepared to respond reflectively and reflexively to a variety of social work situations in a diversity of social work settings, including multi-disciplinary contexts. Fields of social work which have attracted and employed our graduates to date include medical, mental health, child protection, probation, physical and intellectual disability, community social work and primary care.

Further enquiries

Ger Mannix
g.mannix@ucc.ie
+ 353 21 490 2899
http://www.ucc.ie/en/msw

Subjects taught

Modules
Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our book of modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.
https://www.ucc.ie/admin/registrar/modules/

Assessment method

Assessment
You will undertake a wide variety of academic and practice assessments. You are assessed through group projects, enquiry-based learning assignments, reflective portfolios and learning journals, essays, research presentations, and a minor dissertation.

Application date

Applications for academic year 2020/2021 are open.

EU Applicants: UCC operates a rounds closing date system for the majority of postgraduate taught courses, which means offers are made four times a year on a rolling basis. Some courses have one specific closing date, please check your course prospectus page for this information.

The UCC rounds closing dates for postgraduate taught courses are below. Applicants are advised to apply as soon as possible.

Deadline for receipt of full applications:
For all completed applications received by January 10th 2020
Offers will be made by January 24th 2020

For all completed applications received by March 2nd 2020
Offers will be made by March 16th 2020

For all completed applications received by May 1st 2020
Offers will be made by May 15th 2020

For all completed applications received by July 1st 2020
Offer will be made by July 15th 2020

Late applications may be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for any courses that have remaining capacity.

Non-EU Closing Date: 20 January
Non-EU Applicants: Information for Non-EU applicants may be found on the International Office Website https://www.ucc.ie/en/international/