Skip to main content
Undergraduate

BA (Hons) in Social Care

Improving lives and communities whilst working in a highly rewarding career.
DK862
251 Points

CAO Code

DK862

Start Date

September 2024

Course Capacity

45

Duration

4 Years

Work Placement

Yes

NFQ Level

8

Discipline Area

Arts & Humanities

Course Type

Undergraduate

Study Mode

Full-Time

Delivery

On Campus

Course Overview

This course prepares students to have a rewarding career in social care, a profession characterised by working in partnership with people who experience marginalisation, or disadvantage, or who have special needs.

Students will develop their knowledge of, and ability, to apply key theories and concepts such as attachment & loss, strengths-based approaches, anti-oppressive practice and systems theory to practice. Knowledge of key legislative and policy frameworks that guide practice across a wide range of social care services is also central to student learning.

Students will use active participation, role-play and peer-learning while working in community, day-care and residential settings. Professional practice placement is an integral part of this programme where students complete two blocks of 400 hours of practice in a wide variety professional social care practice.

This programme is approved by CORU, Ireland’s healthcare regulator.

What makes this course different

Industry Approval

This programme is approved by CORU, Ireland’s multi-profession health regulator.

DkIT

Graduate Success

100% of graduates from this course are in employment or further study after 6 months of graduating (93% in employment, 7% further study) (DkIT/HEA Graduate Survey)

DkIT

Gain an Advantage

100% of graduates said their qualification was essential or gave them an advantage in their career (DkIT/HEA Graduate Survey)

Understanding the Industry

Social Care Practitioners are professionally qualified to work in collaboration with individuals and groups of all ages who experience marginalisation, disadvantage and social exclusion. Embracing a relationship-based approach to practice, social care workers professionally guide and support those they care for, while ensuring that the service user is an active participant in all decision-making regarding what supports and interventions will best meet their needs. Social care practice is built on the principles of dignity, respect, social justice, equality and inclusion. Through empowering of service users, social care workers can assist them to overcome challenges they may face to reach their potential and fully participate in society.

Career Opportunities

As a social care practitioner, now qualified under the professional regulator CORU,  you will be sought after by employers in a range of areas.

Future Careers:

  • Social Care Workers
  • Community Workers
  • Youth Workers
  • Support Worker

In these areas:

  • Residential Care
  • Disabilities Services
  • Homelessness Services
  • Addiction Services
  • Immigration Services
  • Government
  • Voluntary Sector

Course Delivery and Modules

All modules are mandatory modules. As a result, students’ complete modules that are typically 5 or 10 credits, based on the breadth of expected knowledge within them. In order to attain both QQI standards, it has been necessary to integrate five to six modules in some semesters. Students also complete two mandatory work placements.

Year 4 is a capstone of student learning with two research project modules that offer students the opportunity to work on a research project of their own choosing and design. Aligned with this is their submission of documents for ethical approval. As a capstone year, the two semesters place emphasis on the two strands of social studies and service users. 

  • Year 1

    • Communication and Collaborative Practice in Social Care
    • Introducing Psychology in Care
    • Issues in Social Care
    • Creative and Reflective Practice in Social Care
    • Sociological Context of Social Care
    • Preparation for Professional Practice
    • The Self in Social Care
    • The Arts in Social Care Practice
    • Theories and Concepts
    • Sociological Change in Ireland
  • Year 2

    • Professional Practice Placement 1
    • Applied Psychology in Care
    • Promoting Health and Wellbeing
    • Inclusive Arts
    • Legal Framework for Social Care
    • Continuing Professional Development and Social Care
    • Care in a Multicultural Context
  • Year 3

    • Research Methods in Social Care
    • Evidence-based Social Care Practice
    • Developing Professional Practice
    • Compliance and Quality in Social Care
    • Mental Health in Social Care
    • Professional Practice Placement 2
  • Year 4

    • Ethical Research
    • Legal Issues in Social Care
    • Gender and Social Change
    • Social Policy
    • Social Justice
    • Research Project
    • Social Care and Disability
    • Addiction and Social Care
    • Social Care Work with Children and Families
    • Care of Older People

Work Placement

Placements occur in both Year 2 and 3 of study. Placement sites include the following services and supports in the following areas:

  • Child and Family Agencies
  • Disability
  • Older Person Supports
  • Mental Health / Addiction
  • Homelessness
  • Domestic Violence
  • Social Inclusion initiatives

Each placement is a 12-week block placement as follows:

  • 2nd year placement: September - December
  • 3rd year placement: January - May

Please note all students on the Social Care course must satisfy the Garda / Police Vetting procedure of DkIT prior to attending placement.

Education Progression

Graduates may progress to postgraduate studies, (both taught and research) either within the institute (through the DCU/DkIT Graduate School) or externally in other HE organisations.  Previous graduates have progressed to further studies in areas such as social policy, gender and social care, disability studies and social work studies. 

Postgraduate 2 Years Blended

MA in Leadership, Management and Innovation for Social Care

View Course Details

Fees and Funding

Please find information on fees and funding here: www.dkit.ie/fees

Entry Requirements

Recent CAO Points

2023 CAO Round 1 Points

251

How To Apply

Apply on CAO

All standard entry first-year applicants must apply for entry through the CAO. See Important application dates for CAO and information for specific applicant types below:

CAO Code: DK862
Apply on CAO

International Application (non-EU)

International Applicants (not from or living in the EU) can apply through an agent or directly to DkIT to study this course.

Ask us a Question

If you have a question about the BA (Hons) in Social Care please ask it below and we will get back to you.


Dr. Annaleigh Margey

Acting Head of Department, Department of Humanities

Email: Annaleigh.Margey@dkit.ie

Patricia Rahill

Programme Director (Professional Social Worker, registered with CORU)

Email: patricia.rahill@dkit.ie

Disclaimer: All module titles are subject to change and for indicative purposes only. All courses are delivered subject to demand and timetables are subject to change. Elective Module options will only run subject to student numbers. The relevant Department will determine the viability of each elective module option proceeding depending on the number of students who choose that option. Students will be offered alternative elective modules on their programme should their preferred elective option not be proceeding. Award Options for Common Entry Programmes: The relevant Department will determine the viability of each award option proceeding depending on the number of students who choose either option. If the numbers for one of the Award options exceed available places, students for this option will be selected based on Academic Merit (highest grades).