Arts Children Studies AWC

Course Overview

The Discipline of Children’s Studies offers two course streams, which have been designed to provide graduates with different skill sets and knowledge.  Stream 1: Arts with Children’s Studies (GY110 AWC) and Stream 2: Arts (Children’s Studies) (GY110 ACS). 

What is Children’s Studies?

Children’s Studies is a new and genuinely interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary field of study.  It brings together knowledge from many disciplines (education, anthropology, psychology, literature, history, health promotion, sociology, the creative arts, human rights, law and public policy) to help students develop their understanding of children as a class.  This deeply developed understanding is the most appropriate preparation for any career working with, or on behalf of, children. 

Stream 1: Arts with Children’s Studies (GY110 AWC)

Arts with Children’s Studies is the only degree in Europe that enables students to combine an Arts degree with a specialism in Children’s Studies. It enables students to take two traditional arts subjects alongside Children’s Studies to degree level. The expertise acquired through a BA with Children’s Studies will assist students in identifying the career path that best suits their particular talents and ambitions.

As students study Children’s Studies and two Arts subjects to degree level, the AWC degree is the perfect platform from which to pursue postgraduate study on the PME post-primary and a career in secondary school teaching. 

It is also a strong foundation for a career in community development work, advocacy, the creative arts, and education, and an excellent basis for post-graduate study in social work, play therapy, speech and language therapy; our graduates are very successful in gaining entry to these competitive programmes.

In third year students complete a semester long placement either in Ireland or abroad (for example, in one of our partner schools in Spain); students are encouraged to choose a 

placement that matches their career ambitions and are supported in this decision by the careers office and the discipline.

Recent graduates are currently working in speech and language therapy, play therapy, music therapy, social work, and public policy, as well as in teaching and educational support in Ireland and abroad.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Course Outline

Year 1

In First Year, students will select Children’s Studies along with three other Arts subjects from groups 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 & 7 from the Joint-Honours subject groupings.  Please note students may only select one subject from a subject grouping; Children’s Studies in Group 4, therefore no other Group 4 subject may be chosen. 

For subject groupings please see here

Year 2

In Second Year, students will progress with Children’s Studies and two of the Arts subjects selected in First Year. 

Please note, some subjects, such as Psychology, have competitive/restricted entry into second year – please check with specific disciplines for more information. 

Year 3

Third Year will focus exclusively on Children’s Studies and includes a semester long placement in a location suitable to the student’s career ambitions, either in Ireland or abroad.  Students doing placement abroad in Europe are currently funded with a monthly stipend by Erasmus funding [subject to change].  Year-long placements are also possible upon discipline approval, including year-long placements that are half in Ireland and half abroad. These flexible and student-centered placement options enable students to get a strong feeling for possible career and postgraduate study directions and students report having much clearer visions for the future after completing third year.

Year 4

In Final Year, students will study only the two Arts subjects selected in Second Year; students do not take any Children’s Studies modules in fourth year.

Curriculum Information

Further Education

Graduates of this programme will be eligible for entry into postgraduate professional qualifications in secondary or primary school teaching [PME post-primary or PME primary], social work, play therapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, research with children, health promotion, advertising and public relations; advocacy and community development both nationally and internationally.  In addition, many go directly to work as inclusion support assistants (SNAs), in the disability sector, in various community youth work roles, or in public service. 

*Please Note: this is NOT a recognized qualification for early childhood (ECCE) work.  Those wanting to work in ECCE should source a specific ECCE/DCEDIY recognized qualification, or alternatively do this degree planning to pursue a postgraduate level 9 in ECCE after graduation.

*Please note, all postgraduate professional programmes have their own specific entry requirements.  While past students have been successful gaining entry to postgraduate programmes in all of these areas, students are encouraged to look at the specific requirements of the postgraduate programme they are interested in and ensure they will meet all requirements (ie. Irish language, specific volunteering requirements, placement location requirements, HPAT, etc.)

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

Fees: Tuition

Fees: Student Contribution

Fees: Student levy

Fees: Non EU

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