Entry Points (2017)
316

Course Overview

The study of public policy is concerned with how the formal, stated decisions of government bodies are initiated, formulated and implemented, and how the policy process can be improved. Social policy relates to the role of the state in relation to the welfare of its citizens. This programme aims to provide students with a detailed understanding of the sources of public and social policy, and the implications of that policy for social institutions, individuals and the political system. It draws on key elements of legal, social, political and economic theory, and provides students with an understanding of how legal, political and economic systems function. Students develop specialisations in their chosen policy areas, which include health, crime, family, environment, housing, human rights and social inclusion.

Applications and Selections

Who Teaches this Course

Requirements and Assessment

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 Grades in the Leaving Certificate, including Irish, English, another language, and three other subjects recognised for entry purposes

Additional Requirements

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Duration

3 years

Next start date

September 2018

A Level Grades (2017)

BBB or equivalent combination

Average intake

60

QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes

Closing Date
NFQ level

Mode of study

ECTS weighting

Award

CAO

GY103

Course code

Course Outline

Year 1

  • Principles of Microeconomics
  • Principles of Macroeconomics
  • Economics Coursework
  • Introduction to Research in Public and Social Policy
  • Irish Legal Systems
  • Law and Social Policy
  • Administrative Law I
  • Introduction to Politics and Sociology
  • Concepts and Practices in Politics and Sociology
  • Problems in Politics and Sociology
  • Public and Social Policy in Ireland

Year 2

  • Intermediate Microeconomics
  • Mathematics for Economics
  • Sociology of Law
  • Constitutional Law I
  • European Politics
  • Public Administration
  • Intermediate Macroeconomics
  • Economics of Public Policy
  • Constitutional Law II
  • Health Law and Policy
  • Social Issues and Policy Responses
  • Methods for Social and Political Scientists

Year 3

  • Topics in Microeconomics Theory
  • European Community Law I
  • Development and Change
  • Theories of the Policy Process
  • Public Economics
  • European Community Law II
  • Comparative Public Policy
  • Policy Seminar
  • Choice of modules in Economics, Law and Sociological and Political Studies

Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).
Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.

Glossary of Terms

Credits
You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
Module
An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
Subject
Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
Optional
A module you may choose to study.
Required
A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
Required Core Subject
A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
Semester
Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.

Year 3 (60 Credits)

Optional SPL304: Women, Men & the Economy: Critical Explorations of Theory & Policy - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW409: Criminal Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional EC345: Health Economics - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP493: Environmentalism - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional EC369: Money And Banking - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW212: Labour Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP647.I: Northern Ireland: The Politics of a Divided Society - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP693.I: Ethnicity, Nationalism and The State - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SPL315.I: Smart & Liveable Cities and Suburbs - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional EC427: Ireland, Europe & the Global Economy - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP3101: 'Community' - Significance and Change - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3103: European Union: Political Theory and Pol. Economy - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP469: Political Anthropology - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional EC388: Environmental And Natural Resource Economics - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP3113: Early Years Education and Care: Research & Policy - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP3105: Globalisation, prostitution and the state - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP3128: Travellers, Rights, Nomadism and Ethnicity - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional EC3105: Econometrics - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP705.I: Revisiting Violence - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional EC382: International Economics - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW357: Environmental Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP3134: Human Rights Advocacy: Concepts, Law and Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP698: Transforming Children's Services - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP404: Development And Change - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP406: Principles Of Political Theory - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional LW4103: Administrative Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP3116: Ocean and Marine Politics - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP6121 (SEM 1): The Power of Story and Narrative: Researching our Lives - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP3151: Development, Equality, Advocacy - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SPL314: Theories of Nationalism - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP3120: Degrees of Freedom: The Politics of Poverty, Welfare and Punishment - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP219: Political Sociology - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Required EC3101: Microeconomics and Public Policy - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Required LW503: European Union Law I - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Required SP508: Theories of the Policy Process - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP3138: Advocacy, Diversity and Equality - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP689.I: Childhood and Children's Rights - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP3118: Understanding Youth - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SPL301: The Politics of Peace and Conflict - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP3106: Mobilities - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP498.I: Sociology of Religion - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP586: Sociology of Sexuality - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SPL316: Contemporary Irish Health Policy in Comparative Context - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3141: Socially-Engaged Art and Relations of Power - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3129: Sexualities, Genders and Diversities - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3115: Volunteering: Theory, Policy and Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW413: Criminal Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional EC362: Economics Of Financial Markets - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW216: Labour Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW370: Comparative Disability Law - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP449: Mexican Politics And Society - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3107: Political Reform in Ireland - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP647.II: Northern Ireland: The Politics of a Divided Society - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP693.II: Ethnicity, Nationalism and The State - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SPL315.II: Smart & Liveable Cities and Suburbs - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP419: Marxist Theory - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP701: Children & Young People in Families Today - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3117: Sociology of Agriculture - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional EC3102: Macroeconomics and Public Policy - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3119: Green Political Thought - 5 Credits - Semester 5
Optional SP3123: Travellers, Rights, Nomadism and Ethnicity - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP705.II: Revisiting Violence - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW358: Environmental Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW4104: Administrative Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP407: Sociology Of Work - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP649: Power - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3133: The Northern Ireland Conflict - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP618: Welfare Words: Key Words in Social Work & Social Welfare - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3137: Youth and Society - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3139: Comparative Government and Politics - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP305: Comparative Public Policy - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP405: Contemporary Social Thought - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional EC3100: Economics and Philosophy - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional LW365: Criminology - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP694: The Power of Story and Narrative: Researching Our Lives - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3152: Comparative Government and Public Policy - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3153: Topics in Contemporary Social and Political Theory - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Required SP514: Policy Seminar - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Required EC386: Public Economics - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Required LW504: European Union Law II - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional EC357: Development Economics - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional EC429: Marine Economics - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional EC3103: Behavioural Economics - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP721: Ocean and Marine Politics - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP699: Buddhism Politics & Society - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SPL318: Understanding Youth - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP695: Social and Political Context of Activism and Advocacy - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SPL302: Conflict & Territory - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP470: Politics In The Republic Of Ireland - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP459: The Irish Administrative System - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP692: Minor dissertation - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Optional SP3XX: 3rd Year Dummy Seminar Module - 5 Credits - Semester 6

Further Education

This programme provides students with a foundation with which to pursue further study in the areas of law, economics, sociology, politics, journalism, community development, social work, teaching, human relations, business, and public and social policy. Graduates wishing to pursue a career in law may be admitted to the full law degree, the LLB, and are exempted from first year.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

This degree provides an innovative and attractive educational foundation in the policy-making process and will open up career possibilities in central and local government, the EU, nongovernmental organisations and other bodies involved in the policy process. It also provides an excellent foundation for a career in public administration, industrial relations, journalism, social work, community work, management, administration, development agencies, banking and business, as well as research.

Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

Transferable Skills Employers Value

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Some students have availed of Erasmus opportunities in universities in Malta, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€5,822 p.a. 2018/19

Fees: Tuition

€2,598 p.a. 2018/19

Fees: Student Contribution

€3,000 p.a. 2018/19

Fees: Student levy

€224 p.a. 2018/19

Fees: Non EU

€14,750 p.a. 2019/20
EU Fees 2018/19:
- Tuition: may be paid by the Irish Government on your behalf if you qualify for free tuition fees see - free fee initiative.
- Student Contribution: €3,000 - payable by all students but may by paid by SUSI if you apply and are deemed eligible for a means tested SUSI grant.
- Student Levy:  €224 - payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI.

Find out More

College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies
T +353 91 493 958
F +353 91 495 508
E collegearts@nuigalway.ie
www.nuigalway.ie/arts/


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