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Accessibility & LanguageSocial Care
Bachelor of Arts (Social Care)
College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences- Title of Award
- Degree
- Course Code
- BAS1
- Delivery
- Blended Learning
- NFQ
- 8
- Award Type
- Major
- Next Intake
- September 2026
- Duration
- 4 years, part-time
- ECTS Weighting
- 180
Why Choose This Course?
Course Information
The Honours Bachelor of Arts (Social Care) provides teaching of theoretical concepts applied to social care practice. It was developed in response to the continuing educational needs of social care workers in the context of the professionalisation of social care work and includes both theoretical and practice components.
The Honours Bachelor of Arts (Social Care) reflects the depth and breadth of social care work both in terms of service users groups, such as children, individuals with disabilities, adults or older people and in terms of service diversity, such as residential, community or independent living services. Current students and graduates of this BA work in a vast array of statutory, voluntary and private services and settings including independent and residential services for individuals with disabilities, residential and aftercare services for children, homeless services, services for older people and community support services.
Year 1: The first year of the course provides a general introduction to the field of social and health studies through two course components: course modules and work placement. Students attend a workshop for each module. In addition, students complete supervised work placement in a social care setting. Students who successfully complete these course components may continue to the second year of the programme.
Year 2: This second year develops the skills and understanding gained in year 1 as well as developing on the theoretical ideas that underpin social care practice and service provision. On successful completion of year 2 students may continue to the third year of the programme.
Year 3: This year builds on years 1 and 2 with further theoretical exploration of social care work and service provision through interactive distance education materials, workshops and work placement. The core competencies required for working in the social care field are further developed and linked to their application in a workplace setting.
Year 4: This final year of the Honours Bachelor of Arts (Social Care) is comprised of workshops, work placement and self-directed study components. In addition, learners complete a dissertation on a particular area of social care work, with the support of a named individual supervisor.
Classes days and times
Workshops take place on Fridays and will run generally from 10am to 4pm. All workshops will be held at University of Galway, unless otherwise advised. Provisional timetables for year one will be available in due course and can be requested from the course administrator.
Mandatory induction for 1st years for 2025/26 will be held in early September 2025 (dates to be confirmed).
Modules
Year One
- Introduction to integrated and experiential learning for Social Care
- Introduction to social care practice and care skills
- Introduction to legal, ethical and professional practice in social care
- Introduction to Health and Health Promotion
- Introduction to communication skills for social care
- Sociology: An Introduction
- Practice Placement 1
Year Two
- Psychology across the lifespan: An Introduction
- Health Promotion Models & Frameworks
- Introduction to care planning for social care
- Care Planning in Social Care Practice
- Communication and relationship skills
- Legal, ethical and professional practice in social care
- Social and Health Services; Systems History and Context
- Introduction to Research
- Practice Placement 2
Year Three
- Experiential learning and evidenced-based practice
- Working with People with Disabilities - a Social Care Perspective
- Professional autonomy and accountability
- Social care across the lifespan - working with children and young people
- Health promotion strategies and approaches
- Research methods and methodology
- Practice Placement 3
Year Four
- Social care across the lifespan - working with older people
- Management and leadership in social care settings
- Research Strategy
- Health Promotion Practice
- Practice Placement 4
Please note that this outline is for guidance only and alterations may be made as required.
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 1 (45 Credits)
RequiredSC2112: Sociology: An Introduction - 5 Credits - Semester 1RequiredSC1118: Practice Placement 1 - 10 Credits - Semester 1
RequiredSC758: Introduction to legal, ethical and professional practice in social care - 10 Credits - Semester 1
RequiredSC759: Introduction to integrated and experiential learning for Social Care - 5 Credits - Semester 1
RequiredSC760: Introduction to social care practice and care skills - 5 Credits - Semester 1
RequiredSC1150: Introduction to Health and Health Promotion - 5 Credits - Semester 2
RequiredSC757: Introduction to communication skills for social care - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Year 2 (45 Credits)
RequiredSC2110: Introduction to Research - 5 Credits - Semester 3RequiredSC2109: Psychology across the Lifespan: An Introduction - 5 Credits - Semester 3
RequiredSC2108: Practice Placement 2 - 10 Credits - Semester 3
RequiredSC2111: Health Promotion: Models and Frameworks - 5 Credits - Semester 4
RequiredSC762: Social and health services; systems, history and context - 5 Credits - Semester 4
RequiredSC831: Legal, Ethical & Professional Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 4
RequiredSC833: Communication & Relationship Skills - 5 Credits - Semester 4
RequiredSC2839: Care Planning in Social Care Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Year 3 (45 Credits)
RequiredSC3109: Experiential Learning & Evidence Based Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 5RequiredSC3103: Health Promotion Stategies & Approaches - 5 Credits - Semester 5
RequiredSC3104: Professional Autonomy & Accountability - 5 Credits - Semester 5
RequiredSC3105: Research Methods & Methodolgy - 10 Credits - Semester 5
RequiredSC3106: Social Care across the life span: Working with children & young people - 5 Credits - Semester 5
RequiredSC3100: Practice Placement 3 - 10 Credits - Semester 5
RequiredSC3108: Working with People with Disabilities: A Social Care Perspective - 5 Credits - Semester 6
Year 4 (45 Credits)
RequiredSC4123: Research Strategy - 15 Credits - Semester 7RequiredSC4124: Social Care across the lifespan: working with Older People - 5 Credits - Semester 7
RequiredSC4137: Health Promotion Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 8
RequiredSC4125: Practice Placement 4 - 10 Credits - Semester 8
RequiredSC4122: Management and Leadership in Social Care Settings - 10 Credits - Semester 8
Completion of the course leads to the qualification of the Honours Bachelor of Arts (Social Care). This qualification is approved by CORU - the Health and Social Care Regulator.
Social Care is part of the discipline of Health Promotion, which maintains a thriving research culture with research projects at local, national and international levels, most notably through the Health Promotion Research Centre, which is also a WHO collaborating centre. This focus on health promotion and research is interwoven into the social care course.
Graduates of the course are employed by statutory, private and voluntary bodies and work with a variety of groups including young children, young people, older people and individuals with disabilities. In addition, graduates of the course have gone on to pursue further study in both taught and research postgraduate courses.
Assessment of course modules and work placements is based on a combination of written assignments, practical work, work placement supervisor’s reports, online work, project work and examination (or any combination of these) in each year of the course.
If you do not meet the standard entry criteria for this course, you may gain entry through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy. Applicants may also be able to earn module exemptions based on their prior learning. Find out more here.
Accreditations & Awards
The Social Care course is inspiring in a way that’s hard to fully put into words. The subjects are meaningful and thought-provoking. We are encouraged to look at society, inequality, ethics, and human experience with honesty and depth. It is not just about learning information, it's about understanding people and social situations. Many times, I have left a lecture thinking about how the discussion connects to real life, to families, to communities, and even to my own experiences. The learning is real and purposeful. The lecturers and staff are incredibly supportive.
Sinéad Donoghue
Student
Every aspect of this course was so relevant to working in the field of social care. Students brought different life experiences and perspectives to the classroom. The face-to-face sessions every couple of weeks were so valuable for building relationships with other learners and lecturers. This created a great support network for times of challenge or uncertainty. Placements were an opportunity to explore both familiar and unfamiliar aspects of working in social care. The final year dissertation allowed me to focus on my particular interests and even led to having an article published.
Deborah Murphy
Graduate
The course has not only provided me with knowledge and skills, but it has also helped me become more professional in my area of work. I learned how to set clear boundaries, work ethically, and advocate properly for the needs of my clients. A key learning for me was being able to use research and evidence to support client’s needs and back up why certain supports are important. Another major benefit of the course was developing my critical thinking. I now look at the bigger picture and question why things are the way they are, rather than just accepting situations at face value.
Ciara McCormack
Student
Returning to education to do the BA in Social Care was one of the best decisions I have made, not only for my professional development but also for the positive impact it has had on many aspects of my life. Throughout the course, I found that each module helped in improving my Social Care practice, particularly in developing strong reflective skills that continue to guide my work. The lecturers were really supportive. Overall, the course has helped me a lot professionally & I would highly recommend it to anyone considering a career in Social Care or to people who want to enhance their skills.
Úna Daly
Graduate
Meet our Employers
Entry Requirements and Fees
Formal academic qualifications are not required to commence this Honours Bachelor of Arts (Social Care) course. Candidates are expected to have good reading and writing skills, as well as basic IT skills, as independent home study is required. Candidates must also have a minimum of one year’s experience in care work, which has been gained in either a formal (i.e. employed as a care assistant) or informal capacity (i.e. caring for a family member, voluntary work in a caring capacity). The age requirement for those wishing to commence this BA is 21 years of age on the 1st of January in the year that a candidate is applying. The matriculation requirements for University of Galway for those under 21 years of age do not apply for the Social Care course.
Additional Requirements
Students must satisfy Garda/Police clearance requirements. Garda clearance must be applied for through University of Galway, regardless of whether an individual currently holds Garda clearance with another organisation.
Vaccinations: The HSE, the School of Health Sciences and the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, require students to produce evidence that they have received the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) and the Hepatitis B (Hep B) vaccinations. In line with this requirement, University of Galway Social Care Programme recommends that student’s evidence both the MMR and Hepatitis B before the commencement of placement. Evidence of these vaccinations must be provided in the first year of the course.
Vaccinations: The HSE, the School of Health Sciences and the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, require students to produce evidence that they have received the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) and the Hepatitis B (Hep B) vaccinations. In line with this requirement, University of Galway Social Care Programme recommends that student’s evidence both the MMR and Hepatitis B before the commencement of placement. Evidence of these vaccinations must be provided in the first year of the course.
Online Applications will open in April, 2026.
Applications are made online via the University of Galway Applications System. This course is listed under Adult Learning Undergraduate\Postgraduate, CPD, Micro-credentials & Summer School Applications.
Please visit our How to Apply page for Application tips and Supporting Documents information.
Applications will be assessed solely on the information provided within the online application form and interviews do not form part of the selection process. Applicants are therefore advised to complete the application form fully and thoroughly, as incomplete applications cannot be considered. Please contact the course administrator for further information.Practice Placement
Practice placement is an integral component of the Honours Bachelor of Arts (Social Care) and provides the opportunity for learners to integrate theory and practice. In line with current CORU guidance, the practice placement component of this course is comprised of 800hrs of placement in a variety of settings over the 4 years of the course. All students must complete 200 hours of practice placement per year of the Honours Bachelor of Arts (Social Care) course. The practice placement is undertaken in a setting outside of your normal workplace and this is the case for all students, regardless of previous social care experience. As this course has been designed to meet the needs of adult learners, students are expected to source appropriate practice placements themselves, with the support and guidance of the practice placement team. Additional support and guidance will be offered to 1st year students in sourcing their practice placement. Practice placements commonly operate on a continuous rather than ‘block’ basis, nonetheless, block placements can be accommodated where preferred and possible.
Vaccinations
The HSE, the School of Health Sciences and the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, require students to produce evidence that they have received the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) and the Hepatitis B (Hep B) vaccinations. In line with this requirement, University of Galway Social Care Programme recommends that student’s evidence both the MMR and Hepatitis B before the commencement of placement. Evidence of these vaccinations must be provided in the first year of the course.
Exemptions
Applicants with existing academic qualifications can apply for exemptions from modules (post-registration only), where direct comparability can be demonstrated. An exemption can only be applied for in relation to an academic module or modules in year one and/or year two of the Honours Bachelor of Arts (Social Care) course.
Please note, applications for academic module exemptions will be assessed solely on the information provided in the application documentation and applicants are therefore advised to complete the documentation fully and thoroughly. Late or incomplete applications cannot be considered. Please contact the course administrator for further information.
Fees for Academic Year 2026/27
| Course Type | Year | EU Tuition | Student Contribution | Non-EU Tuition | Levy | Total Fee | Total EU Fee | Total Non-EU Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UG Part time Bachelors | 1 | €3,050 | €4,350 | €105 | €3,155 | €4,455 |
SUSI Funding
This course is now eligible for funding under the SUSI grants scheme. You can find more information regarding the SUSI funding here.
Social Care Course Administrator
Room 204 Aras Moyola, University of Galway
Tel: 091 493874
Email: enquiriessocialcare@universityofgalway.ie
Why University of Galway?
World renowned research led university nestled in the vibrant heart of Galway city on Ireland's scenic West Coast.
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Meet Our Alumni
Introduction
If you are currently working in social care or have one year's full-time (or equivalent) social care experience, then the Honours Bachelor of Arts (Social Care) may be the course for you!
This Degree leads to the CORU-approved qualification of Honours Bachelor of Arts (Social Care).
