Social Policy and Sociology  (SBU2)

The Bachelor of Social Science gives students an excellent grounding in the disciplines of Social Policy and Sociology. The degree provides a strong foundation for both postgraduate study and a wide range of careers in government, social services, NGOs, education, media and business. It is the standard qualification for those working in policy making and social servces. 

We value multidisciplinary exploration, understanding and critical reflection on societies and their contexts. We encourage our students to be critical thinkers, to develop an awareness of ethical issues, and to engage with civil society in order to act as socially aware, responsible citizens.

We provide a learning environment that supports and encourages the development of reflective  and analytic skills. Students will work individually and with their peers to evaluate evidence and identify solutions to key social challenges.

We offer students a variety of teaching and learning approaches. The primary approach is the combination of lectures and seminars. Alongside these we use active learning approaches, for example panel debates, lab work, policy evaluations, work placements, field work, poster sessions and group work. Face to face interaction between students, lecturers and tutors is supported by online tools. 

1 - Demonstrate a broad understanding of Social Policy and Sociology
2 - Demonstrate in-depth understanding of their chosen pathway
3 - Synthesise, evaluate, interpret and report theories and evidence in an open, analytical and critical manner.
4 - Apply their knowledge to find evidence-based, ethical and creative solutions to social issues.
5 - Use appropriate research methods to develop and answer research questions
6 - Communicate effectively using written and oral methods
7 - Work effectively and responsibly, using professional techniques, tools and technologies, as an individual and in teams

If you are interested in a people-focused career, the new Social Science degree prepares you for a range of exciting career opportunities and postgraduate pathways.

In a time of rapid change the Social Science degree (BSocSc) offers you the opportunity to explore and understand the society in which you live. In the Social Science degree you will examine the complexities of social life and see how individuals and groups live and work together. You will also explore how best to respond to individual needs and to the particular requirements of marginalised members of society.

These core modules in the first year of the degree allow you to take a sociological view of society and social life, looking at why people behave in certain ways and how they function in the different groups to which they belong – families, races, classes, religions and neighbourhoods. In this year you also study the fundamentals of Social Policy, looking at the most effective way to respond the social problems and social needs in areas such as housing, health and education. In Social Policy modules you explore the complexities behind such issues as poverty, gender inequalities and drug or alcohol abuse. You are taught by supportive staff who, using a mixture of lectures and small-group teaching, are interested in helping you choose the modules that best suit your interests and your career needs study.

Social Science in Focus

Stage 1

You will undertake compulsory modules in social policy and sociology. Students are not expected to have any prior knowledge of these disciplines; the first year modules will provide you with a comprehensive introduction.
Academic advice is available to help you choose the most appropriate combination of subject modules for your career choices and to allow you to progress to the path of graduate study most suited to your academic interest and career needs.

Stage 2

In Stage 2, you chose from one of three study paths that have been designed to allow you to directly enter the labour market or to progress to graduate study, leading to a range of interesting and rewarding careers.
Your choice of modules has been tailored to the type of career pathway that matches your particular interests and each student takes a unique combination of modules that best suits their needs. Psychology cannot be taken as a major subject in the Social Science degree, but some of the study paths contain specialist psychology modules.

Social Work and Social Professions Path: This pathway provides you with a strong foundation for professional social work or social service careers, in addition to careers in Counselling, Social care Management, and the Probation Service.

Society and Public Service: You will be introduced to statistics for Social Policy, social policy topics covering a wide range of social services and modules in public sociology. This pathway prepares you for a wide range of master’s programmes and employment in public services, NGOs, community development, youth work, social enterprise and public policy advocacy.

Work, Organisations and People: You will combine social policy and sociology with modules from organisational psychology and industrial relations. This pathway prepares you for study in a wide range of human organisation orientated Master’s programmes and employment in business and personnel management, industrial relations, marketing and corporate responsibility and governance.

Students can apply to study abroad for a year in partner universities by extending the degree to 4 years. Destinations include Netherlands, Malta, Hong Kong and Canada.

This degree provides an excellent grounding for a wide range of careers such as: Social research and policy analysis • Journalism • Online and New Media • Social work • Community work • Social services management • Human Resources Management • The Civil and Public Service The degree opens up many pathways for career development and further study both within the School and beyond. For example many students in the Social Work pathway progress into the Schools Professional Masters of Social Work.

UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice
sp-sw-sj@ucd.ie

See the UCD Assessment website for further details

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Module Weighting Info