Masters Degrees in Social Work, Ireland

Social work is a challenging and a rewarding activity and requires a personal commitment to the ideals and values of the social work profession. Those considering social work as a career option should be aware of its ethical and value dimensions and, in particular, the commitment of practitioners to the promotion of social justice.

The Master in Social Work course offers a route to a professional qualification in social work for applicants with a primary degree in the Social Sciences or equivalent. It combines an academic postgraduate award with the National Qualification in Social Work (NQSW). The professional qualification is awarded by the National Social Work Qualifications Board and the academic qualification is awarded by the University of Dublin.

This is a two year full time programme consisting of 16 weeks full-time academic attendance and 14 weeks full-time fieldwork placement in the first year, and 14 weeks full-time academic attendance and 14 weeks full-time field work placement in second year.

The programme is geared towards an international perspective and the student group can avail of placement opportunities abroad including Canada, England, South Africa and the USA.

Admission Requirements

Applicants should hold a level 8 primary social science degree (second-class honors or higher), or equivalent, and a minimum of 6 months relevant practice experience. There are up to 25 places on the course each year. All applicants are advised to read the following documentation which provides an overview of entry and course requirements to the Masters in social Work. M.S.W. Guidelines

All applications for the Masters in Social Work must include the following documents:

A breakdown and description of relevant work experience to date which indicates the total number of hours or weeks worked. The minimum number of hours applicants must have is 850.
Students are not required to provide 2 academic references instead they must provide one academic reference and one reference from their practice experience.
Students must provide a personal statement of no less than 500 words and no more than 1000 words.

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Overview

The MA in Community and Youth Work integrates advanced study in challenging issues facing society today with accredited professional education for key roles in community development, youth work, and associated equality, human rights, international development, local development, local authority, national institutions, and international agency work. The programme provides an opportunity to engage in education and training in a dialogical environment, combining research and praxis for action, policy influence and advocacy, and participation in shaping society and facilitating young people to reach their potential.

Professional Endorsement:
The MA in Community and Youth Work [incorporating the Postgraduate Diploma in Community and Youth Work (PDCYW) is endorsed by the North South Education and Training Standards Board as a professional qualification in Youth Work and by the All Ireland Endorsement Body for Community Work as a professional qualification in Community Work.

Course Structure

The programme, in line with all postgraduate professional qualifications takes place over two years full time or three years part time in service. Students undertake a full time professional fieldwork placement lasting fourteen weeks in each year, and undertake study visits nationally and internationally. Modules include fieldwork placements and visits, community and youth work theory and practice, equality and human rights studies, youth and community arts, public administration, group work, social policy, social theory and comparative international studies.

Career Options

The programme creates critical thinkers who are engaged professionally to work dynamically in leadership positions in the fields of community development and youth work and a variety of areas such as development, policy analysis, organisational leadership in NGOs and statutory organisations in Ireland, Europe and internationally Graduates are involved in a variety of positions at national, regional, local and international levels in youth projects, community based work and statutory and voluntary organisations.

How To Apply

Online application only http://www.pac.ie/maynoothuniversity

PAC Code
MHB55 Part-time in-service

The following information should be forwarded to PAC, 1 Courthouse Square, Galway or uploaded to your online application form:

Certified copies of all official transcripts of results for all non-Maynooth University qualifications listed MUST accompany the application. Failure to do so will delay your application being processed. Non-Maynooth University students are asked to provide two academic references and a copy of birth certificate or valid passport.

Maynooth University graduates are required to produce a professional reference for relevant work (voluntary or paid).

Garda Vetting
In line with national provisions for the protection of children and vulnerable adults, all applicants called for interview for the MACYW and DCYW will be required to complete a Garda Vetting Form.

Find information on Scholarships here https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/study-maynooth/postgraduate-studies/fees-funding-scholarships

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Overview

The MA in Community and Youth Work integrates advanced study in challenging issues facing society today with accredited professional education for key roles in community development, youth work, and associated equality, human rights, international development, local development, local authority, national institutions, and international agency work. The programme provides an opportunity to engage in education and training in a dialogical environment, combining research and praxis for action, policy influence and advocacy, and participation in shaping society and facilitating young people to reach their potential.

Professional Endorsement:
The MA in Community and Youth Work [incorporating the Postgraduate Diploma in Community and Youth Work (PDCYW) is endorsed by the North South Education and Training Standards Board as a professional qualification in Youth Work and by the All Ireland Endorsement Body for Community Work as a professional qualification in Community Work.

Course Structure

The programme, in line with all postgraduate professional qualifications takes place over two years full time or three years part time in service. Students undertake a full time professional fieldwork placement lasting fourteen weeks in each year, and undertake study visits nationally and internationally. Modules include fieldwork placements and visits, community and youth work theory and practice, equality and human rights studies, youth and community arts, public administration, group work, social policy, social theory and comparative international studies.

Career Options

The programme creates critical thinkers who are engaged professionally to work dynamically in leadership positions in the fields of community development and youth work and a variety of areas such as development, policy analysis, organisational leadership in NGOs and statutory organisations in Ireland, Europe and internationally Graduates are involved in a variety of positions at national, regional, local and international levels in youth projects, community based work and statutory and voluntary organisations.

How To Apply

Online application only http://www.pac.ie/maynoothuniversity

PAC Code
MHB54 Full-time

The following information should be forwarded to PAC, 1 Courthouse Square, Galway or uploaded to your online application form:

Certified copies of all official transcripts of results for all non-Maynooth University qualifications listed MUST accompany the application. Failure to do so will delay your application being processed. Non-Maynooth University students are asked to provide two academic references and a copy of birth certificate or valid passport.

MU graduates are required to produce a professional reference for relevant work (voluntary or paid).

Garda Vetting
In line with national provisions for the protection of children and vulnerable adults, all applicants called for interview for the MACYW and DCYW will be required to complete a Garda Vetting Form.

Find information on Scholarships here https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/study-maynooth/postgraduate-studies/fees-funding-scholarships

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There is a separate entry on admission to the M.Sc. in Child Protection and Welfare.

The programme is run on an in-service basis over one academic year, entailing attendance at an induction course and nine block weeks in Trinity College as well as the completion of course-related assignments in the workplace. The multidisciplinary in-take comprises experienced and senior personnel from a range of relevant disciplines, for example, social work, public health nursing, education, community based and residential child care, psychology, An Garda Siochana, youth and project work. The course is designed to strengthen the capacity of the health, social service, education and criminal justice systems to identify and respond to the needs of vulnerable and abused children and their families. It is organised in close collaboration with the Department of Health and Children and the Health Services Executive. Candidates who successfully complete the Diploma course and meet the eligibility criteria for the M.Sc. in Child Protection and Welfare (see earlier entry under Taught Masters Programmes) may proceed to a second year to complete the Masters course.

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This new one-year online programme aims to provide graduates from all disciplines with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the need for effective implementable social policies. This programme considers prevalent contemporary societal challenges and examines the complex inter-relationships between social security, health, crime, family violence, inequality and discrimination. Students completing this course will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing policy-makers in attempting to be part of the solution. Students will complete modules on Criminology, Family and Society, Contemporary Social Debates, as well as introductions to Social Policy, Disability Studies and Social Work.

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The M.Sc. in Applied Social Research is a taught Masters programme which can be completed on a one year, full-time or two year, part-time basis. It is designed for graduates in the social sciences who want to develop their research skills and gain employment in the area of research. This Masters is equally suited to those who wish to build research skills for application in their current work environments. The course also provides a strong foundation for further post-graduate study, particularly for PhD research.

Using a combination of lectures, workshops and practical assignments, this M.Sc. programme trains graduates to:

Design and conduct primary social research using both quantitative and qualitative research methods;
Analyse the research data collected using a variety of computer programmes and;
Write and present research findings to a variety of audiences.
Initiated in 1997, the M.Sc. in Applied Social Research has established an excellent reputation in training students in applied research skills. Graduates of the M.Sc. in Applied Social Research typically gain employment in research institutes or consultancies, government departments, semi-state agencies, the NGO sector, and in a range of policy environments. Others go on to complete further post-graduate study.

The M.Sc. programme consists of three integrated modules: Qualitative Research Methods, Quantitative Research Methods, and Research Design, Accessing Resources and Research Ethics. Students also complete an eight-week work placement where they get the opportunity to work alongside experienced researchers/research teams within their host institutions. Students already in relevant employment can complete their work placement in that setting. Exemptions from the work placement may be granted at the discretion of the Course Director in exceptional cases.

A 20,000 word research dissertation is submitted by all students at the end of August (of Year 1 for full-time students and Year 2 for part-time students). This applied research project is initiated following the completion of all course assignments.

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There is a separate entry on admission to the P.Grad.Dip. in Child Protection and Welfare.

Students interested in registering for the M.Sc. programme must initially register for the Postgraduate Diploma (see separate entry under Postgraduate Diplomas). Admission to the second year of this two-year part-time in-service M.Sc. programme is confined to candidates who achieve an upper second-class grade in the Postgraduate Diploma and whose research proposal for their M.Sc. dissertation is accepted. The second year comprises a series of lectures/seminars on organisational change and development, evaluation research methodology and related issues, entailing attendance at College approximately two days per month over the academic year. There is also regular contact with the student's assigned academic supervisor.

Please note there is no online application. Applicants must submit a M.Sc. Dissertation Research Proposal to Laura Cusack [email protected]

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This course has been designed to offer a broad critical understanding of how society attempts to prevent or respond to problems associated with the use of licit and illicit drugs, as well as a more specific opportunity to develop research, management and policy-making skills in this area.

The course is aimed primarily at those who hold management or policy-making positions in any of the human service organisations which deal with drug and alcohol problems, but it also seeks to attract professionals who might play a leadership role in addictions work within their own professions.

Candidates from the first category might include: middle-ranking or senior civil servants or health board officials; directors or senior workers from voluntary drug and alcohol services; senior officials from the Probation and Welfare Service, the Prison Service or the Garda Siochana; members of Local Drugs Tasks Forces. Candidates from the second category might include: family doctors, community pharmacists, teachers, social workers, public health nurses, and other community care personnel. Candidates must have current or recent experience of either direct service provision, administration or policymaking relevant to the addictions field.

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Interested individuals are encouraged to make an informal approach to the Department to discuss their proposal and establish an initial fit between their interests and the Department’s research priorities and expertise. Formally, an applicant wishing to undertake a research degree should submit a research proposal in writing of 3,000–4,000 words and consult with the Department on the general suitability of the research topic, and on the availability of an appropriate supervisor.

The research proposal should provide the following information:
- Introduction to the central research topic that the student proposes to investigate
- Reference to the key debates and issues relevant to the research
- An indication the body of literature that the research will analyse; the main data that will be collected and/or analysed and the methods that will be used
- An outline of the potential significance of the proposed research for the field under investigation

Closing date
Research applications are generally accepted at any time

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