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Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
89
Sociology and social policy
COURSE CODE:
PLACES 2011:
POINTS 2010:
DEGREE AWARDED:
TR083
28
445
B.A.
See also:
TR001: TSM, page 92
What is Sociology and social
policy?
Sociology and social policy combines the study of social theory,
social policy and social research. The programme aims to give
you a thorough training in the systematic study of society and
the social and economic policies utilised in different countries.
At the end of your four years you should have developed both
a general sociological understanding and specific expertise in
various contemporary policy issues.
Is this course right for you?
This course demands both academic and vocational qualities.
It is particularly relevant to students intending to pursue a career
in research, social policy analysis and evaluation, management
and planning within the social services, both voluntary and
statutory.
Course content
The subjects studied include general social science disciplines
such as economics and politics, and specialist areas such
as family policy, welfare policy, criminology and the extent of
poverty and inequality. The Freshman (first two) years are more
general and foundational in nature, while the Sophister (third and
fourth) years will focus more specifically on sociology and social
policy. A strength of the course is that it explores these issues
in a genuinely comparative context. Teaching methods include
lectures, seminars and group project work.
The Freshman years
In the first and second years you will take introductory modules
in economic policy, political science, social policy and sociology.
Optional modules include statistics, law, and psychology along
with a range of language modules (French, German, Russian,
and Polish). The Senior Freshman (second) year places greater
emphasis on social policy and sociology modules, as well as
the introduction to social research methods. You also have the
choice of taking a complementary subject, such as psychology,
or you may continue your language study.
In the Freshman years, students take six modules, with typically
two lectures and one tutorial per week for each module.
The Sophister years
The choice of subjects available in the Sophister
(third and fourth) years typically include:
n
Ageing and dementia
n
Comparative welfare states
n
Crime and social policy
n
Economic sociology of Europe
n
Economics of less developed countries
n
European public policy
n
European Union politics
n
Families and family policy
n
Gender and popular culture
n
Government and politics of the United States
n
Irish politics
n
Poverty, inequality and redistribution
n
Public interest law
n
Researching society
n
Social theory
Many of these modules deal specifically with Ireland and with
European society. In the final year you will research and write
a dissertation on a topic of your choice.
Assessment
A combination of continuous assessment, class presentations
and written examinations is generally used.
Career opportunities
The range of employment opportunities in the area of social and
public policy is expanding all the time. The B.A. in Sociology
and social policy is a particularly relevant degree for those
interested in pursuing a career in the formulation of policy in the
public service, community development and voluntary/non-profit
sectors. Graduates of the programme are also employed as
social researchers, policy analysts and journalists.
Postgraduate opportunities
The course provides a solid foundation for specialist
postgraduate courses, in the areas of social research, social
policy and social work.