Course Structure & Content

Social Policy

This programme is taught by the School of Social Work and Social Policy and is offered as part of the Joint Honours architecture.

Course Content
Social policy uses theory but it is about people’s lives –which means it is applied - focused on real social issues and how policy can affect real people. Social policy is also interdisciplinary- it uses insights from disciplines such as economics, sociology, psychology, geography, history, law, philosophy and political science. This is why social policy is called a field of study. An understanding of these diverse disciplines is necessary to address the complexity of many social issues and to formulate social policies which can make a difference.

Academic Year 2025 / 2026

JUNIOR FRESH / FIRST YEAR

Semester	Module Code	Module Name	Module Lecturer	Lecturer e-mail
Semester 1 / Michaelmas Term	SSU11051 / SSU11061	Introduction to Social Policy Concepts	Dr Louise Caffrey	louise.caffrey@tcd.ie
Semester 1 / Michaelmas Term	SSU11071	Accessing and Reviewing Literature	Dr Lynne Cahill	lycahill@tcd.ie
Semester 2 / Hilary Term	SSU11012 / SSU11022	Poverty, Welfare and Justice	Dr Joe Whelan	jwhelan9@tcd.ie
Semester 1 / Hilary Term	SSU11092	Critical Analysis and Argument Development	Dr Louise Caffrey	louise.caffrey@tcd.ie

SENIOR FRESH / SECOND YEAR

Semester	Module Code	Module Name	Module Lecturer	Lecturer e-mail
Semester 1 / Michaelmas Term	SSU22212 / SSU22222	**** Qualitative Methods for Social Policy
Semester 1 / Michaelmas Term	SSU22161 / SSU22171	Labour Market Activation Policies	Dr Carla Petautschnig Arancibia	cpetauts@tcd.ie
Semester 2 / Hilary Term	SSU22172 / SSU22182	Policy Issues in Human Services	Dr Julie Byrne	byrnej18@tcd.ie
Semester 1 / Hilary Term	SSU22191 / SSU22291	**** Social Policy in Action	Dr Catherine Conlon & Mike Allen	onlonce@tcd.ie

JUNIOR SOPHISTER / THIRD YEAR

Semester	Module Code	Module Name	Module Lecturer	Lecturer e-mail
Semester 1 / Michaelmas Term	SSU33011 / SSU33022	Youth and Society	Dr Paula Mayock	pmayock@tcd.ie
Semester 1 / Michaelmas Term	SSU34002 / SSU34012	Ageing and Intergenerational Relations	Dr Catherine Elliott O Dare	elliot@tcd.ie
Semester 2 / Hilary Term	SSU33802 / SSU33702	Global Social Policy	Prof. Nicola Carr	ncarr@tcd.ie
Semester 1 / Hilary Term	SSU34052 / SSU34042	**** Quantitative Methods for Social Policy	Dr Philip Curry	pcurry@tcd.ie

SENIOR SOPHISTER / FOURTH YEAR

Semester	Module Code	Module Name	Module Lecturer	Lecturer e-mail
Semester 1 / Michaelmas Term	SSU44031 / SSU44021	Eco Social Policy	Dr Joe Whelan	jwhelan9@tcd.ie
Semester 1 / Michaelmas Term	SSU44162 / SSU44152	Disability and Human Rights Global Perspectives	Ann Swift	aswift@tcd.ie
Semester 2 / Hilary Term	SSU44112 / SSU44102	Crime and Justice – Theories, Responses and Contemporary Debates	Prof. Nicola Carr	ncarr@tcd.ie
Semester 1 / Hilary Term	SSU44202 /SSU44192	**** Social Citizenship for the 21st Century	Prof. Virpi Timonen	timonenv@tcd.ie

**** New Module for academic year 2025 / 2026 ****

ACADEMIC YEAR 2025 / 2026

OUTLINE OF NEW MODULES FOR 2025 / 2026 CAN BE FOUND HERE. (Information is subject to Change)

HANDBOOKS AND MODULE DESCRIPTORS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE END OF AUGUST 2025 - PLEASE CHECK BACK !

SOCIAL POLICY, ASSESSMENT COVER SHEET 2025 / 2026

Social Policy Assessment Cover Sheet, 2025 / 2026

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