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 Dr Julie Byrne Prof. Virpi Timonen |
louise.caffrey@tcd.ie byrnej18@tcd.ie timonenv@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 | Dr Kasia Wodniak | kwodniak@tcd.ie |
| 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 Mr. Mike Allen (Focus Ireland) Dr Carla Petautschnig Arancibia |
conlonce@tcd.ie
miallen@tcd.ie cpetauts@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
SOCIAL POLICY HANDBOOK 2025 / 2026 (All Years, Junior/Senior Fresh and Junior/Senior Sophister) HERE
Junior Fresh (First Year) 2025 / 2026 Social Policy Module Descriptor Handbook HERE
Senior Fresh (Second Year) 2025 / 2026 Social Policy Module Descriptor Handbook HERE
Junior Sophister (Third Year) 2025 / 2026 Social Policy Module Descriptor Handbook HERE
Senior Sophister (Fourth Year) 2025 / 2026 Social Policy Module Descriptor Handbook HERE
SOCIAL POLICY, ASSESSMENT COVER SHEET 2025 / 2026 HERE
CAPSTONE HANDBOOK 2025 / 2026 HERE
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