The PhD (Social Sciences) is a full-time taught programme running over 48 months from the date of first registration and offered on an inter-institutional basis. It has been devised in light of the strategic objective identified by the Irish Government for higher output of PhD graduates in the university sector.
The programme allows candidates to study across several institutions and gain access to specialist knowledge and skills through innovative approaches to teaching and learning via ICT platforms, specialist summer schools/winter schools, and intensive seminars with national experts and international figures drawn from across the social sciences.
Programme Requirements
The PhD (Social Science) comprises
three parts taken over a total of four years. Part I and Part II are taken over
one year each respectively. Part III is taken over two years. Progression is
through credit accumulation up to a total of 360 credits. Assessment will take
the form of continuous assignments and completion of a major research
dissertation not exceeding 80,000 words. In approved cases submission of a
designated number of extended articles of publishable quality may be accepted
in place of the major research dissertation. At the discretion of the academic
directors and supervisors modules may be substituted by equivalent modules,
including generic skills training modules in order to develop Personal
Educational Plans that reflect individual students needs, and to access modules
offered in partner institutions, as per 4th level Ireland policy.
Students take 360 credits as follows:
Part I - Year 1
Students take 90 credits as
follows:
GV7103 Methods and Policy (10 credits)
SC7101
Idioms of Social Science (10 credits)
SC7104 Application of Sociology
to Policy (10 credits)
SC7105 Quantitative Methods (10
credits)
SS7105 Paradigms of Social Research (10
credits)
SS7101 Qualitative Methods (10 credits)
Students will
also undertake work on the dissertation to the value of 30 credits during Year
1 which will be formally assessed in Part III of the programme.
Part II - Year 2
Students take 90 credits as
follows:
GV7104 Workshop in Methods and Thesis Substantiation (10
credits)
SC7106 Workshop on Paradigms and Thesis Definition (10
credits)
SS7106 Workshop in Theory and Thesis Construction (10
credits)
Students will also undertake work on the dissertation to the value
of 60 credits during Year 2 which will be formally assessed in Part III of the
programme.
Part III - Years 3 and 4
Students complete the final 180
credits of the research work over the final two years of the Programme and
present a dissertation of not more than 80,000 words.
Module descriptions are contained in the Book of Modules 2009/2010.
Examinations
Full details and regulations governing
Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and
Standards 2010 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules 2009/2010.
See also under the General Regulations for PhD Degree.
MSocSc (Social Research)
In exceptional circumstances, and
with the permission of the Head of relevant Department and Academic Director of
the programme, and the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, a
candidate may be awarded the degree of MSocSc (Social Research) provided he/she
has sucessfully completed the requirements of Parts I and II of the
programme.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this programme,
students should be able to: