UCC Adult courses

Youth and Community Work - Dip

Course Fact File
CodeDYCW
Duration2 years
Teaching ModePart-Time. See Additional Teaching Mode Information for more info.
QualificationsDip
NFQ LevelLevel 6/7
NFQ Award TitleSpecial Purpose
Fees€990 per academic year See Fees and Costs for full details.
Closing Date31 May 2024
Next IntakeSeptember 2024
Venue

UCC Cork 

 

Start DateSeptember 2024

Course Outline

  • The Diploma in Youth and Community Work offers students the opportunity to develop professional skills and gain a good understanding of the theory that guides good practice. This is a two-year part-time programme, that explores different approaches to working with groups in a variety of settings to create a positive social environment. Students learn to trace the development of social intervention from its historical beginnings to its current form.  The modules are designed for students to develop a multitude of skills including reflective practice, group work and facilitation, strategic planning, report writing and to engage with research.  Students also learn the different theoretical approaches to Youth and Community Work. 

In Year 2 of the programme, students will complete 100 hours of placement with a local agency, under the guidance of the course placement officer.  The placement element of the programme gives students the opportunity to bring theory to practice and further develop their skills and knowledge while engaging in reflective learning through the supervision process. Students will also learn about the different models of youth and community work, theories of poverty and social exclusion, and also gain insights into the practical skills required to run youth and community projects.

The Modules for the Diploma are as follows:

Year 1

  • SS1802: Introduction to Youth and Community Work
  • SS1805: Introduction to Research Methods in Youth and Community Work
  • SS1819: Principles and Practices of Youth and Community Work
  • SS1822: Core Skills in Youth and Community Work

Year 2

  • SS2801: Practice Placement - Youth and Community Work
  • SS2802: Models of Youth and Community Work
  • SS2813: Social Analysis: Disadvantage and Social Inclusion
  • SS2814: Managing Youth and Community Projects

Course Queries

For Academic Queries and Course Content Queries please contact the Programme Coordinator:

UCC Eileen McBride, eileen.mcbride@ucc.ie 

Tipperary Outreach Centre Dr Patricia McGrath, patriciamcgrath@ucc.ie 
  

For Online Application Support please click here. 

If you require further assistance with your online application please contact the Programme Administrator Siobhan Hosford at siobhanhosford@ucc.ie. 

Important Notice: Course Registration Deadlines

Please take note of the following deadlines for this course:

Round One Application Deadline: Friday, May 31st, 2024

  • If the course fills by this deadline, there will be no round two application process. Early application is advisable as there are limited numbers of places for this course. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications by this date to guarantee consideration.

Final Registration Deadline: August 31st, 2024

  • In the event that there are additional places available, round two applications will open. Round two applications will close on August 31st, 2024.

We highly recommend early application to secure your place in our courses.

Additional Teaching Mode Information

Tipperary Delivery

The two-year course is part-time, with a blended delivery. Students can expect to complete an online class one evening per week with an occasional in-person Saturday class.

UCC Delivery 

This course runs one evening per week from September/October to May.

In UCC it will run on Tuesday evening from 6.00pm - 9.00pm. 

Students will attend one lecture per week which will be supported by tutorials and in addition, there are a number of Saturday worshops. The course is also supported by the UCC Skills Centre which is an invaluable resource for students when completing assignments and students also have full access to the Boole Library. Students on this course can also avail of the many supports offered to full-time students, including, Student Health and Counselling, Disability Support Services if eligible, the Mardyke Arena and many other services available to UCC. 

 

Course Practicalities

Assessment

The Diploma in Youth and Community Work is fully assesssed through continuous assessment which includes, reflective journals, essays, presentations, community profiles, research reports and placement reflections. There is one assignment for each 5-credit module and two assignment for 10-credit modules. Lecturers and tutors willl guide students on how to approach the assignments and further supports are available through the Skills Centre.

Who teaches this course

All members of the lecturing team are experienced adult education lecturers chosen for their ability to facilitate the development of positive learning environments. They have extensive professional experience in the field and would normally hold a minimum of an MA degree. Their strong links to local youth and community agencies and development bodies, along with their participation in area training programmes, provides them with first hand knowledge of the skill set expectations of local youth and community work employers.

 

Why Choose This Course

The Diploma in Youth and Community Work equips students with skills and knowledge to work in the field.  There is a strong focus on building professional skills for people interested in working in Youth and Community Work, or for those already involved in the field and wish to further their knowledge and professional development. Students are engaged in dynamic discussions, group work, public speaking and confidence building through mini-presentations. If you are interested in working in the community, are already an employee or a volunteer and wish to further your education, this course is for you. 

Placement or Study Abroad Information

You will undertake a placement in a youth/community agency during year 2. This gives you the opportunity to apply your understanding of theory and professional skills and to reflect on the experience. Prior to commencing placement you will compile an agency profile of the organisation you will be working with.

Skills and Careers Information

The course opens access to full time third level education. Past students have progressed to level 8 and 9 courses in UCC, LIT, CIT, UL, Maynooth and Mary Immaculate College. The Diploma was their first step to obtaining qualifications in the areas of addiction studies, social care, regeneration studies and social work.

The Diploma enhances employment opportunities. It has a high profile with local agencies who welcome applications from our graduates. It is not unusual for participation in practice placement to lead to employment. Many of the lecturers work with local agencies and can highlight essential employment skills and opportunities.

Requirements

The programme will be taken part-time over a two-year period.

  • Applicants for entrance into the Programme must be at least 21 years of age by 1 January of the year of application
  • Have Leaving Certificate (or equivalent qualification) or FETAC Level 5 qualification
  • Candidates who do not have Leaving Certificate or FETAC Level 5 but are over 21 years of age and have a minimum of 2 years relevant experience may be deemed suitable, subject to the approval of the CACE Committee
  • Applicants must satisfy Garda Vetting requirements. Candidates may be required to attend for an interview before being permitted to progress to Year 2
  • English Language Requirement: All applicants whose first language is not English must have attained IELTS Level 6 or the equivalent TOEFL score or the equivalent Duolingo score
  • Applicants will be asked to submit a Personal Statement, detailing their motivation to take this course and any work or life experience relevant to the subject (maximum one page).

Diploma programmes are offered subject to a minimum number of eligible applicants registering for the programme. Following completion of year 1 of this programme, should a sufficient number of eligible students not wish to progress form year 1 to year 2 of this programme as to make the year 2 viable, students will graduate with a certificate at that point. Programme viability is determined by reference to fee income and applicable costs in running the programme.

Candidates who successfully complete First Year may opt not to proceed to Second Year and may exit the programme with a Certificate in Youth and Community Work.

Fees and Costs

€990 per academic year

For further information on fees and financial supports please click here.

 

How To Apply

Applicants need to be aware of the IT student checklist below before applying:

  • You will need access to a laptop or desktop computer running a modern supported operating system with all software updates.
  • Some of UCC’s services (e.g. the Canvas Virtual Learning Environment) link to an external site and also have mobile apps for iOS and Android Devices that you may wish to use as part of your studies.  However, we recommend using your desktop web browser for submission of assessments.
  • You should always use the most current version of your preferred browser. In general, we recommend the Chrome Web browser (Important Note: Internet Explorer will not work with Canvas).
  • We recommend a reliable broadband connection with at least 2Mbps or more.
  • You will require an Office suite of software (Microsoft Office or equivalent) and a PDF reader. You should always use the latest version of this software.  All UCC students will have access to Office 365 which includes software such as Word/Excel/Powerpoint etc. once registered.

To Apply for this course please follow the steps below:

When you log into the Application Portal:

Click Apply Online

Select Start a new Adult & Continuing Education Application 

On the 2nd tab Academic Level 
 
Select the following options:
 
Academic Level: Adult Continuing Education (ACE at UCC)
Course Type:  ACE Part-time Courses
Academic Programme: The course title you are applying for.

During your online application you will be required to upload the following documents:

  • Birth Cert or Passport
  • Passport Photograph 
  • Personal Statement 
  • English Language Test Report [if applicable]
  • 50% of the fees are also required to complete your application. 

 

 

 

 

Apply Now

Contact Details For This Course

Similar Courses

Social Studies

Diploma in Youth and Community Work

Year 1 Modules

Year 2 Modules

Year 3 Modules

Year 4 Modules

For queries regarding course content or timetables please contact

Top