1. Study
2. Undergraduate
3. Courses
4. Youth and Community Work

About This Course

Fact File

• Title

  Youth & Community Work

• Code

  CK114

• College

  Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences

• Duration

  3 Years

• Teaching Mode

  Full-time

• Qualifications

  BSocSc (Hons)

• Fees

  Student Contribution + Capitation: €3,138 See Fees and Costs for full details.

• Entry Requirements

  This programme is open to mature and QQI/FET applicants. See Requirements for full details.

Course Outline

This undergraduate degree in Social Science (Youth & Community Work) for mature students combines an academic social science programme with a professionally accredited qualification in youth and community work.

This professional qualification is recognised by employers in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and throughout the UK.

This programme is suitable for you if you have developed a concern for social justice and are interested in working with people, particularly those who experience marginalisation and social exclusion.

Your life experience will be an important contribution to the learning on this programme, which will prepare you to work as a professional with a sense of vocation in the challenging but rewarding field of youth and community work.

It is hoped that on completion of this course, you will continue to offer your critical skills and knowledge, either on a paid or voluntary basis, to people, communities and critical social movements.

Early 21^st Century society in Ireland is in crisis. Communities continue to be polarised by inequalities in relation to social, economic and political life. Increasingly, a growing gap exists between those in poverty and those who remain the beneficiaries of some questionable policies and practices of our capitalist economy.

In this context, skilled and knowledgeable community and youth workers have a key role to play as facilitators, leaders and participants in movements for social and economic justice.

You will undertake a practice placement in each year of the programme in a wide range of agencies and settings across the youth, community and voluntary sector. These placements provide the opportunity to develop your knowledge and a wide range of skills, as well as building your reputation as a practitioner while still students on the programme.

Placements can be facilitated locally, nationally and internationally. During placements students receive a high level of support, both from our placement supervisors in the School of Applied Social Studies and from the agency or organisation where they are on placement.

Modules

Year 1

• SS1101 Introduction to Youth & Community Work (10 credits)
• SS1102 Social Analysis (10 credits)
• SS1104 Principles and Practice of Youth and Community Work (10 credits)
• SS1105 Social Policy 1 (10 credits)
• SS1107 Level 1 Professional Placement (10 credits)
• SS1110 Informal/Non-Formal Learning in a Community Youth Reach Setting (10 credits)

Year 2 

• SS2101 Communications and Community Youth Work (10 credits)
• SS2102 Working with Individuals in a Community Youth Work Setting (5 credits)
• SS2103 Working with Groups in a Community Youth Work Setting (5 credits)
• SS2104 Social Analysis II (10 credits)
• SS2105 Social Policy II (10 credits)
• SS2107 Placement II (10 credits)
• SS2108 Introduction to Research Methods (10 credits)

Year 3

Core

• SS3114 Project Planning, Management and Leadership Skills (5 credits)
• SS3102 Law, Rights and Equal Opportunities (5 credits)
• SS3104 Reflective Action in Youth and Community Work (10 credits)
• SS3107 Placement III (10 credits)
• SS3113 Research Methods II (15 credits)

Elective modules

Housing and Homelessness; Education and Welfare; Poverty and Social Exclusion; Youth Policy and Practice; The Politics of Racism; Social Perspectives in Mental Health; Sexuality and Society; Comparative Social Policy; Issues in Planning and Sustainable Development; Politics of Health and Medicine; Critical Perspectives of Age and Ageing; Personal Lives and Family Policy; Penal Policy and Practice; Global and Environmental Issues in Youth and Community Work.

See the College Calendar and the Book of Modules for further information.

Course Practicalities

Expected lecture hours: This course integrates an academic social science course with a professional practice training course in youth and community work. You will generally be required to attend lectures, tutorials and supervisions two to three days per week.

Placements: In first and second year you will be required to complete two days/16 hours of supervised practice placement weekly in a recognised agency, over the course of the academic year. In third year you will undertake a 10-week full-time block placement in the second semester.

Other practicalities

This programme will be subject to UCC's Fitness to Practise Policy.

Garda vetting is carried out by the Admissions Office in UCC once a student has accepted their place on this progamme. 

Assessment

You will be assessed by examination (25%) and continuous assessment (75%). Continuous assessment is made on the basis of the written assignments which are part of the course. These consist of projects, case studies and essays. In all cases, these are marked by the course lecturers involved in the teaching of that particular component.

Written assignments will be assessed within the context of established criteria and you will have to submit them by the deadlines established at the beginning of the academic year by the course director. Submission dates will be staggered to ensure that excessive demands are not made on students at particular times of the year. Submission of written assignments is split between the two semesters

The Practice Placement module is assessed on a pass/fail basis.

Marks are awarded out of 100 per 5-credit module and 200 per 10-credit module (out of a total possible mark of 1,000).

Why Choose This Course

Upon successful completion of the course you will be awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science (Youth and Community Work) validated by the North-South Education in Training Standards in Youth Work Agency and recognised by JNC conditions for professional qualification.

The course is designed exclusively for mature students and accordingly offers supports and appropriate pedagogical structure.

Placement or Study Abroad Information

You will undertake a practice placement in each year of the programme in a wide range of agencies and settings across the youth, community and voluntary sector. These placements provide the opportunity to develop your knowledge and a wide range of skills, as well as building your reputation as a practitioner while still students on the programme.

Placements can be facilitated locally, nationally, and internationally. During placements students receive a high level of support, both from our placement supervisors in the School of Applied Social Studies and from the agency or organisation where they are on placement.

Skills and Careers Information

Graduates from this course usually choose to seek employment in the following areas:

• Youth and Community Work
• Voluntary Sector
• Women’s groups
• Community Development projects
• Family Centres 
• Travellers’ rights groups
• Groups dealing with Disability, Homelessness, Ageing, Migrants Rights, Mental Health 

Graduates of the programme are employable in a wide range of areas as the skills developed on the course, particularly in the areas of both ‘people skills’ and reflective practice, and also the ability to provide critical analysis, readily transfer to many other areas.

Many former students of the programme play significant roles in their own communities and a number of former students are involved in politics at both local and national levels. Many of the positions on offer following graduation attract professional salaries and provide career opportunities.

A significant number of graduates also pursue postgraduate studies in areas such as:

• Social Policy
• Social Work
• Counselling
• Criminology
• Sociology
• Migration Studies
• Women’s Studies
• Voluntary and Community Sector Management
• Law
• Health Promotion
• Media Studies

Requirements

Mature students: You must be 23 on or before 1st January of the year of proposed entry. Mature applicants must apply through the CAO before 1 February of the year of proposed entry, include a statement of interest and must also apply and sit the MSAP test. Successful completion of a suitable access course (e.g. PLC College or Adult Education), while not obligatory, is desirable.  Applicants should have the equivalent of at least one year of experience, either paid or voluntary, in the youth/community/voluntary sector and be interested in working in this area and with people from disadvantaged communities and minority groups.

Selection will take into account:

• MSAP
• Interview
• Statement of Interest

FETAC

You must be 21 years of age on or before 1st January of the year of proposed entry.  Applicants should also have the equivalent of at least one year of experience, either paid or voluntary, in the youth/community/voluntary sector.  Interview will be used as an additional selection mechanism.

There are up to 5 places for FETAC applicants presenting certain qualifications: See our QQI/FETAC page for more information.

Progression Route from CACE (UCC Centre for Adult Continuing Education) Programmes

You must be 21 years of age on or before 1st January of the year of proposed entry. Applicants can apply on the basis of having attained a 2.1 minimum in one of the following Level 6 CACE programmes: 

• Diploma in Youth and Community Work
• Diploma in Autism Studies
• Diploma in Disability Studies
• Diploma in Leadership in the Community
• Diploma in Social and Psychological Health Studies
• Diploma in Women's Studies

The MSAP is not required for entry to CK114 under the ACE route. However, if a 2.1 is not attained, applicants must sit the MSAP and be 23 years of age on or before 1st January of the year of proposed entry to be considered as a Mature Student.

Interview

An interview will be used as an additional selection mechanism. Holders of a 2.1 in the Diploma in Youth and Community Work who subsequently apply for and are offered a place on the degree programme may apply for an exemption from the 10 ECTS module SS1101 ~ Introduction to Youth and Community Work.

Applications for the above entry routes to the CK114 Programme are made through the CAO before 1st February.

Fitness to Practise

This programme will be subject to UCC's Fitness to Practise Policy.

Student Garda Vetting

All students on this programme will come into contact with the public and assume positions of trust through educational and training opportunities. To ensure the protection of the public, and to justify public trust and confidence, UCC is committed to ensuring that only suitable candidates are allowed to undertake this programme.

Student Garda vetting is carried out by the Admissions Office in UCC once a student has accepted their place on the programme. It involves a police check to establish whether the individual being vetted has had criminal convictions in the past or whether any criminal proceedings are pending. The Garda Síochána provides this information for students who have resided in Ireland for a period of six months or more (including permanent residence).

All students who have resided outside Ireland for a period of six months or more must furnish a Police Clearance Certificate from their country or countries of residence. This certificate should state that the student has had no convictions recorded against them while residing there.

Fees and Costs

Course fees include a tuition fee, student contribution fee and capitation fee. The state will pay the tuition fees for EU students who are eligible under the Free Fees Scheme.

Please see Fees Office for more information.

How Do I Apply

EU Applicants: Application to Year 1 of the degree programme is made directly through the Central Applications Office (CAO). Applicants should apply online at www.cao.ie. The normal closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1st February of the year of entry.