BA Social policy Joint Honours

at Trinity College Dublin The University of Dublin

First year
In first year you will take introductory modules in Social Policy Concepts and Social Policy in Action and skills based modules on Accessing and Reviewing Scholarly Literature in the field of Social Policy as well as a module in Critical Analysis and Argument Development.

Second year
The second year places greater emphasis on social policy issues offering modules including Housing and Homelessness, Life Course and Evolving Welfare States, Introduction to disability: Global perspectives and a skills based module on Leadership and Management in Human Service Organisations. You will also be given the opportunity to take modules from other programmes across the university under the Approved Module and Trinity Electives model. This can include other social science modules such as Economy of Ireland; Economics of Public Policy; History of Political Thought; International Relations; Comparative Politics; Introduction to Irish Family Law; French, German, Russian, Polish language, and Trinity Electives. In first and second years students typically have two lectures and one tutorial per week for each module.

Third year
The choice of modules available in third year typically includes modules such as: Youth and Society; Conceptualisations of Gender Based Violence; European Refugee Policy and a research methods module covering Statistical analysis, documentary and policy analysis as well as qualitative research skills. Again in third year, student have the option to take modules from other programmes across the university under the Approved Module and Trinity Electives model. Third year students also have the option to study abroad in a European or international university.

Fourth year
The choice of modules available in fourth year typically includes: Poverty, Inequality and Redistribution; Ageing Societies; Families, Reproduction and Social Policy; Disability and Global Human Rights. In the final year you will research and write a Capstone project on a topic of your choice under one-to-one supervision from a member of our School.

The fees for BA Social policy Joint Honours may vary from €10,000 to €25,000 annually for tuition fees. The fee's prices may get higher for International Students.

The range of employment opportunities in the area of social and public policy continues to expand. This is a particularly relevant degree for those interested in pursuing a career in the formulation of policy in the public sector, community development and voluntary/ non-profit sectors. Graduates of Social Policy at Trinity have secured employment as social researchers, policy analysts government advisors and journalists recruited by companies such as Eurodesk (Brussels Link), the Web Summit, Inner City Organisation Network, Focus Ireland, Migrant Rights Centre, the public service, and various education facilities, to name but a few. The course also provides a solid foundation for specialist postgraduate courses in the areas of social research, social policy and social work.