Overview
The BSocSc (Hons) is a three-year, full-time honours degree programme during which students are provided with a broad grounding in Social Policy, Sociology, Psychology, Economics and Philosophy. The First Year offers a foundation in the Social Sciences. The Second and Third Years of the degree emphasise applied learning and include preparation of a research proposal in the Second Year and a social research dissertation in the Third Year.
The degree does not provide a professional qualification in any one of the areas covered. Students wishing to become Social Workers or Youth and Community Workers will have to undertake further professional training at Postgraduate level, for example the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree or the Postgraduate Diploma in Youth Work. Students wishing to be eligible for postgraduate studies in Sociology must have taken at least 45 credits of Sociology overall in the Second and Third Years, including SC2014 Classical Social Theory, SC2015 Critical Social Theory, SC3001 Contemporary Social Theory and SC3055 Research Project 2 (or equivalent i.e. SS3031 Social Research Report).
First Year - Social Science
In First Year Social Science, students study prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits in the five designated subject areas of Social Policy, Applied Psychology, Economics, Philosophy and Sociology.
Notes regarding Second Year and Third Year Social Science elective modules:
If optional SS coded modules do not reach the minimum registration quota there is no guarantee that they will be offered.
Students may not select modules which involve a timetable clash.
Students may not select the same electives in year 2 and year 3.
Second Year - Social Science
Students may not register for Second Year Social Science until they have passed the First University Examination in Social Science. In order to be admitted to the Second University Examination in Social Science, a student must have satisfactorily attended, for at least a full academic year, prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits in the programme.
UCC Diploma in Social Studies progression pathway
Students who have passed the Diploma in Social Studies from 2020 onwards may register for Second Social Science. Students who wish to progress to Second Social Science should notify the School of Applied Social Studies in writing of their intention to do so by the first Friday of July at the end of their second year of studying the Diploma in Social Studies. Upon successful completion of the Diploma in Social Studies, students who have notified their intention to progress, may register for Second Social Science.
BSocSc (Hons) (International) Pathway
The BSocSc (Hons) (International) Pathway is a four-year programme which enables students to study abroad for a year in an approved University outside Ireland.
Third Year - Social Science
Only students who have passed the Second University Examination in Social Science and satisfied all other requirements specified for the Second Year, will be permitted to register for Third Social Science. In order to be admitted to the BSocSc (Hons) Degree Examination, a student must have satisfactorily attended, for at least a full academic year, prescribed modules to the value of 60 credits in all of the themes of his/her programme.
Option to transfer to Bachelor of Social Work Year 2
From 2025 onwards, students who have passed the first year of the BSocSc (CK102) may apply to register for the second year of the Bachelor of Social Work (CK115). Upon successful completion of the first year of the BSocSc, including the prerequisite module – SS1012 (Social Practice and the Social Professions) - students who have notified their intention to transfer, will be eligible to apply for the second year of the BSW. The allocation of a place on the second year of the BSW will be subject to a selection process. Please note that there is a limit of 10 places available. Students who wish to transfer to the second year of the BSW must notify the School of Applied Social Studies in writing of their intention to do so by the first Friday of July at the end of their first year of studying the BSocSc. Students who do not transfer to the BSW may continue on the BSocSc.
Programme Requirements
For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements.
Programme Requirements
Module List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| |
| SS1017 | Politics and Social Policy (Part 1) | 10 |
| SS1018 | Politics and Social Policy (Part 2) | 5 |
| SC1012 | Introduction to Sociology (Part A) | 5 |
| SC1017 | Key Issues in Sociology (Part B) | 5 |
| AP1023 | Lifespan Development | 5 |
| EC1117 | Markets and Governments: An Introduction to Economics | 5 |
| EC1118 | Markets and Governments: An Introduction to Economics | 5 |
| PH1005 | Philosophy and Social Science an Introduction | 10 |
| 10 |
| Social Practice and the Social Professions (10) | |
| Social Psychology (5)
plus States, Economies and Societies (5) | |
| |
| SS2012 | Research Methods | 5 |
| SS2029 | Politics and Social Policy II (Part 1) | 5 |
| SS2031 | Politics and Social Policy II (Part 2) | 5 |
| 5 |
| Personal Lives and Family Policy (5) | |
| Child Care Policy (5) | |
| Penal Policy and Practice (5) | |
| Social Work 1 (5) | |
| Fieldwork Placement (5) | |
| Social Movements and Health (5) | |
| Special Education and Disability: Principles, Policies and Practices (5) | |
| Critical Social Policy and Environmental Crisis (5) | |
| Communities, Activism and Development (5) | |
| EC2151 | Economics of Social Policy 1 | 5 |
| PH2032 | Introduction to Ethics | 5 |
| AP2505 | Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence | 5 |
| SC2014 | Classical Social Theory | 5 |
| SC2015 | Critical Social Theory | 5 |
| 2 | 15 |
| Personal Lives and Family Policy (5) | |
| Child Care Policy (5) | |
| Penal Policy and Practice (5) | |
| Social Work 1 (5) | |
| Fieldwork Placement (5) | |
| Social Movements and Health (5) | |
| Special Education and Disability: Principles, Policies and Practices (5) | |
| Critical Social Policy and Environmental Crisis (5) | |
| Communities, Activism and Development (5) | |
| Women, Confinement and Social Control in Ireland (5) | |
| Crime, Urbanization and Cities (5) | |
| The Sociology of Class (5) | |
| Sociology of Politics, Power, and Ideology (5) | |
| Race, Ethnicity, Migration and Nationalism (5) | |
| Sociology of Education/Sociology for Education (5) | |
| Culture, Art & Literature: Sociological and Anthropological Perspectives (5) | |
| Sociology of Crime and Deviance (5) | |
| The Family: Sociological and Anthropological Perspectives (5) | |
| Sociology of the Body and the Mind (5) | |
| Sociology of the City (5) | |
| Sociology of Memory, Trauma & Collective Denial (10) | |
| Introduction to Biostatistics (5) | |
| Introduction to French : Complete Beginners (5) 3 | |
| French for Near Beginners (5) |
| French for Near Beginners (5) | |
| Threshold French (5) | |
| French for Reading Purposes I (5) |
| German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 1 (5) 4 | |
| French for Reading Purposes I (5) | |
| German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 2 (5) 4 | |
| German Language (CEFR-Level A2.1) (5) 4 | |
| German Language (CEFR-Level A2.2) (5) 4 | |
| Spanish Language (Beginner Level) (10) 5 | |
| Non-Beginners' Written and Spoken Italian (10) | |
| Introduction to Written and Spoken Italian (10) |
| Reasoning and Argument (5) | |
| An Introduction to Political Philosophy (5) | |
| Feminist Philosophy (5) | |
| Philosophy of Science (5) | |
| |
| SS3031 | Social Research Report | 15 |
| or SC3055 | Research Project 2 |
| SS3049 | Politics and Social Policy IV | 5 |
| SS3050 | Politics and Social Policy V | 5 |
| 35 |
| Housing and Homelessness (5) | |
| Education and Welfare (5) | |
| Poverty and Social Exclusion (5) | |
| Communities, Activism and Development (5) 6 | |
| The Politics of Racism (Online) (5) | |
| Social Perspectives in Mental Health (5) | |
| Science, Technology and Public Controversy (5) | |
| Sexuality and Society (5) | |
| Fieldwork Placement (5) | |
| Issues in Planning and Sustainable Development (5) | |
| Critical Perspectives on Age and Ageing (5) | |
| Social Practice and the Social Professions 3 (5) | |
| Critical Perspectives on Disability (5) | |
| Economics of Social Policy 2 (5) | |
| Women, Confinement and Social Control in Ireland (5) 6 | |
| Crime, Urbanization and Cities (5) 6 | |
| Contemporary Social Theory (5) | |
| Understanding Globalisation and Development (5) | |
| The Sociology of Community (5) | |
| Religion and Civilisation in Sociological and Anthropological Perspective (5) | |
| Sociology of the Media (5) | |
| Sociology of the Environment (5) | |
| Gender, Sexuality and Inequality (5) | |
| Sociology of Memory, Trauma & Collective Denial (10) | |
| Sociology of Law: Legal Justice, Human Rights and Social Change (5) | |
| The Sociology of Violence (5) | |
| Medical Sociology (5) 11 | |
| Special Educational Needs: Aetiology, Assessment and Intervention (5) | |
| Child and Family Health Psychology (5) | |
| Introduction to French : Complete Beginners (5) 7 | |
| French for Near Beginners (5) |
| French for Near Beginners (5) | |
| Threshold French (5) 7 | |
| French for Reading Purposes I (5) |
| French for Reading Purposes I (5) 7 | |
| Towards Vantage French (5) | |
| French for Reading Purposes II (5) |
| French for Reading Purposes II (5) | |
| Ceart na Gaeilge idir Scríobh agus Labhairt (10) | |
| German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 1 (5) 4 | |
| German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 2 (5) 4 | |
| German Language (CEFR-Level A2.1) (5) 4 | |
| German Language (CEFR-Level A2.2) (5) 4 | |
| Spanish Language (Beginner Level) (10) | |
| Spanish Language (Improver [01] Level) (10) 8 | |
| Non-Beginners' Written and Spoken Italian (10) 9 | |
| Introduction to Written and Spoken Italian (10) 9 | |
| Intermediate Italian Language (10) |
| Political Philosophy in Theory and Practice (5) | |
| Professional Ethics (5) | |
| Social Ontology (5) | |
| Moral Philosophy in Theory and Practice (5) | |
| Human Nature and Free Will (5) | |
| Introduction to Biostatistics (5) 10 | |
| Total Credits | 180 |
Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards Book and for each module in the Book of Modules.
