Overview

The BSocSc (Hons) International Pathway is a four-year programme which enables students on the BSocSc (Hons) Degree to study abroad for a year in an approved University outside Ireland.

The BSocSc (Hons) (International) Pathway is a four-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 Fourth Years of the degree emphasise applied learning and include a social research dissertation in the Fourth Year. The Third Year of the degree is spent studying abroad. 

The degree does not, however, 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 Fourth 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).

To be eligible for the award of the BSocSc (Hons) (International) Pathway Degree a student will be required to have achieved 240 credits by obtaining 60 credits in each of First, Second, and Fourth Social Science and the year spent abroad. A student may not register for more than 60 credits in one academic year.

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.  

Option to transfer to Bachelor of Social Work Year 2

From 2024 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.  

Note regarding Second and Fourth 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 4.  

Second Year - Social Science (International) Pathway

Students who wish to take the Second Social Science (International Pathway) register for the pathway at the beginning of Second Year. No student may register for Second Social Science (International) Pathway until he/she has passed the First University Examination in Social Science. In order to be admitted to the Second University Examination in Social Science (International) Pathway, 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.

In Second Social Science (International) Pathway students follow the same programme requirements and curriculum as students taking Second Social Science. 

In order to continue on the Social Science (International) Pathway and spend Third Social Science (International) Pathway in an approved university abroad, students must attain a mark of 58% on average over their results in first Social Science and semester one in second Social Science.

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 (International) Pathway. Students who wish to progress to Second Social Science (International) Pathway 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 (International) Pathway. 

Third Year - Social Science (International) Pathway

Only students who have passed the Second University Examination in Social Science (International) Pathway and satisfied all other requirements specified for the Second Year, will be permitted to register for Third Social Science (International) Pathway.

Third Social Science (International) Pathway is spent in an approved university abroad where students will study approved courses/modules to the equivalent value of 60 credits. All courses will be assessed by the approved Host University.

Fourth Year - Social Science (International) Pathway

No student may register for the BSocSc (Hons) (International) Pathway Degree Examination until s/he has passed the Third University Examination in Social Science (International) Pathway. In order to be admitted to the BSocSc (Hons) (International) Pathway 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.

In Fourth Social Science (International) Pathway students follow the same programme requirements and curriculum as students taking Third Social Science. 

Programme Requirements

For information about modules, module choice, options and credit weightings, please go to Programme Requirements. 

Programme Requirements

Module List

Code	Title	Credits
Year 1
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Core Modules
Social Policy
SS1017	Politics and Social Policy (Part 1)	10
SS1018	Politics and Social Policy (Part 2)	5
Sociology
SC1012	Introduction to Sociology (Part A)	5
SC1017	Key Issues in Sociology (Part B)	5
Applied Psychology
AP1023	Lifespan Development	5
Economics
EC1117	Markets and Governments: An Introduction to Economics	5
EC1118	Markets and Governments: An Introduction to Economics	5
Philosophy
PH1005	Philosophy and Social Science an Introduction	10
Year 2
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Social Policy
SS2012	Research Methods	5
SS2029	Politics and Social Policy II (Part 1)	5
SS2031	Politics and Social Policy II (Part 2)	5
Plus 5 credits from the following:		5
SS2004	Personal Lives and Family Policy
SS2006	Child Care Policy
SS2007	Penal Policy and Practice
SS2008	Social Work 1
SS2024	Fieldwork Placement
SS2025	Social Movements and Health
SS2026	Special Education and Disability: Principles, Policies and Practices
SS2033	Critical Social Policy and Environmental Crisis
SS3009	Communities, Activism and Development
Economics
EC2151	Economics of Social Policy 1	5
Philosophy
PH2032	Introduction to Ethics	5
Applied Psychology
AP2505	Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence	5
Sociology and Society 1
SC2014	Classical Social Theory	5
SC2015	Critical Social Theory	5
Elective Modules
Students take modules to the value of 15 credits (not already selected) from the following: 2		15
Social Policy
SS2004	Personal Lives and Family Policy
SS2006	Child Care Policy
SS2007	Penal Policy and Practice
SS2008	Social Work 1
SS2024	Fieldwork Placement
SS2025	Social Movements and Health
SS2026	Special Education and Disability: Principles, Policies and Practices
SS2033	Critical Social Policy and Environmental Crisis
SS3009	Communities, Activism and Development
Sociology 1
CR2002	Women, Confinement and Social Control in Ireland
CR2003	Crime, Urbanization and Cities
SC2003	The Sociology of Class
SC2004	Sociology of Politics, Power, and Ideology
SC2012	Race, Ethnicity, Migration and Nationalism
SC2017	Sociology of Education/Sociology for Education
SC2018	Culture, Art & Literature: Sociological and Anthropological Perspectives
SC2021	Sociology of Crime and Deviance
SC2026	The Family: Sociological and Anthropological Perspectives
SC2027	Sociology of the Body and the Mind
SC2034	Sociology of the City
SC3058	Sociology of Memory, Trauma & Collective Denial
Statistics
ST2001	Introduction to Biostatistics
Languages: French, German, Spanish and Italian
FR0105	Introduction to French : Complete Beginners 3
or FR1005	French for Near Beginners
FR1005	French for Near Beginners
FR1105	Threshold French
or FR1107	French for Reading Purposes I
GE0003	German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 1 4
FR1107	French for Reading Purposes I
GE0004	German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 2 4
GE0005	German Language (CEFR-Level A2.1) 4
GE0008	German Language (CEFR-Level A2.2) 4
HS0028	Spanish Language (Beginner Level) 5
IT1102	Non-Beginners' Written and Spoken Italian
or IT1109	Introduction to Written and Spoken Italian
Philosophy
PH2002	Reasoning and Argument
PH2004	An Introduction to Political Philosophy
PH2017	Feminist Philosophy
PH2019	Philosophy of Science
Year 3
Students take approved courses/modules to the equivalent value of 60 credits in an approved university abroad.		60
Year 4
Students take 60 credits as follows - all listed core modules (25 credits) and 35 credits of elective modules:
Social Policy or Sociology 1
SS3031	Social Research Report	15
or SC3055	Research Project 2
Social Policy
SS3049	Politics and Social Policy IV	5
SS3050	Politics and Social Policy V	5
Elective Modules
Students take modules to the value of 35 credits from the subject areas listed below (timetable permitting):		35
Social Policy, Social Work and Social Services
SS3005	Housing and Homelessness
SS3006	Education and Welfare
SS3008	Poverty and Social Exclusion
SS3009	Communities, Activism and Development 6
SS3015	The Politics of Racism (Online)
SS3016	Social Perspectives in Mental Health
SS3019	Science, Technology and Public Controversy
SS3021	Sexuality and Society
SS3030	Fieldwork Placement
SS3033	Issues in Planning and Sustainable Development
SS3045	Critical Perspectives on Age and Ageing
SS3047	Social Practice and the Social Professions 3
SS3051	Critical Perspectives on Disability
Economics
EC3151	Economics of Social Policy 2
Sociology and Society III 1
CR2002	Women, Confinement and Social Control in Ireland 6
CR2003	Crime, Urbanization and Cities 6
SC3001	Contemporary Social Theory
SC3003	Understanding Globalisation and Development
SC3004	The Sociology of Community
SC3009	Religion and Civilisation in Sociological and Anthropological Perspective
SC3012	Sociology of the Media
SC3029	Sociology of the Environment
SC3046	Gender, Sexuality and Inequality
SC3058	Sociology of Memory, Trauma & Collective Denial
SC3062	Sociology of Law: Legal Justice, Human Rights and Social Change
SC3067	The Sociology of Violence
SC3066	Medical Sociology 11
Applied Psychology
AP3122	Special Educational Needs: Aetiology, Assessment and Intervention
AP3504	Child and Family Health Psychology
Languages: French, Gaeilge, German, Italian, Spanish
FR0105	Introduction to French : Complete Beginners 7
or FR1005	French for Near Beginners
FR1005	French for Near Beginners
FR1105	Threshold French 7
or FR1107	French for Reading Purposes I
FR1107	French for Reading Purposes I 7
FR2105	Towards Vantage French
or FR2107	French for Reading Purposes II
FR2107	French for Reading Purposes II
GA1002	Ceart na Gaeilge idir Scríobh agus Labhairt
GE0003	German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 1 4
GE0004	German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 2 4
GE0005	German Language (CEFR-Level A2.1) 4
GE0008	German Language (CEFR-Level A2.2) 4
HS0028	Spanish Language (Beginner Level)
HS0128	Spanish Language (Improver [01] Level) 8
IT1102	Non-Beginners' Written and Spoken Italian 9
IT1109	Introduction to Written and Spoken Italian 9
or IT2101	Intermediate Italian Language
Philosophy
PH3025	Political Philosophy in Theory and Practice
PH3042	Professional Ethics
PH3044	Social Ontology
PH3048	Moral Philosophy in Theory and Practice
PH3110	Human Nature and Free Will
Statistics
ST2001	Introduction to Biostatistics 10
Total Credits		230

¹

Students who wish to be eligible for postgraduate studies in Sociology are advised to take at least 45 credits of Sociology overall in Second and Third Social Science which must have included 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).

²

Timetable permitting and ensuring that students are registered for 60 credits in total.

³

FR0105 Introduction to French : Complete Beginners is only available to complete beginners and FR1005 French for Near Beginners is not available to any student who took French beyond JC or equivalent.

⁴

GE0003 German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 1 and GE0004 German Language (Beginner Level A1) Part 2 must be taken together. GE0005 German Language (CEFR-Level A2.1) and GE0008 German Language (CEFR-Level A2.2) must be taken together.

⁵

Please note HS0028 Spanish Language (Beginner Level) (Beginners A1).

⁶

Students who took SC3058 Sociology of Memory, Trauma & Collective Denial,  SC3058 Sociology of Memory, Trauma & Collective Denial CR2002 Women, Confinement and Social Control in Ireland or CR2003 Crime, Urbanization and Cities in Second Year cannot select the same module in Third Year.

⁷

FR0105 Introduction to French : Complete Beginners  (Complete Beginners)and/or FR1005 French for Near Beginners (False beginners), FR1105 Threshold French and/or FR1107 French for Reading Purposes I are only available to students who have not already taken those French modules in Second Year.

⁸

HS0028 Spanish Language (Beginner Level) (Beginners A1), HS0128 Spanish Language (Improver [01] Level) (Non Beginners A2). Students can only take HS0128 Spanish Language (Improver [01] Level) in third year if they completed HS0028 Spanish Language (Beginner Level) in second year.

⁹

IT1109 Introduction to Written and Spoken Italian (Beginners) and IT1102 Non-Beginners' Written and Spoken Italian (Non-Beginners) are only available to students who have not already taken Italian in Second Year. IT2101 Intermediate Italian Language is only available to students who have successfully passed IT1109 Introduction to Written and Spoken Italian or IT1102 Non-Beginners' Written and Spoken Italian in Second Year.

¹⁰

Students who took ST2001 Introduction to Biostatistics in Second Year cannot select this module in Third Year.

¹¹

SC3066 Medical Sociology is only available to students taking at least 30 credits of Sociology in Third Year.

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.