The Master of Social Work is a full-time professional training programme running for 21 months over two academic years from the date of first registration for the programme.

Admission is open to a limited number of students holding at least a Second Class Honours BSocSc (Hons) Degree or its equivalent, such as (but not limited to) the BA in Early Years and Childhood Studies, BA Hons in Applied Social Studies in Social Care or graduates, who have successfully completed an approved conversion programme, i.e. the Higher Diploma in Social Policy (or its equivalent).

There is a selection process based on the following combined elements: academic performance and research capacity; certified social work related experience and initiative; knowledge of social work; and motivation, commitment and suitability.

All students on the Master of Social Work undergo Garda/Police Vetting.

Fitness to Practise
Commencing with the 2013/2014 intake of first year students (including repeats), this programme will be subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy - full details may be found here.

Attendance
The Master of Social Work is a professional training programme accredited by the Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU). As a professional training programme, social work students are required to attend every class of each module (including fieldwork placements) unless unavoidably prevented from doing so. Attendance will be monitored by class register. If a student's attendance falls below 80% in any module, he/she may be required to repeat that module before being allowed to proceed with their training.

Leave of Absence
Students intending to take leave of absence of a year or more must make an application to the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences Office not later than March of the preceding academic year.

International Fieldwork Opportunities
A limited number of placement opportunities outside of Ireland are available each year. The School of Applied Social Studies has links with placement agencies in the US, India, South Africa and some European countries.

Students take 60 credits in each year of the programme (a total of 120 credits). The programme is divided into six thematically-based combinations

Students take 120 credits as follows:

Year I
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Social Work, Counselling and Development Issues
SS6101 Social Work Theory I: Theory and Practice (10 credits)
SS6102 Human Growth and Development (5 credits)
SS6108 Child and Family Welfare I (5 credits)

Social Work Practice and Fieldwork Placement I
SS6112 Practice Skills and Fieldwork Placement I (20 credits)

Social Science, Law and Social Work Settings
LW6005 Social Work and the Law (Child Law) (5 credits)
SS6105 Social Policy and Social Exclusion (5 credits)
SS6106 Applied Social Research (5 credits)
SS6107 Social Work Settings I (5 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2016 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules 2015/2016.

Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies, Year 1
Candidates who fail to achieve an aggregate of 50%, but who have not fallen below 40% in any module in Year 1, and who have passed the Fieldwork Placement element (SS6112), will progress to the Second Year of the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies.

Year II
Students take 60 credits as follows:
Social Work, User Groups and Law
LW6003 Social Work and the Law (The Rights of Vulnerable Persons) (5 credits)
SS6200 Social Work Theory II: Theory and Practice (5 credits)
SS6201 Child and Family Welfare II (5 credits)
SS6202 Social Work Settings II (5 credits)

Social Work Practice, Counselling Skills and Fieldwork Placement II
SS6207 Practice Skills and Fieldwork Placement II (20 credits)

Dissertation and Practice Research Presentation
SS6206 Dissertation in Social Work (20 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2016 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules 2015/2016.

Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies, Year 2
Candidates who fail to achieve an aggregate of at least 50% across all taught modules in Years 1 and 2, but who have not fallen below 40% in any module, and who have passed the Fieldwork Placement element (SS6112), may be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Master of Social Work (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Apply knowledge of social systems and human behaviour to promote social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment of people to enhance their well-being.
• Apply knowledge of social policy to critically examine and respond to the impact of social and political contexts on service users and social work.
• Reflectively evaluate and implement the values and ethics of the profession of social work as embodied in the Irish Association of Social Workers, CORU and International Federation of Social Workers codes.
• Promote principles of social justice, human rights and anti-oppressive practice as intrinsic elements of social work practice.
• Demonstrate core social work practice proficiencies in the areas of: professional autonomy and accountability, interpersonal and professional relationships, effective communication, personal and professional development, provision of quality services, knowledge, understanding and skills.
• Demonstrate knowledge of theory, legislation, policy, official inquiry reports and international conventions, to assessment and intervention planning in social work practice.
• Illustrate a reflective approach to learning that is self-directed, strengths-based and reflective.
• Engage in a process of self-awareness, self-monitoring and continuous professional development.
• Develop as 'research minded' practitioners who will continue to update their knowledge and engage in systematic evaluation of their practice.
• Respond reflectively and reflexively as social workers in a variety of social work settings, including multi-disciplinary contexts.
• Complete a research dissertation that demonstrates their knowledge and capacity to undertake a social work related research project.