The Masters in Youth Arts and Sports Education is available on a full-time or part-time basis. For full-time students, the course is delivered over one calendar year (12 months) from the date of first registration for the programme. The part-time option can be taken over two years with course work completed in Year 1 (45 credits) and the dissertation completed in Year 2 (45 credits).

Candidates should normally hold an honours primary degree with Second Class Honours Grade 2 (or equivalent) in any discipline.

Candidates with an honours primary degree lower than a Second Class Honours Grade 2 (or equivalent) or without a primary degree (NFQ Level 8 award) are eligible to apply if they hold significant senior professional responsibility/experience in a related field. Such applicants may be invited for interview (which may be online or by phone) to satisfy the selection committee of their suitability for the programme. Admission of such applicants will be subject to the approval of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences.

All applicants will be asked to evidence their commitment to working with young people and to document any experience and training relevant to the programme as part of the written application process.

Strong references and personal statements are an important part of the application, as is relevant work experience.

Part I
Students take 20 credits as follows:
ED6606 Well-being for Health (10 credits)
SS6021 Creative Methodologies in Youth Arts Practice (10 credits)

Elective modules (Semesters 1 and 2)
Students select 25 credits from the following, to include at least 5 credits from Sports Studies and at least 5 credits from Youth Arts.
Modules are subject to a minimum quota and it is possible that not all modules will be available every year.

Sports Studies
ED6604 Outdoor Learning (5 credits)
ED6605 Models of Physical Education (5 credits)

Youth Arts
DR6024 Directed Study in Theatre and Performance (5 credits)
DR6025 Special Studies in Applied Theatre (10 credits)
DR6026 Advanced Theatre Practice (10 credits)
MU6060 Community Music (5 credits)
SS6024 Art and Social Action (5 credits)
SS6029 Art and Development Education (5 credits)

Applied Social Studies
SS6114 Migration, Mobilities and Social Policy (10 credits)
SS6315 Mental Health and Disability (10 credits)
SS6316 Children and Young People (10 credits)
SS6320 Conflict Transformation and Peace Building (10 credits)

Part II
Dissertation
Students complete a Research Dissertation which develops their capacities to engage in original research on a topic of their choosing. Working with academic supervisors in a high-quality research environment, they will design and undertake interesting research that contributes to knowledge and practice in arts and/or sports education for young people.

SS6038 Research Dissertation (45 credits)
Students must complete a 20,000-word research dissertation and associated blog entries. The dissertation must be submitted on the first Friday in October of the academic year in which it is to be examined.

Candidates must pass/progress within 2 academic years of the date of first registration, otherwise they cannot continue in the programme.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

Programme Learning Outcomes for MSocSc (Youth Arts and Sports Education) (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Apply an advanced and systematic knowledge of the principles of working with young people using arts- and sports-based methods which are at the forefront of professional practice.
• Outline and evaluate current developments in youth arts theory, policy, and practice.
• Outline and evaluate current development in health for wellbeing with respect to theory, policy, and practice.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the environment, and a commitment to ecological sustainability in youth arts and sports practices.
• Demonstrate an ability to self-reflect on one’s professional identity and to document one’s continuing professional development through a range of creative methods.
• Demonstrate the exercise of initiative and self-direction in designing and implementing arts- and sports-based programmes and activities that promote young people’s health and wellbeing.
• Evaluate their own and others’ youth arts and sports education practices using appropriate, robust, and ethical review methods.
• Collaborate effectively with interdisciplinary practitioners and young people to articulate needs, realise goals, and achieve learning outcomes.
• Communicate ideas effectively through written, verbal, and digital methods to a variety of audiences.
• Complete an extended Master's level research and writing project, showing appropriate research, writing and technical skills, demonstrated in a 20,000 word dissertation.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Certificate in Youth Arts and Sports Education (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of working with young people using arts- and sports-based methods which are at the forefront of professional practice.
• Outline and evaluate current developments in youth arts theory, policy, and practice.
• Outline and evaluate current development in sports education theory, policy, and practice.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the environment and a commitment to ecological sustainability in youth arts and sports practices.
• Demonstrate an ability to self-reflect on one’s professional identity and to document one’s continuing professional development through a range of creative methods.