The MSocSc in Voluntary and Community Sector Management is a part-time programme running for 24 months from the date of first registration for the programme. It is run on a cyclical basis and commences again in September 2018.

A candidate for the MSocSc in Voluntary and Community Sector Management must:
(i) have obtained at least a Second Class Honours in an approved primary degree;
(ii) normally have a minimum of two years recent and relevant work experience (e.g. practitioners in youth work, play work, community work, community education, the community and small voluntary sectors, community renewal and enterprise, faith community workers, community health workers, equality workers, and environment workers);
(iii) satisfy a selection committee.

Applications will be considered from candidates without a primary degree provided that they have a vocational/professional qualification in a relevant subject area as may be deemed suitable by the Head of School/Department and the candidate has held, for a minimum of two years, a position of responsibility of relevance to the programme. Final acceptance is subject to approval by the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences, and the College of Business and Law, UCC.

Students attend the University one day per week. Some of the modules may be delivered in blocks of five days and/or over long weekends.

Students take 90 credits as follows:

Part I - Year 1
Students take 40 credits as follows:
GV6112 The Third Sector and the State (5 credits)
SS6600 Principles, Values and Practice in the Voluntary and Community Sector (5 credits)
SS6606 Social Policy and the Voluntary and Community Sector (5 credits)
SS6607 Financial Oversight and Management in the Voluntary and Community Sector (5 credits)
FE6602 Social Enterprises and Local Development (5 credits)
SS6608 Quality Systems and Risk Management in the Voluntary and Community Sector (5 credits)

Plus either:
FE3824 People Management in Member-Based Organisations (10 credits)
Or
FE6712 Leadership and Change Management in Co-operative and Social Enterprises (10 credits)

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

Part II - Year 2
Students take 50 credits as follows:
FE6601 Co-operatives and the Third Sector (5 credits)
IS6012 Application of IT to the Third Sector (5 credits)
MG6100 Leadership, Organisational Development and Change for the Third Sector (5 credits)
LW6103 Legal Aspects of State Regulation (5 credits)
SS6602 Applied Social Research in the Voluntary and Community Sector (5 credits)
SS6605 Dissertation in Voluntary and Community Sector Management (25 credits)

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.

See also Regulations for the Degree of Master.

Postgraduate Diploma in Voluntary and Community Sector Management (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
Students who pass taught modules to the value of at least 40 credits in Year 1 and at least 20 credits in Year 2 to a total value of 60 credits may opt to exit the programme and be conferred with a Postgraduate Diploma in Voluntary and Community Sector Management.

Programme Learning Outcomes for MSocSc in Voluntary and Community Sector Management (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Apply knowledge, skills and values to take a leadership and/or managerial role in an organisation in the community and voluntary sector;
• Describe, critically assess, integrate and apply leadership structures and decision-making processes related to community, voluntary, co-operative, and social enterprise organisations;
• Identify and critically assess the interaction between societal structures, policies, practices and values in Third Sector management;
• Integrate and apply law, rights mechanisms and good governance practices to work in the Third Sector;
• Critically assess social research relating to the Third Sector, and apply theory and practice in social research to Third Sector management and planning;
• Demonstrate an ability to manage and conduct research on the Third Sector;
• Integrate and apply theories and practices that promote democratic processes within Third Sector management;
• Integrate and apply business skills, accounting skills and information technology to exert effective control over the management of resources and practice in the Third Sector.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Voluntary and Community Sector Management (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Apply knowledge, skills and values to take a leadership and/or managerial role in an organisation in the community and voluntary sector;
• Describe, critically assess, integrate and apply leadership structures and decision-making processes related to community, voluntary, co-operative, and social enterprise organisations;
• Identify and critically assess the interaction between societal structures, policies, practices and values in Third Sector management;
• Integrate and apply law, rights mechanisms and good governance practices to work in the Third Sector;
• Critically assess social research relating to the Third Sector, and apply theory and practice in social research to Third Sector management and planning;
• Integrate and apply theories and practices that promote democratic processes within Third Sector management;
• Integrate and apply business skills, accounting skills and information technology to exert effective control over the management of resources and practice in the Third Sector.