Social Policy (JH)

Overview

What is Social Policy?

Social policy is concerned with the ways that states and societies respond to local and global challenges of security, poverty and inequality, education and health, welfare and well-being. It examines the different roles of government, the family, civil society, the market, and international organisations in the regulation and provision of social protection and rights through services that include social housing, poverty reduction measures, educational supports, migrant and refugee supports, pensions, health and social care programmes. The Joint Honours programme in Social Policy engages with a wide range of policy actors to identify and reduce inequalities in access to services experienced by social groups defined by socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, migration status, gender, sexual orientation, disability and age, at local and global levels.

This programme in social policy will equip you with a range of highly transferable skills that will continue to be of benefit to you throughout your career. You will critically appraise evidence and information, while resolving complex problems with competencies that help you to identify and mediate competing interests and perspectives that are crucial to the formulation of social policies in our world.

Do you enjoy...

• Contemplating how we can make our societies a better place to live?
• Using evidence to make decisions which affect people? 
• Learning about how to develop long-term policy solutions to current social issues and problems?

Social Policy: The course for you?

Are you curious about global social, political and economic issues like poverty and inequality? Climate change, migration and displacement? Health and the global burden of disease? Are you searching for a course that demands both academic and vocational qualities? Do you have a desire to make a difference in our world? If you have  answered yes to these questions then social policy may be the subject choice for you! Social Policy is multidisciplinary, international and applied and offers a wide range of careers at community, national, regional, and global levels.

Social Policy at Trinity

Trinity’s School of Social Work and Social Policy strives for an ethos that values multidisciplinary scholarship; research-led teaching; a diverse student base; a student-centred approach to education and pastoral care; public service; partnership with colleagues in other parts of the university, and with colleagues in other institutions; international experience, connections and integration between teaching, research and policy influence. Social Policy in Trinity ranks in the top 100 universities worldwide (QS World Rankings by Subject 2022), giving Social Policy at Trinity the highest ranking of the course amongst its alternatives in Ireland.

Pathways

The pathways available are Single Honours, Major with Minor subjects and Joint Honours. There may also be an opportunity to take this subject up as a New Minor Subject from second year.

Graduate skills and career opportunities

Our graduates work with national and international governments; civil society organisations; governmental and non-governmental think tanks; private sector organisations; bilateral and multilateral organisations, and community and social care services.  Social policy is a particularly important degree for those interested in pursuing careers in in the public sector, and community and voluntary/not-for-profit sectors at local, regional and international levels. Graduates of social policy in Trinity have secured employment as social and academic researchers, policy analysts, governmental advisors and journalists recruited by organisations that include the United Nations (UN); the World Health Organization (WHO); International non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs); multinational private sector organisations; the civil and public service in Ireland and Europe; the Inner City Organisation Network (ICON), Focus Ireland, the Migrant Rights Centre, and in academia. The Joint Honours Programme in Social Policy provides a solid foundation for specialist postgraduate courses in the areas of social research, social policy and social work, politics and economics, sociology, health, education and a host of related disciplines.

Your degree and what you’ll study

The fundamental aim of the degree programme is to give students a thorough training in the systematic study of social policy, contemporary social issues and how policy works. Teaching methods include lectures, seminars and group project work utilising innovative approaches enhanced by digital technologies. Assessment is by a combination of continuous assessment, written submissions, class presentations, examinations real-world relevant assignments such as policy case studies or ministerial briefings and a final year Capstone project.

First year and second year

In first year you will take introductory modules in Social Policy Concepts and Social Policy in Action and skills based modules on Accessing and Reviewing Scholarly Literature in the field of Social Policy as well as a module in Critical Analysis and Argument Development.

The second year places greater emphasis on social policy issues offering modules including: Policy Issues in Human Services; Global Health Policy; and two new modules Introducing Research Methods for Social Policy and Labour Market Activation. You will also be given the opportunity to take modules from other programmes across the university under the Trinity Electives model. This can include other social science modules such as Economy of Ireland; Economics of Public Policy; History of Political Thought; International Relations; Comparative Politics; and Introduction to Irish Family Law. In first and second years students typically have two lectures and one tutorial per week for each module.

Third year and forth year

The choice of modules available in third year typically includes modules such as: Global Social Policy; Youth and Society; Aging and Intergenerational Relations; and Policy Issues in Human Services. Again in third year, student have the option to take modules from other programmes across the university. Third year students also have the option to study abroad in a European or international university.

The choice of modules available in fourth year typically will include Eco-Social Policy, Disability and Global Human Rights, Regulating Reproductive Bodies, and a Research Methods for Capstone module that is essential for students who wish to undertake a Capstone Project in Social Policy in 2024-2025. A Capstone is a significant (20 ECTS) project or dissertation, undertaken with the guidance of a supervisor, that provides you with an opportunity to showcase the knowledge, skills and competencies which you have acquired over the course of your undergraduate study.

There are QQI/FET routes available for this course. Please see www.cao.ie for details

Click here for further information on modules/subjects.

Study abroad

Students have the opportunity to study abroad in their third year at prestigious universities in Europe through the Erasmus programme as well as through non-EU international exchanges. You may participate in full-year or half-year exchanges with partner institutions in countries such as Sweden, France, Malta, Finland and Czechia. In addition, you can compete for a smaller number of places on university-wide non-European exchanges with partners in Australia, Singapore, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Brazil, Canada and the US in your third year. Most partner universities offer their courses through English.

For more information on study abroad destinations and requirements visit: www.tcd.ie/study/study-abroad