MA/Postgraduate Diploma (Family Support Studies)

Course details

The PDip/MA Family Support Studies is a two-year part-time programme for Individuals working within the area of Family Support for a minimum of 3 years. The primary focus of Family Support is on early intervention and prevention aiming to promote and protect the health, well-being and rights of all children, young people and their families, paying particular attention to those who are vulnerable or at risk. The aim of this programme is to further the education, training and skill enhancement of professionals with a common interest in Family Support.

Established in 2003, this programme is the only one of its kind in Europe with an emphasis on applying a Family Support orientation across a wide range of practice and policy arenas.

Key facts

Entry requirements

Participants will have a third-level qualification or a recognised professional qualification in a field broadly related to Family Support service delivery. In addition, as the programme is not geared towards Individuals coming out of undergraduate programmes, a minimum of three year’s work experience in the health and social services area will be required of candidates. As there currently exists a set of practitioners working with children and families who despite a wealth of skill, have not attained a formal recognised undergraduate qualification, two places may be offered on the programme at the PDip in Family Support Studies level.

Course outline

The Postgraduate Diploma/Master of Arts (Family Support Studies) is a two-year part-time programme and students are required to attend college two days every second week over four semesters with the agreement of their employers. There are seven modules in total on the programme, three of these are core modules and are taught in both years.

Year 1

• Family Support Theory (5 ECTS)
• Family Support Practice (20 ECTS)
• Families and Children in Ireland: Sociological Insights and Policy Perspectives (5 ECTS)
• Child Protection and Alternative Care (5 ECTS)
• Community Development (5 ECTS)
• Understanding and Working with Vulnerable Populations (5 ECTS)
• Introduction to Social and Policy Research

Year 2

• Family Support Theory 2 (5 ECTS)
• Family Support Practice 2 (5 ECTS)
• Families and Children in Ireland: Sociological Insights and Policy Perspectives 2 (5 ECTS)
• Law and Family Support (5 ECTS)
• Health Promotion and Families (5 ECTS)
• Social and Policy Research ( 20 ECTS)

Requirements and assessment

Assessment of candidates will be on a continuous basis, will vary from module to module and involve a combination of essays, project work, and written assignments. These will be completed both on an Individuals and group basis. Central to students’ assessment will be their ‘on site’ placement and associated practice and their year two research project (minor dissertation).