SCHOOL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND SOCIOLOGY

The School is a large, dynamic and innovative unit in the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies. It is internationally recognised for its research, teaching and service to students and to wider communities. In particular, the School takes pride in its long standing student-centred ethos and approachable staff.

The School also has a well-established reputation for research on Children, Youth and Families; Power, Conflict and Ideologies; Gender, Empowerment and Globalisation, and Governance and Sustainable Development. It brings together an international, cross-disciplinary group of leading researchers and specialists in various fields across four principal disciplines. These are:

Applied Social Sciences
Head of Discipline: Dr Carmel Devaney
e: carmel.devaney@universityofgalway.ie

Gender and Women's Studies
Head of Discipline: Dr Nata Duvvury
e: nata.duvvury@universityofgalway.ie

Politics
Head of Discipline: Dr Brendan Flynn
e: brendan.flynn@universityofgalway.ie

Sociology
Head of Discipline: Dr Su-ming Khoo
e: su-ming.khoo@universityofgalway.ie

A wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes are offered by the School, providing students with the knowledge and skills required for varied career paths. We also offer regular opportunities for postgraduate research in the Social Sciences. In addition to the many U/G students who choose Sociological and Political studies as a core Arts subject each year, many others enrol in our denominated U/G and MA programmes or embark on PhD studies in the School.

We offer a warm welcome to new and continuing students in academic year 2024-2025.

– Prof Niamh Reilly, Head of School

Undergraduates

The School offers an opportunity unique in Ireland to study a combined programme of political science and sociology. Since our foundation in 1967, we have developed an extensive and highly-reputed teaching and research expertise. The School prides itself on its accessible, inclusive and stimulating learning environment for all students. We offer four undergraduate programmes: BA (Joint-Honours); BA Government (Politics, Economics & Law); BA Child, Youth and Family: Policy and Practice; and BSc in Social Sciences.

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Postgraduates

The School of Political Science and Sociology is proud to offer a suite of taught MA and PhD programmes for new graduates and mature students who want to embark upon professional paths that will make a difference. Our programmes are grounded in the best research and delivered by teams of experienced academics with extensive practical knowledge and a commitment to ensuring an accessible learning experience for our students.   All programmes include valuable professional networking or workplace experience.

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International Students

The School of Political Science and Sociology has a strongly international orientation. Our researchers and research clusters conduct and communicate their research internationally and participate in international research, policy and advocacy networks. Our curriculum is informed by our research and is global in its scope, providing diverse opportunities for in-depth elective studies. The School welcomes between 50-100 international students every year, including many European Erasmus and North American Junior Year Abroad students, as well as students and postgraduate fellows from many other countries. 

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