BA IN ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY/YOUTH AND FAMILY STUDIES

Overview

Programme Description

The BA in Environment and Society/Youth and Family Studies is a three-year degree programme:

• Environment and Society (Year 1 and Year 2 at St. Angela's College, Sligo)
• Youth and Family Studies (Year 3 at NUI Galway)

Year 1 of this programme will operate on a shared platform of relevant modules drawn from the disciplines of economics, sociology and politics, before diverging into two specialist pathways in Year 2.

Environment and Society (Years 1 to 2)

This pathway has been developed to provide a coherent and integrated introduction to the study of social science and the environment.  Environment, society and the economy are all interlinked. Changes in the environment affect society and the economy and vice versa.  Climate change, rapid depletion of natural resources and associated problems, such as rising food and fuel prices, are beginning to change the way we operate economically, socially and politically.  Further social changes will occur as people change their consumption, production, work and travel patterns, and political systems will play an ever increasing role in determining future environmental policy.

To date, most third level courses have studied the environment from the perspective of the natural sciences.  This innovative degree programme adopts a different approach by analysing the environment from the perspective of the social sciences, namely, the three disciplines of economics, sociology and politics.  It brings together the most important approaches to understanding the economic, social, human, political and environmental world, developing skills for a whole range of future careers and activities.

Youth and Family Studies (Year 3)

This pathway has been developed to afford students the chance to develop the ability to analyse and understand the social constructs of youth and family, from a variety of social science perspectives.

While the course of adolescents’ physiological and psychological development might not have changed over the last number of years, there is little argument that the social context within which this takes place has altered hugely, both globally and nationally.  Ireland’s social, economic and political development has been telescoped into a much shorter time-span than for our other European counterparts.  One of the direct knock-on effects of this development can be seen in the lives of young people and the families from which they originate.  The landmark publication of the State of the Nation’s Children Report (2006) in Ireland showed that the top three issues affecting young people in Ireland are binge drinking, youth suicide and physical activity/poor diet.

Ireland has also seen major changes in fertility, work, urbanisation, and in the nature of family and community life, alongside fundamental shifts in information and communication technologies.  The concept of family is continually evolving and being socially constructed by socio-economic forces inside and outside of Ireland.  All of these factors illustrate the need to provide an undergraduate course which examines these issues in greater detail.  The Youth and Family Studies degree is a broad educational programme, placing specific emphasis on knowledge and skills required for personnel working within a range of sectors seeking to support and enable families and young people to function more effectively within society.

Why Enrol?

This programme has many advantages:

• Small class sizes
• Addresses pressing issues in modern society
• Access to high quality vocational postgraduate qualifications
• Access to a wide range of further study
• Wide range of potential career paths
• Experience of two different campus environments
• Final year participation in the social, cultural and academic life of NUI Galway and vibrant Galway City

Career Opportunities

This degree programme will offer a variety of careers in public, voluntary and private sector organisations, in such areas as environmental management, environmental policy, and sustainable development, as well as in the wider graduate employment market.  Possible career opportunities would include:

• Public Administration
• Development Agencies
• Journalism
• Rural Development
• Community Development
• Civil Service
• Consultancy Work
• Research Bodies

CAO Code

GY120

For More Information

For more information about enrolling in this course, please visit the Undergraduate Admissions Office.

The view the programme brochure, click here.

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