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Family Support Studies (MA, PDip)
Course Overview
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 and skills 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.
Applications and Selections
Applications are made online via the NUI Galway Postgraduate Applications System.
Who Teaches this Course
- Dr. Carmel Devaney, BA, MA, Course Director
- Dr. John Canavan, Associate Director, UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre,
- Professor Pat Dolan, Director UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre
- Dr. Bernadine Brady, BA, MA, PhD
- Dr. Brian McGrath, BA, MSc, PhD
- Professor Caroline McGregor B.S.S., CQSW, Ph.D., PGCHET
Requirements and Assessment
Assessment of candidates is on a continuous basis, varies from module to module and involves a combination of essays, project work, and written assignments. Central to students’ assessment is their ‘on site’ placement and associated practice and their Year Two research project (minor dissertation).
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 years’ work experience in the health and social services area is required of candidates. As there currently exists a set of practitioners working with children and families who, despite a wealth of skills, have not attained a formal, recognised undergraduate qualification, two places may be offered on the programme at the PDip (Family Support Studies) level.
Additional Requirements
Duration
2 years, part-time
Next start date
September 2021
A Level Grades ()
Average intake
18
Closing Date
26 May 2021
NFQ level
Mode of study
Taught
ECTS weighting
90
Award
CAO
Course code
1FS2 (MA); 1FS3 (PDip)
Course Outline
This 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 (45 Credits)
Required SP576: Child Protection and Family Support
Required SP577: Community Development and Families
Required SP572: Family Support Theory I
Required SP573: Family Support Practice I
Required SP574: Families and Children in Society and Policy I
Required SP575: Family Support Practice Seminars
Required SP530: Working with Specific Populations
Year 2 (45 Credits)
Required SP579: Family Support Theory II
Required SP580: Family Support Practice II
Required SP581: Families and Children in Society and Policy II
Required SP582: Law and Family Support
Required SP583: Health Promotion and Families
Required SP584: Thesis Research Seminars
Curriculum Information
Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Glossary of Terms
- Credits
- You must earn a defined number of credits (aka ECTS) to complete each year of your course. You do this by taking all of its required modules as well as the correct number of optional modules to obtain that year's total number of credits.
- Module
- An examinable portion of a subject or course, for which you attend lectures and/or tutorials and carry out assignments. E.g. Algebra and Calculus could be modules within the subject Mathematics. Each module has a unique module code eg. MA140.
- Optional
- A module you may choose to study.
- Required
- A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
- Semester
- Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year.
Year 1 (45 Credits)
Required SP576: Child Protection and Family Support
SP576: Child Protection and Family Support
Semester 1 | Credits: 5
Assessments
This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile | Email
Lecturers / Tutors
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile
- GILLIAN BROWNE: Research Profile
- FERGAL LANDY: Research Profile
- EAMONN FUREY: Research Profile
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Required SP577: Community Development and Families
SP577: Community Development and Families
Semester 1 | Credits: 5
Assessments
This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
- BRIAN MCGRATH: Research Profile | Email
Lecturers / Tutors
- BRIAN MCGRATH: Research Profile
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile
- GILLIAN BROWNE: Research Profile
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Required SP572: Family Support Theory I
SP572: Family Support Theory I
Semester 2 | Credits: 5
Assessments
This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
- PATRICK DOLAN: Research Profile | Email
Lecturers / Tutors
- BERNADINE BRADY: Research Profile
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile
- GILLIAN BROWNE: Research Profile
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Required SP573: Family Support Practice I
SP573: Family Support Practice I
Semester 2 | Credits: 10
Assessments
This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile | Email
Lecturers / Tutors
- BERNADINE BRADY: Research Profile
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile
- GILLIAN BROWNE: Research Profile
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Required SP574: Families and Children in Society and Policy I
SP574: Families and Children in Society and Policy I
Semester 2 | Credits: 5
Assessments
This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
- JOHN CANAVAN: Research Profile | Email
Lecturers / Tutors
- JOHN CANAVAN: Research Profile
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile
- GILLIAN BROWNE: Research Profile
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Required SP575: Family Support Practice Seminars
SP575: Family Support Practice Seminars
Semester 2 | Credits: 10
Assessments
This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile | Email
Lecturers / Tutors
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile
- GILLIAN BROWNE: Research Profile
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Required SP530: Working with Specific Populations
SP530: Working with Specific Populations
Semester 2 | Credits: 5
Assessments
This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
- BERNADINE BRADY: Research Profile | Email
Lecturers / Tutors
- BRIAN MCGRATH: Research Profile
- BERNADINE BRADY: Research Profile
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile
- GILLIAN BROWNE: Research Profile
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Year 2 (45 Credits)
Required SP579: Family Support Theory II
SP579: Family Support Theory II
Semester 2 | Credits: 5
Assessments
This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
- PATRICK DOLAN: Research Profile | Email
Lecturers / Tutors
- BERNADINE BRADY: Research Profile
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile
- GILLIAN BROWNE: Research Profile
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Required SP580: Family Support Practice II
SP580: Family Support Practice II
Semester 2 | Credits: 5
Assessments
This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile | Email
Lecturers / Tutors
- BERNADINE BRADY: Research Profile
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile
- GILLIAN BROWNE: Research Profile
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Required SP581: Families and Children in Society and Policy II
SP581: Families and Children in Society and Policy II
Semester 2 | Credits: 5
Assessments
This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
- JOHN CANAVAN: Research Profile | Email
Lecturers / Tutors
- JOHN CANAVAN: Research Profile
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile
- GILLIAN BROWNE: Research Profile
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Required SP582: Law and Family Support
SP582: Law and Family Support
Semester 2 | Credits: 5
Assessments
This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile | Email
Lecturers / Tutors
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile
- GILLIAN BROWNE: Research Profile
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Required SP583: Health Promotion and Families
SP583: Health Promotion and Families
Semester 2 | Credits: 5
Assessments
This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.
- Continuous Assessment (100%)
Module Director
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile | Email
Lecturers / Tutors
- BERNADINE BRADY: Research Profile
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile
- GILLIAN BROWNE: Research Profile
- COLETTE DEMPSEY: Research Profile
- LHARA MULLINS: Research Profile
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Required SP584: Thesis Research Seminars
SP584: Thesis Research Seminars
Semester 2 | Credits: 20
Assessments
This module's usual assessment procedures, outlined below, may be affected by COVID-19 countermeasures. Current students should check Blackboard for up-to-date assessment information.
- Research (100%)
Module Director
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile | Email
Lecturers / Tutors
- BERNADINE BRADY: Research Profile
- CARMEL DEVANEY: Research Profile
- GILLIAN BROWNE: Research Profile
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.
Why Choose This Course?
Career Opportunities
Graduates will have the opportunity to enhance their careers in a wide range of service areas at both practitioner and manager level, working in state and voluntary services on behalf of children and families. Reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the family support area, the programme is geared towards those working in social work, social care, community work, public health nursing, disability, education, justice, social welfare, early years, gerontology, and other related fields.
Who’s Suited to This Course
Learning Outcomes
Work Placement
Study Abroad
Related Student Organisations
Course Fees
Fees: EU
Fees: Tuition
Fees: Student levy
Fees: Non EU
Find out More
Dr. Carmel Devaney
Course Director, Child and Family Research Centre,
School of Political Science and Sociology,
NUI Galway.
T: +353 91 495 733
E: carmel.devaney@nuigalway.ie
www.childandfamilyresearch.ie