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Bachelor of Arts (Children's Studies) ACS
Course Overview
This programme provides unique and applied training that is not available anywhere else in Europe. The Arts (Children’s Studies) programme provides students with the knowledge, confidence and transferable skills to identify their preferred career path. Students on this programme are expected to work with children from the very first semester and throughout the four years, including a semester-long placement, thus mixing the academic experience with practical work.
Graduates will be well-placed to pursue careers in community development work, as integration support assistants (special needs assistants), and research, as well as to gain entry to postgraduate degrees in primary teaching, play therapy, social work, speech and language therapy, health promotion, arts administration, and public advocacy.
This programme is an excellent choice for students who would like to pursue a career as primary school teachers, as it also includes an option to study Gaeilge as part of the programme (optional); our graduates are very successful in applying to the PME (primary school teaching) as well as to other professional postgraduate degrees in social work and play therapy, largely due to the significant service learning and work placement experience they gather throughout the degree.
Applications and Selections
Who Teaches this Course
Requirements and Assessment
Key Facts
Entry Requirements
Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 Grades in the Leaving Certificate including Irish, English, another language, and three other subjects recognised for entry purposes.
Additional Requirements
Duration
4 Years
Next start date
September 2022
A Level Grades (2021)
nuigalway.ie/alevels
Average intake
60
QQI/FET FETAC Entry Routes
21 (More Info)
Closing Date
NFQ level
Mode of study
ECTS weighting
240
Award
BA
CAO
GY110 ACS
Course code
Course Outline
Year 1
· Introduction to Children’s Studies
· Children in Social Contexts
· Children and Fairy tales
· Children and Health
· History of Childhood
· Developmental Psychology
Year 2
· Exploring Irish Childhoods
· Adolescents in Ireland: Healthy and Risky Behaviour
· Research Methods
· Child Law
· Educational Pedagogies: Policies and Practice
· Children and Storytelling
Year 3
· Child-Centred Research (Philosophy for Children)
· Children and Transitions
· Children and Play
· Twenty-First-Century Young Adult Literature
· Semester-Long Placement/Exchange
Year 4
· Children’s Rights
· Children and Theatre
· E-Literacy
· Connecting Research, Practice, and Policy in Children’s Lives
· Children, Culture and Media
· Applied Behavioural Analysis
· Supporting Children with Diverse Needs
Equivalent modules may be substituted from time to time for any of the above under exceptional circumstances and when approved by the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies
International Links
Students who take a foreign language as part of their BA(Children’s Studies) will have the option to study for a semester at a European University under the ERASMUS exchange programme and/or carry out their second semester work placement abroad.
A limited number of international exchange opportunities (consideration for which is based on grade averages) are also available to students not studying a foreign language. These include working in partner international schools in Spain (SEK) and/or studying Children’s Studies at York University in Canada.
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.
- Subject
- Some courses allow you to choose subjects, where related modules are grouped together. Subjects have their own required number of credits, so you must take all that subject's required modules and may also need to obtain the remainder of the subject's total credits by choosing from its available optional modules.
- Optional
- A module you may choose to study.
- Required
- A module that you must study if you choose this course (or subject).
- Required Core Subject
- A subject you must study because it's integral to that course.
- Semester
- Most courses have 2 semesters (aka terms) per year, so a three-year course will have six semesters in total. For clarity, this page will refer to the first semester of year 2 as 'Semester 3'.
Year 1 (60 Credits)
Optional GR1101: German Language and Culture (Beginners) - 15 Credits - Semester 1Optional FR1100: Introduction to French Language and Culture - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Optional IT1100: Italian Language and Culture - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Optional SH1101: Intermediate Spanish Language and Culture - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Optional GR1100: German Language and Culture (Advanced) - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Optional SH1100: Intensive Beginners Spanish Language and Culture - 15 Credits - Semester 1
Optional SP158: Introduction to Politics & Sociology - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional GR1102: Skills for studying German (Advanced) - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional GR1103: Skills for studying German (Beginners) - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional SH1102: Mundo hispano: An Introduction to the Hispanic World - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional IT1101: Italy at the movies - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Optional NG1105: An Teanga Bheo - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional NG1107: Scéal agus Pobal na Gaeilge - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required CN1100: Children and Health - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required CN1104: Fairytales and Children - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required CN1101: Children and Creativity - 5 Credits - Semester 1
Required CN1106: Introduction to Children's Studies - 10 Credits - Semester 1
Optional FR1101: Introduction to French Literature in Context - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Optional SP160: Problems in Politics & Sociology - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Optional SP159: Concepts and Practices of Politics & Sociology - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Optional CN1105: The Child in Film - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Optional NG1106: Litríocht agus Cultúr na Linne - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Required CN1103: Children in Social Contexts - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Required CN1102: The History of Childhood, 1500-2001 - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Required PS1101: Developmental Psychology - 5 Credits - Semester 2
Year 2 (60 Credits)
Optional IT235: Intermediate Language I - 5 Credits - Semester 3Optional IT238: Italian Culture & Society I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional CN2104: Marginalised Children's Groups in Ireland - 10 Credits - Semester 3
Optional CN2105: Understanding Children’s Medicine - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional FR269: Lecture du français: Textes, Contextes, Idées - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional NG227: Teanga Na Nua-Ghaeilge I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional GR236: German Language I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional GR239: History of German Literature & Culture I - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional FR266: French Language 5 - 10 Credits - Semester 3
Optional NG2101: An Gearrscéal sa Ghaeilge - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional IT2101: Oral (Communication and Presentation Skills) - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional SH2101: Spanish Language II A: Ex-Intermediate - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional SH2100: Spanish Language II B: Ex-Beginner - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional SH2102: Spoken Spanish and Oral Presentation Skills - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional SH236: Cultural Debates in Latin America - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required CN2101: Research Methods: Quantitative Approaches - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Required CN2107: European Educational Approaches, Policies and Practices - 5 Credits - Semester 3
Optional IT236: Intermediate language II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional CSS1101: Irish Childhoods: Gaelic Language and Literature - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional NG228: Teanga Na Nua-Ghaeilge II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional GR237: German Language II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional GR235: History of German Literature & Culture II - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional FR2100: Expressing French and Francophone Identities - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional NG2109: Téamaí i Nuafhilíocht na Gaeilge - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional SH2103: Spanish Language II C - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Optional CN2100: Adolescents in Ireland: Healthy and Risky Behaviour - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required CN2106: Children and Storytelling - 10 Credits - Semester 4
Required CSS201: Introduction to Child Law - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required CN2103: Careers and Professional Skills - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Required CN2102: Research Methods: Qualitative Approaches - 5 Credits - Semester 4
Year 3 (60 Credits)
Optional CN3102: Children's Studies Abroad (Sem 1) - 30 Credits - Semester 5Optional CN3103: Children's Studies Placement (Sem 1) - 30 Credits - Semester 5
Optional CN3104: Transition in Childhood and Adolescence - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Optional CN3105: Twenty-First Century Young Adult Fiction - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Optional CSS307: Children's Studies Abroad (Year Long) - 60 Credits - Semester 5
Required CN3101: Child Centred Research Methods - 10 Credits - Semester 5
Optional CSS306: Children's Studies Abroad - 30 Credits - Semester 6
Optional CSS309: Children's Studies Placement - 30 Credits - Semester 6
Year 4 (60 Credits)
Optional CSS304: Children's Rights - 10 Credits - Semester 7Optional GR337: German Cultural Studies I - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Optional GR341: German Language I - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Optional IT342: Italian Culture & Society III - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Optional SH336: Hispanic Literature & Culture III - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Optional SH339: Spanish Language III - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Optional FR379: French Language 6 - 10 Credits - Semester 7
Optional FR371: French Literature & Culture 7 - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Optional CN4101: Health and E-Literacy in Young People - 10 Credits - Semester 7
Optional NG4101: Filí agus Filíocht na Gaeilge, 700-1900 - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Optional NG4113: Teanga Na Nua-Ghaeilge 111 - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Optional CN3105: Twenty-First Century Young Adult Fiction - 10 Credits - Semester 7
Optional CN4105: Connecting Research, Policy & Practice in Children's Lives and Services - 10 Credits - Semester 7
Optional TI317: Specialism 2 (Cultural Geography) - 5 Credits - Semester 7
Optional CN4100: Supporting Children with Diverse Needs - 15 Credits - Semester 8
Optional GR339: German Cultural Studies III - 5 Credits - Semester 8
Optional GR342: German Language II - 5 Credits - Semester 8
Optional IT324: Language 111 - 10 Credits - Semester 8
Optional IT346: Oral, Presentation and Transferable Skills - 5 Credits - Semester 8
Optional SH340: Spanish Language IV - 10 Credits - Semester 8
Optional FR380: French and Francophone Studies 11 - 5 Credits - Semester 8
Optional CN4103: The World of Picture-books: Approaches and Aesthetics - 5 Credits - Semester 8
Optional CN4102: Children, Culture, and the Media - 10 Credits - Semester 8
Optional NG4109: Próslitríocht na Gaeilge - 5 Credits - Semester 8
Optional NG4114: Teanga Na Nua-Ghaeilge IV - 5 Credits - Semester 8
Further Education
What Our Students Say
“This course has given me the confidence and experience to progress my skills for working with children and has provided me with ample opportunity to work with children through service learning and placement.”
Jade Hume, BA (Children’s Studies) student
Why Choose This Course?
Career Opportunities
The BA (Children’s Studies) provides students with the knowledge, confidence and transferrable skills to identify their preferred career path as well as to succeed in their chosen field nationally or internationally. Graduates will be well-placed to pursue careers in primary school teaching (this requires the addition of a Professional Master of Education), as inclusion support assistants (special needs assistants), in the social care sectors and community development work as well as to gain entry to postgraduate degrees in play therapy, social work, health promotion, speech and language therapy, children’s librarianship, museum work, arts administration, special-needs teaching, public advocacy and activism. Over the years, 88% of the graduates from programmes in the discipline of Children’s Studies are in further education or in employment.
Who’s Suited to This Course
Learning Outcomes
Work Placement
Study Abroad
Related Student Organisations
Course Fees
Fees: EU
Fees: Tuition
Fees: Student Contribution
Fees: Student levy
Fees: Non EU
EU Fees are comprised of Tuition + Student Contribution Charge + Student Levy** €140. **Payable by all students and is not covered by SUSI. Further detail here.
Find out More
Dr Michal Molcho
Programme Director
College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies
T: +353 91 493 668
E: michal.molcho@nuigalway.ie