BA in Community and Family Studies

This distance learning programme is a four-year, part-time programme in Community and Family Studies.  Students are awarded an NUI Diploma in Arts (Community and Family Studies) upon successful completion of the first two years of the programme and a Bachelor of Arts in Community and Family Studies on completion of the four-year cycle. This programme is designed to enable participants to further develop and enhance their understanding, knowledge and skills relevant to Family and Community work practice and policy in Ireland or abroad. The main focus of the Degree programme will be on Community and Family studies, but will broadly incorporate community development, family support, adolescence, childcare, health, political and general socio-economic studies

This programme was developed in response to the continuing education needs of personnel working in community/voluntary and state sectors actively supporting Community and Family life in a rapidly changing society.  It is an interdisciplinary programme drawing upon selected components of Sociology, Politics, Community Development, Family Studies and Law.  It is a broad educational programme which places specific emphasis on knowledge and skills for personnel working within a broad range of sectors which seek to support and enable families and communities to function effectively within society.

This NUI Diploma/ BA programme is designed specifically to create accessible, student centred learning opportunities within the Social Sciences. Core open learning materials, developed by NUI Galway practitioners and experts in the field of Community and Family support, will be provided to students at the start of the programme.  The cost of learning materials and the tuition is included in the programme fee.  Each programme consists of a combination of learning materials, workshops and assignments.  The workshops will be held at a number of geographic locations throughout Ireland.

An NUI Diploma in Arts (Community and Family Studies) is awarded on attaining 90 credits and a Bachelor of Arts in Community and Family Studies degree on attaining 180 credits.

The BA programme is devised on a modular, credit basis.   Each module carries a specific number of credits.   The maximum number of credits that a student can attain each year is 45 credits.  

YEAR ONE

• Introduction to Sociology  
• Social Research Skills
• Elective Module (See electives listing)  
• Understanding Communities  
• Family and Society  
• Community & Family Studies: Independent Research Project 1  

YEAR TWO

• Elective Module (See electives listing)  
• Politics and Policy Making  
• Issues in Contemporary Family Life
• Group work and Community Leadership
• Community & Family Studies: Independent Research Project 2  

YEAR THREE *

• Elective Module (See electives listing)  
• Research Methodology in the Social Sciences
• Childhood and Adolescence
• Family and Societal Interactions  
• Community & Family Studies: Independent Research Project 3

YEAR FOUR *

• Life Long Learning: Policy and Practice  
• Community and Family: Project Planning & Development
• Equality and Diversity
• Research Project

*Alternative modules may be offered

Electives
Community Enterprise Business and Legal Issues Community Health Development and Change Micro Finance Understanding Conflict Youth and Society	Critical Thinking Community Management Comparative Themes in Society, Politics and Culture Social Exclusion, Citizenship and the Modern State Information Technology: Family and Community Adulthood and Ageing Families and the Law Community and the Environment Racism and Interculturalism Community Consultation and Decision-making

Note: Other elective modules may be offered in addition to, or in substitution of, the modules listed above. Not all of the elective modules may be offered every academic year