Summary

• School of Education

• Duration
• Full Time: 3 years
  

• Fees
• Full Time: €3,290 per year
  International Students: €9,250 International

Overview

This innovative course is aimed at people hoping to pursue a career working with children as part of an integrated professional team. The BA (Hons) course offered at CMU aims to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the multi-disciplinary approach to the care and education of children today.

It draws together staff with a wide-ranging expertise in related areas from across the University, thus ensuring students have access to the highest quality of expert tuition.

Key Facts

The BA (Hons) Children and Integrated Professional Care course offers a unique opportunity for students to study and engage with professional practice in the following children's services: children and education, children and health, children and social care and child and family law.

The degree programme is carefully tailored to meet the requirements of The Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Childcare Workforce (2005) and responds to the specific needs of children as underlined by The Children Act 2004, The Climbie Inquiry and the Every Child Matters agenda.

Our aim, on this innovative course, is to give students wishing to pursue a career with children the ability to explore the demands of working in an integrated profession.

Successful graduates from the course will have a sound understanding of the rights and entitlements of children, young people and their families and the skills needed to work within multi-agency teams.

Students within the Faculty of Education, Law and Social Sciences have access to some of the most up-to-date facilities and resources and pursue their degree in a productive, modern and supportive learning environment.

We are proud that our reputation for training professionals ready to face the challenges of the 21st Century workplace means our graduates are highly employable when they leave.

Course Outline

Course Structure

Children's services are changing and those preparing to become a professional in this area need to equip themselves with the relevant knowledge and skills to work as part of an effective, integrated team.

The three-year, full-time programme will enable students to:

• develop an understanding of the working practices of children's services across the four strands of study;
• develop a sound understanding of the rights and entitlements of children and young people;
• study legislation, policies and integrated practice relating to children's services;
• understand the roles, rights and responsibilities of those working with children and young people;
• engage with professional practice in children's services across the four strands of study;
• work within teams in order to demonstrate teamwork, initiative and leadership;
• develop your critical and analytical thinking skills to become an independent, reflective learner;
• communicate effectively in written and spoken English.

Modules

Study will involve modules related to the four strands of children and education, children and health, children and social care and child and family law. There will be a number of opportunities to engage with professional practice and all students in their final year will carry out a placement-based reflective study. The programme of study is based on the requirements of the Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Childcare Workforce (DfES 2005) and responds to the aims of the Every Child Matters agenda (2004). Students will study all modules in Years 1 and 2 but will have the opportunity to tailor their studies by choosing from a range of optional modules in Year 3.

Year 1 Child Development and Managing Transitions -30 credits Children and Education -15 credits Inclusive Practice -15 credits English Law and the Legal System -15 credits Family Law -15 credits Health of the Child and Young Person -15 credits Children in Need -15 credits

Year 2 Working with Families to Safeguard Children -30 credits Schools and Communities -15 credits Children and the Law -15 credits The National Service Framework -15 credits The Diversity of Healthcare Needs -15 credits Child Protection -15 credits Looked After Children -15 credits

Year 3 Information Sharing -15 credits Perceptions of Childhood and Youth -15 credits Contemporary Issues-15 credits Education and the Law-15 credits Youth Crime-15 credits Management and the NHS -15 credits Introduction to Common Childhood Conditions-15 credits Social Work Skills-15 credits

Assessments

This is a coursework-based degree programme and a range of approaches to learning and teaching will be adopted across individual modules to provide a stimulating and challenging learning experience.

Effective learning in taught sessions will involve being engaged in a variety of interactive tasks. There will be opportunities for students to work independently during taught sessions.

Assessment tasks will include group presentations, essays, reports, evaluation of case studies, reflective journals and reflective study.

Placements

The first two years of the course do not involve placements, but there will be opportunities for engagement with professional practice through visits and guest speakers.

In the third year of the course, students will undertake the compulsory 60 credit Level 6 module, entitled Work-Based Reflective Study. This will involve a four week placement relating to one of the four strands of study.

After your studies

Further Studies

This course provides an appropriate qualification for entry to postgraduate routes for further study in each of the four strands.

Graduates could study for professional qualifications in law, social work, nursing and primary school teaching, provided the entry requirements for these courses are satisfied.

Our Master's programmes might also be an appropriate route.

Employment Opportunities

This course allows you to progress your career within the children's workforce in areas such as education, youth and community projects, health and social care and youth justice in local authorities and the private sector.