Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology

About You

If you are the type of person who is interested in investigating the reasons behind why people behave the way they do, and in using your knowledge to address important social issues, then this course will be interesting for you.

Why Study Psychology and Sociology at UL?

This course allows you to examine a fascinating variety of human behaviours and social interactions, and opens up a wide variety of career opportunities. This combination of disciplines offers you the opportunity to develop and deepen your knowledge and understanding of how and why humans think and behave the way they do, and how they shape and are shaped by the society they live in.

The programme will help you to understand and explore the complexities of the mind and society. In the final year you will have the opportunity to undertake a research project on a chosen subject in Psychology. By the end of this course you will have the knowledge and research skills essential for a career in Psychology. The BA is accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland, and will allow you to progress in a career in Psychology.

What You Will Study

This four year honours degree in Psychology & Sociology provides you with a broad introduction to both disciplines in the first year, followed by coverage of the core areas of Psychology required for accreditation including: social, developmental, personality, biological and cognitive psychology as well as research methods and statistics. In your final year of study you will specialise in advanced areas of both Psychology and Sociology, in topics including multiculturalism, the media and applied psychology, while undertaking your own independent research project in an area of Psychology. You will also have an opportunity to undertake study abroad as well as work in an area relevant to psychology or sociology during the course of your studies.

Off-campus programme

In semester 4 and 5 you will participate in an off campus programme. The off- campus programme typically consists of a period of paid employment in a sector related to the field of study, voluntary work and a period of university study in either Europe or North America as part of a Socrates or other exchange programme.

This four year honours degree in Psychology & Sociology provides you with a broad introduction to both disciplines in the first year, followed by coverage of the core areas of Psychology required for accreditation including: social, developmental, personality, biological and cognitive psychology as well as research methods and statistics. In your final year of study you will specialise in advanced areas of both Psychology and Sociology, in topics including multiculturalism, the media and applied psychology, while undertaking your own independent research project in an area of Psychology. You will also have an opportunity to undertake study abroad as well as work in an area relevant to psychology or sociology during the course of your studies.

Off Campus Programme

In semester 4 and 5 you will participate in an off campus programme. The off-campus programme typically consists of a period of paid employment in a sector related to the field of study, voluntary work or a period of university study in either Europe or North America as part of a Socrates or other exchange programme.

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include: Two H5 (Higher level) grades and Four O6 (Ordinary level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades. Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English.

Note: Grade F6 in Foundation Mathematics also satisfies the minimum entry requirements. Foundation Maths is not reckonable for scoring purposes.

Applications are especially welcome from mature students, that is those over the age of 23 on 1 January of the year of entry. Mature applicants must apply through the Central Applications Office (CAO) by 1 February.

QQI Entry

Certain QQI Awards are acceptable in fulfilling admission requirements for this programme. Go to the UL Admissions QQI page for a full list of modules.

As an accredited undergraduate Psychology programme, this BA degree will allow you to progress in a range of careers in Psychology. This includes eligibility to apply for entry to the Doctor of Clinical Psychology course at the University of Limerick, and other such doctoral programmes leading to qualifications as a Clinical Psychologist.

Careers open to you with a degree in Psychology and Sociology include;

• Psychologist
• Social Worker
• Primary Teacher
• Third level Lecturer
• Community Worker
• Speech and Language Therapist
• Social Researcher
• Occupational Therapist

Follow-On Study

Related postgraduate courses at UL include;

• MA Sociology
• MSc Speech and Language Therapy
• MSc Occupational Therapy
• Clinical Psychology (DclinPsych)

Psychology is one of the prerequisite study areas for entry to postgraduate studies in Psychological Science, Occupational Therapy, Music Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy courses at the University of Limerick, as well as professional courses in Educational, Forensic or Occupational Psychology elsewhere. Psychology graduates also pursue careers in research in universities, the public service and voluntary sector.

Want to find out more about possible careers with this degree? Click Here