Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences

You must select 4 subjects in year 1.  The only restriction is that you cannot take both Psychology and Geography together.

All subjects are available from year 2. You can refer to the table above to see which combinations are available. However, please note that Psychology has restricted places and these are allocated on a competitive basis. 

The only subject with a specific grade requirement is Economics (O4/H7 in Maths is required).  No prior knowledge (leaving certificate grade) is required for any other subject.  E.g. you do not need leaving certificate history to study history. 

You will be given information on all subjects during your orientation at the University.  You will then choose your 4 subjects during week 1 of Autumn Semester.  You must select your four subjects and complete module registrations by Friday of week 1.  

Yes, it is possible to change a subject after week 1 of Autumn Semester.  A change of subject form must be completed and submitted by the close of week 4.

Students select three subjects to continue from years 2-4. One major and two minors.

Each semester on campus, you choose two modules from your major subject and one module for each of your minor subjects.  

An online task will allow you to select your route/subjects for year 2 & will open on Wednesday of week 3 and close on Wednesday week 4 of Spring Semester in Year 1.  There will be an evening event held on Week 3 where you can discuss your year 2 subject selections with Faculty. 

No.  You pick the subjects to continue with based on your selection in year 1.  

You will undertake a Final year project in year 4, which is an extended piece of research and writing, on a topic of your choice, under the supervision of a member of Faculty.   You will be supported in this work with a Preparation for your Final Year Project module in year 3.  This module will provide you with all the details you require to select your project topic and supervisor. 

Yes, all students are allocated an academic advisor. 

Yes.  This is a compulsory element of the programme.  The International Education Division will assist you with your study placement. 

Erasmus is when you study in a European University and your subject selections will determine the Universities that you can apply to study in.  For example, current partner Universities for Politics students are throughout Europe in Prague, Copenhagen, Toulouse, Grenoble, Munich etc.  

Exchange is when you study in a non-EU University such as the Asia, Canada, United States or South America. 

Yes.  This is a compulsory element of the programme.  The Cooperative Education and Careers Division will assist you with your work placement.    

This will depend on the subjects that you are taking and the sector you interview for.  Students will be given options of placements such as international placement, business sector, education sector, non-profit sector etc.  Our partnerships with employers can vary from year to year and is therefore not possible to give exact details of Co-Op placement employers. 

Career option vary depending on your interests and the subjects you study.  In general, graduates can pursue careers both in the public and private sectors and the programme is designed to give 21st century skills for a 21st century workforce.  In general, the data science core provides work skills that are increasingly of value in almost any organization or firm and is one of the largest growth areas in contemporary economies.  At the same time, there is strong demand for social scientists in numerous areas.  Sociological skills are fundamental to the effective operation of organizations and enhance skills in social research, management and consulting, public relations, and human resource management. Likewise, economics provides skills useful for work in economic and financial research, financial planning and consulting, accounting, and investment and banking. An emphasis on geography provides skills for spatial analysis and research, surveying, including that for planning and development, environmental consulting, and geographic systems information (GIS) analysis and management. For all other majors, other occupational opportunities exist.  

Graduates are required to do a Professional Masters in Education to qualify as a primary or secondary school teaching. They must also ensure that they have taken the correct number of credits as required by the Teaching Council for the subject they are interested in teaching.  

This subject studies the development of digital and social media and how this has led to changes in cultural practices.  Students will study the relationship between culture, media and technology whilst also learning practical digital communication skills.  In year 1 students will study an introduction to Digital Media and Social Media in Society.  

No, the data science core does not require a specific grade or competency in mathematics.