Sociology (Youth, Community & Social Regeneration) MA

This programme aims to equip students with the skills necessary to engage with contemporary theoretical, policy and practice-related issues relating to work and study with young people in the national and international context of community regeneration. The course offers a critical forum where the complexities of social regeneration can be addressed. It builds upon existing research and teaching strengths at undergraduate and postgraduate levels within the Department of Sociology, namely inequality and social exclusion; the welfare state; social change; youth and community, social regeneration and sociological research methods. The programme also offers the possibility of taking elective modules at NUIG and at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick (MIC).

Objectives

• To provide students with a conceptual and operational understanding of key issues, objectives and processes pertaining to the social aspect of Regeneration.
• To provide students with in depth knowledge of theoretical, policy, and practical issues related to the study of youth and youth experiences in the context of Community.
• To provide students with the transferable skills necessary to conduct high-quality social research in community settings.
• To facilitate learning and personal educational development by offering a range of teaching and assessment approaches, together with excellent research supervision.
• To assist students in designing, conducting and writing up high-quality research which will be of benefit to themselves and the wider community.
• To provide a core foundation, for those students, who on completion of the MA wish to embark on a PhD in this area.
• To provide a sound basis for moving from an academic setting into different areas of the labour force by helping students to identity the transferable skills gained during the MA programme

Students are required to take four core modules and two elective modules in a combination of lectures and seminar discussion.  Students will take a module on dissertation proposal writing in Autumn Semester and a module involving practitioner led seminars in Spring Semester.  An additional and substantial research element includes: assessed course research papers; and a dissertation of 15,000 words written on a topic of choice under the guidance of an appropriate supervisor.

Students not proceeding to the dissertation may exit the programme with a Graduate Diploma upon successful completion of all coursework and assessments at this juncture. 

 Content of modules can be found by using the search option on the book of modules.

Applicants must normally hold a primary degree in a relevant discipline with First or Second Class Honours (Level 8 - National Qualifications Authority of Ireland) or an approved equivalent qualification.  All applicants will be called for interview.
Applicants who do not meet the academic requirements but who have appropriate professional qualifications and/or professional experience will also be considered.   All candidates must be fully proficient in both written and spoken English.

What to include with your application

• Qualification transcripts and certificates
• English language qualification(s) if English is not your first language
• Certified English translation of your transcripts/certificates where the original transcripts are in a language other than English.
• A copy of your birth certificate (long document)

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of either prior successful completion of a degree qualification taught through the medium of English or meet one of the criteria below (no longer than two years prior to application):

Acceptable English Language qualifications include the following:

• Matriculation examinations from European countries where English is presented as a subject and an acceptable level is achieved
• Irish Leaving Certificate English –Ordinary Level Grade D or above
• TOEFL – 550 (paper based), 213 (computer based), 80 (internet based)
• IELTS – Minimum score of 6.5* for Business, Arts, Humanities or Education programmes. Minimum score of 6.0* for Science, Engineering, Informatics or Electronics programmes *with no less than 6 in any one component.
• English Test for English and Academic Purposes (ETAPP) – Grade C1
• GCE ‘O’ level English Language/GCSE English Language – Grade C or above
• Cambridge Assessment English –Certificate of Proficiency in English - Grade C / Certificate in Advanced English Grade B
• GCE Examination Boards – Oxford Delegacy of Local Examinations – Grade C / Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate – School Certificate Pass 1-6 / University of London Entrance and School Examinations Council – School Certificate Pass 1-6

Results in examinations other than those listed above may also be accepted as meeting our English language requirements. Contact the International Education Division for advice.
 

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This MA aims to equip students with the skills necessary to engage with contemporary theoretical, policy and practice-related issues relating to work and study with young people in the national and international context of community regeneration. Facilitating new learning as well as building on established academic, professional and practical experience, a range of teaching and assessment approaches will be utilised. These, combined with excellent research supervision, state-of-the-art training in either qualitative or quantitative methodological skills and a commitment to the collection and dissemination of both national and international examples of best practice in the field will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the key practical and theoretical issues which characterise the field. The cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional nature of the MA encourages intellectual flexibility, strong communication skills and an awareness of the diversity of approaches and experiences which characterise community based research and engagement. Upon completion of the MA students will be well equipped to embark on PhD research in this area and indeed to move from an academic setting into different areas of the labour force across a wide range of career paths.   These paths include, but are not limited to, research careers, policy development, youth and community work and professional engagement in the processes of social regeneration.

“I have been working as a research assistant with the Hate and Hostility Research Group here in UL since finishing the MA. I also work as a tutor in the Department of Sociology.

I LOVE my job. It is definitely related to both my undergrad and my MA. I would not be able to do the job without the skills I acquired during both courses. I would love to continue in the role while completing my PhD.”

Niamh Dillon, Graduate, MA Sociology (Youth, Community and Social Regeneration), MA