new horizons - Institute of Technology Blanchardstown

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48
Part-time Prospectus 2009 | 2010
Social Studies Courses
49
AIM
The course is designed primarily to meet
the needs of employees of the industry
that have substantial practical experience.
The aim of the course is to educate
reflective practitioners who can continue to
learn and develop throughout their career
and to produce ordinary degree graduates
with the professional knowledge,
interpersonal skills and self awareness
appropriate for careers in social care,
who can work in a variety of social care
settings, which include residential child
care, disability sector, youth community
and family support services.
COURSE CONTENT
The course is offered over three years
on a part-time basis and is divided into
seven academic streams. Each subject will
focus on knowledge, skills promotion and
practical implications while also facilitating
student’s personal development.
The following is a brief description of each
of the seven main academic streams:
Psychology
Psychology is a core subject in each of
the three years of the course leading to
the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social
Studies in Social Care. Professional
practice in social care is informed by
a thorough foundation in psychology
and an understanding of psychological
perspectives in human development. The
various theoretical models and approaches
provide a framework for working with
vulnerable and/or dependent service user
groups to best support them and meet
their identified needs.
Sociology
This course of sociological study has
been allocated throughout the three
years of the course. It focuses on the
fundamentals of sociology, Ireland
as a sociological profile and family
studies. The aim of these modules is to
challenge and encourage the student to
an understanding of society as a human
collective with the family at its core. It
provides the student with an appreciation
of the significant factors pertaining to
societal development, concentrating on
the role of social care therein.
Communications
Development in both communication and
information technology skills throughout
this course will equip the student in
areas of communication such as human
interaction, acquire communications
skills relevant to the social care
environment and personal development.
This stream includes a module on
research methods and practice.
Group Dynamics and Personal
Development
On completion of the course students
will fully appreciate the role of groups,
teams and the working of both groups
and teams within organisations.
Furthermore they will understand how
groups and teams are best constructed
together with an a awareness of the
different roles and personality types in
groups and teams and have the ability to
work effectively as a team member thus
ensuring that each student develops from
a personal perspective. This stream is
completed with a module on personal and
professional development.
Health and Well-Being
This subject provides the student with
an understanding and appreciation of
significant factors relating to physical
development and healthy lifestyles for
children, adolescents and adults. This
subject challenges the student to explore
their own attitudes relating to diet,
fitness and lifestyle. Skills development
in the area of cooking and first aid are
a necessary component of health and
well-being to prepare the student for the
reality of the workplace.
Applied Social Studies
This subject introduces the student to
social care as a discipline and examines
issues relating to social studies. This is a
pivotal subject that provides opportunities
to link theory to practice and integrates
the learning from other subjects, and lays
the foundation for their development as
professional practitioners.
Supporting Studies
In the case of recreation and creative
studies, the course invites the student to
partake in a personal journal of creativity
and personal development. The course
then moves on to challenge the student
into both direct and indirect application
of the creative methodologies of art,
movement and drama, to the modern wider
professional social care environment.
In the case of legal studies, the students
will be equipped with knowledge relating
to the factors which govern legislation in
this country and with an understanding
of the main legislative frameworks within
which social care operates. The practice
implications of such legislation and
standards will be explored to equip the
students with the necessary awareness to
function as a professional practitioner.
Work Placement Projects
The aim of this part of the course is to
allow students to make clear connections
between practical experiences and
knowledge that has resulted from
experience on the basis of appropriate
and assessed learning outcomes, not the
experience itself. During work placement,
students will produce a portfolio to
demonstrate evidence of knowledge
skills and competencies acquired in the
current workplace. The term portfolio
refers to a claim for learning based on a
collection of suitable pieces of evidence of
that learning and will demonstrate work
based learning experiences in the context
of potentially creditable learning.
The portfolio and evaluation report will
be appraised for authenticity (that the
student has undertaken what is claimed),
directness (that the learning is specific,
relevant and has been identified and
categorised), breath (that the learning
took place in a wider theoretical and
vocational context which was understood
by the applicant), currency (that the
learning is sufficiently recent to be
relevant), and balance (between theory
and practical application).
APPLICATION
For further details and an application
form please contact the marketing team
on 01 885 1000 or e-mail: info@itb.ie.