Courses / Course

This is our four-year part-time degree in Community and Youth Work.

 

Community Work is the development and empowerment of communities, through the active participation of people in addressing issues that affect them collectively; Youth Work is defined in Irish legislation and policy as a process of personal and social development based on voluntary participation and principles of equality and inclusiveness.

Part-time, level 8 honours degree in Community and Youth Work - equivalent of 1.5 days per week tuition on campus plus summer schools; two periods of block fieldwork placement (dates set at commencement of programme).

 

A range of topics relating to community and youth work are studied in all 4 years of the programme. Supervised fieldwork in both community work and youth work is essential for all students. As this is an in-service programme, all applicants must be currently employed in youth work and/or community work, and have written agreement from their employer to facilitate participation in the programme.

 

Professional education and training that engages learners as active participants.

 

Mature student applicants to be at least 21 years old by 1st January 2020.

The Department of Applied Social Studies writes to applicants for MH116 and MH802 in mid-March inviting them to attend a written assessment in Maynooth University in March 2020.
Applicants will also be asked to bring the following on the day of the written assessment:
1.    A personal statement (max 350 words) which addresses:

• Why you are applying for this programme
• Outlining your personal understanding of community work and youth work
• Why you think you would make a good community worker and/or youth worker?

2.    References (two written references from work or voluntary experience or other involvement)

Only candidates shortlisted after the written assessment and submission of personal statement / references will be invited to attend group and individual interviews which typically take place in April. 

As this is an in-service programme, all applicants must be currently employed in youth work and/or community work, and have written agreement from their employer to facilitate participation in the programme. On the basis of the written application, candidates will be selected to attend for a written test and individual and group interview at a later date (usually from April onwards).

 

Note 1: Any offer of a place on this programme is subject to a satisfactory background check by the National Vetting Bureau. Note 2: Please note that MH802 will run in September 2020 subject to sufficient numbers. 

 

At interview stage applicants for the part-time degree (MH802) will be asked to provide employer's consent forms.

Preliminary offers pending matriculation results and completion of all procedures, including vetting by the National Vetting Bureau as per the National Vetting Bureau (Children & Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016, will be made in late May 2020.

Applications typically re-open for MH802 Community & Youth Work (part-time/in-service) through Available Places on the CAO in August 2020.
Please contact the Department of Applied Social Studies at 01-708 3743 / 01-708 4574 or email appliedsocialstudies@mu.ie for further information.

Leaving Certificate applicants are required to present (as a minimum): 2H5 & 4O6/H7 and O6/H7 in Irish, English, 3rd language. Restricted application course – apply to the CAO by February 1st 2019. Any offer of a place on this programme is subject to a satisfactory background check by the National Vetting Bureau.

As this is a restricted course on the CAO, all applicants to MH116 will be requested to submit a personal statement outlining their reasons for wanting to do this course (in no more than 350 words), two written references and information on work experience.
Applicants are invited to attend for a written test in March. Shortlisted applicants are invited to an individual and a group interview in April. All applicants must have relevant and verifiable experience in youth work and/or community work.
Note 1: 50% of places are reserved for appropriately experienced mature students. Note 2: Any offer of a place on this programme is subject to a satisfactory background check by the National Vetting Bureau.

Applicants are asked to bring the following with them on the day of the written assessment:

• A personal statement (max 350 words) which addresses :

        Why you are applying for this programme
        Outlining your personal understanding of community work and youth work
        Why you think you would make a good community worker or youth worker?

• References (two written references from work or voluntary experience or other involvement)

Only candidates shortlisted after the written assessment and submission of personal statement / references will be invited to attend group and individual interviews which typically take place in April.

At interview stage applicants for the part-time degree (MH802) will be asked to provide employer's consent forms.

Preliminary offers pending matriculation results and completion of all procedures, including vetting by the National Vetting Bureau as per the National Vetting Bureau (Children & Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016, are typically made in late May.

Applications typically re-open for MH802 Community & Youth Work (part-time/in-service) through Available Places on the CAO in August.

Please contact the Department of Applied Social Studies at 01-708 3743 / 01-708 4574 or email appliedsocialstudies@mu.ie for further information
Any offer of a place on this programme is subject to a satisfactory background check by the National Vetting Bureau.

 

 

Optional Critical Skills and Electives are not available as part of this degree. Click here for details about The Maynooth Education. 

 

 

DARE: The Disability Access Route to Education is a third level alternative admissions scheme for school-leavers whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education.

 

• MH802 – 4 year: equivalent of 1.5 days per week tuition on campus plus summer schools; two periods of block fieldwork placement (dates set at commencement of programme).
• Part-time students complete all modules over four years studying alongside full-time students. Flexibility is required and an individual timetable is negotiated at the beginning of each year.
• A range of topics relating to community and youth work are studied in all 4 years of the programme. Supervised fieldwork in both community work and youth work is essential for all students.
• Block fieldwork placements must be in contrasting settings and may involve travel within Ireland. International fieldwork placements are also considered, provided the student has the requisite experience and aptitude, and that suitable supervised fieldwork opportunities are available.

Year 1

COMMUNITY & YOUTH WORK CY1PSM - COMMUNITY AND YOUTH WORK Credits: n/a Compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory COMMUNITY WORK PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES CY103A 7.5 Year-Long FIELDWORK PRACTICE 1 CY107 15 Year-Long INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL SCIENCES CY117 15 Year-Long PRACTICE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CY102A 15 Year-Long STUDY AND INQUIRY AT 3RD LEVEL CY111B 7.5 Year-Long YOUTH AND COMMUNITY IMAGES AND ARTS CY105A 7.5 Year-Long YOUTH WORK PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES CY104A 7.5 Year-Long

Year 2

COMMUNITY & YOUTH WORK CY2PSM - COMMUNITY AND YOUTH WORK Credits: n/a Compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCE CY216 15 Year-Long COMMUNITY WORK ISSUES & POLICIES CY203A 10 Year-Long COMMUNITY WORK PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES CY103A 7.5 Year-Long FIELDWORK PRACTICE 1 CY107 15 Year-Long FIELDWORK PRACTICE 2 CY207 15 Year-Long INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL SCIENCES CY117 15 Year-Long PRACTICE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CY102A 15 Year-Long PRACTICE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CY202B 15 Year-Long PROFESSIONAL STUDIES CY215 10 Year-Long STUDY AND INQUIRY AT 3RD LEVEL CY111B 7.5 Year-Long YOUTH AND COMMUNITY IMAGES AND ARTS CY105A 7.5 Year-Long YOUTH WORK ISSUES AND POLICIES CY204A 10 Year-Long YOUTH WORK PRINCIPLES & PRACTICES CY104A 7.5 Year-Long

Year 3

COMMUNITY & YOUTH WORK CY3PSM - COMMUNITY AND YOUTH WORK Credits: n/a Compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCE CY216 15 Year-Long COMMUNITY WORK ISSUES & POLICIES CY203A 10 Year-Long CRITICAL ISSUES IN PRACTICE CY333 15 Year-Long FIELDWORK PRACTICE 2 CY207 15 Year-Long FIELDWORK PRACTICE 3 CY307 15 Year-Long PRACTICE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CY202B 15 Year-Long PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CY330 15 Year-Long PROFESSIONAL STUDIES CY215 10 Year-Long RESEARCH FOR PRACTICE CY331 15 Year-Long THE SOCIAL SCIENCE CONTEXT OF PRACTICE CY332 15 Year-Long YOUTH WORK ISSUES AND POLICIES CY204A 10 Year-Long

	Year 4
	COMMUNITY & YOUTH WORK CY4PSM - COMMUNITY AND YOUTH WORK Credits: n/a Compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory CRITICAL ISSUES IN PRACTICE CY333 15 Year-Long FIELDWORK PRACTICE 3 CY307 15 Year-Long PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CY330 15 Year-Long RESEARCH FOR PRACTICE CY331 15 Year-Long THE SOCIAL SCIENCE CONTEXT OF PRACTICE CY332 15 Year-Long

Graduates are equipped to take up professional employment in a range of community and youth work organisations and agencies - community development projects, local, urban and rural development groups, community youth projects, neighbourhood youth projects and local youth services, as well as organisations concerned with particular groups (e.g. women, Travellers, new communities) or issues (e.g. unemployment, migrant rights, drugs, poverty).

 

Postgraduate options in the Department include an MA in Community and Youth Work, an MA in Applied Social Studies and an MSocSci Social Science (Rights and Social Policy).