BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care Degree Online

Course description

Why choose this course?
This is an internationally recognized social science degree course which combines academic theory with practical experience. It gives students the opportunity to develop their theoretical knowledge and skills and apply it directly to practice and management in the health and social care sectors, both locally and globally.

Students are challenged to develop a critical understanding of integrated health and social care welfare structures and processes.

This course also incorporates at least one (and optionally two) supervised placement which will enable students to gain practical, real-world experience of a health and social care environment of their choosing. Examples of placement providers include day services, drug rehabilitation centres, domestic violence support services, LGBTI support and advocacy services and sex worker support and advocacy services.

This course aims to provide students with a detailed understanding of health and social care theory, policy and practice. Students will also be supported to understand key contemporary issues that influence health, social care and the wellbeing of individuals and communities within a global context.

How it works
Students log in to the Virtual Learning Environment and engage with weekly study resources at times that suit their own schedule.
They listen to their weekly lecture, engage with their weekly workshop and complete their weekly educational action for each module for each week.
There are fortnightly live webinars which many students find really useful. These are recorded; if students cannot attend the content is accessible online after the live session.
Students complete weekly ‘educational actions’ and these are designed to prepare them to successfully pass the assessment for their modules. Once completed students post these to the activity forums. Once students complete the activity the tutor provides individual and group feedback and feedforward to support students to complete the end of module assessment.
By the time the module is completed all students will have developed the knowledge and understanding and weekly feedback to support them to complete their final assessment.
Learner supports and help
If students are struggling to understand weekly content they can post a question to the support forum and their tutor will post a response to their query. Tutors also have three two-hour Open Zoom meetings each week so students can pop in to have a chat about module content if they so wish.
The Studies Advisor is available to support students throughout the semester to support with academic writing and referencing skills and to support students to develop a realistic study schedule for each module.

Course Summary
New for 2021/22 is the integration of different degree routes within Health and Social Care, which students can choose at the end of Stage 1.

Route 1 The BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care
This route is broadly focused on topics and theories relating to health and social care. Students will develop ways of thinking and practicing in Health and Social Care and they will apply these to contemporary issues such as mental health, substance use and domestic abuse.

Route 2 BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care: Management and Leadership
This route focuses specifically on skills for management related to working effectively with other employees and understanding the importance of wellbeing at work. Students will develop ways of thinking and practicing in relation to management and leadership such as project management and social entrepreneurship.

Qualification gained
BSc Hons Health and Social Care
Exit awards:

Certificate of Higher Education (120 Credits) (Year 1)
Diploma of Higher Education (240 Credits)  (Year 2)
Ordinary Degree in Health and Social Care (300 Credits) (60 Credits from Year 3)

Entry requirements
Any QQI Level 5 major award (120 credits).
If English is not your first language, an IELTS academic exam is mandatory; a score of 6.0 must be achieved.
If you do not hold a QQI Level 5 major award, please contact us to discuss further.

Career opportunities
Our graduates work in areas such as:

Mental health
Domestic abuse
Substance abuse
Older people
People with disabilities
Successful students will also be prepared for further academic study and many choose professional routes such as:

Social Work
Occupational Therapy
Physiotherapy
Counselling
Teaching
Graduate entry Medicine
Health Promotion
Speech and Language Therapy
Business management e.g in Human Resources
Research master’s degree