This is a full time four year level 8 degree course that has exit points at level 6 and level 7. The course provides an academic qualification for those interested in a career in social or community care services. The course provides graduates with the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills to enable them to make a professional contribution to communities, groups societies and organisations in the region, nationally and internationally. There is a focus in the course on the cross-functional nature of the social care environment and on the interdisciplinary nature of social care service provision. Because this programme requires placement that will bring students into contact with children or vulnerable adults and in which they will assume positions of trust, it is necessary to ensure the protection of the public, and justify public trust and confidence. Therefore IT Carlow is committed to ensuring that only suitable candidates are allowed to undertake these programmes. IT Carlow uses the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) vetting service to assess the suitability of all applicants and in some cases, may also require applicants to provide an enhanced disclosure student of an affidavit. Therefore, offers on this programme are conditional and could subsequently be withdrawn if applicants do not meet the Garda Vetting requirements.

Graduates of the course will be equipped with the knowledge, skills and competencies of contemporary Social Care work. With the qualification graduates will be able to take up front line positions in a diverse range of social care services and will act as a base for project co-ordination, supervision & management. Typical positions will be secured in residential services (adolescent, vulnerable older people), community development, family support, community child-care and community disability services. What follow-on study opportunities are available? Graduates can complete post-graduate studies to Master or Doctoral level within the Social Care or associated social science field.