This is a full-time three year Level 7 degree course that has an exit point at level 6. 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. 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 Therefore, offers on this programme are conditional and could subsequently be withdrawn if applicants do not meet the Garda Vetting requirements.

Social care practitioners may work, for example, with children and adolescents in residential care; people with learning or physical disabilities; people who are homeless; families in the community; or older people. What follow-on study opportunities are available? Graduates of this course will be eligible to progress to year four of the BA (Honours) in Applied Social Studies.