BA (Hons) in Youth Work

The Course
The course was designed in partnership with the Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) in order to enable CDYSB to respond to those youth workers employed in Dublin city who have no professional qualification.

The course was approved by Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) and began in January 2005.
To facilitate access the course is delivered in Dublin city centre locations.
First years attend on Friday morning and afternoon in Ozanam House, Dublin 1. Second years attend on Wednesday afternoon and evening in Larkin Community College (CDVEC) Dublin 1.

A submission for the professional endorsement of the course has been made to the newly formed 'North South Education Training and Standards Committee'. This endorsement means that students successfully completing the course are deemed to be competent professional youth workers. It is hoped the process for professional endorsement will be completed successfully by June 2006.

The first two years of the course leading to a 'Higher Certificate in Youth Work' place a significant emphasis on the development of practice skills.
The final two years, which provide participants with an opportunity to obtain a BA (Hons) Youth Work, focus on the theoretical framework for youth work and the integration of theory and practice. The course is designed to develop a skilled and reflective practitioner who has a firm grasp of the theory supporting youth work.

The course is modular which means that students are assessed on each unit of study as they complete it. This gives students a sense of achievement and encourages them to continue with the other modules. Assessment is varied and ranges from essays, group projects, written and oral exams, learning logs and placements. Students are required to complete a placement in each of the first three years of the course. Students must demonstrate competence to a professional standard in practice as well as an ability to critically analyse the theory supporting their practice.

Structures are in place to ensure ongoing individual and group support and learning, especially during the first two years of the course. The ethos of the course is one that is highly supportive of people returning to study and /or those who have never completed formal education and this is reflected in the course design and assessment processes.
Students with learning difficulties are encouraged and supported to avail of support services including adult literacy programmes provided by NALA and CDVEC.

The list of modules to be completed is as follows:

Higher Certificate in Humanities in Youth Work
Year 1 Year 2
Communications Information Collection and Analysis
Introduction to Youth Work Interventions
Community Development Person Centred Development
Foundation Module Group Work
Psychology (Developmental) History and Development of Youth Work Policy and Theory
Youth Work Relationships Social Studies
Work Experience Work Experience

BA in Youth Work
Year 3 Year 4
Understanding Organisations Youth Work as an Agent of Change 1
Conflict Resolution Managing Youth Work
Law & Policy of Youth Work Adult Community & Education
Equality Studies Youth Work Responses to Young People
Ethical Practice in Youth Work Gender Studies
Sociology and Social Change Youth as Agent of Change 2
Work Experience

For further information on the course contact Louise Fitzpatrick, Programme Manager (DkIT ) 01- 8728298 or Bill Blake Development Officer for Training, CDYSB 01- 4321100

You can also download the DKIT Brochure.