Social Work

Course Overview

This long-running MA in Social Work (MSW) equips its graduates with the knowledge, skills and training required to gain employment as registered social workers. Through a proven blend of in-class and practice-based learning, participants gain in-depth understanding of social problems and their causes, as well as policy solutions. Students build the skills necessary to work with individuals, groups and communities, with an emphasis on the promotion of human rights and social justice. The programme benefits from two decades of partnerships with practice teachers and statutory and voluntary organizations, which employ social workers across services for individuals, families and communities.



This course will equip you with the skills and knowledge to be registered as a social worker by the CORU registration body.

We offer joint teaching and learning opportunities with other disciplines within the School (e.g. Social Policy & Community Development) and are connected to the Child and Family Research Centre and a range of research clusters, which are partnered with the Life Course Institute. This means that staff throughout the School play a key role in relation to teaching and supervising research dissertations by students. The Programme also benefits from inter-disciplinary training with colleagues in other schools (e.g., School of Health Sciences), professionals in practice and service users and carers.



The maximum annual intake of Social Work students is 25. A dedicated teaching room, with extensive computer facilities, is available to students. The programme adheres to the definition of social work provided by the International Federation of Social Workers and expects Social Work students to adhere to both professional and university codes of conduct (see http://www.iasw.ie/ and http://www.coru.ie/ for codes of ethics and practice).



The Deadline for applications for the Masters in Social Work at University of Galway is Jan 27th 2024. See here for details. Social Work (MA) - University of Galway

Please contact socialwork@universityofgalway.ie for further information and support.

See also link regarding recently advertised Bursary opportunities from Tusla: MSWTusla - Child and Family Agency



Course Outline

Programme aims and objectives

The aim of the MSW Programme is to aid in the development and formation of students wishing to gain accreditation as professional social workers. This is achieved by:

1. Preparing students to undertake an ethnically based practice integrating both theory and research, policy, skills and reflection.



2. Putting in place the foundations of generic learning applicable to all fields and methods of practice.



3. Sustaining the focus on human rights and social justice within social work practice. Students will learn professional autonomy and accountability; develop interpersonal and professional relationships; practice effective communication; build towards personal and professional development; assess and be able to deliver a quality service; develop knowledge, understanding and skills in a creative environment. Underpinning all of these domains is the basic principle of respecting and advocating for the rights of the service user.



Through the course, student participants are encouraged to:

- develop an appropriate skills base within practice placement settings

- lay an emphasis on the need for social workers to make use of social theory and research evidence

- facilitate the development of critical and reflective thinking and practice



Students are expected to show evidence of a commitment to promoting social justice and human rights throughout their studies and practice.

RequiredSP6144: Support and Protection across the Lifecourse - 10 Credits - Semester 1

RequiredSP6118: Mental Health and Applied Law - 5 Credits - Semester 1

RequiredSP718: Theory & Social Work I - 5 Credits - Semester 1

RequiredSP611: Social Policy - 5 Credits - Semester 1

RequiredSP601: Social Work Practice - 5 Credits - Semester 1

RequiredSP603: Methods of Social Work - 5 Credits - Semester 1

RequiredSP604: Research Methods - 5 Credits - Semester 1

RequiredSP608: Field Work I - 20 Credits - Semester 2



RequiredSP6152: Social Work Dissertation - 10 Credits - Semester 3

RequiredSP6153: Research Support Workshop - 5 Credits - Semester 3

RequiredSP610: Field Work II - 20 Credits - Semester 3

RequiredSP607: Social Work, Law & Human Rights - 5 Credits - Semester 3

RequiredSP609: Contemporary Social Issues - 5 Credits - Semester 4

RequiredSP719: Theory & Social Work II - 5 Credits - Semester 4

RequiredSP614: Social Work, Supervision & Management in a Multi-cultural Context - 5 Credits - Semester 4

RequiredSP722: Criminal Justice System, Probation & Social Work - 5 Credits - Semester 4

Level 8 undergraduate degree with a minimum Second Class Honours, Grade 2 (2.2) or BSc Social Science or other relevant qualifications deemed equivalent by the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies. Prior relevant work experience is compulsory (this must equate to 3 months/480 hours).



All applicants to the MA in Social Work at the University of Galway are required to have completed three months (approx. 480 hours) of work experience relevant to the social work profession either in a voluntary or paid or a combination of both capacities prior to their application. Relevant supervised placement learning will normally count for up to a maximum of 120 hours (3 weeks). It is the candidate’s responsibility to demonstrate clearly in their application how they have met the required three months/480 hours experience and the relevant experience form in the application must be completed and submitted as part of the application. Candidates are expected to share all of their relevant experience in this form and must provide clear details of hours and dates for work completed. This includes any relevant involvement with any other courses that involved relevant placements citing the details of the agencies where placements were completed. Two letters of reference, one academic and one-work related, and a well written and convincing personal statement (600 words) must also be submitted. Review of applications for the MA in Social Work (MSW) takes place in February after the application deadline. Short-listed applicants will be called for interview late February early March.

Scholarships available

2 years full-time.

Next start date September 2025



Closing Date 31 January 2025

Career Opportunities

Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration with CORU as qualified social workers in a range of public, private and voluntary sector organisations. TUSLA, Health Service Executive, County Council, Community and Local Government and Department of Justice and Equality are examples of employers of social work in the public sector. The non-governmental sector includes services to children and adults such as, Ability West, Enable Ireland, Brothers of Charity Services, Galway Drugs Service, Jigsaw and COPE Galway. Graduates have also found employment internationally in the U.S.A., Canada, Scotland, England and Australia for example. With regard to further study, we encourage qualified social workers to consider post graduate study and or further professional training (e.g. PhD study or a recently established Higher Postgraduate Diploma in Practice Teaching, Supervision and Management).