Bachelor of Arts Children Studies AWC

Course Overview

The Discipline of Children’s Studies offers two course streams, which have been designed to provide graduates with different skill sets and knowledge. Stream 1: Arts with Children’s Studies (GY110 AWC and Stream 2: Arts (Children’s Studies (GY110 ACS.

What is Children’s Studies?

Children’s Studies is a new and genuinely interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary field of study. It brings together knowledge from many disciplines (education, anthropology, psychology, literature, history, health promotion, sociology, the creative arts, human rights, law and public policy to help students develop their understanding of children as a class. This deeply developed understanding is the most appropriate preparation for any career working with, or on behalf of, children.

Stream 1: Arts with Children’s Studies (GY110 AWC

Arts with Children’s Studies is the only degree in Europe that enables students to combine an Arts degree with a specialism in Children’s Studies. It enables students to take two traditional arts subjects alongside Children’s Studies to degree level. The expertise acquired through a BA with Children’s Studies will assist students in identifying the career path that best suits their particular talents and ambitions.

As students study Children’s Studies and two Arts subjects to degree level, the AWC degree is the perfect platform from which to pursue postgraduate study on the PME post-primary and a career in secondary school teaching.

It is also a strong foundation for a career in community development work, advocacy, the creative arts, and education, and an excellent basis for post-graduate study in social work, play therapy, speech and language therapy our graduates are very successful in gaining entry to these competitive programmes.

In third year students complete a semester long placement either in Ireland or abroad (for example, in one of our partner schools in Spain students are encouraged to choose a

placement that matches their career ambitions and are supported in this decision by the careers office and the discipline.

Recent graduates are currently working in speech and language therapy, play therapy, music therapy, social work, and public policy, as well as in teaching and educational support in Ireland and abroad.

Minimum Grade H5 in two subjects and passes in four other subjects at O6/H7 level in the Leaving Certificate including Irish, English, another language, and three other subjects recognised for entry purposes.

A Pedagogically Progressive Education

Based in the School of Education at the University of Galway, the discipline of Children’s Studies utilizes a broad range of innovative teaching and assessment tools. This means that service learning, group work, reflective journalling, hands-on experiences, inquiry-based learning, choice in assessment modality, presentations, and interactive oral assessment are all carefully balanced along with the more traditional methods of lectures and essays, providing opportunities for all types of learners to build and demonstrate their strengths and knowledge.

Versatile Arts Degree with a Specialization in Children’s Studies

The BA with Children’s Studies has all of the benefits of an arts degree (flexibility, independent and critical thinking, employability), along with an understanding of childhood and the practical experience of working with children offered by the discipline of Children’s Studies. It is an excellent preparation for many of the postgraduate and career paths that arts graduates pursue, such as post-primary and primary school teaching, therapeutic professions, and social work or youth work.

Career Opportunities

The Bachelor of Arts with Children’s Studies provides students with the knowledge, confidence and transferrable skills to identify their preferred career path as well as to succeed in their chosen field nationally or internationally. Graduates will be well-placed to pursue careers in secondary or primary school teaching (this requires the addition of a Professional Master of Education), as inclusion support assistants (special needs assistants), in the social care sectors and community development work, as well as to gain entry to postgraduate degrees in play therapy, social work, health promotion, speech and language therapy, children’s librarianship, museum work, arts administration, special-needs teaching, public advocacy and activism. Over the years, 88% of the graduates from programmes in the discipline of Children’s Studies are in further education or in employment.

**Please note – this is NOT a DCEDIY recognized degree for work in creche/early childhood settings