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 2: Arts (Children’s Studies) (ACS)

This programme provides unique and applied training that is not available anywhere else in Europe. The Arts (Children’s Studies) programme provides students with the knowledge, confidence and transferable skills to identify their preferred career path. Students on this programme are expected to work with children throughout the four years, learning through both academic experience and practical work.

 

Graduates will be well-placed to pursue careers in community development work, as inclusion support assistants (special needs assistants), and in research, as well as to gain entry to postgraduate degrees in primary teaching, play therapy, social work, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, health promotion, arts administration, and public advocacy.

 

This programme is an excellent choice for students who would like to pursue a career as primary school teachers, as it also includes an option to study Gaeilge as part of the programme (optional); our graduates are very successful in applying to the PME (primary school teaching), as well as to other professional postgraduate degrees.