Health & Society
This course has been designed to enable you to discover all the aspects of health issues, and learn how to understand, research and act to improve the health of populations. During the course, you’ll encounter many different ways of thinking about and acting on health issues, including biological, social, political, ethical and psychological perspectives. You’ll not only learn about different potential career paths, but you’ll also get to focus many projects and other programme activities on your own health interests.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Dublin City University |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | Dublin City University | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
3 years, full-time.
Specific Subjects or course requirements
General Entry Requirements
Applicants must present a minimum of 6 Leaving Certificate subjects at Grade O6/H7, which must include Mathematics and English or Irish. In addition, applicants must present at least 2 subjects at Grade H5.
Additional Requirements
Minimum of O6 or H7 in Mathematics PLUS minimum of O6 or H7 in one of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics with Chemistry, Agricultural Science.
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Applicants wishing to undertake a Level 8 degree at DCU must be at least 16 years of age on 15 January of the year of entry.
Leaving Certificate Subject Combinations
Certain subjects will not be scored separately if they occur in combination with subjects that are similar in content. In each case, the highest individual grade will be scored. The following 6 groups of subjects are affected by this:
1 Music and Musicianship, Music A, Music B.
2 Economics, Agricultural Economics.
3 Physics with Chemistry - if combined with Physics and Chemistry; only 2 best scored - if combined with Physics or Chemistry; only best scored.
4 History, Economics and Economic History - if all 3 subjects are taken; only the best 2 will be scored.
5 Latin, Classical Studies.
6 Greek, Classical Studies.
Candidates who meet the points requirements but not the specific course requirements, for example H4 in English for the BA in Journalism, are permitted to repeat that subject only to meet the course requirements.
Bonus Points for Honours Mathematics
25 bonus points will continue to be awarded for higher level Mathematics, at grades H6 and above in the Irish Leaving Certificate or equivalent.
Leaving Certificate Mathematics Requirements
DCU does not award points for the subject of Mathematics at Leaving Certificate Ordinary Alternative or Foundation Level. However, these courses will be accepted for admission purposes for the following courses:
DC001 - Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
DC009 - Bachelor of Arts: Joint Honours
DC014 - BA in Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance
DC131 - BA in Communication Studies
DC132 - BA in Journalism
DC133 - BSc in Multimedia
DC155 - BA in Applied Language and Translation Studies
DC231 - BA in International Relations
DC232 - Bachelor of Civil Law and Society
DC235 - BSc in Education and Training
DC238 - BA in Social Sciences and Cultural Innovation
DC291 – Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Media)
DC292 – Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Law)
DC293 - Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (International Languages)
DC294 - BA in Climate and Environmental Sustainability
DC295 - Bachelor of Arts – Joint Honours (Politics)
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
Please note that LCVP link modules cannot be used as a subject for general or specific course entry requirements, but can be used for the calculation of points.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
DCU welcomes applicants with appropriate QQI-FET (Level 5/6) qualifications. Applicants who have a full National Framework of Qualifications Level 5 award in appropriate qualifications and modules can be admitted on a competitive basis to certain DCU courses.
QQI-FET (Level 5) entry route is a competitive entry route with a limited number of places. A quota of places are offered based on the CAO ranked order of applicants based on performance. For courses with a QQI-FET (Level 5) entry route, approximately 10% of places are retained for QQI-FET (Level 5) applicants. Application is made through the CAO.
Careers / Further progression
Future Careers
- Human Health and Social Work Activities
- Public Administration, Education and Health
- Professional, Administration and Health Support Services
- Further Study
In These Areas
- Further study after this course can lead to: Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietician, Radiography, or Medicine
- Health Promotion and Support Services
- Public Health and Social Work Activities
- Global Health
Further information
Mature applicants are those aged 23 years, or above, on 1 January in the year of entry. All candidates (presenting with EU/Non EU qualifications) applying on the grounds of mature years should apply ONLY through the CAO by 1 February.
For many DCU courses, mature application assessment is based on the CAO application and in some instances, an assessment and/or interview. ‘Other’ experience, apart from performance in examinations, may be taken into consideration - this may be work experience, further studies, or other such experience deemed to be relevant to the application. Interviews will take place in April either in person or remotely.
For more information, please contact the Mature Student Officer, orla.stafford@dcu.ie or dcu.ie/mature-students
For general and admission enquiries, please visit dcu.ie/registry/ug-admissions
45
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Why DCU?
− You will explore health issues from multiple perspectives – biological, social, political, ethical and psychological
− A strong emphasis is placed on research inquiry into, and action on, key contemporary health issues
− There is potential to focus on health issues of personal relevance and interest to you
− You will have opportunities for engagement in research projects and campaigns locally, nationally and globally
− You will work with a dynamic lecturing team that has diverse health-related expertise and experience
About You
Are you interested in health issues, and especially in the idea of health inquiry and action? Would you like to do something to achieve positive health outcomes? Are you keen to work with others, and be willing to work hard?
Understanding: Health and Society
Health needs to be understood in a variety of ways and with regard to social contexts. To develop this understanding, we explore the following issues:
− What kind of bodies are we supposed to have? How does this relate to the society in which we live?
− What are the biological dimensions of health and illness?
− What determines the distribution of health within societies?
− What are the varying forms of health action?
− How is health influenced at various levels – individual, community, societal and global?
− What kinds of personal, social, political and ethical issues are relevant to health matters?
If you think these questions are interesting and that you would like to learn how to actively inquire into and engage in health research projects or campaigns, then this course may be of interest to you.
Course Structure
You will undertake a range of modules, including modules in which you will:
− Explore a number of perspectives on health – biological, social, political, ethical, psychological
− Learn about and conduct health research
− Actively develop and engage in research projects and campaigns
− Develop your own ‘healthy qualities’
− Examine particular health-related issues such as ‘drugs in society’, ‘nutrition and health’ and ‘trauma and abuse in society’
As part of the course, you will have opportunities to engage in activities and project work that you find personally relevant and interesting. With a particular emphasis on health inquiry and action in the everyday world, you will participate in a voluntary community project in Year 1, design and implement a small health campaign (working with fellow students) in Year 2, and conduct a Health and Society research project as a final dissertation in Year 3. This final-year project gives you the opportunity to study, plan and research an area of health which is of specific interest to you.
What Will I Study?
Year 1
Perspectives on Health | Sustainable Development and Health | Reading Health Research | Living Longer | Public Health Nutrition | Drugs in Society | Critical Thinking and Health | Biochemistry and Cell Biology | Anatomy and Physiology | Marginalisation and Health | Child and Adolescent in Society
Year 2
Human Genetics and Cell Biology | Campaigning for Health Equity | Quantitative Health Research | Epidemiology | Freedom and Health | Sociology, Health and Illness | Making Sense of Mental Health and Illness | Biochemistry and Health | Health Promotion | Sexual Health | Anthropology, Health and Illness
Year 3
Biological Basis of Disease | Comparative Health Systems | Challenging Global Health Problems | Health and Society Research Project | Infection and Immunity | Clinical Nutrition | Regarding Nonhuman Animals | Teaching and Learning in Health and Society | Infection and Immunity | Psychosocial Supports over the Life Course
Contact Details
Tel: +353 (0) 1 700 6919
E: keith.rochfort@dcu.ie
E: studenthelp@dcu.ie
Visit Us Online dcu.ie/DC209