76 Social Science Degree Programs in Ireland

Are you fascinated by the spectrum of human creativity: art, design, architecture, film, fashion, new media and digital culture? Are you interested in the history and theory of the objects, processes and cultural institutions that comprise our contemporary world?

The Master of Social Science (Social Work) (MSocSc Social Work) is a full time two year programme for suitable graduates who want to pursue a career in social work. The programme combines rigorous academic education with supervised field work practice towards the aim of developing competent, ethical and reflective social work practitioners who are committed to the promotion of human rights and social justice in social work.

The MSocSc (Rights & Social Policy) provides advanced study in key and often challenging issues facing social policy today. It provides an opportunity for critical study in the application of social policy theory and methodology to policy and practice.

The BA (Hons) Social Science is a multi-disciplinary three-year course. In times of rapid social and economic change, this programme offers students the opportunity to understand and critically analyse contemporary Irish society and Ireland’s place in an increasingly globalised world.

The Bachelor of Social Science degree (BSocSc) studies how human societies are organised, the social forces, institutions and ideologies that shape society, and the factors that influence the wellbeing of individuals, families, communities, and countries. The scope of the course includes key topics like class, gender, religion and race.

The BA (Hons) in Social Care Practice prepare students for careers in Social Care Work and facilitates students who wish to pursue a specific area of interest. It develops critically reflective, skilled and ethically aware practitioners with the capacity to build professional relationships.

The MA/MFA Art and Social Action is 1-year a postgraduate programme focused on trans-disciplinary practice and thinking that privileges collaborative approaches to production and creative approaches to social transformation, emphasising the capacity of art practice to imagine our world differently.

An essential challenge for businesses in Ireland is how they can connect the capabilities of our workforce to contribute to solutions for people who are largely in markets outside Ireland, across the EU and the wider global community. Business needs graduates who can both understand the fundamentals of how to create value for customers and also how to translate them into solutions and services that fit the needs of diverse cultures.

This MSc offers in-depth knowledge of sociological analysis, research methods and social science analytics - including high-level training in data, data science, and data mining -, and a range of sequenced topics that include crime, law, and deviance, culture and media, health and well-being, political analysis and social movements, and stratification and social inequality. The combination of high-level training in research methods and robust exposure to core topics in Sociology and the Social Sciences will set graduates up for a wide variety of careers in both the Public and Private sectors.

You are interested in people and societies, and how they have been shaped by ideas, places, events and the world around them.

DCU’s MSc in Climate Change: Policy, Media & Society is Ireland’s only programme focused on the social sciences and humanities aspects of climate change. Gain expertise in media, policy, law, governance, and politics, equipping you with the skills to address today’s environmental challenges from diverse perspectives.

DCU’s MSc in Public Policy is an online programme designed to develop expert policymakers. It combines deep analytical thinking with practical methods, equipping graduates to tackle complex policy challenges in Ireland and beyond. The course meets the growing demand for skilled policy professionals.

DCU’s MA in International Relations, the oldest of its kind in Ireland, offers an inclusive, multidisciplinary approach with expert faculty and a diverse student body. The programme covers international politics, human rights, trade, and security, with elective courses, small classes, and a dissertation, completed full-time in 12 months or part-time over two years.

The M.Sc. combines advanced education in research methods by internationally recognised experts; modules on how research engages with policy and politics and on the latest research debates on key policy and societal issues, taught by a range of specialists drawing on their expertise and direct experience; and a research project, undertaken in collaboration with external agencies and/or groups.  

DCU’s MA in Refugee Integration equips you to tackle global challenges like displacement and social inequality. Gain expertise in advocacy, policy, and humanitarian work, preparing for impactful careers in NGOs, government agencies, and international organisations, while promoting social justice and solidarity.

Drawing students from across the globe, this course emphasises the relationship between theory and practice with a view to bringing about positive social change. You learn about and develop your own ideas on a wide range of equality, human rights, and global justice issues.