Course Description

BA (Hons) in Applied Social Studies (Disability Services Management) – Level 8 – Sept 2025

Open Training College

Next commencement: Autumn 2025
Applications for 2024 are now closed. The application centre will re-open in March 2025 for the September 2025 commencement
Enquiries to: [email protected]

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The BA (Honours) in Applied Social Studies (Disability Service Management) provides qualified Social Care Workers and other professionals with the knowledge and skills to make substantive, positive changes to organisations. The one year, part time course will help you to become an advanced social care practitioner and drive the development and delivery of quality, rights driven services to people with disability.

It also satisfies the educational requirements for anyone looking to pursue postgraduate studies in the disability and broader social care field.

This programme is aimed at managers in disability services in Ireland or those wishing to progress their career in management in the sector. This focuses on frontline managers to service managers within disability services. In addition, the programme is relevant to any person within disability services who is involved in systems change.

Please note: The requirement for social care registration is a Level 7 approved Social Care degree. This Level 8 qualification is not being put forward for CORU approval.

Please note the requirement for social care registration is a Level 7 approved Social Care degree. This Level 8 qualification is not being put forward for CORU approval.

Course Content

The course is made up of five modules:

Applied Research Methods
Current Issues in Social Care Management: Elderly, Children and Dual Diagnosis
Innovation, Leadership and Change in Disability Services
Legislation and Policy Context in Disability Services
Disability Service Management Skills

Assessment includes:

The course is assessed through a combination of continuous assessments, projects and written examinations. Continuous assessments may consist of assignments (i.e. essays), project work, group activities, online activities, in-class assessments, reflection and placement.

Supports Provided

Supports from our Learning Community:

Dedicated tutor throughout
Online international award winning learning resources developed for online learning
Access to learning technologies such as a virtual environment
Tools to support virtual learning and off campus learning
Online activities to support assessment
Face to face lectures, seminars, tutorials
Assessment submitted, marked and returned to learners with feedback through electronic or other media

For more information on our unique and award winning learner supports, click on the Link below:

OTC Supported Open Learning (SOL) Model

To find out more, or to apply, please contact Conor on 086 0756580 (Business hours 9am-5pm) or
by email at [email protected], or
Visit the course page at opentrainingcollege.com.

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Course Code	PG24966
College Name	Open Training College
Course Category	Humanities & Social Sciences, Social Studies
Course Type	Blended Learning - Mix of Classroom & Online
Course Qualification	Honours Bachelor Degree
Course Location	Dublin, Ireland
Location Postcode	Dublin 9
Course Start Date	15th September 2025
Course End Date	8th June 2026
Course Fee	5296 plus €95 application fee
Course Duration	One Year
Course Times	This is a one-year blended programme with 14 workshops which take place online or in Dublin (Marino Institute of Education), from 9.30am-4.00pm. To view the provisional course calendar, please visit the course page at opentrainingcollege.com.
Awarding Body	QQI
Title of Awarding	BA (Hons) in Applied Social Studies (Disability Service Management)
Entry Requirements	Applicants must be 23 years at time of application and hold a social care NFQ Level 7 qualification (180 credits, level 7 degree). All other applicants must hold a cognate* qualification. All applicants must be employed or volunteering in a service for people with disabilities for at least 10 hours a week. International Applicants whose first language is not English must provide appropriate documentary evidence of proficiency in English, i.e. Minimum CEFRL B2+ (=IELTS 6.0) or equivalent. People who want to take advantage of our advanced entry system, which allows you use previously gained academic qualifications to gain specific exemptions, must have completed a Level 6/7 cognate* qualification to 60 credits (NFQ) or more in Social Care or Social Studies within the last 10 years. Visit the advanced entry page to find out more process. * A cognate qualification is one that is similar in nature, content and quality to the course being applied for.
Career Path	Holding the Level 8 qualification can significantly enhance your promotion prospects. Past graduates have been promoted to a variety of roles including social care leaders, person in charge, service managers and area directors. A number of them have used the qualification as a basis to create new innovative services. Other graduates have specialised in areas of interest including supporting people within the autistic spectrum, positive behaviour supports, supported employment and quality inspections of disability services. Successful completion of this course is also essential for post-graduate study. Past graduates have gone on to a variety of postgraduate courses in areas including training and education, social work, advanced social care, mental health, community studies and addiction studies. On successful completion of this course you will be eligible to apply for relevant postgraduate courses, e.g. Masters Degree in Disability Studies (Trinity College Dublin) or Masters in Advanced Social Care Practice (Athlone Institute of Technology) both at Level 9 (NFQ).