Who is the Programme for?
Students will be drawn from among those who seek to promote a fairer society.   These will include people from the sectors of business, community and voluntary agencies,  trade unions,  the civil service, farming as well as members of  the various  religious traditions. It is envisaged that applicants will be working with an organisation/group/office  involved with public policy or addressing issues affected by public policy.

Programme Aims
The programme’s  aim is to provide  an understanding of and a capacity to engage with overarching and theoretical frameworks that underpin public policy development today. It will provide skills in areas such as  advocacy, community organising and networking, media engagement, communication in the public forum, as well as in the capacity to critique public policy from a values perspective.  It will help students to understand the interplay of values and public policy so that they  have the capacity to judge what is ethical or unethical and can  appreciate and promote a human rights and civil society agenda in a dedicated and practical manner.

Programme Content
12 modules are taught over two years. To achieve an MA those students who qualify need also to present a Dissertation. The Module titles are as follows:

1).   Social Analysis and  Social Change I
2).   Social Analysis and  Social Change II
3).   Social Policy I
4).   Social Policy II
5).   Communication
6).   Advocacy, Community  Organising and Networking
7).   Human Rights and Theories of Justice
8).   Prophetic Tradition
9).   Research Methods 1 and Dissertation Seminars
10).  Field Placement
11).  Research Methods  2
12).  Strategic Planning
13).  Dissertation

Programme Entry Requirements

The normal entry standard is an Honours Bachelor Degree in a field of study directly related to the subject matter of the proposed MA. e.g. social policy, community work, economics, sociology, pastoral studies, management, theology, law, business studies, humanities, psychology and public administration.  In addition all candidates should normally have previous relevant experience before being accepted for the degree. Equivalency may be considered in certain circumstances.

Equivalency may be granted as a result of  such other professional qualifications as may be acceptable by All Hallows College in accordance with the regulations of Dublin City University  for the purposes of proceeding to this specific Masters Degree, e.g. professional training in the social sciences, nursing, education, professional theological studies, community care or chaplaincy.  In these cases an approved qualifying examination will be administered.  In some special cases prior learning may qualify for acceptance on the programme.

Special Categories might include a  student who does not fulfil the academic requirements outlined above but who in other ways is an exceptional candidate.  Such students may be admitted to the programme on satisfying the conditions of  assessment of  prior experiential learning (APEL).  Students who so wish or who do not qualify under any of the above headings may access the programme for non-examination purposes as audit students.

Auditing Students may not be more than 20% of the cohort of students.  To ensure that such students have the capacity to follow the programme the normal entry requirements and  processes of  assessment will apply.

Language Proficiency
Students whose first language is not English are required to prove their ability to understand and express themselves in English at an acceptable level. This will be assessed by the administration of a standard test for language competence in English for foreign students in accordance with DCU requirements.

Exit Routes
Students may exit the programme at Graduate Certificate Level (30 Credits);  Graduate Diploma Level (60 Credits);  MA Level (75 Credits).

Application Procedure
The Application procedure involves completion of  the Application Form and the successful outcome of an interview process.  An application form may be downloaded here:
Postgraduate Application Form

Additional required application details for MA SJPP programme

Application deadline for 2011-12 extended to: 30th June 2011

For further information contact:
Dorrie Balfe, Programme Director:  MA in Social Justice and Public Policy
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Postal Address:
All Hallows College, Grace Park Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, Ireland.
Tel: (01)837-3745 Fax: (01) 837-7642  
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