Health and Society
This degree programme will help you understand health in biological, social, political, ethical and psychological contexts. You will learn about health research, engage in health and society research projects and campaigns, research experiences in illness and disability, and examine health-related issues like drugs in society, nutrition, body image, and trauma and abuse.
You will undertake a range of modules, including those in which you will:
- Investigate various perspectives—biological, social, political, ethical, psychological—that you can employ in examining health issues
- Learn about health research
- Actively engage in health projects or 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 action in the everyday world, you will participate in a voluntary community project in Year One.
In Year Two you will design and implement a small health equity campaign.
In Year Three you will conduct a health research project and write a final dissertation.
View the current course structure
For more information on every aspect of studying at DCU visit our CAO Hub, where you can listen to taster lectures, hear from our student ambassadors and find answers to frequently asked questions.
We have a unique and vibrant culture on our modern campus close to Dublin city centre. We provide state-of-the-art study facilities for all our courses and everything else you need for a healthy, fun and active student life.
We have three academic campuses close to Dublin City centre - they are located in Glasnevin and Drumcondra, and can be reached by public transport (Dublin Bus).
Each campus has libraries, study spaces, restaurants, and on-campus residencies. Sports facilities are located on two of the academic campuses. We also have a dedicated sports campus in the form of St Claire’s.
Exceptional facilities
DCU students have access to exceptional teaching and learning facilities across our three academic campuses.
These include modern learning theatres, research centres, new media and TV studio, radio/podcast studios, classrooms, computer suites and advanced labs in the areas of languages, engineering, physics, chemistry and biotechnology, as well as a sports performance centre and training hospital ward. In 2021, we opened our first virtual reality ‘Leadership Lab’, which is located in our Business School.
Construction on our FutureTech building on the Glasnevin campus will get underway in 2022. Once completed, this facility will advance DCU’s international reputation for excellence in science and health, computing and engineering disciplines. It will have the capacity to accommodate an additional 3,000 STEM students on the university’s Glasnevin campus.
Campus life
DCU student facilities boast a fully equipped sports complex with a 25-metre pool, three libraries and The Helix, our renowned performing arts centre.
Our purpose built, state-of-the-art new student centre known as 'The U' serves the needs of a rapidly growing student body of 18,500. It is home to the Student Leadership and Lifeskills Centre, performing arts and cultural spaces for students and the wider community, and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub.
DCU Students' Union and the Office of Student Life are also based in the U. The centre is a space for students where they can meet, with lots of charging points and isolation booths. Clubs and socs avail of meeting rooms here and it's also home to DCUFM. NuBar, Londis and the Venue are also located here.
There are more than 140 clubs and societies for students in DCU, with ‘Clubs & Socs’ days taking place on both the Glasnevin and Drumcondra campuses at the start of the academic year.
Student Supports
We have a number of academic, professional and social supports for students.
Student Advice Centre: Offers a wide range of supports and services to students and advice
The Writing Centre - drop-in writing workshops for students through the academic year
Maths Learning Centre - provides maths support for students of all ability levels with maths modules
Student Learning: facilitate the transition from passive to active learning for students at DCU, by teaching study skills, nurturing critical thinking and building student confidence.
Careers work with students to help them on their professional journey into graduate employment.
Our student support team offers a comprehensive support programme, helping students make that all important transition into university life and focusing on building confidence and skills which are key to success at third level.
A degree in Health and Society is a degree in and for life. The scope of learning throughout means you are consistently challenged to apply theories to real world problems. It is relevant to both current health and social affairs as well as providing a place for deep thinking and ethical debate. Completing this course has meant I walked into a graduate career of my choice with a strength in critical problem solving.
Angel Cullinane
As a DCU Health and Society graduate, you will be well placed for a future career in a health-related profession or for work in overseas development, community development and the voluntary sector.
The degree also provides a good entry route to postgraduate study if you hope to pursue a career in an area like like speech therapy, occupational therapy, or medicine and health promotion. The BSc in Health and Society will provide a strong basis for this kind of further study. In addition, this degree is suitable for anyone who wishes to pursue roles in overseas development, community development and the voluntary sector.
Listen here to Professor Anne Matthews, Chair of the BSc in Health and Society, talk as part of the Irish Global Health Network podcast series on her experience of working in global health field.
Requirements
In addition to the general entry requirements for admission to the university the following entry requirements apply
Minimum of O6 or H7 in Mathematics and minimum of O6 or H7 in one of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics with Chemistry or Agricultural Science
In addition to the general entry requirements for admission to the university the following entry requirements apply
GCE A Level D or GCE AS Level D or GCSE C Mathematics and GCE A Level D or GCE AS Level D or GCSE C in one of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics with Chemistry or Agricultural Science
For details of QQI requirements and relevant codes please click here. Simply enter the DC code for the programme you are interested in or if you are not sure of the code enter DC in the Select by Institution option, then click on Go.
Applications are welcomed from students who wish to transfer from another Level 8 course, providing they have achieved the requisite points and fulfil the requirements of the course. Applications are made via the CAO Advanced Entry route which will open on the 1st Feb to the 1st May 2022.
International candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to those outlined above. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. For further information on international applications click here.