BSc (hons) in Health and Social Care

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Atlantic Technological University - Donegal Letterkenny Campus

Program Overview

Health and Social Care at ATU focuses on supporting people, families and communities through professional, ethical and compassionate care. This programme is ideal if you’re interested in health, wellbeing and social justice and want a career that makes a meaningful difference in people’s lives across community and care settings.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
You begin by building a strong foundation in health and social care practice. Modules such as Foundations of Health and Social Care, Psychology for Care Practice, Sociology and Health, and Professional Communication help you understand how individuals, families and communities are supported within care systems. You also develop essential academic and reflective skills for professional practice.

Year 2
Second year deepens your understanding of care needs and service delivery. You study Health Across the Lifespan, Safeguarding and Protection, Equality and Diversity and Research Methods, learning how to support vulnerable groups and work safely, ethically and inclusively in real care environments.

Year 3
This year places strong emphasis on applied learning and professional skills. Through modules like Interprofessional Practice, Health Promotion and Policy and Service Delivery, you explore how health and social care services are planned, delivered and evaluated. Practical learning prepares you for leadership and coordination roles.

Year 4
In your final year, you bring theory and practice together through advanced study and independent research. You complete a Final Year Project focused on a real health or social care issue and study subjects such as Leadership in Health and Social Care and Ethical Decision-Making, preparing you for professional roles or further study.

Focus areas

Health and social care practice, community support, safeguarding, equality and inclusion, health promotion, research and policy, professional communication.

Learning outcomes

The ability to support individuals and communities ethically and effectively, understand health and social care systems, apply research to practice, communicate professionally and work confidently within multidisciplinary teams.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

This is a Level 8 honours degree on Ireland’s National Framework of Qualifications, providing a recognised academic foundation for careers in health and social care and progression to postgraduate study.

Reputation (employability & recognition)

Health and Social Care graduates are in strong demand across community services, disability support, care organisations and public services, and ATU graduates are valued for their practical skills, professionalism and people-centred approach.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At ATU, Health and Social Care is designed to ensure you learn through real practice, not just theory. Throughout the programme, classroom learning is closely linked to applied activities that reflect how health and social care professionals work in real services. This approach helps you graduate with practical confidence, professional awareness and a clear understanding of care environments.

Your experiential learning includes:

Practice-focused modules
Many modules are built around real case studies from health and social care settings, helping you apply theory to situations involving safeguarding, wellbeing, inclusion and support across the lifespan.
Skills-based learning
You develop core professional skills such as communication, assessment, reflective practice, care planning and ethical decision-making — all essential for working with individuals and families.
Interprofessional learning
You learn alongside students from related disciplines, building an understanding of how health and social care professionals collaborate across services and organisations.
Policy and service-based projects
Coursework often involves analysing real health and social care policies, services and programmes, helping you understand how care systems are designed, delivered and improved.
Research-informed practice
You gain hands-on experience with research methods, preparing you to evaluate evidence and apply best practice in professional settings.
Final-year applied research project
In your final year, you complete an independent project focused on a real health or social care issue, allowing you to explore an area of personal or professional interest in depth.
Professional preparation
Throughout the degree, there is strong emphasis on professional behaviour, ethics, safeguarding and reflective learning, ensuring you are well prepared for employment or further study.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of Health and Social Care from Atlantic Technological University progress into people-focused careers that support wellbeing, inclusion and quality of life across communities. With a strong understanding of care systems, safeguarding and professional practice, you’ll be well suited for roles such as Health and Social Care Worker, Care Coordinator, Community Support Officer or Service Development Assistant in statutory, voluntary and private organisations.

This degree creates clear and flexible career pathways:

Strong demand across the care sector
Employers value graduates who understand both health and social care contexts and can work confidently with individuals, families and multidisciplinary teams.
Versatile employment options
Graduates work in disability services, community and residential care, family support services, housing and homelessness organisations, NGOs and public services.
People-centred, transferable skills
Communication, safeguarding, assessment, case management and policy awareness are highly transferable skills across health, social care and community roles.
Progression within organisations
With experience, graduates move into senior support roles, team leadership, service coordination or programme development positions.
International relevance
Skills in health and social care practice are widely recognised, supporting opportunities abroad or with international care organisations.

Further Academic Progression

After completing this degree, you can continue your studies through postgraduate programmes in areas such as Social Care, Social Work (subject to additional requirements), Public Health, Disability Studies, Health Policy, Community Development or Healthcare Management. Many graduates progress to Master’s degrees, opening pathways into specialist practice, leadership, research or education roles within the health and social care sector.