BSc in Health and Society

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Dublin City University DCU

Program Overview

Health and Society at DCU helps you understand health beyond hospitals and medicine — looking at how biology, society, culture, policy and inequality shape people’s wellbeing. It’s ideal if you’re interested in public health, community work, research or policy and want to make a meaningful impact on how health is understood and improved in society.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
You start by building a broad understanding of health from both scientific and social perspectives. You study subjects such as Perspectives on Health, Anatomy and Physiology, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Drugs in Society and Public Health Nutrition, helping you understand how the body works and how social factors influence health and behaviour.

Year 2
In second year, you focus more on how health is shaped by communities, culture and systems. Modules like Epidemiology, Sociology of Health and Illness, Health Promotion, Sexual Health and Health Research Methods teach you how diseases are studied, how health inequalities arise, and how research is used to improve population health.

Year 3
Your final year brings everything together with advanced topics such as Biological Basis of Disease, Infection and Immunity, Comparative Health Systems, Global Health Challenges and Clinical Nutrition. You also complete an independent research project, where you investigate a real health issue and develop strong analytical, research and communication skills.

Focus areas

Health and illness in society, public health, epidemiology, health promotion, health research, global health, health policy, social determinants of health.

Learning outcomes

The ability to analyse health issues from biological and social perspectives, interpret health data, carry out research, communicate health information clearly, and design responses to real-world health challenges.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

This is a Level 8 honours degree on Ireland’s National Framework of Qualifications, providing a strong foundation for careers in health, community work, policy, research and postgraduate study.

Reputation (employability & recognition)

DCU is widely recognised for graduate employability and strong links with public services, NGOs and research organisations, making Health and Society graduates well prepared for the modern health and social care sector.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At DCU, Health and Society is designed to help you apply what you learn to real health and social issues, not just study them in theory. Throughout the degree, you work with real research data, case studies and contemporary health challenges, building practical skills that reflect how health professionals, researchers and policy teams work in the real world. By the time you graduate, you’ll be confident analysing health problems, communicating findings and proposing evidence-based solutions.

That practical experience includes:

Health research training
You learn how to design studies, collect data and analyse health issues through modules in qualitative and quantitative research methods, preparing you for roles in research, policy and evaluation.
Epidemiology and data interpretation
Through epidemiology-focused modules, you work with population health data to understand disease patterns, risk factors and health inequalities.
Applied public health projects
Many modules use real-world case studies and applied projects, where you explore topics such as health promotion, sexual health, disability, addiction and health equity.
Independent final-year research project
In your final year, you complete a substantial research project on a health topic of your choice, developing skills in critical analysis, academic writing and professional presentation.
Interdisciplinary learning
You study health alongside social science, biology and policy, helping you understand how different sectors work together to address health challenges.
Communication and advocacy skills
You practise presenting research findings, writing policy-style reports and communicating health information clearly to different audiences.
Access to research resources
You use extensive digital libraries, academic journals and health databases to support your coursework and research projects.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of Health and Society from DCU move into careers that focus on improving health outcomes at community, national and global levels. With your strong grounding in public health, research methods and social analysis, you’ll be well suited for roles such as Health Promotion Officer, Community Development Worker, Public Health Research Assistant or Policy and Programme Support Officer in health services, NGOs, charities and public-sector organisations.

This degree opens the door to meaningful and flexible career paths:

Strong relevance across the health and social sectors
Employers increasingly value graduates who understand health in its social, cultural and policy context, especially in areas such as health inequalities, prevention and wellbeing.
Transferable, job-ready skills
You graduate with skills in research, data analysis, critical thinking, report writing and communication — all highly valued in health, policy and community-focused roles.
Wide range of employment options
Graduates work in public health agencies, community and voluntary organisations, advocacy groups, research institutes, charities and international development organisations.
Pathway into public service and NGOs
The programme provides a strong foundation for roles in government departments, health authorities and non-profit organisations focused on population health and social care.
International opportunities
Because health and society issues are global, graduates can pursue opportunities abroad or work with international health and development organisations.

Further Academic Progression

After completing this degree, you can progress to postgraduate study in areas such as Public Health, Health Policy, Global Health, Epidemiology, Social Research, Health Promotion or Community Development. Many graduates continue into Master’s and PhD programmes, leading to careers in research, policy leadership, academia and senior roles within health and social organisations.