MA/Postgraduate Diploma (Life Course Studies)
(formerly MA/PDip [Family Support Studies])

In recent times, there has been a shift towards a more pro-active stance in relation to overall wellbeing of populations across the life course.  Issues in relation to rights, and efforts to develop, compensate for, enable and strengthen functioning across the life course.  It includes an explicit recognition of the need to refocus interventions with the life course populations so that professionals and agencies become preventative rather than reactive, and holistic rather than compartmentalised.  
 
The PDip / MA in Life Course Studies is a two-year part-time programme and students are required to attend college two days every second week with the agreement of their employers. Core modules include;   Introducing the life course: theoretical perspectives, The life course: issues for practice and research. Social and policy perspectives on the life course, Support and protection across the life course, Inclusive community development, Contemporary practice issues and the life course, Legal perspectives on the Life course, Health, independence and wellbeing across the life course, Applied research thesis.

This is a two-year part-time programme and students are required to attend college two days every second week. There are seven modules in total on the programme, some of these are core modules and are taught in both years. Core modules include: introducing the life course, theoretical perspectives; social and policy perspectives on the life course; and contemporary practice issues and the life course. The additional modules divided through year one and two include: support and protection across the life course; inclusive community development; legal perspectives on the life course; health, independence and wellbeing across the life course; life course issues for practice and research; and an applied
research thesis.

Assessment of candidates will be on a continuous basis, will vary from course to course and involve a combination of essays, project work and written assignments. Central to students' assessment will be their 'on site’ Family Work Placement and associated Practice/Research Project (Minor dissertation). In Year Two, students will submit a dissertation (20,000 words) as part of this programme which will be based on their work environment, the research requirements of their employer, and critical themes in Family Support theory and practice.