Master of Science (M.Sc) in Drug and Alcohol Policy

Introduction

This two-year, part-time programme is designed to offer its students a broad critical understanding of how society attempts to prevent or respond to problems associated with use of licit and illicit drugs, and an opportunity to develop research, management and policymaking skills in this area.

For whom is the course designed?

The course is aimed primarily at those who hold management or policymaking positions in any of the human service organisations which deal with drug and alcohol problems, but also seeks to attract professionals who might play a leadership role in addictions work within their own professions. Candidates from the first category might include the following: middle-ranking or senior civil servants and Health Service Executive officials; directors and senior workers from voluntary drug and alcohol services; senior officers from the Prison Service, the Probation and Welfare Service and the Garda Siochana; members of Local Drugs Task Forces. Candidates from the second category might include: family doctors,community pharmacists, teachers, social workers, public health nurses and other Community Care personnel.

Candidates must have current or recent experience of direct service provision, administration or policy-making relevant to the addictions field.

Candidates will normally be expected to have a recognised professional qualification in either health, social care or another human service field, or a non-professional degree of at least 2.2. standard.

Course Structure and Content

Students attend College for a three-day block each month over a period of two years, during which they take the following six 40-hour modules:

• Alcohol and Drugs - Use & Problem Use
• National and International Policy
• Research and Evaluation
• Research Seminars
• Therapeutic Interventions into Problem Drug and Alcohol Use
• Service Management

Assessment

• Written assignments for the six modules

Dissertation

• 17,000 - 20,000 words

Admission

By application and interview. There will be an intake to this course every second year (even years). Applications must be submitted online through www.pac.ie/tcd

For further information, please contact:

Dr Shane Butler
Course Co-ordinator

Tel. +353-1-896 2009