If you have experience in the area of rural development and want to expand on and formalise your existing knowledge, the B.Sc. in Rural Development will provide you with the pathway to a third-level qualification. It is designed to develop in students the full range of knowledge and skills which constitute rural development.

The aims of the course are as follows:

• To introduce participants to a broad ranging knowledge of the theoretical field of rural development
• To assist them in critically appraising the multiplicity of strategies and approaches in the area
• To introduce participants to the range of strategies that address social, economic and personal/group strategies in rural areas
• To create a third-level educational pathway for the further qualification of rural development activities for their personal and professional qualification
• To use modern education technologies to support learning from a distance

Information Technology is a key feature of the programme delivery, which includes a combination of web and text-based modules, tutorials, lecture presentations and inter-university seminars.

You can undertake this programme while continuing to work in any part of the country. Participants attend monthly workshops, which do not exceed two full days. During workshops you will meet with fellow-students and academic staff.

Ideally applicants should be involved in rural development, in a voluntary or professional capacity, and wish to expand their knowledge and acquire skills necessary to initiate and manage local rural development.

The two-year, part time Diploma in Rural Development is offered through twelve modules addressing: :

• Socioeconomic aspects of rural development
• Personal and groups work in rural development
• Marketing and enterprise in rural development
• Trans-national, national, regional and area development
• Social exclusion, gender and equality issues in rural development
• Research project

The degree phase of the programme builds on the foundations of the first two years in extending the participants’ knowledge of rural development disciplines and focusing on the following elements:

• Rural sociology, economics and development theory and practice
• Project planning, project development and information technology
• Public and social policy processes
• Community education and development
• Quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Private, community and co-operative rural modeling and management
• Financial analysis and planning
• Research project/thesis

For details of each of the courses, check out the Current Students section of this web site.

Students attend a one/two day workshop, in the university, every five/six weeks. Diploma students (level one) cover one module per workshop, degree students (level two & three) cover two modules per workshop. All course material is available on CD-ROM and Blackboard prior to workshops. Blackboard is a web-based software system, which is used to support flexible teaching and learning in face-to-face and distance courses. Degree modules also include voice-over lectures on CD-ROM and Blackboard.

The university has a coordinator who manages the programme and provides both administrative and academic support to participants. The coordinator is the main interface between the course participants and the university.

How is the course assessed?

The Diploma is assessed 100% by continual assessment, with no end of year written examinations.

The Degree phase is assessed by a combination of continual assessment (60%) and end of semester examinations (40%). Continual assessment is a blend of project work and essays.

Programme applicants will meet university requirements for mature students, that is, over 23 years of age at time of enrolment. Applicants should also have at least two years of rural development experience, in either a voluntary or professional capacity. An interview may also form part of the selection criteria.

Applicants under 23 must satisfy matriculation requirements of the National University of Ireland by obtaining passes at one or more sittings of the leaving certificate examination in Irish, English, another language, Mathematics, and any other two subjects recognised for matriculation. A grade C3 or better at higher level must be attained in at least two of the six subjects.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the course, and found it complmented my work in a local Partnership Company in many ways. My job leant itself to accessing varoius reports and documents that I needed to consult when preparing my assignments. Connections to a development company may ease the way for students considering the uptake of this course."

Amanda Reid, Housing Issues Officer, Galway Rural Development Company

Application forms are available from the Admissions Office, NUI Galway. You can contact the Admissions Office by e-mail or by phone (353 91 750437). Check out www.v-learn.ie web site for further information about applying for this programme . You can also contact the Academic Director, Dr. Hugh Kelley by e-mail or by phone (tel: 353 91 492501) for further information.

The programme is offered every 2 years. Students can enter at level one (diploma phase) or level two. To enter at level two you must have completed and passed the Diploma in Rural Development. The next student intake is September 2010.