Childhood and Youth Studies (English-medium course) BA (Hons)
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
At the heart of this course is a view of 21st Century children and young people as social actors: people with something to say, with resilience, with complex lives that are experienced amidst all the cultural, social, educational and political shifts that happen in the world around them. It can lead to a wide range of careers including teaching, social work, counselling and law where you’ll make a real difference to the lives of young people.
This dynamic, multidisciplinary degree at Bangor University offers you the opportunity to study a diverse range of topics. These can support you in pursuing careers within a variety of areas including teaching, social work, counselling and law. Our teaching team have expertise and backgrounds in psychology, sociology, children’s rights, linguistics, education, forensics, health and welfare. This rich and diverse learning environment is a unique trait of our course, and gives you the opportunity to study childhood and youth from multiple perspectives.
The 3-year course is designed around three pathways, with modules relating to psychological, sociological and educational perspectives on issues relevant to childhood and youth in theory and in practice. The first year is designed to provide you with a strong foundation in all three strands. The second year continues to build upon these strands and to develop effective practice by working with employers in the fields in order to develop working knowledge and to make important connections with future employers and service providers. This leads up to year three, where you can study at least four topics selected from the range of modules that are currently available across the pathways. In this final year you will also complete a major research project which enables you to deepen your expertise and knowledge in your chosen area. This course also includes guest speakers as well as opportunities to study abroad and opportunities to present at conferences helping you develop both your academic and employability skills. Every year you’ll have the opportunity to undertake placements to develop your understanding of aspects of children’s needs and development and to carry out research into current issues and practice.
This Childhood and Youth Studies degree aims to address the present demand for well-qualified specialists able to work with children, young people and their families in a range of contexts, in the community and in institutions. The programme combines sound academic grounding with a practical and active dimension that will produce professionals well able to address the challenges of a contemporary, active society in a bilingual country.
This is the English-medium course. The UCAS code for the
Welsh-medium course
is different.Why choose Bangor for this course?
1st for Career Prospects (
Guardian Good University Guide 2022)
.Top 10 for Research Quality (
Times Good University Guide 2022
).
Additional Course Options
Placement Year
This course is available with a Placement Year option where you will study for 1 additional year. The Placement Year is undertaken at the end of the second year and students are away for the whole of the academic year.
The Placement Year provides you with a fantastic opportunity to broaden your horizons and develop valuable skills and contacts through working with a self-sourced organisation relevant to your degree subject. The minimum period in placement (at one or more locations) is seven calendar months; more usually you would spend 10-12 months with a placement provider. You would normally start sometime in the period June to September of your second year and finish between June and September the following year. Placements can be UK-based or overseas and you will work with staff to plan and finalise the placement arrangements.
You will be expected to find and arrange a suitable placement to complement your degree and will be fully supported throughout by a dedicated member of staff at your academic School and the University’s Skills and Employability Services.
You will have the opportunity to fully consider this option when you have started your course at Bangor and can make an application for a transfer onto this pathway at the appropriate time. Read more about the work experience opportunities that may be available to you or, if you have any questions, please get in touch.
International Experience Year
This course is available with an International Experience Year option where you will study or work abroad for 1 additional year. You will have ‘with International Experience’ added to your degree title on graduating.
Studying abroad is a great opportunity to see a different way of life, learn about new cultures and broaden your horizons. With international experience of this kind, you’ll really improve your career prospects. There are a wide variety of destinations and partner universities to choose from. If you plan to study in a country where English is not spoken natively, there may be language courses available for you at Bangor and in your host university to improve your language skills.
You will have the opportunity to fully consider this option at any time during your degree at Bangor and make your application. If you have any questions in the meantime, please get in touch.
Read more about the International Experience Year programme and see the studying or working abroad options on the Student Exchanges section of our website.
Watch - Kirsty Jones, Childhood and Youth Studies
Program Outline
You’ll learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars, use of digital resources and practical workshops. Lectures and seminars make creative use of a variety of different digital resources and media in order to help you plan, record and to support your progress. An integral element of the programme is the range of guest speakers and educational visits that enrich and reinforce your learning.
The majority of our modules are offered both through the medium of Welsh and English. You can choose to have a Welsh speaking personal Tutor and complete assignments through the medium of Welsh. The assessments vary from module to module and range from essays, presentations and film making to MCQ tests and exams.
In your third year, you’ll carry out a major research project within an area of your choice. Depending on your research field, you might be involved in school-based projects, nursery-based projects or projects with practitioners within the childhood and youth industry. Your project will be individually supervised by one of our experts, giving you the opportunity to further your knowledge and skills and develop an in-depth understanding of the area.What will you study on this course?
The first year provides a foundation in key areas such as academic and professional skills, socio-cultural, historical and psychological perspectives on childhood, and explores topics such as play, rights and diversity. The second year provides further grounding in research methodology, theoretical perspectives across areas such as mental health, literacy, global childhoods and inclusion. In your final year you are supported to consolidate and refine your knowledge via a research dissertation, alongside specialist modules spanning topics such as children and crime, gender and race, families and substance abuse, children and communication issues, and multilingualism. You’ll also work alongside employers and service providers in the field of childhood and youth services in building experience of working practices and making important connections.
All modules in the 1st year are compulsory; in Years 2, and 3, depending on availability, you will have a choice of modules in addition to core Research modules. Each year you will study a total of 120 credits, giving you breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding by the time you graduate.Your Research
Research is an important aspect of this course. As part of your Research Methods modules, you’ll be taking part in practical sessions where you’ll learn how to design studies, run your own experiments, gather and analyse data and report your findings. These skills will give you a firm foundation ready for year 3 when you’ll conduct your own research.
Modules for the current academic year
Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Childhood and Youth Studies (English-medium course) BA (Hons) Modules page.
Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.