Program Overview

MA Childhood and Youth Studies

Overview

The MA Childhood and Youth Studies is a postgraduate course that develops your understanding of children, childhood, and youth. You can choose from three different pathways depending on your interests, previous experience, and career goals. This course is unique to the North East of England and is professionally validated and recognized by the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC).

Course Structure

The course is taught through a mixture of on-campus workshops and seminars, as well as completing individual projects and research. Those undertaking the Early Years Graduate Practitioner Competencies pathway will have a minimum of 25 days placement – some will require 80 days placement depending on their experience. Those undertaking the professionally qualified Youth Work pathway will undertake 400 hours of learning through placement.

Course Modules

• Leadership in Community Contexts (30 credits): Explore the concepts of leadership and management and their application to practice settings within community contexts across the Childhood and Community and Youth Work sectors.
• Negotiated Study (30 credits): Explore in-depth an area of theory that directly or indirectly influences your specific subject area and/or professional practice.
• Childhood and Youth Studies Dissertation (60 credits): Design and carry out a research project of your choice in the area of Childhood and Youth Studies.
• Contemporary Issues in Childhood and Youth Studies (30 credits): Identify key contemporary issues that impact on the lives of children and young people and examine common factors relating specifically to inequalities, injustice, and rights.
• Theorising Childhood and Youth Studies (30 credits): Explore different theoretical frameworks influencing understandings of the concepts of childhood and youth.

Entry Requirements

We usually require applicants to hold at least an upper-second-class honors degree (2:1 or above) or equivalent. Experience may be counted towards your application. Those who are interested in the MA Childhood and Youth Studies (Early Years Graduate Practitioner Competencies) or MA Childhood and Youth Studies (Youth Work, professionally validated and recognized by JNC) should have a relevant degree in the area and some experience working with children and youth respectively. An interview and satisfactory DBS will also be essential for entrants interested in either of these two pathways.

Fees and Finance

Fees are:

• £8,500 if you're from the UK/Europe
• £17,000 if you're an international student

Part-time fees are £500 per 10 credits. Please note, part-time study isn't available to international students who require a student visa to study in the UK.

Career Ready

The MA Childhood and Youth Studies course has strong appeal for those aiming for a career within early years provision, youth work, education, social work, nursing, healthcare, youth justice, and the voluntary sector – including charities and NGOs. You'll graduate with the ability to advance academically and professionally, move into the profession or within the sector, or into a senior, managerial, or supervisory role. Those who graduate with a JNC qualification will be eligible for the higher levels of salary scales set by the Joint Negotiating Committee for Youth and Community Workers.