Through hands-on experience and research, graduates are prepared for careers working directly with children, young people, and their families, or in roles related to policy, education, and the charity sector. The program emphasizes the rights and perspectives of children and promotes the application of theory to practice, equipping students to make a positive impact in children's lives.

Degree Overview:

This exciting interdisciplinary degree allows you to gain a broad understanding of childhood and youth, helping you to pursue a wide range of careers. These include working directly with children, working with young people and families, primary teaching, social work, local government and charity sector roles. Our BA Childhood Studies examines different cultural constructions of childhood and youth and the impact on lived realities in different contexts. Taking a child-centred approach, we encourage you to consider the rights and perspectives of children on all of the matters that affect them.

• Research
• Child Development
• Children’s Rights, Social Justice and Policy
• Sociology of Childhood
You'll also have the opportunity to gain practical experience of working with children and young people.

Course highlights:

• Study in our world-ranked School of Education alongside staff and students from across the globe.
• Learn from influential academics who are experts in important disciplines including education, psychology, sociology and social policy.
• Examine some of the fundamental issues concerning childhood and youth, both in the UK and internationally.
• Gain valuable practical experience, with the opportunity to work alongside teachers or education professionals in your second and final year.
Our teaching is based in the fields of education, psychology, sociology and social policy. You’ll consider questions such as:
• Should children and young people contribute to decision-making in schools, and how do children’s rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) inform this debate?
• How far should the state determine how parents bring up their children?
• How are children and young people’s health and wellbeing conceptualised in the UK and internationally?
The course is delivered through lectures, seminars and workshops that use a range of learning resources including media and digital technology. In your final year, you’ll plan and undertake a piece of independent research relating to childhood and youth for your dissertation. This will allow you to put theories you’ve studied into practice, gain further expertise in an area of interest to you, and to gain experience carrying out a real-life research project with or about children and/or young people. You can also choose our optional Students in Education module in your final year, which allows you to gain experience from real-life education settings, working alongside teachers or other education professionals.

Course structure:

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time.

Year 1 compulsory modules:

| Module Name | Credits | |---|---| | Psychological Approaches to Child Development and Education | 20 | | Becoming a Practitioner of Learning | 20 | | Children, Young People, Families and the State | 20 | | What is a Child: Social Construction of Childhood | 20 | | Children's Rights and Social Justice | 20 |

Year 2 compulsory modules:

| Module Name | Credits | |---|---| | Research Methods | 20 | | Child Welfare | 20 | | Health, Well-being, Childhood and Youth | 20 | | Psychological Approaches to Understanding and Supporting Children's Learning | 20 |

Year 3 compulsory modules:

| Module Name | Credits | |---|---| | Work Placement Year | 120 | | Sociolinguistics and Language Education | 10 | | Final Year Research Project | 40 | | Children, Families and Cultural Diversity: Philosophical Perspectives | 20 |

Assessment:

We use a variety of assessment approaches throughout the course, so that the diverse skills and experiences of students are recognised and acknowledged. Assessments provide students with the opportunity to focus on areas of interest. This enables you to develop expertise relevant to future practice in your chosen careers.

Teaching:

This course takes an inclusive and active teaching approach to meet the learning needs of all students. A range of teaching methods are used, including self-paced e-learning and interactive face-to-face sessions. Some of our methods include:

• Evidence-based reading
• Content such as podcasts, documentaries, media stories and controversies
• Discussion and debate
• Real world case studies
• Group work and individual reflection
• Independent reading and research
The course also features guest speakers from those working in childhood, allowing students to connect theory and research to practice and gain insight into potential careers. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Careers:

The BA in Childhood Studies equips you with both in-depth theoretical knowledge and practical skills. These allow you to address the experiences, lives and education of children within a globalising world. It offers a sound basis for various career paths and popular graduate career destinations. These include roles in early years provision, social work, primary school teaching and teaching assistant roles. Students have also chosen to work in the charity sector, within local authorities and in the Civil Service. Throughout your studies, there will be opportunities to strengthen your CV.

Careers support:

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers. The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate.

Other:

• Gain practical experience of working with children in your second and final years.
• In your second year you can choose our optional Teaching and Learning in Primary and Early Years module.
This allows you to build your experience of designing learning resources for children, and try them out in practical contexts.
• In your final year you can also choose our optional Students in Education module.
This allows you to gain experience from real-life education settings, working alongside teachers or other education professionals. You’ll explore a range of formal and informal education settings, consider the many places in which education occurs and reflect on different approaches to teaching and learning.
• Your placements may be in mainstream schools, schools for learners with special educational needs or nurseries.
Alternatively, they could be in education services such as Leeds Museums and Galleries, outdoor and environmental centres, or libraries.
• You’ll consider the social, political and ethical aspects of working in education, and deepen your understanding of the relationship between pedagogic theory and practice.

University of Leeds

Overview:

The University of Leeds is a public research university located in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is a large and prestigious institution with a strong reputation for academic excellence and a vibrant campus life.

Academic Programs:

The University of Leeds offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various faculties, including:

• Arts, Humanities and Cultures
• Biological Sciences
• Business School
• Engineering and Physical Sciences
• Environment
• Medicine and Health
• Social Sciences