Program Overview

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BA (Hons) Social & Community Work

Overview

Combine the academic study of social sciences with the opportunity to apply your newfound skills and knowledge in the real world.

Why study BA Social & Community Work at Goldsmiths

• You will study everything from criminology to mental health, youth work, and community development. You can also specialise in your areas of interest, such as youth justice, global youth work or international development.
• The degree is responsive to changes in the wider political and policy context, and places emphasis on working with communities in ways which empower them to understand and address the contradictory implications.
• Learn to critically engage with policy, particularly as it affects vulnerable people from a wide range of social, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
• You will have opportunities for vocational experience and a foundation in a range of employment fields - the housing sector, mental health services, criminal justice, community development, working with young people and management responsibilities in the social and public sectors.
• It will equip you to work with people in a range of contexts or to qualify in your chosen field of interest at postgraduate level.
• You will consider a range of issues including race and racism, disability, and LGBT discrimination, among others.
• You will be challenged to learn about yourself and develop into a self-reflexive professional worker.

UCAS code

L541

Entry requirements

• A-level: CC
• BTEC: MPP
• IB: Successful completion

Length

3 years full-time

Fees

• Home - full-time: £9535
• International - full-time: £20650

Department

Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies

What you'll study

Year 1

• Introduction to Social Work, Community Development, and Youth Work (15 credits)
• Group Work (15 credits)
• Introduction to Applied Social Science Research (15 credits)
• Introduction to Social Science (15 credits)
• Race, Racism and Professional Practice (15 credits)
• Criminology, Law and Rights (15 credits)
• Foundation to Social Work (15 credits)
• Identity, Agency & Environment 2 (15 credits)

Year 2

• Community Development and Youth Work in Context (15 credits)
• Group Work in Theory (15 credits)
• Group Work in Practice (15 credits)
• Theory, Policy and Practice (15 credits)
• Mental Health And Trauma: Critical and Clinical Explorations (15 credits)
• Personal and Professional Development (15 credits)
• Applied Social Research Methods (15 credits)
• Youth Justice (15 credits) or The Goldsmiths Elective (15 credits)

Year 3

• Social Justice in Community Development and Youth Work (15 credits)
• Management and Leadership (15 credits)
• Critical Engagement with Social Policy (15 credits)
• Conflict Transformation (15 credits)
• Dissertation (30 credits)
• Fieldwork Practice (30 credits)

How you'll be assessed

The programme offers a balance between practical and academic work. It is responsive to changes in the wider political and policy context, and places emphasis on working with communities in ways which empower them to understand and address the contradictory implications.

Examined work includes essays, written reports, self assessments, seminar and workshop presentations, self-directed projects and work experience.

Teaching style

This programme is mainly taught through scheduled learning - a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops. The curriculum draws on a wide range of intellectual resources, academic disciplines, and teaching methods, and will help you to develop the skills needed to work in different settings and organisations. You'll engage in group work and participative learning, which will allow you to practice and apply what you learn in a very real sense with tutors and other students.

You’ll also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study. This includes carrying out required and additional reading, preparing topics for discussion, and producing essays or project work.

Careers

This programme will give you a strong foundation for moving into a career in the public and social professions, and the charity sector. You will be given a broad introduction to work with young people and communities without restricting to a career and combine academic study with placements in professional practice to equip you for your chosen profession.

The programme is also a gateway into social work, youth work, community work, other social care and public professions.

Postgraduate study

You will be well equipped to work with people in a range of contexts or to qualify in your chosen field of interest at MA level. The Department of Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies (STaCS) offers a guaranteed interview for all graduates of this programme who meet the entry requirements for selected MA programmes in Community Development, Youth Work, and a range of Counselling and Therapies programmes.

Who will teach you

• David Woodger
• Dr Naomi Thompson
• Andy Turner
• Susan Westman
• Angelo Piccigallo
• Dr Pearson Nkhoma
• Dr Magna Aidoo
• Natalie Law
• Lara Paquete Pereira