Course overview

This innovative degree brings together the study of many aspects that impact on the life of children and young people. Focusing on school, home and social life, it enables you to explore the wider picture of what it means to be a child or young person in society and how this picture has emerged and our understanding is developing. This multidisciplinary study draws on aspects of education, sociology, psychology, health, welfare and social policy, which will help you understand the processes that shape childhood and children’s lives.

The focus of education has changed significantly in recent times towards a wider perspective of the social, emotional and healthy development of the child in addition to traditional curriculum delivery. You will study issues, ideas and theories relating to child and youth development and look at models of past and present practice.

We intend that our graduates are not just well informed of current policy and inter-agency practice, but are sufficiently knowledgeable about theory and alternative models to be reflective practitioners in whatever field they choose to work in.

Placements

This course allows you to take the Learning From Experience (LiFE) option, which lets you earn credits toward your degree for work / research placements, volunteer roles or internships undertaken alongside your studies.  The option gives you the opportunity to enhance your employability skills, to reflect on the ways in which you've done so, and to learn to express this to potential employers.

Find out more

For further information and advice, please contact our Admissions Centre (details above). As the support base for all our students, the Admissions Centre is happy to help you with your enquiry, through to completion of application forms and offer.

Course content

Year one

In your first year you will be introduced to a broad range of skills and knowledge that will support you in your study as well as units that focus on the nature of schooling and children and young people in the context of a changing society. You will take the following units:

• Introduction to Educational Contexts 
• Health and Wellbeing of the Child and Young Person
• Child and Youth Development 
• Family and Social Environments 
• Developing Professional perspectives
• Diversity and Inclusion

Assessment artefacts and seminar activities are sometimes differentiated to allow for focus on the age range that is of primary interest to you.

Year two

The second year of the degree aims to consolidate the themes introduced in the first year.  You will focuses on how individuals operate and are influenced by their membership to different groups. Study of how government policy influences and reflects experiences will be covered in further depth. The use of options at this stage will enable you to start focusing on a specific area of interest. You will also have the opportunity to experience paid or voluntary work with children and young people as part of the Faculty electives programme. Core units include:

• Professionals Involvement with Children and Young People
• Society and Representations of Youth Culture
• Research with Children and Young People - this unit provides the context for starting to think about your dissertation

Year three

Your third year will give you the opportunity to specialise in an area of interest through your choice of dissertation and a further range of optional units.

The final year focuses on working practices, by looking at current policy and contemporary professional practices of working in this area. The two core units are:

• Implications of Contemporary and Global Issues for Children and Young People
• Education, Society and the Curriculum

Optional units

Below is a flavour of the optional units available in year 2 or 3 :

• Children’s literature
• Gender & education
• Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood
• Digital natives
• Young people, State and Society
• Who’s in Charge?
• Behaviour matters
• Children with (Severe) Learning Difficulties
• Mentoring & Coaching
• Creativity
• Issues Relating to Children and Young People’s Mental Health.
• Working with Looked After Children

Teaching and assessment

The School of Education and Continuing Studies (SECS) sits within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. This course, based in SECS, will be delivered in conjunction with the School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies (SSHLS). We pride ourselves on the quality of teaching, learning and student support on this course and many of the courses in the Department are vocationally focused and therefore you will benefit from this firm grounding in practice.

The course is taught by people with significant experience, both as practitioners and qualified academics, actively researching the field.

At each level, you will study units worth a total of 120 credits. You will need to acquire 360 credits to achieve an honours degree. Learning takes place within a variety of contexts and includes group-based activities, seminars, tutorials, individual and group presentations, poster presentations, projects, elearning activities and lectures. You will have many opportunities to contribute during sessions and will gain greatly from participation.

We use a range of assessment methods, including essays, seminar and other presentations, tests and a dissertation. Your learning experience as an undergraduate will be different to pre-degree study and you will be fully supported at all stages, with an expectation that in turn you are proactive in your own learning. As well as learning study skills within units and a unit on research skills, you will be given assessment guidelines for each unit and are assigned a personal tutor who will help ensure that you realise your academic potential.

Career prospects

Studying in the school of education may lead you onto a variety of career pathways, some of which may require Post Graduate study. Students on the BA courses have gone on to train as early years and primary teachers, gain Early Years Professional Status, study as Speech and Language therapists or undertake a masters degree in Social Work . They are able to apply for a range of other roles in education, social care and health related areas. Please note that this course does not provide Qualified Teacher Status. 

The career pathways opened by this degree include:

• education and training
• youth work
• healthcare and health promotion
• social work
• the police
• work in the voluntary sector

Examples of jobs may include early years’ practitioners, children’s centre workers, play workers, youth workers and additionally new jobs are developing rapidly in response to current government initiatives in both areas.

This degree can also provide a route to Qualified Teacher Status in primary or early years education. Professional career routes such as these require students to satisfy certain criteria in addition to an honours degree before commencement, but careers advice within the University will help you make informed choices.

Facilities and features

Portsmouth has a reputation for providing a supportive and friendly atmosphere in which its students can quickly settle and enjoy their studies. You will have access to a full range of support services for personal issues and academic study. Personal tutors will help you access the support you may find helpful, while you will also have access to appropriate University resources, including our main library and computing facilities, which are open seven days a week.

The School of Education and Continuing Studies staff are all experts in a range of appropriate subject specialisms. Their enthusiasm and motivation means you will get the most out of your time with us.

Entry requirements

View all the entry requirements for BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies for the academic year 2013/14 (opens in new window).