Childhood, Youth and Family Studies (Taught)

This course is aimed at those interested in working with children and families, equipping you with the skills and knowledge to pursue or develop your career across a range of work settings. It runs alongside our MA Childhood Youth and Family Studies: Youth Work Pathway.

You explore the theory, practice, research and policy that underpins children’s, youth and family services while developing your understanding of children’s rights; welfare responsibilities; and how they are applied.

Facilities and specialist equipment

• Access to our simulation suites including our brand-new simulation floor that takes you from mock home to hospital, giving you hands-on experience of a range of scenarios you’ll encounter in the real world

• Resources from the National Youth Agency

Career-powered links
As part of this course, you access the Youth Work Community of Practice network, hosted by the University of Bedfordshire, which brings together youth workers from across Bedfordshire. Our links to children/young people’s services extend across Bedfordshire into north London, helping our students make connections.

Your student experience

Learn from an expert teaching team with a range of professional experience working with children, young people and families.

Follow your interests with a choice of optional units including young people, group offending and violent crime; safeguarding; coaching and mentoring; and relationship and sex education.

Explore practice-based issues by joining the University’s Youth Work Community of Practice, open to all students and practitioners in the region.

Attend regular visits and talks by local practitioners involved in working with children and young people including local government, charities and other youth service providers.

Challenge yourself by undertaking an independent research project in a subject area of interest.

Course modules

Dimensions of childhood, youth and families – How research has shaped our ideas about childhood and youth, and the current issues and challenges in the field.

The conceptual framework: theories shaping public policy for children’s and young people’s services – Understand the theoretical approaches and ideas that shape current debates in public policy.

Effective and ethical practice when working with children, young people and families – Put your theoretical knowledge into practice and grow your skills in observation, reflection, communication and assessment.

Research methods 1: setting deep foundations – Show you can draw on a range of evidence to explain how existing research relates to specific practice or policies.

PG dissertation in Applied Social Sciences – Plan, develop and produce an original investigation answering a research question relevant to your field of study.

There is also a choice of five optional modules:
•    Young people, group offending and violent crime
•    Contextual safeguarding: theoretical foundations and practical implications
•    Coaching and mentoring practice
•    Research methods 2: design, data collection and ethics
•    Critical considerations for relationship and sex education.

We make every effort to ensure the information here is accurate; however, for the most up-to-date information, visit our website.

A range of appropriate and effective assessments will enable students to demonstrate their acquisition of knowledge and skills. The assessment methods used across the course include:

Written essay assignments These may vary from concise reviews of current research analysis of case studies to more in-depth synthesis and evaluation of broader topics

Oral presentations These demonstrate verbal and presentational skills in communicating complex and challenging tasks to others

A portfolio This captures learning in the placement setting and will be used for students on the youth work pathway to evidence application of the national occupational standards for youth work

Dissertation Undertake a complex research project and communicate knowledge, findings and recommendations, demonstrating your ability to implement and deliver a self-directed, complex and solution-focused professional task.

The assessments will develop incrementally across the course and allow students to gain skills and acquire knowledge receive feedback on their performance thus allowing students to implement knowledge and feedback into subsequent assessments.