Child and Youth Studies with Community Learning and Development

Are you passionate about challenging discrimination and disadvantage? Do you have a strong desire to give a voice to communities and the individuals living in them?

Put social justice and a commitment to social change at the heart of your studies on our pioneering new course, the first accredited programme in the Highlands and Islands to provide registration with the CLD Standards Council Scotland, and pursue an exciting and rewarding career in community learning and development.

If you're interested in working with young people, adults, and communities, this is the ideal course for you. Explore and reflect on key theories, policy, and practice, as you develop your understanding of the values, differences, and diversity within individuals and communities, to enable their participation, empowerment, and life-long learning.

Build your experience and skills via work placements with community organisations in your local area, as you deepen your understanding and professional practice with theory, current policy, and legislation.

Special features
Professionally recognised and approved by the Community Learning and Development Standards Council for Scotland
Recognised as a lead practitioner qualification
Designed for those already involved or interested in working with people in communities
Placements offer an opportunity to link your developing professional practice with theory, current policy and legislation
Opportunity for you to specialise in an area of personal/professional interest
Flexible study routes
Delivered entirely online and can be studied from anywhere in Scotland and the UK, meaning you can fit your studies around your personal and professional commitments

You will take part in a mandatory induction, either in-person at your local campus or online, in the August before your course commences
You will undertake mandatory work placements in each year, located across the geographical spread of the UHI campuses:
Year 1: 40 hours
Year 2: 200 hours
Year 3: 400 hours
Year 4: 800 hours

Module outline

Year 1 - CertHE

You will study the following core modules:

• Culture cognition and education (S1)

• Introduction to health and social policy (S1)

• Nature of health (S1)

• Sociology of the family (S2)

• The enquiring student (S2)

• Understanding CLD in practice (S2)

Year 2 - DipHE

You will study the following core modules:

• Developing professional practice in CLD (S2)

• Empowering communities (S1)

• Recognising and challenging discrimination and disadvantage (S1)

• Researching the social world (S2)

• Working in partnership (S1)

• Youth and global society (S2)

Year 3 - BA

You will study the following core modules:

• Ethical issues (S2)

• Implementing professional practice in CLD (SC)

• Introduction to effective management and leadership (S1)

• Issues of risk (S1)

• Literature review (S2)

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will study the following core modules:

• Applied critical enquiry in CLD (SC)

• Demonstrating professional practice in CLD (SC)

• Professional ethics and reflection (S1)

• The UNCRC: investigating exploitation, youth justice and education in relation to children’s rights (S2)

This outline reflects the modules as currently delivered and is subject to change.