Social and Community Work

Why study BA Social & Community Work at Goldsmiths
Combine the academic study of social sciences with the opportunity to apply your newfound skills and knowledge in the real world.

• 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.

Year 1
In the first year you take the following modules:
Introduction to Social Work, Community Development, and Youth Work
Group Work
Introduction to Applied Social Science Research
Introduction to Social Science
Race, Racism and Professional Practice
Criminology, Law and Rights
Foundation to Social Work
Identity, Agency & Environment 2

Year 2
In the second year, you will study the following compulsory modules:
Community Development and Youth Work in Context
Group Work in Theory
Group Work in Practice
Theory, Policy and Practice
Mental Health And Trauma: Critical and Clinical Explorations
Personal and Professional Development
Applied Research Methods

You also choose one of the following modules:
Youth Justice
The Goldsmiths Elective

Year 3
In the third year of the degree you will take the following compulsory modules:
Social Justice in Community Development and Youth Work
Management and Leadership
Critical Engagement with Social Policy
Conflict Transformation
Dissertation
Fieldwork Practice

Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.

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.