Childhood and Youth Studies with Criminology

This is a Connected Degree

Portsmouth is the only University in the UK with the flexibility to choose when to do an optional paid placement or self-employed year. Either take a placement in your third year, or finish your studies first and complete a placement in your fourth year. You can decide if and when to take a placement after you've started your course.

Overview

Our experiences in childhood and adolescence can have a huge influence on the choices we make and how society sees us.

On this Childhood and Youth Studies with Criminology degree, you'll explore the issues affecting children and young people aged 8–18, and the role of the criminal justice system and the causes of crime – as well as how these subject areas interconnect.

Learning from academic researchers and staff with experience as practitioners in the field, you'll focus on young people’s development, learning and relationships, and delve into the complex policies, practices and societal pressures that impact them.

You'll also have the chance to focus your childhood and youth studies on a particular specialism - education and teaching, community and youth/family provision, or leadership and enterprise.

After the course, you'll graduate with the skills and knowledge for a rewarding career working with children and young people in a variety of settings, including youth intervention, youth justice and social work.

• Spend two-thirds of your time at the School of Education and Sociology, examining topics around child development, education, psychology, health and social work

• Spend your remaining time studying at the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, learning about crime, punishment and rehabilitation

• Practise real-world scenarios in our Family Assessment Room, where you'll examine how parents and children feel during family meetings, and explore your responsibilities as a practitioner

• Tailor your studies to your career goals and interests, and have the option to complete pre-entry qualifications for a career in probation work or community justice

• Enrich your learning and build relationships with potential employers by volunteering, studying abroad or doing a work placement alongside your studies

• Develop a set of key transferable life and career skills, including critical thinking, team working, empathy and problem solving

Careers and opportunities

This Childhood and Youth Studies with Criminology degree will prepare you for a range of careers working on behalf of children and young people.

There's significant demand for graduates who have the expert skills and knowledge to work with young people and children in the community in this way, particularly since the pandemic and its impact on education.

What can you do with a childhood and youth studies with criminology degree?
After the course, you could work in areas such as:

• youth work

• law enforcement and the police

• social work

• social justice

• children's rights

• social policy

• probation

• educational welfare

• health promotion

• teaching

Placement year and work experience
After your second year, you can do a paid placement year in a youth work setting. You'll have the opportunity to make a positive difference to young people while applying your knowledge and boosting your employability.

Previous students have put their skills to work at organisations such as:

• Portsmouth in the Community (PitC)

• KidsOut

• Victim Support

We’ll help you secure a placement that fits your ambitions. You’ll get mentoring and support to get the most out of your placement year.

This course also allows you to take the Learning From Experience (LiFE) option. This means you can earn credits towards your degree for work, volunteer and research placements that you do alongside your study.

We can also help you identify additional work experience, internship and voluntary opportunities that complement your studies.

The University of Portsmouth is passionate about creating career-focused modules that do more than support your studies, they empower your academic journey and prepare you for what comes next.

We design modules that have:

• Clear themes and skills development as you progress through each year
• Assessments that feel meaningful, often based on real-world tasks rather than isolated exams
• Career-enhancing opportunities such as placements, live projects, enterprise and volunteering

For a full list of the modules you will study on this course, please visit https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-childhood-and-youth-studies-with-criminology#modules

How you're assessed

You’ll be assessed through:

• essays
• group and individual presentations and projects
• creative assessments, such as storyboards or video
• practical assessments, such as lesson plans and delivery
• exams
• a dissertation

You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.

You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.