Youth Studies BSc (Hons)

Program Overview

The Youth Studies BSc (Hons) degree equips students with the skills to work professionally with young people. It combines interdisciplinary subjects like cultural studies, sociology, and psychology, providing a comprehensive understanding of youth culture and issues. Graduates are highly sought after in various sectors, including youth work, social research, and education. The program features guest lectures by industry experts and offers practical assessment methods, ensuring students are well-prepared for their careers.

Program Outline

Youth Studies BSc (Hons)

Degree Overview:

This interdisciplinary degree equips you with the skills necessary to work professionally with young people. It delves into diverse subjects ranging from cultural studies to sociology, youth work, youth studies, criminology, and psychology. Students are exposed to real-world scenarios through guest lectures by practicing youth specialists and employers.

• Highly rated by students: With a high student satisfaction rate, 87.5% of Youth Studies graduates either gain meaningful employment or continue their studies.
• Industry insights and opportunities: The curriculum features guest lectures by CEOs and experienced youth practitioners who offer insightful perspectives and access to potential jobs and placements.

This course will:

• Equip you with the skills to work with young people and practice youth work.
• Develop your grasp of cultural studies, criminology, sociology, youth work, childhood studies and psychology.
• Provide knowledge about youth culture, their social, cultural and political contexts, local, national, and global issues, plus developments that shape young people’s lives and experiences.
• Enhance practical and transferable skills in computing, video production, quantitative and qualitative analysis – beneficial for employment, further education or research.
• Enable participation in debates with expert external speakers.
• The relationship between young people and their cultural experiences and expressions.
• Anti-social behavior and criminal activity.
• Mental health in young people.
• #Outline:

Year 1 Modules:

• Cultures, Identity, and Difference (core).
• Introduction to Working with Young People (core).
• Introduction to communities (core).
• The anti-oppressive practitioner (core).

Year 2 Modules:

• Development and Social Enterprise (core).
• Principles and Practice of Youth Work (core).
• Researching Youth and Community Issues (core).
• Reflective and reflexive practitioner (core).
• Elective modules (choose up to 30 credits):
• Counselling in youth and community settings.
• Creative, critical reflective approaches to practice.
• Crime and Media.
• Disability and Inclusion.
• Extension of Knowledge Module.
• Resistance, Creativity and Joy in the Capital.
• Sustainability and Environmental Justice.
• Transnational communities.
• Youth Culture and the Media.
• Youth Resistance and Social Control.
• Youth, Crime and Violence.

Year 3 Modules

• Community and youth dissertation (core).
• Management and Supervision in Youth and Community Work Settings (core).
• Elective modules(choose up to 15 credits):
• Community activism and digital campaigning.
• Counselling in groups.
• Extension of Knowledge Module.
• Homelessness and Housing Policy.
• Housing Issues and Housing Solutions.
• International relationship-based practice for social change
• Social Control, Drugs and Organised Crime
• Work Placement for professional development (option: 45 credits).

Assessment

The program utilizes assessment methods that go beyond conventional examinations, offering a more diverse and practical assessment experience. Students will be evaluated through:

• Presentations
• Practical reports
• Reflective accounts
• Case studies
• Essays
• Podcasts
• Web-based presentations

Teaching:

This program boasts experienced and qualified lecturers who are also practitioners within relevant fields, ensuring you learn from those actively engaged in youth-centered research work. The curriculum incorporates interactive debates with expert external speakers who provide valuable insights from the professional realm.

#Careers:

Graduates from the Youth Studies BSc program embark on various successful career paths within diverse organizations across public, private and voluntary sectors. Many are employed in positions such as:

• Student support mentors in schools
• Family caseworkers for schools
• Other relevant fields and positions:
• Social research, community work, counseling, teaching, youth justice
• trainee probation, housing, health, education, welfare rights and drug services.

Other

• Students with an interest in pursuing additional postgraduate programs in related fields will receive a 20% tuition fee discount at London Metropolitan University.