Child and Adolescent Studies (Top Up)

The course will prepare you for the world of work by providing you with both an academic and vocational relevant curriculum which focuses on the needs of children, young people and families. It will allow students to demonstrate their ability to undertake an extended and detailed area of research in the field of child and adolescent studies. You are able to build on previous Foundation degree studies to complete an Honours degree.

The BA (Hons) Child and Adolescent Studies course is highly relevant and up to date with current practice and expectations of employers within the field of working with children and young people. This course explores how and why we work with children, young people and their families in a multiagency context:

This course is for applicants with a related Foundation Degree or Higher Education qualification wishing to top up to the full BA degree.

The BA (Hons) Child & Adolescent Studies is a level 6 top-up award intended principally for students who have been awarded an FdA in Child & Family Studies or any student eligible to transfer into Level 6 from a Child & Adolescent Studies related degree (i.e., who has successfully studied Levels 4 and 5 in a Child & Adolescent Studies related degree).

Or

Evidence of two years of successful related study at degree levels 4 and 5 and potential to progress to Level 6. Entry to the course will be through negotiation to ensure that applicants have the appropriate pre-requisite knowledge and skills.

On successful completion, typical graduate destination for Child and Adolescent Studies students include direct work with service users in areas such as:

Children and families
Drug and alcohol misuse
Young people
Youth offending services
Working with disabled and/or special education needs

Work in other areas of the human services such as:

Policy development
Welfare
Community development

Graduates will be well-equipped to take advantage of the many career opportunities that exist in direct work with service users, as well as the opportunity to enter social work training at Masters level or apply for entry to a variety of postgraduate options at the University of Bedfordshire, for example, MA Childhood and Youth: Applied Perspectives and MA in International Social Work and Social Development.

Core Modules:
• Independent Project in Child and Adolescent Studies
• Child Protection and Safeguarding: the context of vulnerability
• Special Educational Needs and Challenging Behaviour in Schooling: Exploring Tensions Between the Individual and the Structural Organisation
• Youth Justice: Models and Approaches
• The Lived Experiences of Children and Young People in Diverse Family and Social Circumstances

All units are assessed by a variety of methods including written assignments, presentations, short timed examinations and reflective logs. You will develop the skills of reflective practice and the writing of a reflective journal, and commitment to personal and professional development is a requirement of this course.