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Overview
The BA (Hons) Childhood and Society Studies (Top-Up) course is designed for people who want to gain a full undergraduate Childhood Studies degree and are working with children and/or young people.
You will develop a broader understanding of a number of childhood-related topics and use this to analyse your own practice and the practice of others in childhood settings.
If you have existing experience in early years, you can take the optional pathway in Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies and graduate with a highly-desirable degree with the title BA (Hons) Childhood and Society Studies with Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies, enhancing your employability.
Why us?
- Our Childhood and Youth Studies courses are 8th in the UK for student satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2024)
- In September 2020, the Early Childhood Studies Degree Network announced Early Education and Childcare practitioners are now classified as Associate Professionals (Major Group 3 – Professional) instead of Teaching and Childcare Support Occupations (Major Group 6 – Non-Professional). Being Associate Professionals enhances graduates’ chances of gaining appropriate graduate/professional employment in the early childhood field.
- The inclusion of Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies is recognised as leading practice in the early years sector nationally
- Benefit from evening classes and online learning to fit around work commitments
- Focus on work and practical application of learning
- Clear routes for progression to further study, including the MA Childhood and Youth Studies and PGCE courses
Course structure
When you apply for the BA (Hons) Childhood and Society Studies (Top-Up) degree, you can choose to enrol on a part-time basis over two years or on a full-time basis over one year. Semester one runs from September to December and semester two runs from January to May. During your first semester of your first year, you will be required to choose one module from four options that you would potentially like to study. Using a choice ranking system, we run preferred modules that meet the required threshold of student numbers. Optional modules are then complemented by core modules.
If you choose to study the Childhood and Society Studies course part-time, you will have the unique option to study the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies pathway, which is beneficial for career progression in many ways. This route incurs additional face-to-face contact time with our specialist Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies lead.
Currently, all students engage with learning and materials via a blend of online learning and face-to-face contact time. Whether you choose part-time or full-time study, the scheduled face-to-face learning for each semester takes place up to two evenings per week between 5-9pm
Facilities
Teaching will take place at the Reg Vardy Centre, situated on the award-winning Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's. This stunning riverside location benefits from dedicated library services and has superb transport links with the city centre and City Campus.
Career ready
Gaining an undergraduate degree in Childhood Studies will boost your career prospects and allow you to progress faster. You will also be eligible to apply for a range of masters courses (level 7), such as MA Childhood and Youth Studies, Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) courses, MSc Inequality and Society, and MA Social Work, which include the option of professional qualifying pathways in Early Years or Youth Work.
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