BA (Hons) Childhood Studies

The childhood years are regarded as crucial to later learning and development. This course will give you the opportunity to delve into the factors which influence ‘childhood' and how these can affect later development. The course will draw upon a variety of disciplines including sociology, psychology and educational studies in order to help us to understand the childhood years. If you are interested in how children grow, develop and learn, then this course will allow you to explore this intriguing stage of development. You will be given the opportunity to combine both theoretical topics with hands-on, practical experience, thus enabling you to develop both academic and professional skills that are needed to work with children.

Course Structure

The full time duration of this course is 3 years but there is flexibility to study on a part time basis. During the degree, you will study a combination of ‘core' and ‘non-core' modules. You will also be able to choose modules from other departments within the University if you wish.

A unique selling point of this degree scheme is that there are ‘exit' points after each complete year so that if, for any reason, you could not progress to future years you would leave with a named award.

After 1 complete year of study - Certificate of Higher Education in Childhood Studies
After 2 complete years of study - Diploma of Higher Education in Childhood Studies
Full completion - BA (hons) degree in Childhood Studies

Furthermore, there is an opportunity to undertake a work placement to gain experience of working within educational/childhood setting. This will require you to pay for a CRB check (approximately £40). The administration of this is organised during the first term.

Career Progression

Upon completion of this course, you will have a BA honours degree. Such a degree demonstrates a level of intellectual achievement which allows students to compete for a variety of employment opportunities. However, we envisage that specific careers following completion of this degree will relate specifically to childhood. Successful completion of this degree scheme could lead to progression to a one year primary school teacher training course (PGCE) (subject to a successful application and interview). Aberystwyth graduates in Childhood Studies are guaranteed an interview for the primary PGCE course at the new The North and Mid Wales Centre of Teacher Education. Furthermore, the qualification would form an ideal basis for anyone wishing to work within any educational setting or within the social care profession. Completion of the Certificate or the Diploma is also likely to increase your employability within the educational setting, for example, as a teaching assistant.