Childhood Studies

Our BA Childhood Studies is designed to provide you with an in-depth understanding of children’s lives in diverse social, cultural and educational contexts.

Teaching is based in the fields of anthropology, education, psychology, sociology and social policy and you’ll examine how key concepts from these disciplines can develop our understanding of children’s development, health and welfare, their inclusion, and their peer and family relationships.

You’ll consider questions such as:

• How do children learn to read and how can we support their reading development, whatever their individual needs?
  
• Should children and young people contribute to decision-making in schools, and how do children’s rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) inform this debate?
  
• How far should the state determine how parents bring up their children?

The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars and workshops that use a range of learning resources including media and digital technology.

In each year of study, you’ll undertake core modules designed to build your knowledge base, complemented by optional modules that allow you to explore topics that suit your interests and future career plans.

In your final year, you’ll also plan and undertake a piece of independent research relating to childhood and youth for your dissertation. This will allow you to put theories you’ve studied into practice, gain further expertise in an area of interest to you, and to gain experience carrying out a real-life research project with or about children and/or young people.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Modules Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Children, Young People, Families and the State 20 credits
• What is a Child: Child Development and Learning 20 credits
• What is a Child: Social Construction of Childhood 20 credits
• Play and Learning 20 credits
• Introduction to Childhood Studies 5 credits

Optional modules

• Children's Rights and Social Justice 20 credits
• Diverse Contexts of Learning 20 credits
• Psychological approaches to Education 20 credits
• Learning about learning: Processes, complexities and theoretical perspectives 20 credits
• Building a Career from Education Studies 20 credits

Discovery modules

• You will be required to study 20 credits of discovery modules

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Health, Well-being, Childhood and Youth 20 credits
• International Perspectives of Pedagogy and Practice 20 credits
• Approaches to Research: Theory and Practice 20 credits
• Psychological Approaches to Understanding and Supporting Children's Learning 20 credits

Optional modules

• School Mathematics 10 credits
• Educational Policy and Politics 20 credits
• Managing Classroom Behaviour 10 credits
• Inclusive Education 20 credits
• Supporting Families? Analysing the Theory and Practice of Family Support 20 credits
• Violent and Sexually Offending Young People 20 credits

Discovery modules

• You will be required to study up to 20 credits of discovery modules