UDHECODE - BSc Health and Community Development

The course makes wide use of the local environment; particularly through contact with local employers and initiatives within the voluntary, community and public sectors. Throughout the course students are invited to reflect on real life practice in local organisations as well as case studies of organisations which are further afield. Students are encouraged to use a wide range of on-line and media resources and to make use of the extensive manual and electronic sources within the University Library.

1. To offer a course relevant to a wide range of careers in Community Development and Health.
2. To facilitate understanding of a range of social, cultural and management theories and discourses relating to issues of policy and practice.
3. To enable students to identify public health policy issues arising out of political, economic, historical, cultural, social and technological changes.
4. To enable students to understand and effectively communicate the ethical dimensions of and tensions inherent in public health policy making and implementation.
5. To facilitate the development of knowledge, understanding and practical skills involved in social investigation and community development.
6. To enable students to develop their learning by choosing appropriate qualitative and quantitative research and data collection methods.
7. To develop the ability of students to plan and execute independent pieces of work.
8. To enable students to apply and reflect on their learning during work placements and/or voluntary work in the context of cultural diversity and social exclusion.

The following learning outcomes incorporate and depend on systematic understanding of the key aspects of the knowledge base of Health and Community Development, including a coherent and detailed knowledge of some specialist areas in depth.

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

• deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within Health and Community Development;
  
• devise and sustain arguments, and/or to solve problems, using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of Health and Community Development;
  
• describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, in Health and Community Development, recognising the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge;
  
• manage their own learning, and to make use of scholarly reviews and primary sources (for example, refereed research articles and/or original materials appropriate to Health and Community Development;
  
• apply the methods and techniques that they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding, and to initiate and carry out projects;
  
• critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data (that may be incomplete), to make judgements, and to frame appropriate questions to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions - to a problem;
  
• communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences;
  
• exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts;
  
• undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature

Youth and Community Work

Assessments will be a mix of coursework, presentations, portfolios and explorative, critical thinking projects. Many of the assessments will be related to real work challenges and students will have some choice in the areas studied in accordance to their interests and career aspirations. Detailed guidance and support is given for all assessments and students have opportunities to submit draft work or plans for individual feedback and tutorials.

There is a core placement module at level 6.

See Course Structure

Reflection takes place throughout the course. Particular points include the reflective report and action planning in SS4015, the learning log in SS5007, assignment 3 in SS5004, the reflective report in SS6001, SS6p01 and SS6W00

Employment events and employer visits will take place throughout the programme and these are a key feature of several modules including SS4015, SS5004, SS5007 and SS6001. Visits to relevant organisation are also part of these modules and also take place as part of enhancement weeks. There are clear links with the University’s career service and London Met Accelerator. On an individual level, each student is assigned to a Personal Academic Tutor.

• A live entrepreneurship project, which includes planning and pitching for a real, new social enterprise for the student with the support of the London Met Accelerator
• Talks from practitioners and observations of workplace environments via visits to relevant workplaces.

The Endorsement and Quality Standards Board for Community Development Learning (ESB). Application will be made to this board which is set up to support and endorse teaching programmes in relation to developing community development practice based on National Occupational Standards for Community Development. ESB has been working with FCDL (Federation for Community Development Learning), and LSIS (Learning and Skills Improvement Service).

Graduates of this course will be prepared to work in a diverse range of careers. These include: community centre manager, community development worker, fundraising manager and volunteer coordinator. The course will equip you to work in organisations concerned with health, education and crime reduction, as well as community trusts and charitable organisations and other NGOs. Relevant opportunities also exist in the public sector including local authorities, the civil service, and the NHS.

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:

• English Language GCSE at grade C or above (or equivalent) and
• at least 280 UCAS points from three or more A levels (eg BBC) or;
• 320 UCAS points from a BTEC National (eg DDM) or;
• a Level 3 Advanced Diploma (or equivalent)

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

Applications are welcome from mature students with appropriate Access/preparatory courses or relevant work experience. We also welcome those without formal qualifications who can show enthusiasm, commitment, and the ability to benefit from higher education.