Course specification and structure
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UDYTHSTU - BSc Youth Studies

Course Specification


Validation status Validated
Highest award Bachelor of Science Level Honours
Possible interim awards Bachelor of Science, Diploma of Higher Education, Certificate of Higher Education, Bachelor of Science
Total credits for course 360
Awarding institution London Metropolitan University
Teaching institutions London Metropolitan University
School School of Social Professions
Subject Area Social Work, Community and Youth
Attendance options
Option Minimum duration Maximum duration
Full-time 3 YEARS  
Part-time 4 YEARS  
Course leader  

About the course and its strategy towards teaching and learning and towards blended learning/e-learning

The BSc (Hons) Youth Studies has been designed to provide an understanding of youth in its social, cultural and political context. It is an integrated and inter-disciplinary programme of study, which comprises of both theoretical and practice-based elements. The course draws on the insights and methodologies of youth and community work, cultural studies, criminology and sociology and aims to develop graduate attributes of self-awareness, performance in a variety of idioms and contexts, and ethical and creative considerations.

Students undertake a series of taught modules in the key areas of youth studies. The teaching and learning strategies applied throughout modules within the course aim to develop the student’s skills and knowledge and understanding of issues affecting young people. The teaching programme provides the underpinning basis for learning. Student’s thinking and practical skills are developed through complementary activities including lectures, seminars, workshops, on-line educational resources, tutorials and assignments.

The teaching team comprises experienced university staff, who will be able to guide and direct both in-class and independent study. In addition, students are expected to complement formal teaching with guided VLE learning resources and self-directed learning and completion of specified assignments. Students are encouraged to use all open spaces of study available to them within North campus.

The course will also promote the student’s self-management and a reflective approach to their learning with a view to enhancing their personal and professional development. Students will be encouraged to develop a personal development plan in preparation for employment through reflecting on their learning from the modules.

Course aims

The aims of this course are to:

1. Provide students with a programme of study that is both intellectually stimulating and offers opportunities to explore and examine local, national and global issues and developments that shape young people's lives and life experiences.

2. Equip students with practical and transferable skills necessary for employment and further education and research studies

3. Develop intellectual and practical skills in the collection, examination, interpretation and understanding of qualitative and quantitative sources relevant to the analysis of the ways young people experience and engage with contemporary society.

4. Develop skills of self-evaluation and reflection, critical thinking and communication for the interpretation and analysis of social and cultural issues and problems

5. To equip students with the skills to recognize oppression in all its forms, and to confidently and actively engage the notion of ‘voice ‘with young people.

Course learning outcomes

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

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

1. deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within Youth Studies;

2. devise and sustain arguments, and/or to solve problems, using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of Youth Studies;

3. describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, in Youth Studies, recognising the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge;

4. 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 Youth Studies);

5. 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;

6. 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;

7. communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences;

8. exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts;

9. undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature

Course learning outcomes / Module cross reference

SW4005
SS4011

SS4007
SC4000
SS5005
SH5000
SS5006
SH5W00
SM5052
SH5W50
SS5050
SC5051
SM5051
SS6P06
SS6009
SS6032
SC6004
SH6W01
SS6001
SS6057
SS6050
SS6058

Learning Outcomes Cover LO1-9

Principle QAA benchmark statements

Youth and Community Work

Assessment strategy

The purpose of the assessments is to reinforce students learning through a structured and time-bound process of reflection, presentation and writing. Students understanding of each of the module aims and learning outcomes will be assessed throughout each module. A range of assessment methods will be used for formative and summative assessment. The forms of assessment have been designed to test students’ knowledge of each of the modules. Assessment throughout the course links theory and practice. Students are encouraged to reflect on their own professional practice, progress and achievements. This includes: reflective accounts, case studies, employment-related tasks, essays, presentations and pod casts reports.

In the final year, students focus on the specific interests they have developed in the first two years through, for example, the placement and dissertation

The course promotes learning through a wide range of assessments. The assessments are informed by learning outcomes, and by professional requirements. The focus of assessment is to allow students to demonstrate a range of subject-related, transferable and professional skills. Student progression is measured and promoted through the use of timely formative and summative assessments.

Assessment is the responsibility of the academic staff delivering the modules and the teaching team will be responsible for marking.
Students are assessed through a variety of methods including poster and oral presentations, reports, examinations, practical reports and reviews, case studies, mind-maps, seminar presentations, pod casts and essays. Transferable skills have been embedded in the learning outcomes of the core modules.

In line with the Faculty’s assessment strategy, the course will provide feedback on finished work and redirect that work into providing feedback on draft submissions. Students will be given clear deadlines for handing in drafts and, if they meet these deadlines, will be guaranteed to receive feedback in time to allow them to improve their final submission.

Organised work experience, work based learning, sandwich year or year abroad

A process of developing an anti-oppressive approach to practice is embedded in the course design where case studies and other materials are used to reflect on the implications for real-life situations and work within youth & community agencies and organisations.

This includes visits to organisations in the field as well as speakers from a variety of organisations. It enables students to reflect on their learning, develop planning skills and relate their learning to their professional development and future learning activities.

Second year students will engage in structured work-related activities.
Students undertake a work placement in a relevant organisation, design and carry out a piece a relevant research project and draw up plans for management and supervision.

Arrangements for promoting reflective learning and personal development

Students develop reflective learning skills within each of the taught modules and across the different levels of the course. At Level 4 students will be introduced to a broad range of learning models of reflective learning and will be encouraged to develop their personal development portfolio (PDP) to critically review their learning experiences, set their future personal and academic goals and evaluate their progress towards these goals.

During Level 5 studies students will build on their understanding of Level 4 core modules and be encouraged to reflect more analytically on their learning of the inter-relationship between theory and practice through a critical engagement with the module content and more challenging resource materials. The assessment and feedback process will further develop their analytical and self-evaluation skills. Students will also continue to build their PDP.

During Level 6 studies students will consolidate their reflective learning particularly through the research-based module, which enables students to develop specialism in a negotiated key area of youth studies. Supervisors will initially assist with the clarifying the terms of the research project, establishing a timetable for the research and subsequent meetings. Supervisors will also direct in regards to background reading as well as advise on report formats, writing and statistical analysis. Students will review their personal development plan in the context of preparing for employment / further research.

Other external links providing expertise and experience

National Occupational Standards for Youth Work

Career, employability and opportunities for continuing professional development

Successful completion of the course offers improved career opportunities within commercial, public and voluntary sector bodies. Fields of particular relevance include youth & community work, youth justice, housing, education, welfare rights, social policy and social research. The programme is also excellent preparation for further research or study.

Career opportunities

Graduates have a wide choice of careers within a rapidly expanding array of commercial, public and voluntary sector bodies; fields of particular relevance include social research, community work, counselling, teaching, youth justice, trainee probation, housing, health, education, welfare rights and drugs services. Previous graduates are now in roles as student support mentors and family case workers for schools, and as caseworkers for housing services for young people.

Entry requirements

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you must have at least:

  • three A-levels with minimum grades BBC, or a minimum of 112 UCAS points from an equivalent level 3 qualification
  • English Language GCSE at grade C/grade 4 or above (or equivalent, eg Key Skills Level 2 in Communications or Functional Skills Level 2)

If you do not have traditional qualifications or cannot meet the entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, you may still be able to gain entry by completing the Community Development and Youth Extended degree.

We welcome applications from mature candidates without formal qualifications who have relevant experience and can show an ability to study at this level.

To study a degree at London Met, you must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. If you require a Tier 4 student visa you may need to provide the results of a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

If you need (or wish) to improve your English before starting your degree, the University offers a Pre-sessional Academic English course to help you build your confidence and reach the level of English you require.

Official use and codes

Approved to run from 2013/14 Specification version 1 Specification status Validated
Original validation date 01 Sep 2013 Last validation date 01 Sep 2013  
Sources of funding HE FUNDING COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND
JACS codes L530 (Youth Work): 100%
Route code YTHSTU

Course Structure

Stage 1 Level 04 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SC4000 Introduction to Criminological Theory Core 30        
SS4007 Social Problems and Social Issues Core 30        
SS4011 Principles of Community Work Core 30        
SW4005 Introduction to Working with Young People Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR TUE AM
          NORTH SPR+SUM TUE AM

Stage 2 Level 05 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SS5017 Researching Youth and Community Issues Core 30        
SS5018 Management and Leadership in Youth and Communit... Core 30        
SS5083 Youth Resistance and Social Control Core 15 NORTH AUT THU AM
SC5051 Youth, Crime and Violence Option 15 NORTH SPR FRI PM
SM5051 Crime and the Media Option 15 NORTH SPR THU AM
SM5052 Youth Culture and the Media Option 15 NORTH AUT THU AM
SS5002 Human Rights, Social Justice and Diversity Option 30 NORTH AUT+SPR MON AM

Stage 3 Level 06 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SC6004 Social Control, Drugs and Organised Crime Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR FRI AM
SS6009 Management and Supervision in Youth and Communi... Core 30 NORTH AUT+SPR TUE PM
SS6P06 Community and Youth Dissertation Core 30        
SS6001 Development and Social Enterprise Option 30        
SS6057 Homelessness and Housing Policy Option 15 NORTH AUT THU AM
          NORTH SUM MON AM
SS6058 Housing Issues and Housing Solutions Option 15 NORTH SPR THU AM
SS6W01 Work Placement for Professional Development Option 30        
XK0000 Extension of Knowledge Module Option 15 NORTH SPR NA  
          NORTH AUT NA