Program Overview

This degree will develop your skills to work with young people and practise youth work. You'll take an in-depth look at evolving identities, media representations, social policy, community development and the history of government approach to youth policy.

This degree encompasses cultural studies, criminology, sociology and psychology to provide insights into everything from youth work, to urban gang life and young people’s social welfare.

The transition into adulthood is often viewed as challenging and complex, but it’s also a time of fresh opportunities and new discoveries. Young people are represented in a number of social concerns, ranging from unemployment to social relationships and youth protests. At the same time, young people have a pulsating presence in the media and in creative arts.

You’ll explore the phenomenon of youth culture, gaining an understanding of youth in a social, cultural and political context. On top of this, you’ll examine local, national and global issues, plus developments that shape young people’s lives and life experiences.

This Youth Studies BSc will help you develop practical and transferable skills such as computing, video production, plus quantitative and qualitative analysis. These skills will be beneficial to your employment, further education or research.

Our lecturers are qualified and experienced practitioners in youth-centred research. On this course, you’ll also be able to take part in debates with expert external speakers.

The modules are designed to represent different aspects of youth culture and current social issues impacting young people. These include subjects relating and prompting analysis of youth, resistance and social control, as well as exploring and critiquing the notion of self, identity and gender. You can choose to study modules that focus on areas of interest to you.

You’ll be able to examine trending social topics, including the relationship between the media and young people’s cultural experiences and expressions, anti-social behaviour and criminal activity, plus mental health in young people.

In your second year, you'll also have the opportunity to choose our Principles and Practice of Youth Work module, which is co-created by our own Youth Studies students. This module encourages you to think critically about issues affecting young people in contemporary contexts, and introduces applied principles and practice of youth work, as well as theoretical tools for understanding young people.

"Society throws many obstacles and challenges at our young people, many of these you may already have experienced or observed. You may also have read about the 'challenges' and recognised how some of the narrative about young people are incorrect. This is your opportunity to delve deeper into the frameworks, theories and methods of working with young people. Everyone has something worthwhile to contribute, to share your ideas and opinions, and to challenge and critically discuss the impact on young people." Aine Woods, Senior Lecturer in Youth Studies