Entry Requirements
A good honours degree in a relevant subject. Appropriate professional qualification and experience may also be considered.Course Aims
Please note that this course IS NOT recognised professionally by the JNC and is IS NOT accredited by the NYA.
The MA in Youth and Community Studies is designed to meet the need for continuing professional development of established practitioners in services for young people. It offers advanced in-service professional education for experienced youth and community workers and managers. The MA has also been designed to answer the career development needs of managers and experienced youth and community workers who have substantial experience in the service, often including the management of a team of staff. In Ireland, the course is offered in partnership with the National Youth Federation in Dublin.
Course Content
The programme comprises eight core modules of 15 credits that, together with a dissertation of 60 credits, provide the required 180 credits for the MA.
Study is primarily by means of distance learning study packs containing sessional notes, reading and work-based tasks. Students access these through the Web. The Induction Period is held in September of the first year. The Research Methods Study Block provides theory and practice in preparation for the research dissertation. Students complete this Block either at the end of the first year or the second year, depending on when they undertake their dissertation. The modules available and their sequence over the two years are as follows (there may be additions to these modules during the academic year):
Part One
| Year One | |
| Term One | Psychological Development |
| Term Two | Sociology of Youth and Youth Work |
| Term Three | Social Policy and Youth Work |
| Vacation Module | Quality Work in Partnerships |
| Year Two | |
| Term One | Management in Youth Work |
| Term Two | Training and Staff Development |
| Term Three | Contemporary Issues in Youth and Community Work |
| Term Three in either Year One or Two |
Research Methods - part included in study block |
Part Two
Dissertation (undertaken after completing Part One at the end of Year Two or in Year Three)
Dissertation
Recent examples of dissertations by students taking this course include:
- A study investigating attitudes to adolescent sexuality amongst youth and community workers;
- An investigation into the role of youth workers in the spiritual development of young people;
- A study of limitations faced by community development projects in SE Ireland in tackling social exclusion.
Assessment
All course modules are assessed by coursework.
Special Features
The Centre for Youth Work Studies has been delivering training - professional qualifying, and post-qualifying courses - to youth workers since 1972 and has an excellent reputation in the field. It has long-established links with youth and community work service providers in London and the South West, including the local authorities and voluntary organisations, as well as internationally.