BA (Honours) Childhood and Youth Studies

Accessibility

Our qualifications are as accessible as possible, and we have a comprehensive range of support services. Our BA (Honours) Childhood and Youth Studies uses a variety of study materials and includes the following elements:

• Online study – most modules are online; some have a mix of printed and online material. Online learning resources could include websites, audio/video, and interactive activities
• Online tutorials
• Group-work
• Using and producing diagrams and screenshots
• Practical work
• Finding external/third-party material online
• Accessing online catalogues and databases
• Assessment in the form of short-answer questions, essays, and examinations
• Feedback – continuous assessment includes feedback from your tutor and using this to improve your performance
• Pre-determined schedules – we’ll help you to develop your time-management skills

There are no formal entry requirements to study this qualification.

However, two of the Stage 1 option modules do have recommendations that you gain exposure to a practice context:

• Learning and teaching in the primary years (E103) suggests that you observe practice in a formal educational setting for children aged 3–12 for up to 10 days
• Exploring perspectives on young children’s lives and learning (E109) suggests practice experience in a setting for children aged 0–7 will support and enhance your study

See the individual module description or talk to an advisor for more information.

Preparing for study with an Access module

Students who start their study with an Access module are more likely to be successful when they advance to Stage 1 of their qualification. They’re specially designed to give you a gentle introduction to OU study, boost confidence in your study skills, and help you gain a broad overview of your chosen subject area.

You’ll also benefit from:

• feedback from your tutor through regular one-to-one phone tutorials
• support from a dedicated team throughout your study
• detailed written feedback on your work.

Skills for career development

This degree provides an effective foundation for a wide choice of career paths. It emphasises independent thinking, develops analytical and communication skills and will help you become a clear and confident writer – all attributes that are highly valued by employers. Specific skills you’ll develop include:

• analysing, critically evaluating and effectively communicating information to others
• competence in team and project work, supporting and/or supervising others
• organising, synthesising and questioning opinions and arguments
• evaluating the appropriateness of different approaches to problem-solving
• managing and organising time, resources and information to support decision-making
• reflecting on your own learning and performance and taking steps to improve it
• using ICT effectively and being able to interpret data.

Career relevance

A degree in childhood and youth studies gives you skills and knowledge relevant to many careers in childcare, health, education, working with families, play-work, or working with young people. It will develop your understanding of practices and policies that affect children and young people and introduce you to many new aspects of the subject – helping you make informed choices about future career paths. This degree is not a professional qualification, so many of our graduates choose to undertake postgraduate training before progressing to employment in specialist fields such as:

• teaching
• counselling
• early years work, including play therapy and hospital play
• speech therapy
• voluntary sector work

• youth work
• education support and welfare
• social work
• probation work
• personal and careers guidance

• sport and fitness
• learning mentor
• research and policy
• psychologist
• youth justice.

The education sector provides increasing opportunities for teaching and non-teaching staff in schools, further and higher education and non-school settings.

This degree will develop your research skills if you want to go on to further study.

This course is not recognised as a professional youth work qualification by the National Youth Agency (NYA) on behalf of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) for England, the ETS Advisory Committee for Wales, the North/South Education and Training Standards Committee for Youth Work in Ireland and the Standards Council for CLD for Scotland.

In England, this course does not provide Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) or Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). GCSE passes at Grade C or above in English and Maths are normally required for postgraduate study, and for teaching, a GCSE Grade C pass in Science is also a requirement.

In England, this course is not considered 'full and relevant' as it does not meet the early years educator criteria in terms of observed and assessed practice and so students achieving this qualification cannot be counted in Level 3 ratios.

In Scotland, this qualification does not lead to Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) registration. However, if you’ve already achieved SSSC registration through related qualifications, such as HNC Childhood Practice, you might be able to transfer credit to this qualification.

Other careers

Many graduate-level jobs are open to graduates of any discipline, particularly in business, finance, management consultancy and the public sector. Some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree.

Exploring your options

Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you’ll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice – including online forums, website, interview simulation, vacancy service as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.

In the meantime, if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, we’ve put together a list of relevant job titles as a starting point (note that some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree):

You can achieve this degree in as little as three years and have a maximum of 16 years to complete it. Our module-by-module approach gives you the flexibility to complete your qualification at a pace that works best for you.

3-year degree

You can complete this degree in three years by studying at a pace equivalent to full-time. That’s similar to a student at a campus-based university.

• You’ll study 120 credits a year.
• You’ll need 32–36 study hours per week.

For a year-by-year breakdown of modules, take a look at our 3-year degree pathway in the Course details section.

6-year degree

You can complete this degree in six years by studying part-time. That’s roughly half the rate of a student on a full-time course at a campus-based university.

• You’ll study 60 credits a year.
• You’ll need 16–18 study hours per week.

For a year-by-year breakdown of modules, take a look at our 6-year degree pathway in the Course details section.