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Childhood & Youth

This course offers an interdisciplinary approach to the study of childhood and youth underpinned by a commitment to integrated practice. It is ideal if you want to enhance your knowledge of this area, whether you're already working in the field or planning to do so. You'll begin by exploring the family; law; children's rights; politicised childhoods; participation and voice issues; consumerist childhoods; education; ethnicity and religion; child criminology; child sexuality; and multi-cultural childhoods – within a worldwide context, using case studies linking theory to practice. Finally, an extended piece of writing will help you examine the changing policy, organisational, personal and professional contexts of work with children and young people.

Key features of the course
• Equips you with the critical tools to analyse policy and to reflect on your own practice

• Designed to help you develop professionally and meet the diverse and changing needs of children and young people

• A strong focus on multi-agency working and inter-professional practice

• Offers a choice between a short research project or literature review.

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
• Knowledge and understanding
• Cognitive skills
• Practical and professional skills
• Key skills

On completion
On successful completion of the required modules you can be awarded a MA in Childhood and Youth entitling you to use the letters MA (CY) (Open) after your name. You will have the opportunity of being presented at a degree ceremony.

You may also want to claim the Postgraduate Certificate in Integrated Practice in Childhood and Youth (C97) and the Postgraduate Diploma in Integrated Practice in Childhood and Youth (E78). To gain all three qualifications you must study them in sequence (postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma and then the MA) please note that if you are using credit transfer you will not be able to claim both the Diploma (E78) and this MA.

Credit transfer
If you've successfully completed some relevant postgraduate study elsewhere, you might be able to count it towards this qualification, reducing the number of modules you need to study. You should apply for credit transfer as soon as possible, before you register for your first module. For more details and an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.

Entry requirements

You must have a bachelors degree from a UK university (or equivalent) to study this course. Your degree can be in any subject, although childhood and youth studies, sociology, health and social care, anthropology, psychology or education are particularly relevant.

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance check
The research project option in E807 and E810 are only available if you are a UK resident as you will need to obtain an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance check (or equivalent in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). Students in Scotland will also need to meet the requirements of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme. The criminal record check must be appropriate for the setting in which you intend to carry out your research. The DBS (or equivalent) must bear the same name as given in your post-registration agreement form. You also need permission from your employer to undertake this work. If these conditions cannot be fulfilled then you should choose the literature review option for E807 or E810.

Please note: It is a legal, rather than an Open University requirement, that you must obtain Enhanced DBS clearance in order to work with children on E807 and E810. This is the responsibility of you and your employer and not The Open University. If you are in doubt about your eligibility, or to find out more, you should contact the relevant agency in your country for more information.

Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum score of 7 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see their website for details.

Duration

How long it takes.
3 – 6 years

If you are starting studying for this qualification from October 2018

You will have up to six years to complete the qualification.

If you started studying for this qualification before October 2018

You will have two years to complete this qualification and we would recommend that you study 60 credits per year starting modules in October 2018 and October 2019. Exceptionally, students can study two 60-credit modules in an academic year to complete quicker, but this option requires students be able to commit about 30 hours per week to their studies which is not practical for most students, especially those in full-time employment. If you are considering registering for two 60-credit modules in the same academic year we strongly advise you to talk to an educational adviser on +44 (0)300 303 5303 or contact us.

When planning your studies, please check the final start date of modules that you are planning to study as part of this qualification so that you can be certain of securing your required modules. The two compulsory modules Children and young people's worlds: frameworks for integrated practice (E807) and Critical practice with children and young people (K802) are available for only one further presentation starting October 2018. There will be one 60-credit optional module, Understanding children's development and learning, (ED841) starting every October until the final presentation in October 2019.

The two 30-credit optional modules, Continuing professional development in practice (U810) and Development: context and practice (T877), will be available beyond that but if you intend studying these modules you should be aware that U810 has an entry requirement that you need to have completed at least 150 hours of CPD over the last 3-4 years.

Number of credits

180 credits

Careers or further progression

Career relevance
This MA course will be attractive to professionals working with children and young people who are graduates and seeking to advance academically and professionally, as well as those with a related degree but not currently working with children and young people who are looking to move into the profession, and people considering moving between professions within the sector. It should also be of interest to people in a managerial or supervisory role, to senior members of the workforce, and those seeking to move into senior or managerial positions.

This MA in Childhood and Youth will have a strong appeal for students who have completed the BA (Hons) in Childhood and Youth Studies, BA (Hons) Early Years or Early Childhood, BA (Hons) Education Studies (Primary) or the BA/BSc (Hons) in Health and Social Care. The content of the qualification will be relevant to graduates working in early years provision, education, social work, nursing, healthcare, youth work, youth justice and the voluntary sector including charities and NGOs. You should ensure that you check entry requirements for specific professional areas before embarking on study.

This course will be attractive to professionals working with children and young people in areas such as early years provision, education, social work, nursing, healthcare, youth work, youth justice or the voluntary sector. It should also be of interest if you're seeking to advance academically and professionally, move into the profession or within the sector, and if you have (or want to move into) a senior, managerial or supervisory role.

Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.

Further enquiries

Tel: (01) 678 5399
Fax: (01) 678 5442
Email: ireland@open.ac.uk

Subjects taught

Modules
To gain this qualification, you need 180 credits as follows:
60 credits from:

Module Credits
Children and young people's worlds (E808) 60
Or the discontinued module E807 120 credits from:

Module Credits

Frameworks for critical practice with children and young people (E809) NEW 60

MA Childhood and Youth dissertation (E810) – planned for October 2020 60

If you've already completed module K802, to gain this qualification, you need 120 credits as follows:

60 credits from:

Module Credits

Children and young people's worlds (E808) 60
Or the discontinued module E807

60 credits from:

Module Credits

Continuing professional development in practice (U810) 30 Development: context and practice (T877) 30
Understanding children's development and learning (ED841) 60

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules D860, D864, E848, E805, E855, E856, E859, ED840 and TU871

You should note that the University's unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 60 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.

We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available modules – may change over time.

Course web page

Link to course fee

Key information

Qualification letters: 
MA (CY)(Open)
Qualifications: 
Degree - Masters at UK Level 7
Attendance Types: 
Distance
Counties: 
Dublin
Apply to: 
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