BA Childhood and Youth Studies: Year 2
Please note the School of Education and Lifelong Learning will not be recruiting any more undergraduate students from 2009. For more information please see the main Undergraduate home page
In Year 2, there are two 15 credit core modules and one 30 credit core module. Students choose two optional modules from a wide range of modules:
ECY2002: Creativity and Learning
Is creativity something only a few people possess, or is everyone creative? Is it possible to be creative in all aspects of your life, or is it confined to activity within the arts?
In this module, social, cultural, psychological and philosophical perspectives on the nature of creativity are explored. What it means to be creative is considered in the context of children’s and young people’s contemporary lives, at home, in educational settings and in the community.
ECY2005 Citizenship, community and ethnicity
The module aims to introduce students to key debates about the nature of citizenship and community with reference to national and international contexts. It will include reference to international human rights and the rights of the child. A central aim is to develop students’ capacity to research topical, cultural or controversial issues as these relate to issues of citizenship, community and ethnicity. Students will examine the debates around these issues, using research-based evidence and will relate these to theories of social participation and social action.. In order to facilitate their understanding of active citizenship, all students will participate in a community action project which will provide the basis for an assessed presentation.
ECY2006:Representations of Childhood and Youth in Literature and Film
Do you enjoy reading and watching films, and thinking and talking about their meanings and implications?
This module develops ideas introduced in Year 1 concerning the various ways in which childhood can be represented. Drawing on theory from different areas - in particular, childhood studies, cultural studies, film studies and literary criticism, the module explores representations across different cultures and historical periods.
The group considers a range of materials, and there is also the opportunity to work on a creative assignment, in which you portray an aspect of the life experience of children / young people.
ECY 2007 Early Childhood - Birth to Five
This module will focus on children from birth to 5 years. It aims: · to increase students’ theoretical understanding of some of the main theories of development in early childhood and parenting, taking a multi-disciplinary perspective;· to understand the historical context to provision in the UK for children from birth to age five;· to increase students’ knowledge of recent changes in UK policy and provision for families and young children;· to describe some recent and relevant research into early childhood practice and its implications for policy and practice;· to provide practical experience of early childhood settings and of working with young children;· to provide students with an opportunity to apply simple research skills in early childhood settings and to use evidence in making interpretations;· to support students’ understanding of the social situations surrounding early childhood with a focus on the home, early childhood setting and society;· to extend students understanding of the cultural worlds of early childhood;· to provide knowledge about the role of professional agencies that work with young children and their families.
ECY 2008 Every Child Matters
This module will focus on children of different ages and social circumstances and explore key issues of policy and practice in a holistic way, from the perspective of the child’s world. It will examine how the guidance of "Every Child Matters’ outcomes can be reached effectively through early preventative interventions in differing contexts such as the family, or school settings. A specific aim will be to identify and examine the issues surrounding vulnerable children from complex family backgrounds and how professionals may intervene effectively using a variety of approaches, It aims· to increase students’ theoretical understanding of some of the main issues related to childhood and parenting, from a multi-disciplinary perspective,· to understand the historical context of service provision in the UK for children and families ,from birth to age 19years,· to increase students’ knowledge of recent changes in UK legal and policy and organisational frameworks and recent service provisions for children and families,· To consider the nature and origins of issues related to vulnerable children and families where they specifically need support or safeguarding. The concepts of resilience and protective factors will be explored, · to provide practical experience of working directly with children and the knowledge and use of practical tools of assessment including the Common Assessment Framework, ( known as CAF) · To enable students to develop a child focused approach, through listening to children and involving them in participatory practice,· to provide students with an opportunity to apply simple research skills in early childhood settings and to use evidence in making interpretations;· to support students’ understanding of the social context, cultural issues and structural factors, where social exclusion is likely to be a feature, · to provide knowledge of the roles, responsibilities and dilemmas of professional agencies working with children and their families.
ECY2009 Social and Educational Enquiry
This core module provides a continuation of the introduction to social and educational enquiry core module in year 1 of the Education and Childhood Studies programme. It is linked to the 15 credit core ICT module. Students wil have opportunities for using and applying their skills in other Year 2 modules. The module aims to develop students' understanding of the theoretical frameworks and methodologies which underpin approaches to research in the fields of education and childhood and youth studies. It will introduce and examine the approaches adopted by key studies which have been influential in the field. Students will undertake a small focussed research project, individually, and of their own design, being clear on the methodology adopted and how that influences their approach. In providing a continuation of the year 1 module, it will revist, consolidate and extend the understanding of research methods, tools and procedures as introduced during the first year.
ECY2011 ICT Futures
This module aims to explore the impact of new technologies on childhoods and on learning from both a theoretical and a practical perspective.
ECY2012 Youth Matters
Social scientists have highlighted that young people’s life experiences in modern societies have changed significantly. Introducing the theoretical framework of post-modern perspectives this module will focus on young people’s everyday life experiences. Reflecting on socio-economic and cultural changes in the UK it will be discussed how young people experience the increasing risks and uncertainties which characterise post modernity in the light of legal frameworks and service provision. The module will particularly focus on the (re)construction of inequalities which affect young people’s lives in multiple ways.
ECY2013 Gender Issues
The aim of this module is to provide students with an outline of historical and contemporary approaches to concepts of gender, sexuality and power with particular reference to children and young people. Theoretical accounts of both gender and sexuality and their interconnectedness with networks of power will ground investigations into these three in a personal, local and societal context, via basic qualitative research methods. Using case-studies, we will examine theory in the light of research findings with the intention of revising or consolidating current understanding.
ECY2014 Learning from International Experience (10 credits), ECY2015 Learning from International Experience (20 credits), and ECY2016 Learning from International Experience (30 credits)
Learning from International Experience is available as a 10, 20 or 30 credit module. The aim of these modules is to support exchange students in using their exchange experience as an opportunity for academic development in the field of education studies/childhood and youth studies and for personal development in an international context.