Youth and Community Development BA (Hons)

About the course

The Youth and Community Development Degree develops your knowledge, skills and experience to support and empower young people.

The first year explores the history and development of youth and community work, explores self, groups and learning and develops your social science understanding.

The second year enhances your understanding of youth and community work, oppression, society and social policy; promoting a greater understanding of inter-agency work, community development and management.

The final year focuses on enhancing your research skills, understanding of social issues and extending your range of practical and managerial skills.

Reasons why you should choose to study Youth and Community Development Degree at DMU

• One of the UK’s largest youth work teaching and research teams, we have an established reputation of more than 50 years
• Validated by the National Youth Agency and professionally recognised by the Joint Negotiating Committee
• We aim to make a global difference- our current students have worked on projects to combat inequality in The Gambia and we are working alongside the Japanese Prime Minister’s Policy Advisor to address youth labour issues in Japan
• More than 94 per cent of our graduates are successful within six months of completing their course (DLHE 2010/11)
• Practical work placements and volunteer opportunities within the sector enhance your learning experience
• Develop your skills to support and empower young people and the wider community

Close all sections| Open all sections|

Key facts

UCAS course code: L530

Duration: Three years full-time, three–six years part-time

Institution code: D26

Entry and admission criteria

2013/2014 UCAS Points Minimum of 260 points GCSEs

• 5 GCSEs at grade C or above including English. Plus one of the following:

Alevels

• Normally with at least 160 points from 2 A levels with a specified subject at grade C or above

BTEC

• BTEC National Diploma - BTEC with Distinction/Merit/Merit (280)
• BTEC National Certificate - only in combination with other accepted qualifications
• BTEC National Award - only in combination with other accepted qualifications
• BTEC Extended Diploma (3 A2s) - BTEC with Distinction/Merit/Merit (280)
• BTEC Diploma (2 A2s) - Distinction/Distinction
• BTEC 90 credit Diploma - only in combination with other accepted qualifications
• BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (1 A2) - only in combination with other accepted qualifications
• BTEC certificate (1 A1) - only in combination with other accepted qualifications

Access Course Pass. English GCSE equivalency required, 12 level 2 credits.

Interview: Yes

Work Experience:
One year's practical experience in a youth-related environment either statutory or voluntary. Must be working/ volunteering in a youth/ community setting for at least six hours per week by the start of the course and for its duration, with a reference provided to confirm this placement. Work experience is an important criteria for selection.

International Baccalaureate: 28+

This course welcomes mature students and values their experience. In some cases an alternative experiential and academic profile may be accepted for entry.

You must complete a declaration form and enhanced CRB disclosure application form before starting the course, which needs to be cleared in accordance with DMU’s admissions policy. Contact us for up-to-date information.

Interview Required: Yes

International Students:
If English is not your first language, we require an English language level of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.

Personal Statement selection criteria

• Clear communication skills, including good grammar and spelling
• Information relevant to the course applied for
• Interest in the course demonstrated with explanation and evidence
• If relevant for the course - work and life experience

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods include lectures, scenarios/simulations, role play, small group discussions and various practical work-based tasks.

You will normally attend around 14 hours of timetabled taught sessions, plus 18 hours of placements/voluntary work, and 5.5 hours of independent learning and group work tasks per week.

There are no exams, but each module has several different assignments including written essays, presentations, group projects and reports. Assessment of field practice is through observation, reports, and an accompanying portfolio of evidence.

Employer-based students normally attend one or two days a week.

Course modules

First year

The first year explores the history and development of youth and community work and other services that work with young people. It includes work around identity and anti-oppressive practice and observation of different organisations that work with young people.

• Learning, Education and Youth Work
• Youth and Community Work in Context
• The Self in Context
• Developing the Professional Practitioner 1

Second year

The second year develops skills and understanding of youth and community work, society and social policy, along with your ability to identify and tackle oppression. It promotes a greater understanding of inter-agency work, community development and management.

• Black Perspectives
• Developing the Professional Practitioner 2
• Context, Management and Governance
• Research Methods

Third year

The third year focuses on enhancing your research skills, increasing your understanding of social issues and extending your range of practical and managerial skills.

• Globalisation and Global Youth Work
• Practice-Related Research
• Professional Formation and Action Learning
• Developing the Professional Practitioner 3

Academic expertise

The Youth and Community Division is one of the largest teaching teams in the UK, with more than 50 years’ experience.

Industry links and professional accreditation

Validated by the National Youth Agency (NYA), it provides a professional qualification recognised by the JNC, where we consistently achieve the highest scores in professional quality assurance.

Work experience and placements

In the first year you will carry out voluntary work to support and empower young people in the wider community. This takes place in settings from youth and community centres to schools and voluntary organisations, providing informal education programmes to stimulate creativity and learning.

The second and third years involve assessed practice placements. You gain experience in an exciting range of organisations and projects, working on issues including mentoring, advice and guidance, youth justice, homelessness, drug and alcohol misuse, global youth work and arts and sports based work.

Employer-based students normally carry out the first placement with their employer and the practice placement in a new work environment.

Placements provide the opportunity to have hands-on experience and learn directly from working professionals. (Please note that there maybe travel costs associated with placement attendance).

Learn more about our Placement opportunities|

Graduate careers

Graduates with a professional qualification have a proven range of transferable skills. Employment opportunities include:

• Detached youth work
• Community Development
• Connexions
• Children’s trusts and schools
• Mentoring
• The arts
• Health
• Youth justice work.

At DMU, our range of postgraduate courses further enhance your knowledge and professional development.

Learn more about graduate employability and careers|

Fees and funding

UK/EU Full-time £9000 Part Time 2013/14 4 Year Course £5925 6 Year Course £3950 Per Module (15 Credits) £988 International
Full-time Band 1 £10,750 Band 2 £11,250

Learn more about fees and funding information|.

Scholarships

Learn more about our Undergraduate scholarships| and awards information.

Facilities

Investment of £8 million in Health and Life Sciences has developed our first-class teaching and learning facilities to help you develop your practical experience and theoretical knowledge beyond the classroom.

Learn more about our first-class study facilities|