top of page
Introduction
The purpose of the Youth Work and Social Education (ETS Endorsed) (PG Cert, PG Dip, MA) programmes is to equip students with the skills, knowledge and understanding to become effective, professionally qualified Youth Workers. The programmes are professionally endorsed by ETS Wales, offering a professional qualification in Youth Work.
The vision of the programmes is the creation of effective, reflective practitioners and leaders, and the programmes challenge students to become increasingly independent to identify their own learning and development needs.
Through a social science lens, the programmes explore current and contemporary challenges that are faced by young people, including:
• Trauma
• Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Substance misuse
• County Lines
• Children’s Rights
• Health and Well-being
• The impact of relationships
The programmes triangulate theory, policy and practice in an applied manner to enable graduates to be excellent academics, practitioners and leaders.
PATHWAY OPTIONS
• Youth Work and Social Education (MA) (ETS Endorsed)
• Youth Work and Social Education (PgDip) (ETS Endorsed)
Why choose this course?
1. Gain a professionally endorsed qualification and an academic postgraduate qualification
2. Explore practice with young people and their communities through engaging in youth work placement opportunities in wide-ranging young people and community settings
3. UWTSD is the only place where you can study this degree through the medium of Welsh
4. Enthusiastic, supportive and bilingual staff who are professionally qualified in the field with recognised expertise.
5. Emphasis on individual personal and social development. Students also benefit from small group teaching in a supportive learning environment.
Overview
The Youth Work and Social Education (ETS Endorsed) programmes (MA and PGDip) will equip students to be able to work with young people, communities and families, and to be practitioners and leaders who are fit for purpose in the 21st century.
Through a social science lens, the programme will explore practice with young people and their communities in an applied manner, with a clear commitment to social justice, anti-oppressive practice, and underpinned by the core values and principles of youth work.
The courses prepare students to become professionals to work with young people around a variety of issues.
Issues which are very current in today’s society, such as:
• Child Sexual Exploitation
• Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Homelessness
• Substance Misuse
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health
• Poverty and Obesity among young people
Modules
Level 7
PGDip
• Professional Practice 1: Theory, Policy and Practice of Youth Work and Social Education (30 credits; core)
• Professional Practice 2: Young People and Society in Focus (30 credits; core)
• The Philosophy and Practice of Social Research (30 credits; compulsory).
In addition, students will choose one of the following optional modules:
• Supervision, Leadership and Management for Professionals (30 credits; optional)
• Leading Children’s Rights: Developing Professional Practice (30 credits; optional)
• Sustainable Communities (30 credits; optional)
• Applying Theatre Approaches in Youth Work and Social Education (30 credits; optional).
MA
In addition to the modules above, students will be required to undertake:
• Dissertation (60 credits; compulsory).
Entry Criteria
• All applicants will be required to provide a satisfactory enhanced disclosure Child and Adult Workforce document from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
• Applicants will normally be required to hold an Honours degree.
• Applicants with vocational qualifications and experiences will also be considered.
• Due to the professional endorsement of the degree programme, all applicants need to have at least 200 hours of recent and relevant Youth Work experience.
ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.
IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.
Assessment
ASSESSMENT METHODS
1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
Assessment
Assessments are designed to reflect the requirements of the field, and develop wide-ranging employability skills in students. There are no exams.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of Youth Work and Social Education (ETS Endorsed) (MA and PgDip) will possess a JNC recognised qualification in youth work.
This professional qualification can be viewed as a passport to practice, due to the qualification being recognised across the four nations of the United Kingdom and in many countries across the world.
Many graduates find employment directly in the youth work field, in both the voluntary and maintained sectors, working face to face with young people or working at management levels.
However, the youth work qualification is known for its transferability to wider associated fields, thus demonstrating how the skills that the graduates have developed while studying on the degree programme can be transferred into many settings, and skills that are welcomed within multidisciplinary teams.
Here are some specific examples of graduate destinations:
• Face to face youth work in a range of contexts
• Community education
• Youth justice
• Teams around the Family
• Participation Officers
• Corporate Manager at a Local Authority Youth Service
• Senior Youth Officers at a Local Authority Youth Service
• Local Government Officer
• Principal Youth Officer
• Lecturer at Further Education
• Lecturers at Higher Education
bottom of page