Course Intro
This course is for you if you are professionally qualified in youth work at undergraduate level and looking for progression or if you are a graduate from other related areas seeking to gain a relevant award at postgraduate level. If you are working in professional public and voluntary services then the modules on this course can also be taken individually to support and enhance your professional post qualifying development.
You will recognise the increasing pressure for those working in socio-educational, voluntary and third sector public services to collaborate in an increasing variety of professional contexts. You will explore the benefits of exchanges of professional information and coordination of service responses. You will study the ethical dimensions required to work effectively in inter-professional teams of service providers with the focus on working with children and young people.
Additional benefits of this course include development of critical thinking and leadership skills and a greater understanding of the policy and practice context of this specific area of professional work.
What You Study
As a student on the programme you will study five core modules and one option module from the list of three. Core modules include:
The Ethical and Reflective Practitioner
On this module you will develop a critical understanding of ethical issues arising both generally across different professional sectors and within youth work.
Building Effective Partnerships in Youth Work
This module introduces the skills and knowledge required for effective and productive partnership working.
Safeguarding Children and Young People in Professional Contexts
The focus of this module is on the rights of the child, ethics, law, processes of confidentiality and child protection.
Social Pedagogy
On this module you will be introduced to the principles and values required for effective and caring social educational practice with children, young people and families.
Youth Work Practice including Alternative Placement
Students are required to complete 300 hours of practice for this one year programme. 200 hours will be based in your own workplace (if appropriate) and the alternative field work placement (100 hours) must be outside your employing agency.
Option modules include:
Managing and Leading Interdisciplinary Teams
Research Methods and Project Management
Supervision and Support Skills
Dissertation or Internship and Critical Report
20,000 word dissertation or a circa 15,000 word critical report.
Where Next?
Master’s graduates will be well placed to seek advancement in their own professional areas or seek a change of employment to another professional field.
On completion of the full master’s programme, there may also be opportunities for you to progress into further study via a PhD route on application, both at the University of Wales, Newport and other UK Universities.
Interview Required?
Yes. We want to give you the opportunity to ask us questions that are important to you in addition to us assessing your suitability for the course. This can be via skype if you are unable to get to campus.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a variety of written assignments, presentations, group work, distance learning tasks and a placement or work based project.
Student Soundbite
“If you work with children and young people and wish to enhance your opportunities this is the qualification to prepare you best to respond to service user and policy developments.”