Overview The programme integrates academic study and combines the theoretical disciplines of community development and community and youth work with the development of practice skills and experience, including fieldwork as well as coursework. You will critically analyse relevant theoretical concepts and social policies, and learn how to link them to practical situations and personal practice. A central theme of the programme is to examine and analyse contemporary social issues including race, gender, culture and social policy from a range of disciplines within the social sciences, and their impact on the professional role. You not only become aware of these issues, but also work to develop skills and competencies in the management and development of all aspects of your work, and you will learn to use these skills constructively in your practice. You are expected to learn to write for academic and professional purposes, and will need to read widely following up interests arising from your fieldwork and coursework. There is a four-day residential period, in January of the first year. You undertake supervised practical experience in several community and youth work settings throughout the programme and will be expected to carry out fieldwork assignments in each year, with specific periods spent with groups from various cultural or racial backgrounds, and with young people and adults. You are responsible for planning and recording these fieldwork sessions, and any issues arising from them form part of the agenda of tutorials. Fieldwork You undertake supervised practical experience in a variety of statutory and voluntary Community and Youth Work settings throughout the first and second year. There is at least one fieldwork assignment each year. You spend a specific period with groups from various cultural backgrounds, and at least one period with young people and one with adults. You are responsible for negotiating and planning the fieldwork, in consultation with your tutor. All fieldwork sessions are recorded, and issues arising from them are discussed in tutorials. You are expected to bring material from your fieldwork to seminars, to produce papers for discussion and evaluation, and to link practice and theory. Residential The residential module at the beginning of the second term in the first year provides the opportunity for you get to know other students and staff, while participating in student-programmed activities. The module takes place at a residential centre and there is no extra cost. Assessment Essays, fieldwork/practice and reports, seminars, presentations, evaluation reports, dissertation. Credits and levels of learning An undergraduate honours degree is made up of 360 credits – 120 at Level 4, 120 at Level 5 and 120 at Level 6. As a full-time student, you will usually take Level 4 courses in the first year, Level 5 in the second, and Level 6 courses in your final year. A standard course is worth 30 credits. Some programmes also contain 15-credit half courses or can be made up of higher-value parts, such as a dissertation. BA (Hons) Applied Social Science, Community Development & Youth Work BA (Hons) Community Arts & Engagement

Skills and careers Skills The programme will give you practical experience in several community and youth work settings – having this real-world experience will set you apart in the job market. In addition you will develop the following transferable skills: Critical analysis of theoretical concepts critical reflection teamwork organisational skills motivation research methods Careers On successful completion of the programme you will be awarded a BA (Hons) degree in Applied Social Science, Community Development and Youth Work; a professional qualification recognised by the National Youth Agency (NYA) and the Joint Negotiating Committee for Youth and Community Workers (JNC). The programme can lead to careers in the broad community development, community and youth work field in statutory, voluntary and independent sectors. Former students have gone on to work as: managers and staff in community projects youth officers community development workers substance misuse workers youth workers in a range of settings, including schools and youth offending teams learning mentors They have also worked in the following areas: international development projects setting up their own projects and organisations community cohesion projects multi faith work community work innovative projects within schools community arts projects youth offending teams field of conflict transformation Further information Find out more about employability at Goldsmiths Our alumni