MA Youth & Community Studies

The MA Youth and Community Studies programme is a post-qualifying course, providing an opportunity to develop further academic skills and enquiry in the field of youth and community work.

The Youth and Community Studies course is designed for practitioners who already hold a JNC professional qualification, or for those who have previously studied youth work, community development or youth studies and would like to progress their studies at postgraduate level.

Supported by tutors with experience of conducting research in the field, students on the course will work towards generating research that will have implications for youth work policy and practice, helping to shape professional identity within the sector and improve youth work provision for young people.

The youth and community department at Wrexham Glyndwr University is regarded as the “home of youth work in Wales”, having offered education and training to the youth and community sector for more than 41 years. As such the department has excellent links with employers across North Wales, North West England, and the Midlands, and it works in partnership with organisations across the statutory, voluntary and third sector.

Graduates from the programme are employed in a range of settings from the local authority, voluntary and community sector, and education providers across England, Wales and internationally. Our graduates have gained employment in the British Council, traditional youth and community settings, school-based projects, playwork, work with young carers, work with young offenders, supported living settings, anti-poverty and regeneration work, and drug and alcohol work to name but a few.

Delivered through a blended learning approach students will start each semester with an introductory residential weekend at our Wrexham Campus and then continue learning online with support from dedicated tutors – allowing you to study around home and work commitments.

KEY COURSE FEATURES

• Flexible delivery through a blended learning approach, with a residential experience at beginning of each semester, followed by online learning and face-to-face support with tutors as required; allowing you to study alongside work
• Develop further your academic research skills to critically analyse the underpinning philosophy of youth work and its values and principles, whilst conducting your own research.
• Option to tailor your learning to suit your specialist area of practice and interests through negotiated learning and research.
• Support from tutors with experience of conducting research in the field
• Work towards generating research that will have implications for youth work policy and practice
• Successful completion may lead to further study at PhD level.

ASSESSMENT

Assessments are designed with the dual aims of supporting a student’s professional development and their academic understanding. This builds knowledge and skill from a belief that being an excellent practitioner means not only working with people but also being able to express yourself in a range of ways that includes writing reports, documents and essays based on the collection and analysis of evidence to build an argument.

CAREER PROSPECTS

The Careers & Zone at Wrexham Glyndŵr University is there to help you make decisions and plan the next steps towards a bright future. From finding work or further study to working out your interests, skills and aspirations, they can provide you with the expert information, advice and guidance you need. Many graduates from the course go on to develop careers within local authorities, voluntary and community organisations and education providers across England, Wales and internationally.