MA Youth and Community Work

Course Overview

Our exciting MA Youth and Community Work provides a career pathway for anyone who wants to work with young people and communities. You will be encouraged to explore historical and contemporary evidence and theory to develop an enhanced understanding of youth and community work. You will learn how to support inclusive practice that can inspire positive social change.

The course offers a rich and culturally diverse teaching and learning environment and you will undertake two placements where you will be able to apply your knowledge and hone your practical skills. The MA Youth and Community Work leads to professionally qualified status in youth work, a nationally recognised qualification from the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), as part of the University’s continued commitment to boosting students’ employability and professional confidence.

The MA Youth & Community Work programme is available by full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) modes of study. The teaching is delivered in 4 blocks, supported by e-learning. You will critically engage with the tensions and challenges of current practice, develop an enhanced knowledge of effective leadership approaches, critically evaluate responses to shifting government policies and develop enhanced skills in practitioner research. Throughout the course you will be encouraged to reflect on your role as a practitioner and question and critically evaluate your professional role. You will develop the skills and knowledge needed to work alongside people in communities to initiate sustainable social change.

What might you become?

The MA Youth & Community Work is validated by the National Youth Agency on behalf of the Joint Negotiating Committee. Successful achievement of the MA confers professionally qualified status for Youth Workers in England.

This course is the pathway to exciting, meaningful, and challenging careers in youth & community work organisations that aim to promote young people’s wellbeing and to empower them and their communities as active, critical citizens who can contribute to positive social change at local, national, and global levels. Our graduates have forged careers in the public and voluntary sectors, in schools, in housing projects and in public health-related projects.