This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2005-2006 (archived)

Module SOCI1261: PROFESSIONAL STUDIES I

Department: APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES (SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL POLICY)

SOCI1261: PROFESSIONAL STUDIES I

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Tied	1	20	Available in 2005/2006	None.	Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

Relevant prior experience in Community and Youth Work or a related field.

Corequisites

Social and Psychological Studies I (SOCI1217), Practice Theories and Skills I (SOCI1281), Management and Fieldwork Studies I (SOCI1291), Fieldwork Practice I (SOCI1301).

Excluded Combinations

None.

Aims

To introduce students to the occupation of community and youth work, its values, history and current structure and practice.
To provide the opportunity for students to reflect on and develop their understandings of themselves as professional practitioners.
To develop skills in giving and receiving professional support and working in committees and work groups.

Content

This module is the core of the Level 1 teaching and learning in community and youth work.
It consists of two strands:-
(1) Lectures/Seminars on the professional practice of community and youth work.
(2) Individual and Group Tutorials, and 'Forum' meetings focussing on students' personal and professional development.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

understanding of the historical development of the discipline of youth and community work;
understanding of key theoretical approaches and models of youth work, community work and informal education;
engagement with current political and professional debates that have implications for youth work and community work;
understanding of the theory and practice of youth work and community work in a range of different contexts.

Subject-specific Skills

the application of informal educational approaches using a range of appropriate educational tools and techniques;
the ability to use theoretical and philosophical frameworks in the interpretation of youth work and community work issues.

Key Skills

a range of communication skills including the ability to: evaluate and synthesise information obtained from a variety of sources;
competence in the use of IT resources including the ability to: word-process;
a capacity to improve own learning and performance, including: ability to manage time effectively; work to prescribed deadlines; gather necessary information from a range of bibliographic and electronic sources.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Structured lectures will be used to introduce topics. Students will be encouraged to relate the material to their own experiences via small group discussions, tutorials and exercises.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours
Tutorials				0
Lectures	8	1 per week	2 hours	16
Forums				6
Peer Tutor Groups				10
Preparation and Reading				168
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Poster Presentation	50%	Poster Presentation		100%
Written assignment	50%	Written assignment	2500 words	100%

Formative Assessment

Completion of recordings relating to Peer Tutor Groups. Completion of 2 self-assessments

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.