Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2015-2016 (archived)

Module SOCI51415: Youth Policy and Practice

Department: Applied Social Sciences

SOCI51415: Youth Policy and Practice

Type Open Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Available in 2015/16 Module Cap

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To offer a critical overview of contemporary youth work practice and policy;
  • To examine the ideological and political determinants that have shaped youth policy in Britain;
  • To consider the work of key statutory and voluntary agencies.

Content

  • The module will provide an opportunity for students to examine critically:
  • youth policy in the UK;
  • the origins and development of youth work;
  • the theoretical underpinnings of youth work;
  • the determinants of youth work practice;
  • key forms of intervention, including centre-based work, detached and outreach work, issue-based work, specialist practice focussed on specific cohorts of young people: young women, young black people, young lesbian and gay people.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of the module students should be able to demonstrate:
  • Knowledge and critical understanding of the key theoretical approaches and models of practice in youth work;
  • A systematic understanding and critical awareness of issues that are central to youth policy and youth work practice;
  • Knowledge and critical understanding of the ideological and political determinants that have shaped youth policy.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • An ability to identify the influences shaping practice realities;
  • An ability to identify and critique policy initiatives using theory and practice understanding.
Key Skills:
  • An ability to relate theory and practice;
  • An ability to apply practice experience in the interpretation of policy and theory;
  • An ability to research documents using relevant institutional holdings and appropriate electronic media.

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

  • Lectures, group discussions, independent reading and the assessment of written work.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures, group discussions 10 Weekly 2 20
Preparation & Reading 130
Total: 150

Summative Assessment

Component: Assignment Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Assignment 3,000 words 100%

Formative Assessment:

Written Assignment 1,500 words. Assessment methods, both formative and summative focus upon the ability of the students to research a significant area of policy and/or practice, using a range of sources, and to use professional experience in addition to theoretical understanding to develop a critical analysis of that area.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University