Youth & Community Work - Master's Degrees

The MA in Youth and Community Work has a professionally endorsed Post Graduate Diploma in Youth and Community work embedded within it and is particularly suited to graduates who have found themselves working in youth and community work and who wish to gain a professional qualification in the field.

The course offers students the opportunity to gain a full academic MA as well as a professional qualification in youth and community work. The programme requires students to undertake two separate professionally supervised placements in the field of youth and community work and it is possible to study the programme on either a part time or a full-time basis, attending the university to undertake the taught modules and guided practice tutorials. Students on this programme tend to develop into a highly supportive, friendly, and professional group.

The course is endorsed by Education Training Standards (ETS) Cymru Wales for youth work and will enable you to secure a professional youth and community work role in the field of youth and community work.

The course comprises four taught modules of which one is an optional module, and two placement focused modules taught at the university campus, that run concurrently with two fieldwork placements. Modules run over a semester and are each worth 20 credits at level 7. Students will complete a dissertation module worth 60 credits, focusing on a topic of choice related to the field of youth and community work.

Modules:

Taught modules (mandatory)

• Adolescent Development and Learning
• Multi Agency Practice
• Leading and Managing Professional Practice

Fieldwork Modules (mandatory)

• Philosophy Principles and Policy of Youth Work
• Advanced Critical Reflective Practice in Youth Work

Optional

• Young People and the Internet: Information, Communication and Identity
• Mentoring and Coaching: Principles and Policy in Action
• Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion

Dissertation - Mandatory

The PG Diploma in Youth and Community Work is an exit point from the full MA in Youth and Community Work for students who only wish to secure their professional qualification in youth and community work. As with the full MA it is particularly suited to graduates who have found themselves working in youth and community work and who wish to gain a professional qualification in the field.

The postgraduate diploma element of the MA programme requires students to undertake two separate professionally supervised placements in the field of youth and community work and it is possible to study the programme on either a part-time or a full-time basis, attending the university to undertake the taught modules and guided practice tutorials.

Students on this programme tend to develop into a highly supportive, friendly, and professional group. The course is endorsed by Education Training Standards (ETS) Cymru/Wales for youth work and will enable you to secure a professional youth and community work role in the field of youth and community work.

The PG Diploma in Youth and Community Work as an exit point from the full MA in Youth and Community Work comprises of all modules of study on the full MA except for the dissertation module worth 60 credits.

Modules:

Taught modules (mandatory)

• Adolescent Development and Learning
• Multi Agency Practice
• Leading and Managing Professional Practice

Fieldwork Modules (mandatory)

• Philosophy Principles and Policy of Youth Work
• Advanced Critical Reflective Practice in Youth Work

Optional

• Young People and the Internet: Information, Communication and Identity
• Mentoring and Coaching: Principles and Policy in Action
• Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion

The MA in Advanced Youth and Community Practice is suitable for graduates within the field of youth and community work who hold a JNC professionally endorsed qualification in youth and community work. It is also suitable for those from associated professional disciplines who wish to study youth and community work at an advanced level, for the purpose of their professional learning and development.

It aims to equip graduates with the knowledge and understanding to equip them to respond effectively to the challenges and opportunities of the evolving fields of practice involving young people and communities. It will support progression into managerial positions in youth and community work.

The course comprises six taught modules of which four are mandatory and two from a range of options that are taught at the university campus. Modules run over a semester and are each worth 20 credits at level 7. Students will complete a dissertation module worth 60 credits, focusing on a topic of choice related to the field of youth and community work.

Modules:

Mandatory

• Adolescent Development and Learning
• Young People and the Internet: Information, Communication, and Identity
• Leading and Managing Professional Practice
• Multi Agency Practice

Optional

• Mentoring and Coaching: Principles and Policies in Action
• Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children and Young People
• Activism, Protest and Community Organising: Global and Local Perspectives
• Youth Culture and Subculture: A Site for Radical Youth Work
• Developing Leadership and Management Capability through Enquiry (ILM accredited)

The Post Graduate certificate in Leadership and Management is an exit point from the MA in Advanced Youth and Community Practice that entails successful completion of the two mandatory modules; and Leadership and Management of Professional Practice and Developing Leadership and Management Capability through Enquiry (ILM accredited) and an optional module; Mentoring and Coaching Principles and Policy in Action or Multi Agency Practice

The course comprises 3 modules of study two of which are mandatory and a choice of one optional module

Modules:

Mandatory

• Leadership and Management of Professional Practice
• Developing Leadership and Management capability through Enquiry

Optional

• Mentoring and Coaching: Principles and Policies in Action
• Multi Agency Practice

MA Youth and Community Work

All modules have a focus on application to contemporary fieldwork practice contexts. The taught modules consist of lectures and group work/discussion, with the two modules attached to the placement providing more of an opportunity to develop critical reflection and analysis of context, with more of an acute focus on practice. All modules are taught by highly experienced professional youth and community workers with vast range of experience. Students will be expected to undertake a considerable amount of self-study to enhance the collective learning process. It is envisaged that students will utilise their fieldwork experience to enhance the level of analysis in all learning processes and engage in reflective learning throughout the duration of the course.

The full-time route will entail attendance of university to study a total of two tutorial modules every Tuesday evening 5-7 p.m. over one academic year. The four taught modules are delivered as a study block; each one generally being taught intensively over three consecutive eight hour days, two per semester. The block study modules will also be supplemented with online learning materials and online Teams live seminars. Online learning materials will be uploaded to Moodle the university learning platform.

The part-time route will entail attendance of university to study a total of two tutorial modules bi-weekly on Tuesday evening 5-7 p.m. in years 1 and 2. The four taught modules are delivered as a study block; each one generally being taught intensively over three consecutive eight hour days, one per semester. The block study modules will also be supplemented with online learning materials and online Teams live seminars. Online learning materials will be uploaded to Moodle the university learning platform.

Students on both part time and full-time routes will be allocated a Professional Tutor who will offer pastoral support throughout the programme, a Fieldwork Supervisor on each placement who will support and guide the student whilst on placement and a Professional Supervisor to support and guide the student through the dissertation process. This includes refining the question, literature review, selection of methods and analysis of data. Where possible the student will be allocated a supervisor with expertise in the research interest area of the student.

PG Diploma in Youth and Community Work

This will be delivered in the same way as the full MA as it is embedded within the MA and an exit award for those not wishing to complete a full masters award.

Students on both part time and full-time routes as with the MA, will be allocated a Professional Tutor who will offer pastoral support throughout the programme, a Fieldwork Supervisor on each placement who will support and guide the student whilst on placement

MA in Advanced Youth and Community Practice

All modules examine features present in contemporary youth and community work practice contexts at an advanced level and offer an opportunity for students to consider the content in relation to their own real world experiences. Modules are taught substantively by professional youth and community worker and academics with specialism according to modules. The modules consist of lectures and group work/discussion. Students will be expected to undertake a considerable amount of self-study to enhance the collective learning process.

The full-time route will entail attendance of university to study modules that are delivered as a study block; each one generally being taught intensively over three consecutive eight hour days, three per semester. The block study modules will also be supplemented with online learning materials and online Teams live seminars. Online learning materials will be uploaded to Moodle the university learning platform.

The part-time route will entail attendance of university to study modules that are delivered as a study block; each one being generally taught intensively over three consecutive eight hour days, two per semester in year 1 and semester one of year 2, with one in semester two year 2. The block study modules will also be supplemented with online learning materials and online Teams live seminars. Online learning materials will be uploaded to Moodle the university learning platform.

Students on both part time and full-time routes will be allocated a Personal Tutor who will offer pastoral support throughout the programme. A Professional Supervisor will be allocated to support and guide the student through the dissertation process to include refining the question, literature review, selection of methods and analysis of data. Where possible the student will be allocated a supervisor with expertise in the research interest area of the student.

Students on the ETS professionally endorsed programmes will be assessed on both their youth and community work-based practice and their academic assignments through a range of assessment types, including essays, presentations, debates, Blogs, group exercises, audio-visual work. Students will receive detailed annotations on all written work and audio summary feedback and detailed written and audio feedback on presentations and assessed debates and a reflective practice portfolio, to include fieldwork observations and assessment and viva voce. An assessed dissertation research study for those undertaking full master’s degrees will be assessed with detailed written feedback by two markers.

Students on the Advanced Practice master’s degree will be assessed through a range of assessment types, including essays, presentations, debates, Blogs, group exercises, and audio-visual work. Students will receive detailed annotations on all written work and audio summary feedback and detailed written and audio feedback on presentations and academic debates with the dissertation assessed with detailed written feedback by two markers.

MA in Youth and Community Work

The programme leads to both an academic MA and a professional qualification in youth and community work through its endorsement for youth work by ETS Cymru Wales. The embedded post graduate diploma professional qualification significantly enhances employment opportunities in the field of youth and community work whilst the MA study significantly enhances skills of research and analysis in the field.

PgD in Youth and Community Work

The Postgraduate Diploma in Youth and Community Work is an exit point from the master’s programme that leads to a professional qualification in youth and community work through its endorsement for youth work by ETS Cymru Wales. The qualification significantly enhances employment opportunities in the field of youth and community work.

MA Advanced Youth and Community Practice

The programme is aimed at practitioners and managers in the generic and expanding field of youth and community development work. It aims to develop professional understanding and skills through a supportive and challenging learning environment. The programme will be of particular interest to experienced practitioners who manage aspects of youth or community development provision as advanced practitioners or senior practitioners working in services for young people who wish to develop their analytical and professional capabilities.

Post Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Management of Youth Work

This programme is intended on providing an exit point from the full master’s in Advanced Youth and Community Practice with a post graduate certificate that has a focus on equipping leaders and managers in the contemporary and changing field of youth work with the skills and knowledge to lead and manage skilfully and effectively in practice.

MA in Youth and Community Work

Applicants should have a minimum of 200 hours of direct and recent experience in the field of youth and community work; community development work or associated occupational groups. In addition, applicants should normally possess a degree or a or a relevant professional qualification. Practitioners who do not have a first degree, but who have considerable professional experience can apply for exceptional entry. Please contact the Programme Director to discuss this further. We only offer conditional places for this course, subject to obtaining an enhanced DBS check prior to starting the course. Please check further DBS information here.

MA in Advanced Youth and Community Practice

Applicants will normally have substantive experience in services working with young people and communities and should normally possess a degree or a or a relevant professional qualification. Practitioners who do not have a first degree, but who have considerable professional experience can apply for exceptional entry. Please contact the Programme Director to discuss this further.

International Applicants

Students whose first language is not English will need to provide evidence of fluency to at least an academic IELTS 6.0 standard with no sub-score lower than 5.5 or equivalent​. For full details about how to apply and English Language qualifications please visit the International pages on the website.

Selection Procedure:

Application form, CV and interview

How to Apply:

Applications for this course should be made direct to the university via our self-service system. For further information please visit our How to Apply pages at www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/howtoapply.​

If you are interested in using credit from another institution, or have obtained qualifications and/or experience to study for a course at Cardiff Met,  you can find further information on this as well as information on how to apply on the RPL page.

Tuition Fees and Financial Support:

For up to date information on tuition fees and the financial support that may be available. Please refer to www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/fees.

Part-time fees:

Charges are per Single Module unless specified:
Undergraduate = 10 Credits; Postgraduate = 20 Credits

Generally we find most students will complete 60 credits per year (4 x 15 credit modules). To obtain a true costing please clarify this by contacting the Programme Director directly. ​

Partner Employee Discount

There is a fee discount of 25% available to part-time students who are employed in one of Cardiff Metropolitan University’s partnership schools for Initial Teacher Education and Training or partnership employer community. Eligibility criteria and terms apply. For further information please contact Admissions.​

For general enquiries please contact the Admissions Team on 029 2041 6044 or email askadmissions@cardiffmet.ac.uk.

For course specific enquiries, please contact the programme leader:    
Cez James:
Email: cjames@cardiffmet.ac.uk
Tel: ​029 2020 5948