CHILDHOOD & YOUTH AND PHILOSOPHY & ETHICS BA (HONS)

CHILDHOOD & YOUTH

Childhood and Youth is an exciting, multidisciplinary subject in which you will explore a range of issues and challenges faced by children and young people in contemporary society, both here in the UK and on a global level. Drawing on key ideas from sociology, psychology, politics, history and geography, the degree examines important questions about children and young people’s development, their life chances and their opportunities for participation in wider society.

Topics studied include how social class, poverty, gender and ethnicity impact upon young people’s lives; how the media influence how children and young people are perceived by adults, and how they view themselves; and why young people take part in risky activities. In examining such questions, you will also explore various political debates and policy initiatives, as well as learning about various ways of researching with children and young people that aim to help them overcome the many challenges that they face.

With its strong emphasis on social justice and welfare, the degree will enable you to develop as a critical social scientist who values your role within the academic community at Hope and who, as a graduate, will be able to use your skills and knowledge to the benefit of your local community and society more broadly.

PHILOSOPHY & ETHICS

Philosophy and Ethics explores the big questions of life and morality: on what basis do we judge things good or evil? It challenges you to examine your assumptions, opinions and worldview. Do we need to believe in God for life to have meaning – or have the arguments for the existence of God broken down? What does it mean to be human? Do we have free will, or is our life completely determined?

Through close attention to the primary texts of philosophers such as Plato, Aquinas, Descartes, Hume, Kant and Nietzsche, our Philosophy and Ethics degree will help you learn to analyse and evaluate arguments, and to compose and communicate your own ideas in a reasoned way. You will have a grounding in the foundational questions of philosophy. As you progress, you will look in depth at philosophy of religion, political philosophy, applied ethics and issues of human personhood, artificial intelligence and animality.

The degree is taught by a core team of critical academics who are passionate about teaching and are internationally recognised researchers and writers. This degree will equip you with the intellectual skills and perspectives needed to face the ethical and ideological challenges of the contemporary world.