CHILDHOOD & YOUTH AND SOCIAL POLICY 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.

SOCIAL POLICY

Social Policy explores the ways in which welfare provision is delivered in society, exploring who is eligible for support and who provides it. Our Social Policy degree is multidisciplinary in its approach and draws on ideas from sociology, economics, politics and geography. It explores a number of issues, including ill health and wellbeing, child welfare, unemployment, anti-social behaviour, educational opportunity, disability, homelessness, lone parents, mental health, globalisation, crime and immigration.

Studying Social Policy at Liverpool Hope University allows you to explore the answers to questions such as should the state be the main provider of welfare and what roles should the private profit making or voluntary sectors have? How should scarce resources be allocated in society? How can we understand different approaches to welfare delivery across different historical periods in British society? Why do women and minority ethnic groups experience greater levels of disadvantage?

The degree draws on an experienced team of lecturers who are published in the field of social policy/social welfare and are experts in particular fields of the discipline. The School is also a member of the national network of Social Policy course providers and benefits from engagement with national subject debates. There are a number of fieldtrips to enhance your learning, and we also have annual research days where leading academics, civil servants and politicians come to talk about various social problems and social issues.