BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies with Criminology Bachelor's degree at the University of Portsmouth

Learn how to practically use key Microsoft applications and demonstrate this knowledge in their studies and future careers. You will also learn of the potential and risks of AI software and how to use it responsibly in the classroom, as well as in assessments.

It also means you understand the value of scholarships, allowing you to move on to postgraduate programs at the University of Portsmouth.

You'll develop academic writing skills and critically analyse texts and images. Present your analysis to deepen self-awareness and understand diverse perspectives in a global context.

You'll develop a core understanding of politics and international relations.

You'll appreciate how these fields intersect and impact each other, gaining insights into the connections between people, their environment, and societal practices. Additionally, you'll be introduced to technological innovations and examine how they are applied in society from a sociological perspective.

This module will help you appreciate the inter-disciplinary connection between people and their environment. It also develops an understanding of how people, politics, and place are interconnected, including an introduction to criminology and the sociological analysis of urban crime.

You'll demonstrate your understanding of key legal knowledge and skills by successfully completing this module, preparing you for further study and application in the field of law.

You'll learn how to use academic databases and journals through a series of tasks which will have direct relevance to topics you studied in other modules. You'll develop your abilities in academic writing by writing a short essay, case study analysis or similar written artefact in each lecture session.

Strengthen your understanding of argumentation, rationalisation of evidence, and assessing the credibility of sources.

You'll explore key theories and research on the ways children and young people develop, including physical, cognitive, social and emotional growth. By the end of the module, you'll have a better understanding of how to support wellbeing and development from 0 to 25 years of age.

Discover different criminal justice systems, explore how they've developed over time, and learn how they operate today at national and international levels. Examine the roles and experiences of key groups, including suspects, victims and professionals working across criminal justice services. Explore how core agencies function and interact, and develop your understanding of how criminal justice institutions work together within wider justice frameworks.

Explore foundational criminological theories that seek to explain why some people engage in crime while others conform to social rules. Examine how biological, psychological and social influences - including genetics, cognition and environment - shape decisions about law-breaking. Develop a critical understanding of how different theories interact, so you can build a well-rounded perspective on crime and criminal behaviour.

This module will see you build your personal eportfolio to capture your learning journey; showcasing your professional skills and highlighting areas of development to help you with future opportunities. You'll explore and analyse key concepts in childhood studies that are relatable to real-world contexts and demonstrate independent thinking, collaboration and project management abilities.

You'll explore the complex relationships between ethics, laws and imprisonment policies. Alongside your classmates, you'll focus on pressing issues like mental health, violence and gender while arguing for a more humane, effective prison system.

You’ll complete your practical placement in an educational or community setting serving children and youth, shadowing experienced professionals to help address learner needs across academic, social-emotional and behavioural domains. You'll gain essential employability skills demanded by the industry, enabling you to explore theoretical concepts related to professional practice in the context of children and young people. You'll also reflect on your own practice to understand personal, ethical and professional behaviour, and how you collaborate with other professionals.

You'll examine the criticisms and challenges of criminology as a social science, thinking about the part it plays in creating social order. You'll also explore theories of social control and cultural resistance through debate and published ideas on the subject, which will help you develop an understanding of justice and dissent.

Using existing studies as an example, you'll examine the key issues to think about, such as ethics, protection of the children involved, and data protection. You'll learn how to carry out ethical, meaningful research with children and young people, including quantitative and qualitative research methods that put children first, from observation and focus groups to surveys. You'll think about how to choose a research area to investigate, and how to design and carry out a research project with children and young people – essential skills that will help you prepare for your dissertation.

You’ll delve into the interplay of technology, media, peer networks, subcultures and counterculture movements in shaping youth identity expression, from music to activism and more. You’ll explore pressing issues facing today’s youth, and evaluate innovative youth work initiatives supporting young people’s wellbeing and development.

In this module, you’ll explore European colonisation of Africa, asking questions like - how did they justify colonial rule, and how did African peoples respond to these colonisers? You’ll learn how, after World War II, colonial rule was increasingly challenged from both within the empire, by growing African demands for political rights, and in the international arena, with the global trend towards trusteeship, development and self-determination. You’ll also explore European relations with Africa in the post-colonial era, looking at themes which may include ideas about civilisation, universalism and race, modern attempts to 'rehabilitate' empire in the media, and the legacies of colonialism i

You’ll analyse the essence of security, exploring how security needs are addressed around the world and on a national level, down to a community and even an individual basis. You’ll explore different forms of societal risk and insecurity, and approaches to dealing with security threats, taking into account the nature and impact of economic and political developments.

You'll learn how to think critically about the key concepts that link language, culture and communication, considering the benefits and limitations of these ideas. You'll explore the different ways in which communication intersects with culture across themes such as identity, education, gender, and the media. Alongside what you learn, you'll improve your skills in analysis, research and intercultural awareness.

You'll learn about consumer behaviour and brand strategy, and spend time examining real-world marketing campaigns. You'll also think about how social, political and technological forces can affect the way businesses approach marketing their products and services. Skills you'll develop include carrying out market research and learning how to use what you learn, crafting targeted messaging across different marketing channels, and presenting your ideas verbally and in writing.

You'll learn about major economic, political and cultural changes in Western Europe over the nineteenth century, and how these affected the rest of the world as time went on. You'll explore the big ideas that have shaped the modern world, and weigh up the benefits and perils of globalisation. Skills you'll develop on this module include independent research, critical thinking and effective communication. You'll also learn to understand the opportunities and challenges of today's world from an informed, global perspective.

You’ll unpack the language of tabloids, broadsheets and online news, analysing how journalists shape public understanding of current events. Develop your critical thinking by confronting moral panics and polarised politics in reporting. Create your own news stories and gain real insight into mass communication in a rapidly changing landscape.

You'll analyse major cases of economic crime and weigh up their wider societal implications. You'll also learn how to recognise disciplinary perspectives, become familiar with the key investigating organisations, identify investigative techniques, and gather and analyse real case information.

You’ll analyse American texts against the backdrop of intellectual, social and political change, evaluating how writers grappled with emerging ideas around national identity, race, gender and more. By honing skills for contextual analysis and independent thought, you’ll form your own interpretations of iconic works that reflect the American experience.

You’ll analyse diverse transitional justice approaches balancing community healing and judicial accountability after mass atrocities. Comparing mechanisms like war crimes tribunals, truth commissions and reparations programmes, you’ll evaluate effectiveness in restoring dignity and preventing recurrence. With case studies from Europe to Africa, from Latin America to Asia, you'll examine tensions between western models and local cultural perspectives, assessing what ‘justice’ means to vulnerable peoples. Throughout, you'll trace incremental human rights legislation advances, assessing global institutions’ roles protecting civilians from authoritarian regimes and wartime abuses.

Through interactive lectures with academics, speakers and professionals, you'll discuss, debate and complete practical exercises exploring wildlife crime alongside your classmates. You'll spend time examining wildlife crimes and the factors behind them, as well as environmental justice and sustainability.

Deep dive into critical matters like bullying, inclusion and resilience. You'll get insight into Transition Theory and how social factors form perspectives, and have the chance to direct your own learning, with a choice of essay topics and the opportunity to engage in dialogues with special guests. This combo of theory and personal focus builds essential knowledge of the forces forming children's social development

You’ll look at the factors that shape childhood and the challenges children face, including the development, differences and successes of different education systems and the impact that has on children, teachers, and communities. You’ll explore the relationships between education and social understandings with a specific focus on identities, inequality, and constructions of childhood. By the end of the module, you’ll have developed a critical understanding of the complexities that shape childhood around the world.

With a minimum 80-hour commitment, you’ll apply what you’ve learned so far on your degree to real-world professional settings within our community of local businesses, social enterprises, and third-sector organisations. You’ll have support from interactive workshops, tutorials, and guest speaker events, encouraging you to set achievable professional goals and evolve your professional identity.

You'll evaluate contemporary support themes, analyse young people's relationships, and learn how theory relates to practical social work. This module prepares you for the complexity of helping young people with more advanced needs.

They may appear isolated, anxious and fearful, or they may seem unhappy or disturbed. As part of this module, you’ll look at the characteristics of these problems, as well as some of the explanations that have been offered about how these problems arise. We will also be discussing ways in which we can support children and young people facing mental health difficulties across a variety of settings.

You’ll conduct independent research, define a research question, and use methods like Participatory Action Research (PAR) for collaborative, impactful study. You'll have the opportunity to gather data through fieldwork, either with children, young people or practitioners, depending on their research question and the scope of your study.

This real-world, project-based module lets you address an identified need or gap by designing an innovative product, service or resource. With support from university staff and external partners, you'll demonstrate critical thinking, ethical awareness and project management abilities. Your final project and presentation will showcase your employability and capacity for high-impact solutions.

You'll consider concepts like risk, dangerousness and risk management and how they vary and affect the way criminals are managed in different countries, including the UK, the USA, Canada and Australia. By analysing historical and modern-day debates around dangerousness and public protection, you'll develop your own informed perspectives on legislation, policies and key criminal behaviour profiles.