On this Childhood and Youth Studies and Sociology degree, you’ll explore how nature and nurture combine and examine what influences development and behaviour in children and young people.
In the first year, you will be introduced to the core concepts, theoretical traditions and developments that have shaped sociology and social policy. Discussing and debating issues around children and young people’s lives in contemporary society, you will examine the social structures, institutions, processes and groups that shape their experiences.
Continuing to learn about social theory and social care practices, a choice of modules in both your second and third year enables you to tailor your studies. You can explore a diverse range of sociological and educational perspectives, such as children’s development, working with vulnerable families, poverty and inequality, or crime and justice.
Studying Childhood and Youth Studies and Sociology, you will engage with the myriad of contemporary issues affecting childhood and youth, and the complexities of modern day life against the backdrop of global cultural, social, economic, educational, and political shifts. These include, physical and mental health and wellbeing, communication and behaviour, child development, families and substance abuse, relationships and adolescence, children’s rights, gender identity and the wellbeing of future generations.
Guest lectures, field trips, placement and volunteering opportunities give you a unique insight into the ways in which the theory you learn in both disciplines is applied in practice.
Some of the modules on this course can be studied through the medium of Welsh, which can help you stand out when applying for jobs, particularly if you want to continue to work in Wales. There may also be opportunities to meet with current practitioners and experience the delivery of children’s services in a bilingual environment in some parts of the region.
As part of the Welsh Government’s commitment to develop a bilingual workforce, financial [incentives](https://www.bangor.ac.uk/studentfinance/info/ccc) are available if you study part of your course in Welsh. You can apply for the [Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Scholarships](https://colegcymraeg.ac.uk/en/students/university/scholarships/), which could award you up to £1,000 for each year of your study, depending on how many credits you study through the medium of Welsh.