The MRes Childhood & Youth can be taken as a part-time (3 years) or fulltime (1 year) programme. Students can exit with a Postgraduate Certificate in Childhood and Youth (60 credits)

Research Methods (30 credits, XME4001): This is a core module taken by all Masters students in the School of Education. It provides a broad introduction to research methodology and methods, giving you the knowledge and tools necessary to undertake research for your dissertation. Throughout the module you will develop an understanding of the different approaches to research in social and educational contexts, ethical issues, and an overview of the range of methodological tools that can be adopted to gather data. As MRes students you will be offered guidance by tutors to tailor your reading and assessment work in this module to fit in with your research interests. In particular, this will involve close engagement with scholarship relating to research methodology involving children and young people.

Assessments for this module are: Literature Review of research methods; Proposal; Mini-Research Project.

This module is taught in Semester 1 for fulltime students, or across both Semesters for part-time students.

Sociology of Childhood and Youth (30 credits, XME4042): This key module provides students with the necessary theoretical framework to enable them to develop their dissertation research. It introduces students to key paradigms that have influenced the multidisciplinary field of Childhood and Youth studies, whilst also engaging with national and international research and policy relating to children and young people in the 21st century. Students will be encouraged to critically reflect on their own practice, beliefs and understandings of the status of children and young people in society.

Overall, the module will:

- Enable practitioners to develop their knowledge and understanding of different concepts of childhood and youth and make links with practice

- Explore multidisciplinary perspectives and concepts of childhood and youth

- Interrogate and explore dominant understandings of childhood and youth

- Give students a thorough understanding of the interdisciplinary field of Childhood and Youth studies, and enable them to become familiar with key national and international research

- Explore methodological concerns and practices in research that involves children and young people

- Focus on the notion of children as agents and rights holders, exploring contrasting debates within research and policy

- Encourage students to make cross-cultural comparisons and challenge taken-for granted assumptions about children and childhood

Assessments for this module are: Case study and Individual Presentation.

This module is taught in Semester 1 for all students (part-time students will study this module in their second year)

- Dissertation (120 credits) XME4102

On successful completion of Part 1, students will write a 30,000 word dissertation on a topic of their choice that is relevant to the multidisciplinary field of Childhood and Youth studies; this will have been outlined by students in their Proposal at the application stage. 

Current research expertise and capacity for dissertation supervision include: Identity in childhood and youth (e.g. gender, culture, race); youth cultures and sub-cultures; children/young people and self-esteem; human rights of children and young people; childhood/youth voice and participation; political/social/cross-cultural perspectives of childhood and youth; children and young people’s rights in health practice and policy; working with marginalised children & young people.