Childhood, Youth and Education Studies

Childhood, youth, and education studies is a transdisciplinary field that draws on sociology, psychology, education, and social policy to understand the lives and experiences of children and young people from infancy through to early adulthood. It asks how childhood and youth are shaped by culture, family, institutions, and inequality, how children learn and develop, what risks affect their attainment and wellbeing, and how professionals working in education, social care, and community settings can most effectively support them. It is a field of direct and practical relevance to anyone who wants to work in or around the lives of young people.

At Coventry University this three-year full-time programme develops the sociology and psychology of childhood alongside the professional skills needed to work effectively in education, care, and community settings. You will engage with the social, emotional, and cognitive dimensions of child and youth development, and with the institutional and policy contexts in which children's lives unfold. The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, giving you substantial professional experience and international perspective alongside your academic study.

This practical grounding is central to the degree's aim of preparing graduates for real-world practice.

Graduates from childhood, youth, and education studies programmes work in primary and secondary education, early years, youth work, social work, family support, play work, special educational needs provision, and policy and research roles in the children and families sector. The degree provides a strong foundation for further professional training in social work, teaching, or youth work, or for postgraduate study in education, child psychology, or social policy. Many graduates also move into the voluntary sector, community development, or advocacy roles focused on children's rights and wellbeing.