Childhood & Youth and Sociology

Childhood and youth combined with sociology is a degree that approaches two interconnected subjects through a shared commitment to understanding social life critically. Childhood and youth studies examines how children and young people grow up, the institutions and policies that shape their lives, and the social, cultural, and historical forces that define what childhood means at any given moment. Sociology brings the broader theoretical frameworks that allow you to understand society as a whole, including inequality, power, identity, and social change.

Studied together, the two disciplines provide both a focused lens on the lives of young people and the analytical tools to place those lives in their wider social context.

At Liverpool Hope University, this full-time, three-year programme draws on sociology, politics, history, social policy, and cultural studies to examine key questions about children, young people, and their social contexts. You will explore issues and challenges that children and young people face both in the UK and globally, engaging with questions about wellbeing, rights, inequality, and the digital environment in which young people increasingly grow up. The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, giving you substantial professional and international experience alongside your academic studies.

The typical entry tariff is 88 UCAS points.

Graduates from this combination move into careers in social care, youth work, education, community development, local government, policy analysis, the voluntary sector, and research. Many graduates progress to social work training or to postgraduate programmes in social policy, education, or public health. The sociological dimension of the degree is particularly useful for those interested in roles that require understanding the structural context of the issues facing young people, from poverty and inequality to safeguarding and mental health.

The year abroad and placement experience frequently leads directly to employment opportunities and broadens the career options available after graduation.