COURSE CURRICULUM

In Year 1 of this program, students begin by exploring essential research skills through the "Becoming a Researcher" module, where they will learn ethical research methods and design their own research proposals with expert guidance. This is followed by "Child and Youth Development," a foundational module focusing on physical, cognitive, social, and emotional growth, which equips students to understand how to support children’s development. The "Health and Wellbeing of the Child and Young Person" module addresses the critical factors affecting children's health, including government policy and post-pandemic challenges, and prepares students to advocate for children’s wellbeing. In the "Perspectives of Early Childhood Education" module, students investigate the historical and theoretical foundations of early childhood education, alongside completing a 25-day placement, enhancing their practical understanding. "Understanding Childhoods" covers various aspects of childhood studies such as safeguarding, outdoor learning, and anti-discriminatory practices, and includes the development of an ePortfolio to document learning progress.Year 2 builds on this foundation with the "Just Playing?" module, which delves into the significance of play in childhood development and its cognitive, social, and emotional benefits. The "Professional Practice in Early Childhood Education and Care" module provides hands-on experience in real-world early childhood settings, while "Psychological Science" covers key developmental, biological, and cognitive psychology concepts. "Children's Social Minds" explores the social psychology behind children's behavior, such as bullying and resilience, helping students understand how culture shapes children’s identities. Lastly, "Research with Children and Young People" teaches students how to conduct ethical research in this sensitive area, preparing them for their dissertation.In Year 3, students focus on advanced topics such as "Promoting Confident, Capable Learners," which explores how environments and adults influence children's learning and development. The "Psychology in Practice" module applies psychological theories to support children and young people, exploring professional practices like cognitive behavioral therapy and counseling techniques in child development contexts.