www.swansea.ac.uk Postgraduate Prospectus 2012

CHILDHOOD STUDIESThe College of Human and Health Sciences iscommitted to providing a multidisciplinary approachto the study of children, childhood and young people.We currently offer two Master’s programmes, the MA inChildhood Studies and the MA in Developmental and TherapeuticPlay. A highlight of both programmes is the opportunity to takepart in the annual field trip to Scandinavia, where students areable to reflect on children's service provision.Both courses attract students from a variety of backgrounds, forexample health, education, children’s services and social workprofessionals, as well as new graduates of cognate disciplines.These degrees will:• provide you with a solid foundation for a rewarding careerworking with children and young people or enhance therepertoire of skills relevant to your current role• help you to gain transferable skills, including team working,communication, presentation, and analytical skills• prepare you for a research degree or further professionaltraining.MA Childhood StudiesChildhood Studies involves exploring how children develop frombirth, how they begin to learn and think for themselves, and howtheir development is influenced by their families and thecommunities in which they live. It explores topics from broadhealth, legal, historical, psychological, and sociologicalperspectives. This course will appeal to all students who wish todevelop their careers working with children from birth through toeighteen. The programme covers a broad range of issues andencourages students to critically reflect on their practice,addressing theory and research specific to their own interests.Compulsory modules include:• Child Health• Children’s Rights and Safeguarding Children and Young People• Researching Childhood• Understanding and Observing Child Development.Optional modules include, for example:• International Perspectives on Play and Learning• Therapeutic Work with Children• Thesis.Our graduates frequently enter posts involving child-related work,for example large children's charities, services for children such ashealth, social services, education and community services. Themultidisciplinary nature of the MA in Childhood Studies opens upmany opportunities for graduates includingposts in research, policy development andsenior management.MA Developmental and Therapeutic PlayPlay is integral to a range of children’sservices. This scheme offers an excitingopportunity to study children’s play at anadvanced academic level, combiningdemanding intellectual work with fieldworkexperience and sophisticated reflection.The aim of the course is to deepenunderstanding about the developmentaland therapeutic potential of play across arange of contexts and to facilitate thedevelopment of professional skills that canstrengthen and broaden children'srepertoire of play behaviours. The focus ison ensuring that environments andinteractions maximise the inherent value ofplay, and on being able to identify whenfurther assistance may be required. Thecourse focuses on children’s growing abilityto play, as well as development throughplay and variation in children’s play. Itattracts professionals from a wide range ofcontexts as well as new graduates wishingto pursue careers in children’s services.Modules include:• Developmental and Therapeutic Play• Creative Play Practice• Therapeutic Work with Children• International Perspectives on Playand Learning• Understanding and Observing ChildDevelopment• Research Methods• Thesis.The MA Developmental and TherapeuticPlay can also be studied at PgCert orPgDip level.84MASTER'S DEGREES – CHILDHOOD STUDIESEntry requirementsApplicants will be required to undergo a CriminalRecords Bureau/police check. A 2:1 degree in acognate discipline is requested on entry, althoughapplicants who have extensive experience ofworking within a related field can apply via thenon-graduate route.English Language requirement:IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 5.5 in eachcomponent) or Swansea University recognisedequivalent.Scholarships and BursariesA range of postgraduate scholarships andbursaries is available. For details, please visit;www.swansea.ac.uk/scholarships/PostgraduateHow the degrees are structuredEach of the taught Master’s programmes combines academicexcellence with a practice-oriented perspective, ensuring that contentis both intellectually demanding and relevant to the practical worldof working with children. The degrees are generally comprised of arange of compulsory and optional modules and a researchproject/dissertation, which provides the opportunity to explore indepth an area of particular interest.AssessmentThe taught Master’s degrees are assessed by means of courseworkcompleted for each module (which might include essays,presentations and practical portfolios), and a dissertation ofapproximately 20,000 words.“I studied my undergraduate degree atSwansea and due to the excellent level ofteaching, the resources on campus and thepostgraduate course they offered inChildhood Studies I decided to return. Thesupport I received was also excellentespecially the careers service when I wasfinishing my undergraduate degree as theyhelped me with my CV and filling outapplication forms.”Hayley Scotto-D’Abusco,MA Childhood StudiesFurther informationWebsite: www.swansea.ac.uk/childhoodContact the Admissions Tutor:Dr Justine Howard, Programme Manager– MA Developmental and Therapeutic PlayEmail: j.l.howard@swansea.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)1792 295309Dawn Alderson, Programme Manager – MA Childhood StudiesEmail: d.a.alderson@swansea.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)1792 518695Susan Williams, Postgraduate AdministratorEmail: susan.r.williams@swansea.ac.uk Tel:+44 (0)1792 518695Visit the University: see page 182 for detailsApplications can be made online at:www.swansea.ac.uk/applyonline– see pages 184 – 185 for further information.85MASTER'S DEGREES – CHILDHOOD STUDIES