Childhood Studies

Childhood studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines the experiences, rights, development, and social contexts of children and young people from birth through to early adulthood. It draws on psychology, sociology, education, health, policy studies, and law to build a rich and critical understanding of childhood as a social and cultural phenomenon, and of the ways in which families, communities, institutions, and policy shape the lives of children in the UK and across the world.

This three-year full-time programme at Leeds Beckett University takes you on a journey from early childhood through to young adulthood, exploring how people grow, learn, and are supported in families, communities, and early years settings. You will engage with theories of child development, consider how social inequalities affect children's experiences and outcomes, examine the legal frameworks that protect children's rights, and study the range of services and professionals involved in supporting children and young people. The year abroad option gives you the chance to study childhood in a different national context, a valuable perspective in a field where cultural differences in how childhood is understood and managed are significant.

Graduates from childhood studies go on to work in a wide range of roles across education, social care, health, youth justice, family support, and the voluntary sector. Common career paths include early years practice, social work (with further training), youth work, teaching, family support work, educational welfare, and roles in children's charities and policy organisations. The degree also provides a strong platform for postgraduate study in social work, education, early childhood, public health, or related fields, and many graduates go on to professional qualifying programmes in one of these areas.