Description
This qualification is only available until 31 December 2017.*
To claim this qualification, you must complete the required 360 credits by this date.
If you have any questions about your eligibility for this qualification, please contact the Centre for Qualifications and Ceremonies on +44 (0)1908 653003 or by email.
How can we improve the lives of children and young people who are ‘in trouble’? Within a criminal justice framework where the focus is on stopping young people causing trouble, this is an extremely challenging issue. If you work with young people in the youth justice system, this BA (Hons) Youth Justice Studies will have a real impact on your practice, helping you become more knowledgeable, versatile and self-aware. It will bring you up to date with current research and equip you with skills to analyse the changing field of youth justice. You’ll also develop the skills needed to support young people in trouble – making a positive difference to their futures, whether you’re a volunteer or paid professional. This degree course is a vocationally-orientated academic qualification which follows on from the Foundation Degree in Youth Justice (England and Wales). The full degree, with its focus on practice and research, provides an ideal platform for further study and research at postgraduate level.
* If you do not think that you will be able to complete your qualification by this date, you may transfer your completed study to the new version of this qualification, the BA (Hons) Youth Justice Studies (England and Wales) (Q63) (subject to the time limit for this qualification). To discuss this option please contact the Student Support Team on 01908 541070.
Planning your studies
Whether or not you are new to the University, we advise you to start your studies with the compulsory Level 1 module Foundations for effective practice in youth justice (K115).
At Level 2, you are strongly advised to study the two modules, before going on to study the Level 3 modules in this degree.
In working towards this qualification it is possible for you to achieve intermediate qualifications in the form of a certificate, diploma or foundation degree, such as the Certificate of Higher Education in Youth Justice (K03), Professional Certificate in Effective Practice (Youth Justice) (C80) or Foundation Degree in Youth Justice (England and Wales) (G09).
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 120 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you (with the exception of an undergraduate-level qualification of less than 120 credits). If you have graduated with an OU BA degree without honours and are continuing your studies on to honours, this minimum requirement is reduced to 60 credits. Before being awarded any intermediate qualifications on the way to your OU honours degree, we advise you to check that you’ll have sufficient new credits to qualify for your degree.
Career relevance and employability
This degree course is relevant for a range of workers or volunteers in the area of Youth Justice, including Youth Offending Teams and ‘secure estate’ workers, general volunteers, locum and sessional workers as well as Referral Order Panel members. The degree will also be relevant to other specialist workers or volunteers in youth, carer and education sectors who want to develop their skills and qualifications in working with troubled and troublesome young people.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Modules
For this 360-credit honours degree you require:
360 credits from the following compulsory modules:
Level 1 compulsory modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Foundations for effective practice in youth justice (K115)
|
60 |
|
- Introduction to childhood studies and child psychology (E102)
|
60 |
|
Or the subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued module K116
Level 2 compulsory modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Youth justice: theory, research and practice (K209)
|
60 |
|
Or subject to the rules about excluded combinations,the discontinued modules K208*, K218
Level 3 compulsory modules |
Credits |
Next start |
- Exploring practice (K316)
|
60 |
|
- Working together for children (KE312)
|
60 |
|
Or subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules EK310, KE308 can be counted in the place of KE312.
* Successful completion of K208 leads to the award of our Professional Certificate in Effective Practice (Youth Justice) (C80).
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution we may be able to give you credit for this study that you can count towards an Open University qualification. You can find out more on our Credit Transfer site. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of modules so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.
Classification of your degree
On successful completion of the required number and type of modules you will be awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Youth Justice Studies degree.
Your honours degree will be classified either as first-class honours, upper second-class honours, lower second-class honours or third-class honours. The class of degree is determined by the best grades you achieve in 240 credits from the modules above Level 1 listed above. At least 120 of those credits must come from modules at Level 3.
You will have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification