Youth Justice (Top-Up), BA (Hons)

The BA (Hons) Youth Justice (Top-Up) is a one year course that has been designed to enable students with a Youth Justice foundation degree to build upon and complement their current understanding of Youth Justice and enable them to progress and achieve a full honours degree.

About the BA (Hons) Youth Justice (Top-Up)
This one year top-up course allows you to further develop your understanding of the academic theory and practice in Youth Justice following successful completion of the Foundation Degree in Youth Justice.

You will be taught by a team who are highly accomplished and experienced in the Youth Justice sector. They ensure our courses will train you to the requirements that are necessary to work within the system. We were instrumental in developing the first course based upon the Youth Justice Boards qualification framework.

BA (Hons) Youth Justice (Top-Up) course content
This course has a practical focus and examines the contemporary issues that future practitioners will face when working in a youth justice context. You will follow the same teaching modules for Years one and two that are delivered on the current FdA in Youth Justice. You will also have the opportunity to pursue further learning in a specialist area of your choice in the Independent Study module.

Modules delivered on the one year BA (Hons) Youth Justice (Top-Up) course are:

• Victims, Victimology and Restorative Justice
• Law, Sentencing the Media and the Courts
• The Implementation of Effective Youth Justice Practice
• Independent Study.

Developing your skills
Throughout the course you will develop a range of skills, including the ability to carry out independent research, evaluate interventions, reflect on practice and work in multi-cultural settings, which will be greatly valued by future employers.

How will I learn?
A number of teaching methods are used, including lectures, staff and student-led seminars, workshops, case studies, group and individual presentations, and problem-based scenarios.

Assessment
We offer a wide range of contexts for learning:

• lectures
• small group work
• individual tutorials.

Similarly, we assess student work in a variety of ways:

• formal examinations
• coursework essays
• presentations.

We believe this ensures that students develop transferable skills which are marketable in the workplace. It also contributes to a well-rounded learning experience.

Expert staff
You will be taught by a teaching team who are highy accomplished and experienced in the Youth Justice sector. They ensure our courses will train you to the requirements that are necessary to work within the system. We were instrumental in developing the first course based upon the Youth Justice Boards Qualification. Staff have also developed an Acquisitive Crime Project which aims to reduce the number of young people offending in Derby.

Hear directly from industry experts
You will benefit from the well-established relationships that the course team have developed with the Secure Estate in our region, and other bodies such as the Youth Offending Teams, Skills for Justice, Nottingham Council for Voluntary Service and the YMCA. Our incorporated work-based learning opportunities will provide you with the chance to visit and observe various institutions such as those mentioned.

Experienced Youth Justice Practitioners are involved in various teaching sessions to share their specialised knowledge and make you aware of the realities of their work with young people. In the past these have included representatives visiting from the Secure Estate team, talking about the experience of young people in prison. Charities such as the YMCA and Enthusiasm have also brought in young people to share their experiences.

Student successes
Youth Justice student Laina Richard has been honoured by the Queen for her work with a youth inclusion programme.

View the full course specification
Please note that course specifications may be subject to change

You'll have easy access to a great combination of facilities that include:

• the £13 million Boots Library has a wide range of both print and online resources, as well as 24 / 7 IT facilities, group and individual study spaces
• the redeveloped Newton and Arkwright buildings which will provide you with an inspiring place to learn
• our virtual learning environment (NOW) which allows you to learn online at any time
• 3,000 student open access PC's and 300 secure wireless access points
• A new City site Students' Union building will open in 2013 giving you an exceptional array of social, leisure and well-being facilities.

The prime location of the City site gives you easy access to a great combination of facilities and activities including:

• sports facilities
• student accommodation
• music venues
• cafes.