Community Development and Leadership

The Community Development and Leadership BSc focuses on social concerns affecting people in everyday life. It is a professional course validated by the Endorsement and Quality Standards Board for Community Development Learning and the Chartered Institute of Housing. The teaching on this course received a 90% student satisfaction rate in the 2018 National Student Survey.

This degree is an ideal choice for people who want to work with communities in a wide range of professional roles. We have extensive links with employers offering work experience opportunities in community trusts, youth clubs, housing associations, charitable organisations and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The course also includes a placement.

The focus of the degree is on working with diverse communities and empowering them to improve their lives and that of their families and communities. This can include the health, education and housing of local people. This degree is the only one of its kind in the country that has two validations from professional bodies: the Endorsement and Quality Standards Board for Community Development Learning and the Chartered Institute of Housing. This will provide you with the management and leadership skills you need to take your first step on the career ladder.

Examples of careers our recent graduates have entered are full-time councillor, lecturer, Chief Operations Officer in education and setting up campaign groups. Other graduates have gone onto postgraduate courses, such as Social Work MSc.

Assessment

You are assessed via essays, individual and group projects and a final dissertation. The emphasis will be to combine your academic work with reflection upon real-life experience. There are no examinations.

Professional accreditation

The degree is endorsed by the Endorsement and Quality Standards Board as a professional qualification for community development work. It is also validated by the Chartered Institute of Housing.

Entry requirements

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:

• A minimum of grades BBC in three A levels (or a minimum of 112 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification eg Advanced Diploma).
• English Language GCSE at grade C/grade 4 or above (or equivalent)

Applications are welcome from mature students who have passed appropriate Access or other preparatory courses or have appropriate work experience. We also welcome those without formal qualifications who can show enthusiasm, commitment, and the ability to benefit from higher education. If you don’t have traditional qualifications or can’t meet the entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, you may still be able to gain entry by completing the Community Development and Youth Extended Degree (including Foundation Year) BSc.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

Modular structure

The modules listed below are for the academic year 2018/19 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time. Year 1 modules include:

• Cultures, Identity and Difference (core, 30 credits)
• Introduction to Self-Leadership (core, 30 credits)
• Principles of Community Work (core, 30 credits)
• Social Problems and Social Issues (core, 30 credits)

Year 2 modules include

• Human Rights, Social Justice and Diversity (core, 30 credits)
• Management and Leadership in Youth and Community Organisations (core, 30 credits)
• Researching Youth and Community Issues (core, 30 credits)
• Communities in Transition (option, 15 credits)
• Disability and Inclusion (option, 15 credits)
• Employability in the Community Sector (option, 15 credits)
• Global Inequalities in the 21st Century (option, 30 credits)
• Inter-Professional Practice (option, 15 credits)

Year 3 modules include

• Community and Youth Dissertation (core, 30 credits)
• Development and Social Enterprise (core, 30 credits)
• Work Placement for Professional Development (core, 30 credits)
• Current Issues in Disability (option, 15 credits)
• Homelessness and Housing Policy (option, 15 credits)
• Housing Issues and Housing Solutions (option, 15 credits)
• Management and Supervision in Youth and Community Work Settings (option, 30 credits)

After the course

This expanding field of careers incorporates managers or researchers. Job titles might include community centre manager, project officer, fundraising manager, and volunteer co-ordinator. Related careers are in housing, health, education, regeneration, crime reduction, in community trusts and charitable organisations, local councils and national institutions and non-government organisations (NGOs). Some students also progress to postgraduate study.