Childhood Studies

Childhood Studies is an interdisciplinary field that examines childhood as a social, cultural, historical, and political phenomenon, asking what it means to be a child in different contexts and how societies organise, regulate, and respond to childhood. It draws on sociology, psychology, history, anthropology, and education to develop a comprehensive and critical understanding of children's lives and the forces that shape them. Central to the discipline is the recognition that children are social actors in their own right, not simply passive recipients of adult care and education, and that understanding their experiences requires listening to them carefully.

At Aberystwyth University, this three-year full-time degree enables you to develop the knowledge and understanding needed to excel in child-related professions. You will explore a diverse range of areas and factors that influence children's development and wellbeing, including family structure, poverty and inequality, education policy, safeguarding, media and popular culture, children's rights, and the cultural and global contexts that shape childhood experiences differently in different societies. Aberystwyth's supportive learning environment and research-active staff ensure that the curriculum reflects current thinking in the field.

Graduates of Childhood Studies programmes work in a wide range of child-centred professions: social work, early years education, play work, youth work, family support, child welfare policy, charities and NGOs concerned with children's rights, and research. Many go on to postgraduate study in social work, education, psychology, or related fields, qualifying for roles in child protection, teaching, or educational psychology. The broad interdisciplinary training the degree provides gives graduates the flexibility to work across the full range of services concerned with children and young people.