Master of Arts - Childhood Studies

This MA Childhood Studies offers a unique psychosocial focus, seeking to understand not only the outer social experience of children but also their complex inner, emotional worlds. Building upon the existing expertise in postgraduate courses like refugee care, psychoanalytic studies and psychodynamic counselling, this programme offers much more than students would find in other MA Childhood Studies courses.

This inherently interdisciplinary programme is rooted in psychosocial, sociological and psychodynamic approaches. Drawing on the history of Childhood Studies and the best contemporary research, including the excellent research and practice experience of the University of Essex's academics, modules will explore a variety of subjects, including:

• Families and peer relationships • Emotions and the inner worlds of children • Education • The role of play and leisure • Generation and intergenerational relationships • Gender and sexuality • Race and ethnicity • Cross-cultural experiences of childhood • Children, popular culture and literature, • Children with disabilities • Children and the state • Ethical research with children and young people • Spaces and places of children’s lives • Intersectionality

This MA Childhood Studies programme will equip students for a career in sectors including education, health, international fields such as the charitable sector and NGOs, social care including children’s homes, therapeutic communities and supporting children and their families. This course also acts as a stepping stone to further qualifications in specific professions such as social work or counselling as well as PhD study.