ObjectivesThis course provides a comprehensive grounding in theoretical frameworks, research, policy and practice approaches to woman and child abuse. Whilst the main focus will be on the UK, intellectual and practical approaches from across the globe will be drawn on. Courses will encompass all forms of violence against women and child abuse, including sexual exploitation, domestic violence, sexual violence and harmful traditional practices. The course content and required work will be cross disciplinary addressing criminology, criminal justice, sociology, social policy, gender studies and social research. Themes covered include: -the history of how woman and child abuse became social problems -definitions and conceptual boundaries -connections between forms of violence against women and child abuse -the theoretical, methodological and ethical considerations when researching abuse -the current knowledge base on incidence, prevalence, evidence-based policy and promising practices in responding to victims/survivors and perpetrators -what we know about prevention contemporary theoretical and policy debates
Entry requirementsA good Honours degree in a relevant subject and/or experience of developing/ delivering policy or service provision in the field. A degree in an unrelated subject and lower qualifications may be acceptable if balanced by extensive relevant experience. All applicants are normally interviewed, but importance is also placed on the statement of application.
Academic titleMA Woman and Child Abuse
Course descriptionCourse structure
The course consists of four core modules:
-Violence Against Women: Issues, Research and Policy
-Social Research: Principles and Practice
-Sexual Exploitation of Children and Young People
-Sexual Violence: Causes, Consequences and Interventions
plus a choice of two of the following optional modules:
-Children and Changing Families: Research and Policy
-Collecting Life Histories
-Criminal Justice and Human Rights
-Evaluation: Principles and Practice
-Health in the City
-International Child Law and Human Rights Law
-Mental Health, Illness and Society
-Protecting Children
-Qualitative Research
-Refugees and Human Rights
-Researching Women's History
-Social Structures and Policies
-Twentieth Century Women
-Women, Gender and Human Rights
-Survey Design and Data Analysis
You also undertake a triple-module dissertation.
Assessment
Assessment approaches vary according to the aims of each module and how it is delivered. Examples include essays, seminar presentations, course work and seen examinations. A 12-15,000-word dissertation is to be submitted at the end of the MA course.
Career opportunities
This course is particularly suited to those: working in, developing or extending specialist services dealing with woman and/or child abuse
-undertaking policy development at local, regional or national level
-delivering government or agency policy commitments addressing violence against women and/or children.
Attendance & duration
Full-time (day & eve): one year, 2-3 evenings or equivalent
Part-time (day & eve): two years, 2 evenings or equivalent