Bachelor of Human Services (Youth Work major)

Programme Highlights

• Enables you to gain the specialist skills and knowledge you will need to be an effective youth worker.
• Also prepares you for working within a wide range of human service settings and to take on leadership roles.
• Develop a broad understanding of social, cultural and political issues in New Zealand society.
• You may be able to study while you work.
  

2008 Bachelor of Social Work & Bachelor of Human Services (2MB)

What you'll be studying

In the first year you will:

• study psychology and sociology for human services, human development, and professional communication skills
• study constructions of ‘youth', sexualities, and the Treaty of Waitangi in relation to human services
• begin your study of applied professional practice.

Over the next two years, you will:

• build on your theoretical knowledge base
• study courses such as leadership and management, the impact of addictions and violence for youth, ethics, recreation, mental health, and working for young Pasifika and Maori.
• have opportunities to apply your learning in practice
• study two courses from the General Education schedule, allowing you to pursue interests outside your field of study.

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Choose your career...

You'll gain the skills and knowledge to better support young people, in New Zealand and overseas. You'll also be able to work in a wide range of other human service settings.

A BHumServ with a Youth Work major could lead you to work in services such as: iwi and Pacific community development, migrant and refugee support, youth health, truancy services, counselling, health education, and specialist youth services such as alcohol and other drugs, sexual health, service management and policy development.

Interested in further study?

If you want to take your Youth Work studies further, our programmes can lead you all the way to masters and doctorate level to optimise your career and salary prospects.

Or for those that are already qualified to work with young people in another setting (e.g. teaching, therapy, recreation) but would like to take a Youth Work course or two (or ten!) to enhance and extend your knowledge and skills with young people - you’re most welcome. Simply pick and choose the course/s that you feel would be most relevant for you.

Field Practice

Three Applied Professional Practice courses over the course of the degree will introduce you to best practice strategies for work in human services agencies. You will investigate and assess an aspect of youth work practice. During the second and third years you will develop the processes of reflective practice to evaluate use of ‘self’ in your role as a youth worker. In workplace-based learning experiences, and in consultation with a supervisor, you will develop and evaluate your professional practice skills.

Supplementary Information