In a bid to support careers in Geography, we have a weekly blog where we explore Geography-related degrees in detail, including what sort of thing students can expect to study over the 3 year course (including field work and possible dissertation focus), the typical entry requirements, universities that offer it, and the careers it can lead into. We have a created a collection which we will add to each week - you can find them here.

This week we are looking at a slightly more niche course!

Studying Youth, Society and Sustainable Futures

What is it like to grow up in today's world? How are young people affected by climate change, inequality, social media and changes in education and employment? Why do some young people have much greater opportunities than others? And what role can younger generations play in creating a fairer and more sustainable future? These are the kinds of questions you'll explore on a BA (Hons) Youth, Society and Sustainable Futures degree.

It's an interdisciplinary subject, which means you'll draw on several areas rather than studying one traditional discipline. These can include sociology, education, geography, politics, psychology, youth studies and sustainable development. You'll investigate the lives of children and young people, but you'll also look at the wider society they're growing up in – including issues such as inequality, identity, education, climate change, globalisation and social justice.

If you're interested in people, society and global issues and want to understand how today's young people might shape tomorrow's world, this could be a particularly interesting degree.

What do you study on a Youth, Society and Sustainable Futures degree?

A full-time undergraduate degree normally lasts three years. Because this is an interdisciplinary course, don't expect every module to have 'youth' in its title. You'll need to understand the wider economic, social, political and environmental forces affecting young people's lives too.

First year: Understanding young people and society

Your first year is likely to introduce some of the big ideas behind youth studies, society and sustainable development.

Typical topics might include:

• Childhood and youth
• Social inequality
• Identity
• Education
• Families and communities
• Sustainability
• Climate change
• Social justice
• Globalisation
• Research methods

One of the important ideas you'll encounter is that there isn't one universal experience of being young. A person's opportunities can be influenced by where they live, their family circumstances, income, education, gender, ethnicity and many other factors. You might therefore investigate questions such as why educational outcomes vary between different groups, why some young people feel excluded from politics or why access to housing has become such an important issue for younger generations.

You'll also begin exploring sustainable futures. Sustainability isn't simply about protecting the environment. You'll consider the connections between environmental sustainability and questions such as poverty, inequality, wellbeing, education and social justice.

Second year: Exploring the challenges facing young people

During second year, you'll normally start examining particular issues in greater depth.

You might study topics such as:

• Youth culture
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Education and inequality
• Employment and the changing world of work
• Youth participation and activism
• Climate change
• Social media and digital society
• Migration
• Communities
• Sustainable development
• Social policy

This is where the connections between youth, society and sustainability become particularly interesting. Consider climate change - young people will experience many of its long-term consequences, yet they have historically had relatively limited influence over the decisions that created the problem. That raises questions about intergenerational justice: is it fair for one generation to benefit from activities whose environmental costs will be experienced by future generations? You might also investigate how young people themselves are responding through environmental activism, lifestyle choices, campaigning and political participation.

Or you could look at housing. Why has home ownership become more difficult for many young adults? How does expensive housing affect decisions about careers, relationships and starting families? And how might more sustainable housing and urban development improve life for future generations?

These are questions that cross traditional subject boundaries – exactly the reason an interdisciplinary degree can be useful.

Third year: Specialising and completing your dissertation

By final year, you'll normally have greater freedom to concentrate on the issues that interest you most. A major part of the year is likely to be an independent dissertation or research project. You'll choose a question, investigate the existing research and then carry out your own analysis. Depending on your topic, you might interview young people or professionals, conduct questionnaires, analyse policy documents, examine existing datasets or study online communities.

Possible dissertation topics could include:

• How does social media affect young people's identities?
• Why are younger people more concerned about climate change?
• How does growing up in poverty affect educational opportunities?
• Why are young adults finding it increasingly difficult to buy a home?
• How effective is climate education in schools?
• How does TikTok influence young people's political participation?
• What motivates young people to become environmental activists?
• How do young people's experiences differ between rural and urban areas?
• How does unemployment affect young people's wellbeing?
• How do young people perceive their future in a changing climate?
• How effective are youth clubs at supporting local communities?
• What influences young people's decisions about going to university?
• How do young people experience public spaces in cities?
• How does fast fashion fit with young people's attitudes towards sustainability?
• What are young people's attitudes towards sustainable transport?
• How does migration shape young people's sense of identity and belonging?

Your dissertation is also an opportunity to develop expertise in an area connected to the career you'd eventually like to pursue.

Opportunity for fieldwork and practical work

Fieldwork on this type of degree is likely to look quite different from the fieldwork you'd encounter on a physical Geography or Ecology course. Rather than collecting samples from a river or surveying wildlife, you might work with schools, charities, youth organisations or community groups.

Practical research could involve:

• interviews
• questionnaires
• focus groups
• observations
• community research
• analysing social-media content
• evaluating youth projects
• working with external organisations

You might investigate young people's experiences of a particular neighbourhood, examine attitudes towards climate change or evaluate whether a community project is achieving its objectives.

Depending on the course, there may also be opportunities for placements, volunteering or study abroad. These experiences can be particularly useful if you're considering careers involving young people, education, charities, community development or local government.

Where can you study Youth, Society and Sustainable Futures?

Unlike subjects such as History, Geography or Business, Youth, Society and Sustainable Futures is a very specialist degree title, so you won't find an identical course at many universities.

The University of Glasgow offers Youth, Society and Sustainable Futures (MA) at its Dumfries Campus. Despite the 'MA' title used for many Scottish undergraduate humanities and social-science degrees, this is an undergraduate programme. Glasgow describes the degree as exploring young people's experiences and their role in creating more sustainable futures, drawing on areas including sociology, education, policy and sustainability.

If the subject appeals to you but you want to compare a wider range of universities, search for related degrees such as:

• Childhood and Youth Studies
• Youth Studies
• Education Studies
• Sociology
• Social Policy
• Community Development
• Sustainable Development
• Global Sustainable Development

The course titles won't be identical, so compare the actual modules rather than assuming two similarly named degrees cover the same material.

What are the entry requirements?

Entry requirements depend on the university and course...

E.g. Glasgow's Youth, Society and Sustainable Futures = BBB-CCC for 2027 entry.

One advantage of an interdisciplinary social-science degree is that you don't necessarily need to have studied one particular A-level subject.

Useful preparation could include:

• Sociology
• Geography
• Psychology
• Politics
• Economics
• History
• English
• Religious Studies
• Environmental Science
• Health and Social Care

Geography could be particularly relevant because of the course's emphasis on sustainability, inequality, communities and global change. Sociology and Psychology are useful for understanding society, identity and human behaviour, while Politics and Economics can help you understand the policies and economic forces shaping young people's opportunities. Always check the exact entry requirements for the year in which you're applying.

What careers can a Youth, Society and Sustainable Futures degree lead to?

This isn't a vocational degree leading to one particular profession. Instead, it develops knowledge and skills relevant to several areas including youth work, education, charities, community development, sustainability, policy and government.

Youth worker

Youth workers support young people with their personal, social and educational development. You might work in a youth centre, school, community organisation, charity or outreach project, helping young people develop skills and deal with issues affecting their lives.

The typical salary range is around £22,000 for starters to £35,000 for experienced youth workers.

Bear in mind that becoming a professionally qualified youth worker can require a JNC-recognised youth work qualification, so check whether your degree provides professional accreditation or whether further training would be needed.

Community development worker

Community development workers help communities identify problems and develop projects designed to improve people's lives. You could work on issues such as youth services, poverty, health, housing, sustainability or social inclusion.

Typical starting salaries are around £19,000-£26,000, with experienced community development workers earning approximately £26,000-£40,000 and some senior managers earning more.

Charity or NGO project officer

Charities employ graduates to run projects, organise campaigns, work with communities, raise awareness and evaluate whether programmes are achieving their objectives. You might work for an organisation focused on young people, education, poverty, homelessness, sustainability, international development, human right, and the environment.

Salaries vary substantially according to the organisation and role. As a broad guide, graduate and project-officer roles might start around £22,000-£28,000, with experienced project managers commonly earning around £30,000-£45,000+.

Civil Service and policy

The degree could also lead into local government, the Civil Service, think tanks and policy organisations. You might work on policies affecting education, young people, housing, communities, inequality, sustainabiliy, and climate change.

A graduate entering the Civil Service through the Fast Stream currently receives a starting salary of £31,554, with the Civil Service advertising earning potential of around £45,000-£55,000 on successful completion of a scheme. There are also many routes into government outside the Fast Stream.

Sustainability roles

Because the course includes sustainable futures, graduates could also consider sustainability roles within businesses, universities, charities, councils and other organisations. Jobs might involve sustainability projects, behaviour change, community engagement or environmental education.

Entry-level sustainability roles commonly start at around £22,000-£30,000, while sustainability managers can earn approximately £45,000-£55,000.

Education

Education is another potential route. You might work in schools, colleges, universities, widening participation, educational charities, careers and outreach, and environmental education. If you want to become a school teacher, you'll need to follow the appropriate teacher-training route after (or as part of) your degree.

Salary ranges across the education sector in the UK vary widely by role, qualification, and specific sub-sector, spanning from roughly £22,000 for entry-level support or further education roles to over £100,000 for senior leadership.

Social researcher

If you particularly enjoy the research side of the degree, you could work in social research. Social researchers collect and analyse evidence to understand people's behaviour, experiences and attitudes. They work for government departments, universities, charities, research agencies and think tanks.

The National Careers Service gives a typical salary range of around £24,000 for starters to £50,000 for experienced social researchers.

Other possibilities

Graduates could also move into:

• Youth services
• Children's charities
• Environmental education
• Sustainability
• Local government
• Social policy
• Housing
• Community engagement
• Campaigning
• Public relations and communications
• Research
• International development
• Graduate management schemes
• Postgraduate study

Because the degree is broad, work experience can be especially valuable. Volunteering or working with a school, youth organisation, environmental charity or community project can help you identify which career direction interests you and give you evidence of practical experience when applying for jobs.

What skills will you develop?

Youth, Society and Sustainable Futures should develop a mixture of research, communication and analytical skills.

These could include:

• Conducting interviews
• Designing questionnaires
• Analysing qualitative and quantitative data
• Evaluating policies
• Report writing
• Critical thinking
• Presentations
• Working with communities
• Project management
• Teamwork
• Understanding different perspectives
• Independent research

You'll also become accustomed to looking at complicated social problems from several perspectives.

Take youth unemployment, for example. An economist might focus on the labour market. A sociologist might examine inequality and social class. A psychologist might investigate wellbeing. A geographer could consider differences between places. A policymaker might ask which government interventions work. An interdisciplinary degree encourages you to connect those perspectives rather than viewing the problem through only one lens.

Is Youth, Society and Sustainable Futures a good degree?

Youth, Society and Sustainable Futures could be particularly interesting if you enjoy subjects such as Geography, Sociology, Psychology or Politics but don't want to restrict yourself to just one of them. It's likely to suit students who are interested in people and society and regularly find themselves thinking about questions such as inequality, climate change, education, housing and the opportunities available to younger generations.

But it's worth understanding that this isn't primarily a degree about working with children. You'll study young people, but you'll do so as a way of exploring much bigger questions about how society works and how it might change in the future. Over the course of the degree you could find yourself analysing youth culture, investigating inequality, debating climate justice, interviewing young people about their experiences, evaluating government policy and eventually carrying out your own independent research.

Perhaps the most interesting idea running through the course is contained in its title. Today's young people won't simply experience the social, economic and environmental changes taking place around them. They'll also be involved in deciding what happens next. Understanding that relationship between young people, society and the future they're going to inherit and shape is at the heart of the degree.