Course specification and structure
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UDHSCARE - BSc Health and Social Care

Course Specification


Validation status Validated
Highest award Bachelor of Science Level Honours
Possible interim awards Bachelor of Science, Diploma of Higher Education, Certificate of Higher Education, Bachelor of Science
Total credits for course 360
Awarding institution London Metropolitan University
Teaching institutions London Metropolitan University
School School of Social Professions
Subject Area Health, Social Care and Early Childhood
Attendance options
Option Minimum duration Maximum duration
Full-time 3 YEARS  
Part-time 4 YEARS 5 YEARS
Course leader  

About the course and its strategy towards teaching and learning and towards blended learning/e-learning

The teaching and learning strategies applied in BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care degree aim to stimulate the student’s interest, skills and knowledge in Health and Social Care, providing intellectual challenge at BSc level with the overall aim of ensuring that students are fully prepared for employment in the health and social care sector. The use of Weblearn and the University’s blended learning approach is well received by students and will be further strengthened. For instance highly interactive academic content is provided on Weblearn for all modules on the programme; online seminars and video content are used on some current undergraduate Health modules to wide approval from students. These developments will be sustained in the new curriculum

The programme provides an underpinning theoretical foundation and thinking skills are developed through complementary activities including case studies, workshops, seminars, tutorials, assignments and practice based learning. The course is designed with a strong emphasis on employability. A commitment to equality, diversity, social justice and advocacy is theme which is central to this programme.

The teaching team includes experts from the health and social care professions and elsewhere. Students are expected to complement formal teaching with self-directed reading and completion of specified assignments and reflection. Students are encouraged to use all open spaces of study available to them.

The course will also promote the student’s self-management and a reflective approach to their learning with a view to future continued professional development. Teaching and learning is integrated with the assessment within the Faculty learning and teaching strategy. Delivery is through a combination of lectures, practical sessions, seminars, tutorials, case studies and workshops allowing students to be actively involved in the learning process and develop their own learning style. Students will be encouraged to engage meaningfully with personal development planning (PDP) through the curriculum, to enable them to reflect on, plan and review their own personal and health and social care skills.

Students will also be given opportunities to use appropriate resources and technology available both within and outside the institution.

Course aims

The BSc Hons Health and Social Care programme is a broad applied social science-oriented degree for people intending to work in health and social care. The course aims to provide a comprehensive, comparative approach to health and social care provision. It aims to cover all key aspects including public health, health promotion, policy and ethical aspects of care. A clear focus of this programme is developing students’ ability to use evidence to inform their decisions and understanding of critical issues in health and social care and ways of dealing with them. The course aims to equip students with skills for entry-level and intermediate level health and social care employment.

Course learning outcomes

The following learning outcomes incorporate and depend on systematic understanding of the key aspects of the knowledge base of Health and Social Care, including a coherent and detailed knowledge of some specialist areas in depth.

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within Health and Social Care;

2. devise and sustain arguments, and/or to solve problems, using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of Health and Social Care;

3. describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, in Health and Social Care, recognising the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge;

4. manage their own learning, and to make use of scholarly reviews and primary sources (for example, refereed research articles and/or original materials appropriate to Health and Social Care;

5. apply the methods and techniques that they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding, and to initiate and carry out projects;

6. critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data (that may be incomplete), to make judgements, and to frame appropriate questions to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions - to a problem;

7. communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences;

8. exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts;

9. undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature

Course learning outcomes / Module cross reference

SH4000
SH4001
SH4003
SH4004
SH5000
SH5001
SH5004
SH5W01
SH6000
SH6001
SH6053
SH6054
SS6057
SS6058
SH6P03

Learning outcomes cover LO1-9

Principle QAA benchmark statements

Health Studies

Assessment strategy

The BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care degree lends itself to a variety of teaching and learning styles and these are, in turn, reflected in the variety of assessment tools employed throughout the course. Within the general principle of mixed mode assessment can be found a diversity of instruments: seen examinations, short answer papers, practical reports and reviews, case studies, group assessment projects, presentations, essays and health profiles. Transferable skills have been embedded in the learning outcomes of the core modules. They have been mapped to ensure that they are assessed at every level.

Organised work experience, work based learning, sandwich year or year abroad

The module SH5W01 is a 30 credit core module for all students at level 5. This module is a work-based module which centres on student’s personal and professional development in order to enhance skills for employment. The module includes placement opportunities.

There will be opportunities for students to study for part of their degree in another European country. ERASMUS is part of the European Union SOCRATES programme for cooperation in the field of education. Under ERASMUS the University has student exchange agreements with 16 different European countries

Arrangements for promoting reflective learning and personal development

Reflective learning and developing skills in reflective practice are essential as they help health and social care students develop critical and analytic approaches to their learning, skill development and in the further professional development after qualification. The development of skills in reflective learning and practice are embedded within each module and across the course. Students will be encouraged to develop their personal portfolio to critically review their learning experiences, set their future personal and academic goals and evaluate their progress towards these goals.

The principles of reflective learning are integrated into level 4 modules. These principles are further explored during level 5, where students are introduced to the “Skills for Health” tools for assessment of competence. There will one module at each level (Research and Professional Practice - level 4), (Development for Employment - level 5), (Leadership and Management in Professional Contexts - level 6) where personal and professional development and employability skills (including CV, job application, careers and interview technique) are specifically addressed for all students.

Professional Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) accreditations & exemptions

This course is fully validated by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH).

Career, employability and opportunities for continuing professional development

Successful completion of this course offers improved career opportunities in health and social care, including social enterprises, journalism, social research and the public services. The programme is also excellent preparation for further research or study.

Career opportunities

This programme is aligned to Skills for Health competences, the skills sector council for the healthcare sector where you'll be able to map your competences by the end of the programme enhancing your employment opportunities.

Successful completion of this course offers improved career opportunities in the fields of health and social care. This may be within the NHS, voluntary and independent sectors. Our graduates have found careers in mental health and medical rehabilitation, and as support workers in the NHS, housing associations and charity organisations.

This degree programme is also excellent preparation for research or postgraduate study.

Entry requirements

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:

  • a minimum of grades BBC in three A levels (or a minimum of 112 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification, eg BTEC National or Advanced Diploma)
  • English Language GCSE at grade C/grade 4 or above (or equivalent)

If you do not have traditional qualifications or cannot meet the entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, you may still be able to gain entry by completing the Health and Social Care Extended Degree.

Applications are welcome from mature students who have passed appropriate Access or other preparatory courses or have appropriate work experience.

We also welcome mature students without formal qualifications who are able to demonstrate enthusiasm, commitment and the ability to benefit from higher education.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.

Official use and codes

Approved to run from 2013/14 Specification version 1 Specification status Validated
Original validation date 01 Sep 2013 Last validation date 01 Sep 2013  
Sources of funding HE FUNDING COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND
JACS codes L400 (Social Policy): 100%
Route code HSCARE

Course Structure

Stage 1 Level 04 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SH4000 Communicating with Different Client Groups Core 30        
SH4001 Introducing Health and Social Care Core 30        
SH4003 Culture, Society and Ethics Core 30        
SH4004 Research and Professional Practice Core 30        

Stage 1 Level 04 January start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SH4000 Communicating with Different Client Groups Core 30        
SH4001 Introducing Health and Social Care Core 30        
SH4003 Culture, Society and Ethics Core 30        
SH4004 Research and Professional Practice Core 30        

Stage 2 Level 05 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SH5000 Ethics and Research in Professional Contexts Core 30        
SH5001 Health Promotion and Policy Core 30        
SH5004 Contemporary Issues in Health and Social Care 1 Core 30        
SH5W01 Development for Employment Core 30        

Stage 3 Level 06 September start Offered

Code Module title Info Type Credits Location Period Day Time
SH6000 Leadership and Management in Professional Contexts Core 30        
SH6053 Contemporary Issues in Health and Social Care 2 Core 15        
SH6054 Research Methods and Evaluation Skills Core 15        
SH6P03 Health Project Core 30        
SH6001 Urban Health Option 30        
SS6057 Homelessness and Housing Policy Option 15 NORTH AUT THU AM
SS6058 Housing Issues and Housing Solutions Option 15 NORTH SPR THU AM