UDSOPOPO - BA Society, Politics and Policy

This course offers an opportunity for an integrated study of policy in its full sociological and political context. It is aimed at students who want to study a range of social science disciplines and subjects within an interdisciplinary contemporary and international framework which emphasises the way in which the constituent subject-disciplines are interrelated and complement each other. The course will discuss how the intersection of the sociological concepts, political movements, resources and interpretation of the context shape the policy process in the UK and abroad.

The degree will allow students to develop a greater awareness of the complexity and connectedness of the political and international processes and theories that shape contemporary world and modern lives, at local, national and global levels. Through the examination of social theory, class, gender, race and ethnicity, culture, the media, globalisation and urban society. Students will learn about changes and tensions in society and will come to recognise how and why they develop.

The teaching and learning strategies are situated around the acquisition by students of analytical tools that can help them address the key issues in contemporary world in the context of sociological, politics and social policy questions. This includes the acquisition of full understanding of the process of social policy and politics making of a number of social issues, such as migration, gender inequality, racial discrimination and so on in contemporary world. This will be made using a number of teaching and learning techniques, which sustains in an introductory historical context to the issues for discussion.

Students will be taught social and political critical theory on issues like race, gender, education, health, social protection and questions concerning social rights. The theory is applied to particular practical circumstances, for example the human rights in conflict areas. Therefore real case studies are used in teaching and assessments. In terms of relevant modes of explanation, research and policy and political analysis is central in the course. This is not only focused on the UK. As students’ progress in their studies comparative analysis is introduced in order that students become aware of the key differences and convergences among other states worldwide.

On the completion of the course students will know and understand how to apply the subject theory for employment and professional training in a wide range of professional and managerial occupations in the public, private and independent sectors, including health care, education, employment, social care and protection. In terms of transferable skills for the employment market, students would have demonstrated through informal and formal assessment that they can work effectively both in a team and independently on a broad research topic that is related to the field of sociology, social policy and/or international politics. Through research methods, including their appropriate IT application, they can seek, handle and interpret quantitative and qualitative information and be able to conduct domestic and international analysis of the key issues in contemporary world. The content taught in the course will help students be competent communicators of the political and social sciences context in which social policy, sociological account and international politics are constructed and implemented through oral and written forms of expression.

The following learning outcomes incorporate and depend on systematic understanding of the key aspects of the knowledge base of Society, Policy and Politics, 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 the Society, Politics and Policy;

2. devise and sustain arguments, and/or to solve problems, using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of Society, Politics and Policy;

3. describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, in Society, Politics and Policy, 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 Society, Politics and Policy);

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.

GI4004
SS4017

SS4007

GI4008

SS5014

GI5007

SS5015

SS5003

SS5006

GI5060

GI5063

GI6009

SS6000

SS6W53

GI6W51

GI6P01

SS6P02

SS6P03

GI6002

SS6006

SS6063

GI6065

SS6002

SS6054

Learning Outcomes cover LO1-9

QAA Statement for Sociology
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Documents/Sociology07.pdf

A range of assessment methods will be used, (including unseen written examinations, individual and group assignments, poster and oral presentations, etc.), with the choice of assessment instrument chosen to test the specified learning outcomes. Overall the strategy is to promote students written, oral and research skills within the context of their understanding of sociological and political theory. At Level 4 assessments seek to encourage students to assimilate and describe theory. At Level 5 assessments require students to critically evaluate the knowledge and theories they have encountered. At Level 6 assessments test the students’ critical knowledge of applied areas of policy, politics and sociology and their ability to be independent researchers.

SS5003 Interactive Research Methods is a work-related learning module taken by all students.

The Society, Policy and Politics course progresses from general introductory level to the development of more specialist areas, building upon the knowledge, practical skills and experience gained at each stage. Progression is reflected in different learning outcomes (LOs) at each level. For example, students are helped to move from basic skills of description and information gathering at Level 4, through to interpretation and data manipulation at Level 5, and finally at Level 6 being able to critically appraise and synthesise evidence.

In Level 4, core subjects address the range of sociological perspectives on modern society, and methods for understanding the changes that the modern society is undergoing. Students will get familiarised with the basic principles of researching modern society, relevant polices and government responses to social problems.
At Level 5 students build on the Level 4 core modules and develop their problem-solving, critical thinking and conceptual skills. In Level 5, the core subjects will further develop your social research skills and address a range of sociological theories through the examination of social theory, class, gender, generation, race and ethnicity, culture, the media, globalisation and urban society. Students will be able to select from a wide-range of optional modules to develop their knowledge in the preferred fields of sociology, policy making or political sciences.

In Level 6, students will study politics and comparative social policy. Students will also be able to choose from a range of optional modules to suit their preferences (e.g. human rights, gender, religion, race and ethnicity, etc.). The final project / dissertation is a choice among the fields of social policy, sociology or politics.
All students are counselled on their choice of their module options and are encouraged to develop academically coherent and personally relevant programmes. Their choices are subject to approval by the Course Leader in consultation with their Personal Academic Adviser.

This course will help students to acquire skills for career development. Students will gain opportunities to complete project work for a local, national or international organisation and acquire valuable experience by working in collaboration with one of our community partners on a social justice project. Such experiences will provide opportunity to apply policy related knowledge gained from the degree as a well as gaining important transferable skills that will be desired by future working government, voluntary sector, research and educational organisations, social enterprise.

This course will help you gain the skills needed for successful career development. You'll have the opportunity to complete project work for a local, national or international organisation, which will give you valuable experience. You'll work in collaboration with one of our community partners on a social justice project.

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

• a minimum of three A levels with grades BBC (or a minimum of 112 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification, eg BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma/Diploma or Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits)
• GCSE English Language at grade C/grade 4 or above (or equivalent)

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.