UDPSYSCG - BSc Psychology and Sociology

The BSc Psychology and Sociology course provides a specialist programme which enables students to acquire and develop knowledge in each of the core areas of the respective disciplines, along with a wide range of academic and transferable skills.
The teaching and learning strategies employed across the programme are designed to:
• further stimulate students’ interest in all aspects of human social behaviour
• provide an appropriate intellectual challenge at BSc level whilst enabling students to gain the relevant knowledge and skills across the disciplines of Psychology & Sociology
• promote students’ self management of the learning process with a view to future training and continuing professional development.
Factors influencing the choice of teaching and learning strategy include:
• enhancing students’ communications and IT skills relevant to studying social behaviour
• developing students’ research skills and their ethical awareness
• developing students’ problem solving skills
• facilitating variation in students’ learning styles and preferences
• facilitating learning for students in both full-time and part-time mode.

Module teams will ensure opportunities for students to:
• be actively involved in their own learning
• pose and test psychology/sociology related hypotheses
• work to deadlines and balance conflicting pressures
• use appropriate resources and technology available
• review, evaluate and reflect on their work
• work with others and develop team-working skills.

As well as access to the University wide learning facilities students will also have access to dedicated psychological research laboratories and specialised project support equipment (such as psychometric tests, psycho-physiological measuring equipment etc), supplemented by guided learning and workbooks with exercises are used – available through the VLE. The course integrates face-to-face with online learning at all levels. All modules also use Weblearn to provide key information and learning resources. Advanced use of VLE on the course includes online tests and assessment, discussions, and feedback.

This course aims to provide students with an understanding of psychology and sociology with particular reference to social behaviour and social interaction. It will develop students’ analytical skills through consideration of the relationship between self and society and between theory and practice. It aims to make students aware of the conceptual and historical context for current theory and knowledge within psychology and sociology, and provide an opportunity for them to choose from a range of different areas of advanced study in relation to social behaviour and interaction. The teaching, learning and assessment strategy is designed to enable students to develop, and demonstrate competency in, a wide range of academic and transferable skills within the context of the disciplines which will also be invaluable in future employment or training.l 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.

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

Demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition and creativity and will act as inclusive, collaborative and socially responsible practitioners/professionals in their discipline.

The following learning outcomes incorporate and depend on systematic understanding of the key aspects of the knowledge base of psychology and sociology, 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 psychology and sociology

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

3. describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, in psychology and sociology, 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 psychology and sociology);

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

SS4008
PC4006
PC4007
SS4004
SS5066
SS5067
PC5005
SS5003
PC5006
SS5014
SS5006
SS6002
SS6P04
SS6006
PC6006
PC6051
PC6056
PC6054
SS6033
SS6063
PC6053
SS6W53
PC6055
PC6057

Learning Outcomes cover LO1-9

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

A range of assessment methods will be used, 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 psychological and sociological theory. At Level 4 assessments seek to encourage students to assimilate and describe theory, as well as to give them some basic tools for conduction an independent research. At Level 5 assessments require students to critically evaluate the knowledge and theories they have encountered, and practically demonstrate the ability to conduct small research independently. At Level 6 assessments test the students’ critical knowledge of applied areas of psychology and sociology and their ability to be independent researchers.

Assessment is the responsibility of the academic staff delivering the module. Assessment is part of the learning process and confirms the outcomes of the learning process. As such, the assessment process is used to provide an insight into learning problems and to thus trigger remedial action. It also provides feedback on curriculum design and delivery and, via the ongoing iterative process of module monitoring, makes a significant contribution to the continued development and improvement of the courses.
A variety of assessment methods will be used (see syllabi) including unseen written examinations, individual and group assignments. Laboratory and computer based investigations, poster and oral presentations and a level 6 project.

The Sociology Placement is a subject option modules that available to students entering their 3rd year. This is usually undertaken over the summer period – between 2nd and 3rd year.
There will also 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.

Progress with Undergraduate Skills will be articulated to students as the programme progresses through feedback from tutors and peers enabling them to reflect on their progress based on the evidence available. At each level identified modules (Sociological Imagination, Individual Differences 2 and the Final Year Project) will contain activities and opportunities for students to reflective on their learning process and personal development. Other modules will also provide opportunities for this process. Other activities outside of the academic aspect of university life will also contribute to aspects of undergraduate Skills. 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.
PDP will be embedded within each module with students given time to reflect on their learning. For example, in the modules Sociological Imagination and Individual Differences students will reflect upon and develop their use of oral and written communication skills, skills in identifying, analysing and evaluating information and interpersonal skills. Students will begin to draw up a profile of personal and professional skills, attributes and achievements and make use of peer and personal support systems. In the final project, supervisors will initially assist with the clarifying the terms of the research project, ethical considerations as well as establishing a timetable for the research and subsequent meetings, directed background reading as well as report format and writing and statistical analysis.

The course has been designed to meet the British Psychological Society accreditation benchmarks (Graduate Basis for Chartership).

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

This course opens up job opportunities in the private and public sectors. Examples of our sociology orientated graduates include those now working as a human resources officer at Clarins and a prison custody officer at Sodexo, while our psychology inclined graduates have gone on to become support workers at Creative Support, a special needs teaching assistant at Edustaff and more.

The skills you’ll develop are transferable across an even wider range of sectors, such as advertising, public relations and marketing. It’s also great preparation for postgraduate study.

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

• a minimum of grades BCC in three A levels or minimum grades BC in at least two A levels in academic or business subjects (or a minimum of 104 UCAS points from an equivalent Level 3 qualification, eg BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma/Diploma; or Advanced Diploma; or Progression Diploma; or Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits)
• GCSE English at grade C/grade 4 or above (or equivalent)

If you don't have traditional qualifications or can't meet the entry requirements for this undergraduate degree, you may still be able to gain entry by completing our Psychology (including foundation year) BSc.

Applicants with relevant professional qualifications or extensive professional experience will also be considered on a case by case basis.

Entry from appropriate foundation and access courses will also be considered.