Applied Social Studies

BA (Hons) Applied Social Studies
Mode: full-time

You will find that the course has a clear practical and vocational character that aims to support your entry into a professional career in the human services or as a way of further developing your career.

Applied Social Studies is about issues faced by vulnerable groups in our society and the policy, legal and organizational contexts in which social responses to human need are developed.

It covers a range of disciplines including social policy, sociology, social psychology, social care, social research and the social services.

The units within the Applied Social Studies course have been designed to help students establish a foundation of knowledge and personal development at Level One to developing critical analysis skills in particular areas of the human services at Levels Two and Three.

These include children’s services, criminal justice, disability issues, community care, public health, multi-agency working and the law. Students without previous experience are encouraged to take up the varied opportunities offered by the University for developing work experience and vocational skills as part of the course and your personal, academic and professional development in the human services.

Teaching on the course is underpinned by active research and the work of our professionally qualified research staff. Students will have opportunities to undertake research for projects and dissertations as well as for broader research and practice experience in the human services.

Objectives:

• To enable students with relevant work experience to acquire a degree that will enhance their prospects of a professional career in the human services;
• To enable students to acquire core conceptual and empirical knowledge of the wide range of subjects covered in applied social studies;
• To provide opportunities for students to develop personal- and practice-based skills in areas of specific relevance to applied social studies, notably multi-disciplinary and multi-agency working
• To provide option units at Levels 2 & 3 in key service areas such as children and families, disability, older people and health promotion, so as to enable students to shape their degree programmes in accordance with personal preferences and future career aspirations;
• To develop students’ ability to apply social theories to practice in ways that promote equality of opportunity and respect the rights of vulnerable groups and individuals;
• To utilise the Department’s practice- and research- expertise by offering units that are distinctive and cutting-edge.

Why choose this course?

Applied Social Studies is:

• A topical course with a curriculum directly relevant to the issues and challenges of today’s human services.
• Taught by friendly and supportive staff with a real interest in the welfare of students.
• A great way to access specialist knowledge, skills and experience, which together can help you secure your professional future.

Career Opportunities

The Applied Social Studies course will be of interest for students exploring different directions in a wide range of Human Services careers. These include for example:

• Youth Work
• Policy research
• Offending Teams
• Advice Work and Counseling
• Local Government
• Housing administration

And by taking post-graduate training the Degree offers entry to a range of related occupations such as for instance:

• Social Work
• Probation Officer
• Community Development Work

An Honours Degree in Applied Social Studies provides an ideal way to begin the pathway to a professional career in the human services.

Teaching/learning methods and strategies

The curriculum is delivered through lectures, seminars, workshops and personal tutoring to ensure that students both receive individual guidance and begin to forge an identity as part of an award programme.

At Levels 2 and 3 the emphasis moves progressively towards more independent forms of learning with the more extensive use of self-directed case studies, reports and project work.

At the same time, students are fully supported throughout the course by detailed documentation and written guidance, available both in printed form and through the University’s virtual learning environment, Blackboard as well as through individual tutorials, drop in sessions and ‘e-tutorials’.

Assessment

Most assessment is located in course work including essays, reports, extended projects and single or group presentations. There are also in-class tests and examinations – written, computer and multiple choice – which are part of the overall assessment.

Further details about the course

Areas of study include:

• Children’s Services: Policy and Practice
• Crime and Criminal Justice
• Health and Social Care
• Health Promotion
• Interdisciplinary Working
• Personal, Professional and Academic Development
• Political Ideas and their Applications in the Human Services
• Research Methodology
• Social Policy and Legislation
• Society and Social Divisions

There are opportunities at Levels 1 and 2 for you to take work-based, mentoring or other vocationally oriented modules.