Politics and Social Policy

Core modules in Year 1 will give you a firm grounding in each subject. You’ll learn about different political systems around the world and be introduced to big ideas in political theory, examining how power really operates in society. At the same time, you’ll learn more about the processes that have shaped modern societies and the social, political, economic and cultural influences that have shaped the UK’s welfare state. A choice of optional module will equip you with the research skills you need in the social sciences.

In Year 2 you’ll take another two compulsory modules that cover key debates in social policy and build on your understanding of social research and also choose one from two political theory modules. You’ll also choose from optional modules covering issues in social policy and politics, such as drug policy or disability studies, and political systems around the world, including Africa, China, the US and EU. Further optional modules will allow you to gain specialist knowledge in more specific aspects of each subject, such as international relations, security studies, the sociology of health or crime and regulation.

By your final year, you’ll have the research and analytical skills to undertake your dissertation – an independently researched project on a social policy topic of your choice. You’ll build your course around this: you’ll choose another key debate module in social policy, and then select from a wider range of advanced modules in both subjects. These could allow you to focus on topics such as class divisions, gender and violence, protest movements or the rise of extreme right parties in across Europe.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Modules Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Comparative Politics 20 credits
• Freedom, Power and Resistance: An Introduction to Political Ideas 20 credits
• Formations of Modernity 20 credits
• Social Policy: Poor Laws to the Present 20 credits

Optional modules

• Understanding and Researching the City 20 credits
• Understanding and Researching Contemporary Society 20 credits

Discovery modules

• You may choose to study up to 40 credits of discovery modules

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Sociology and Social Policy Research Methods 20 credits
• Key Debates in Social Policy 20 credits

Optional modules

• Spin Doctors and Electioneering 20 credits
• Politics and Policy in the EU 20 credits
• State and Politics in Africa 20 credits
• United States Politics 20 credits
• Revolution and Reaction: Political Problems in the 20th Century 20 credits
• Justice, Community and Conflict 20 credits
• Disability Studies: An Introduction 20 credits
• The Sociology of Gender 20 credits
• Crime, Race and Ethnicity 20 credits
• Debates in Childhood and Youth 20 credits
• Social and Public Policy beyond the University 20 credits

Discovery modules

• You may choose to study up to 40 credits of discovery modules

Year 3