Social Studies (2+2 with our Centre for Lifelong Learning)

The BA (Hons) Social Studies degree is a multi-disciplinary degree which invites students to specialise in one academic subject. You can choose to specialise in the following subjects and take a number of modules in the Centre for Lifelong Learning to complete the degree:

• Politics*
• Sociology*
• Health and Social Policy*
• Business Studies
• Lifelong Learning

The degree is divided two stages - Level 4 and Honours Level. Level 4 consists of 120 credits and is studied over the first two years; Honours Level (years three and four) consists of 240 credits and is studied over the final two years of the degree.

In the first two years you will study modules in sociology, politics, research, and health and social policy. These modules will introduce you to key theorists and concepts in these connected subject areas that seek to understand and explain our experiences, values and change in society. These modules are studied at an appropriate pace through consideration of a wide range of issues that affect our everyday lives including poverty, inequality, health, power, and global and domestic politics to name just a few.

At Warwick in years three and four you will have the opportunity to explore some of these issues in further depth and to also choose from a wide range of modules in subjects as varied as counselling, social work, mindfulness, business studies, coaching, gender studies, race, and lifelong learning.

There are two core (compulsory) modules at Honours Level:Year three - Research Methods in the Social Sciences. This module is worth 30 credits and develops detailed understanding of the nature and principles of methods that are applied to research projects.

Year four - Dissertation (normally in Lifelong Learning or Sociology). Here you will directly apply understanding gained in Research Methods to an in-depth research project designed by you and supervised by a member of teaching staff. This module is worth 30 credits.

*Pre-requisite work must be completed successfully at the college before you can specialise in any one of these subjects at the University.

The BA (Hons) Health and Social Policy degree is a specialised variant of the Social Studies programme that focuses on a range of modules offered by the Centre for Lifelong Learning and Departments of Sociology and Politics and International Studies.

There is one core (compulsory) research skills modules in Year 3 of the Health and Social Policy degree which contribute towards your 240 credits at Honours Level:

One of the following must be selected:

• Research Methods in the Social Sciences (30 credits);
• Or Designing and Conducting Social Research (15 credits, taken in Term 1); with Modern Social Theory (15 credits, taken in Term 2)

Students must also pick optional modules at Honours Level totalling 90 credits from a set list. Students on this degree do not undertake a dissertation in Year 4.

This is a more prescribed degree route than the Social Studies degree. If you require greater flexibility but wish to study similar options you should consider BA (Hons) Social Studies with Health and Social Policy major.