Sociology and Social Policy - BA (Hons)

This module provides the foundation for an explicit, clear focus on social research throughout Sociology and related degrees in addition to supporting students to acquire understanding of and skills in academic literacy. The methodological principles and perspectives for effective social research are explained and also illustrated through exploration of research case studies. It will additionally provide experience in using the vast array of text, visual and statistical primary documentary sources and their interpretation for research. Research as process will be examined including main research approaches, the formulation and development of research questions and social, ethical and political contexts of research practice.

The module introduces students to the academic field of social policy: The study of the sociology, politics and economics of the welfare state, covering the origins, implementation and impact of policy in key areas of basic needs and injustices.

To examine how social problems become conceived as such by the media, government and civil society and to analyse the impact of particular social problems on society. We shall also reflect on the location of particular social problems in different spaces: global, regional, national, local and examine policy responses to particular social problems

This module will provide students with an introduction to the discipline of Sociology and some of the basic skills of identifying, applying and evaluating sociological approaches, concepts and debates to everyday situations. It will also provide an introduction to constructing sociological arguments, thinking critically and assessing sociological evidence.

The principal focus of this module is for students to build on prior understanding and learning, exploring philosophical accounts of scientific explanation and the theory and practice of sociological research through the use of work-related interactive methods. The module provides work experience for students by developing research for a real world organisation (employer). Students will learn about doing research methods by conducting research for an employer. The employer will contribute to setting out small-scale research aims and objectives; being available to assess student proposals and bids or assess the analysis/ final presentation. The first part of this module examines the theory and philosophical accounts of research methodology, as well as introducing students to the practical skills of doing interviews, transcribing them, and analysing qualitative data. The second part of the module concentrates on quantitative methods, and requires students to design research for the requirements of an employer involved in both the aims and outcomes (assessment) of the research. The module provides work-related understanding and application of research methods by involving employer requirements and needs.

This module introduces students to some of the key sociological approaches used to explore and explain the sociological notion of ‘self’. This will involve an examination of a range of major 20th century sociological thinkers on the nature of the social construction of self eg. Mead, Goffman. The intention is to use some of the major sociological theorists and apply their insights into current concerns with the ‘project’ of self and identity. That is, to examine how much choice we have in becoming who we are. The opportunity to ‘apply’ the sociological approaches to a range of issues/areas will engage a range of interests/students. The ‘project of the self’ in contemporary society will be used to explore this key sociological concept, drawing on recent developments in the sociology of emotions, religion, and deviancy.

The module deals with the mainstream perspectives and concepts which underpin the shaping of modern social policy, using the social problems perspective developed in level 4. It also examines critical and radical perspectives. The module addresses concrete policy making and the implementation processes using contemporary examples from social problems in the UK and Europe.

This module looks at the media impact on public perceptions of crime and justice.
It also looks at the way contemporary media and technologies influence criminal behaviour and influence the operations of the criminal justice system; and the emerging forms of deviant behaviour facilitated by contemporary technology and media.

The module examines the impact of globalisation on inequalities in our current 21st century world. Evidence suggests that inequalities are increasing within many countries in the world as a consequence of globalisation and the module will examine these increasing and changing patterns of inequality. Growing urbanisation, rural-urban migration and the growth of poverty and slums in the global south and of social polarisation in cities in the global south and north are considered. The module examines changes in social class, gender and ethnic divisions and inequalities in our contemporary world. It looks at the growth of a new global elite, the growth of the middle class in many countries and cities throughout the world and at the growth of a precarious social class. The module looks at how globalisation has impacted gender inequalities with globalisation leading to the increasing participation of women in many countries and regions of the world.

The module explores theories and conceptions of racism and ethnicity, and the practices of racism in contemporary societies. The historical roots of racism will be examined and its contemporary forms studied comparatively. Racism is specifically explored within the context of social and political conflicts.

Academic authors have shown that for centuries adults have expressed concerns about the anti-social and criminal behaviour of young people. In recent times, this concern has centred on rising levels of violent crime by young people and the burgeoning ‘gang, gun and knife crime culture’ in the UK. In response to public concerns policy makers and practitioners have designed numerous community and criminal justice initiatives to tackle the anti-social behaviour of young people, reduce their offending rates and encourage desistence from criminal activity.

This module critically examines young people’s involvement in crime and violence. It examines key theories for understanding violence by the young and explores the connection between violent behaviour and a variety of social issues such as peer pressure, gender, ‘race’ and ethnicity, and alcohol and substance misuse. This highlights the impact of changing economic, political and cultural contexts from the global to local. The module also explores, and critically examines, media and criminal justice responses to youth crime.

This module looks at young people as social and political actors, and uses applied sociological theory to analyse current issues relating to youth in consumer society, the strategies of adaptation and resistance, violence and gangs, subcultures and political movements, and social control. The focus will be on the UK as well as European and global issues.

This module investigates in depth the key aspects of comparative analysis, the debates about globalization and social policy and international perspectives on welfare futures.

This Dissertation module is an opportunity for students to identify and evaluate the theoretical and practical policy issues involved in investigating a welfare topic of their choice. The social policy dissertation centres on ain depth policy analysis.

The students carry out an in-depth piece of sociological research and analysis in an area of their choice. In the first half of this module students will learn about different aspects of writing a dissertation.

Homelessness and Housing Policy outlines the key issues of housing policy in the UK with a focus upon homelessness. It looks at the history of housing policy and of social housing in particular in the UK; at housing trends in the UK and the causes of the current housing crisis in London in particular and at homelessness. Combined with other modules in the faculty, such as ‘Housing Issues and Housing Solutions’, this module provides a housing pathway for students wishing to develop or further their careers in this area. The module runs for 14 weeks, and is assessed through a seminar presentation and a 2,500 word essay.

Housing Issues and Housing Solutions outlines the key issues that face people working in housing, residents and community workers. It will provide a policy context, but will focus on a practical approach to dealing with community-related & housing issues, their causes and solutions. It will examine the rights and obligations of residents and identify good practice in key management areas such as resident involvement, dealing with anti-social behaviour and disrepair. Combined with other modules in the faculty, such as ‘Housing and Homelessness’, this module provides a housing pathway for students wishing to develop or further their careers in this area. The module runs for 15 weeks, and is assessed by an essay, a report and an interactive Weblearn test.

This module examines human rights violations within the context of social and political conflicts and the specific context of armed conflict. Human rights problems, in their essence, challenge political, moral and ethical questions we hold about ourselves and the world in which we live. When we gain an understanding of what human rights we as human beings are entitled to, we gain an understanding of our own identities, as well as an understanding of the struggles in other parts of our own community, our wider country of residence, and in other nations within our collective global society. We also learn in this context the importance of understanding human rights in conflict resolution.

The module will address both theory and practice as it applied to real-world problems. Case studies will include human rights problems in conflict situations, including the situation of refugees and internally displaced persons, human rights defenders working in war zones, gender based violence and discrimination violence against women, and victims of ethnic cleansing and genocide.

This module builds on earlier studies of social problems, social inclusion and exclusion, and education policy. We will reflect further on the meaning of social inclusion and exclusion in society, and the specific meaning of the terms in education in relation to the world of education and students with special educational needs. The study of the role of education and schooling in relation to achieving inclusion in both arenas is the focus of this module.

This module will provide students with an opportunity to engage with contemporary debates on the relationship between religion and the state. Students will be required to critically examine the ideas of the classic and contemporary social scientists on religion and explore the application of their ideas to an ever-changing world. Overall, the aim of the module is to develop the students’ capacity to utilise social scientific concepts and perspectives in their analyses of religion in contemporary society. The disciplinary focus of the module will, initially, be the sociology of religion. The application of a range of social scientific approach will also be introduced - historical, political, economic and social psychological approaches.

This module is designed to enable students to undertake a period of work-based learning, in relation to their course at level 6, within an appropriate organisation, and to gain credit for that learning. They will have the opportunity to apply, to test and to extend the knowledge that they have gained at all levels of the course. In so doing students will be able to enhance and extend their understanding of Sociology or Social Policy applied to the world of practice. The module will also afford them the opportunity to gain professional experience of an appropriate related work environment.

The module introduces students to the key concepts and theories relating to the social construction of gender and sexuality and their application to a range of social sectors and issues in the UK and abroad. The ways in which gender and sexuality are both constitutive of the social and are constituted through social structures, institutions and interactions are explored, as are the ways in which theories of gender and sexuality have informed the sociological study of the family, work, health, education, crime, the welfare state and politics, media and the body.

This module will provide students with an opportunity to engage with contemporary thinkers and debates in social theory. They will be required to critically examine the ideas of contemporary social theorists and explore the application of their ideas to an ever-changing world. The module will explore what it means to be human and examine how different perspectives on this impact upon a range of issues, from state policies to the development of artificial intelligence. Overall, the aim of the module is to develop the students’ capacity to utilise theoretical ideas taken from philosophy and sociological theory by applying them to the social world.