The Applied Social Science degree programme offers students the chance to engage in the core aspects of the social sciences, building on key themes from politics, economics and sociology to provide a degree attuned to understanding our complex world and researching social problems to offer practical solutions to real world issues.
In the modern world businesses, welfare organisations, local government networks and voluntary sector organisations all need graduates with a combined understanding of social science knowledge and good quality applied research skills. The programme has opportunities for work based placements in research based settings.
Teaching on this degree is structured into lectures, where all students are taught together, seminars of smaller groups of around 15-20 students, and tutorials which typically have no more than 10 students. Our emphasis on individual student attention means that class sizes are small, allowing the tutor to personally support you whenever you need. You will also have a one-to-one meeting with your tutor each week.
On the Applied Social Sciences degree, in your first year of study there are 12 teaching hours per week, which decreases to 10 teaching hours in your second year and 8 teaching hours in your third year.
On top of teaching hours, you are also expected to spend a number of hours each week studying independently, as well as studying in groups to prepare for any group assessments that you may have.
There are a number of written assessments to complete throughout the year. These may include individual reports/analyses, group presentations supported by a report, in-class tests, and essays. There will also be two final exams at the end of each year.
This course will develop a range of social science skills, training high level graduates able to understand, interpret and apply insights and research to ‘real world’ problems and events.
The Foundation Year is a great opportunity if you have the ability and enthusiasm to study for a degree, but do not yet have the qualifications required to enter directly onto our degree programmes. A significant part of the Foundation Year focuses upon core skills such as academic writing at HE level, becoming an independent learner, structuring academic work, critical thinking, time management and note taking.
Successful completion of the Foundation Year will enable you to progress into the first year (Level C) of your chosen honours degree. Further details can be found here.
This element of the course introduces students to the main social science disciplines, ensuring all students have a basic working knowledge of economics, politics and sociology.
This element looks at the variety of ways that evidence is gathered and presented to inform our understanding of the world.
Looks at how various media – like theatre, music, film, fine art – can shine a light on a range of social problems and issues.
We trace the response of the state to problems of ill=health and poverty from the ‘New’ Poor Law of 1834 up to contemporary legislation covering modern social welfare.
This looks at competing debates over the causes (and consequences) of a range of contemporary social problems (such as poverty, homelessness, obesity, climate change, alcohol and drug misuse etc)
This element looks at the contributions of various theorists (from the political right and left) to our understanding of contemporary social welfare. Theorists considered include Hayek, Mark, Marshall, Tawney, Titmuss, Sen
Looks at a range of social divisions (racism, sexism, homophobia, aging, disability) and the impact these divisions have of communities
Looks at a range of methods of undertaking real world research and has a built in, ‘hands on’ approach to undertaking research for a range of organisations
This element looks at the development of welfare institutions in a range of countries, to ascertain what we can learn from their approach to dealing with common social problems.
Looks at a range of international social problems and the solutions offered by individuals, a range of networks and organisations, states, and supra-state organisations. Issues include: climate change, child labour, global poverty, migration, food policy etc
All students will undertake a research based dissertation.
Graduates of this degree will be well prepared for a rewarding career in a range of organisations. The programme provides a range of transferrable skills that will be valued in employment. For example, research skills developed across the programme will be highly sought after and will lead to opportunities with, for example, local government and voluntary sector networks, local health care providers, the civil service and a range of businesses where research skills are valued.
Throughout the degree, you will meet a range of professionals at networking events, guest lectures and career workshops. You will also have the opportunity of undertaking work placements at local organisations, as well as having dedicated professionals and mentors offering guidance and advice in the job application process.
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more here.
The tuition fees for the 2020/21 academic year are £9,250 for full-time undergraduate courses.
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,250.
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
The International tuition fees for the 2020/21 academic year are £11,400 (provisional) per year for full-time undergraduate courses.
Visit our International fees page for more information.
With Foundation year, this degree is only available to study as a Single Honours course.
• Work placements are available on this programme
• International field trip opportunities available
• Strong emphasis on applying social science disciplines to real world situations and problems