BA (Hons) Social Sciences

Our multi-disciplinary programme provides you with the opportunity to develop a wide knowledge base from a selection of subject areas which include politics, history, sociology, policing and criminology.

After an introduction to the social sciences in Years 1 and 2, you may start to specialise in Year 3 and Year 4. Exchange opportunities exist in Year 3 with a range of institutions (California State University Long Beach, University of Massachusetts in Boston, Erasmus University, Rotterdam and Siegen University).

You will also have the option to study language modules, thus broadening your knowledge and the scope of your career options. Graduate employability is high on our agenda and is embedded throughout our programme, which will also equip you with skills in presentation, research and computing, critical evaluation and concise writing.

Assessment methods

A wide range of learning and teaching methods are employed to ensure that you gain the necessary knowledge and understanding while developing their intellectual and personal skills to become lifelong learners.

Assessments are designed to develop your independent learning while testing your ability to address problems, formulate arguments and analysis issues. A wide range of assessment styles are adopted, geared to the content of the modules, and enable you to develop not just in your written skills and learning but also in skills such as data analysis, software applications, presentation and team working.

Assessment methods may vary between modules and include: unseen examinations, class tests, written course work, presentations and group work.

Teaching methods

The employability of our graduates is a cornerstone of our curriculum, enabling our students to become reflective lifelong learners able to respond dynamically in changing employment contexts.

We employ an extensive range of formative and summative assessment methods and additionally, a number of our modules use the university's own Virtual Learning Environment, GCULearn, which enables our staff to develop innovative online modes of assessment, such as discussion boards, MCQ class tests and referencing exercises. We also use this to access e-learning tools such as wikis, blogs, podcasts, and online discussion boards and quizzes.

Your career

Graduates benefit from a wide range of employment opportunities and have previously secured jobs in teaching, social work, the police force, marketing, public administration, political and social research, HR, journalism, counselling, heritage and tourism.

Graduates can also pursue postgraduate studies in a variety of academic disciplines up to PhD level.