| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-09-23 | 2023-07-04 |
| 2024-01-23 | - |
Program Overview
Explore social justice and welfare issues to understand the key questions and challenges society faces around rights, equality and distribution of resources.
On this course, you’ll learn about the social and political foundations of policies that affect people’s lives. You’ll study the impact social policy has on identity, political organisations, social justice and human rights.
You'll explore the origins and evolution of state-run institutions, and their relationship with the economy and third sector in the UK and beyond. This will increase your understanding of contemporary social welfare issues at local, national and international levels.
Year 1 is your introduction to becoming a social scientist. You’ll explore social change and how social issues become constructed as policy problems. You’ll also learn about the major social, political and economic factors shaping equality and welfare in modern Britain.
In Year 2, you will focus on key policy areas such as the family, poverty, social inequality, and analysis of the policy process. You’ll learn how to evaluate data and information to develop your own arguments for different audiences. You'll also choose from a range of social science optional units.
In your final year, you will do your dissertation, and study the relationship between social research, policy making and governance. You'll also choose from a range of optional units from across the social sciences. These will allow you to build upon the theoretical understanding you’ll gain during Years 1 and 2 and apply it to contemporary sociological issues.
The flexibility of this course will allow you to create a degree that’s tailored to your interests and potential future career.
Informed teaching to advance your learning
You’ll learn from teaching staff with diverse backgrounds and expertise in social policy. Their passion, knowledge and research shape their teaching to give you the foundation to become a critical-minded social scientist.
Develop your professional skills
We work to provide you with the skills and support to prepare you for employment and further study. These include:
Prepare for your future career
Many of our social sciences graduates have gone on to work as social and policy researchers, civil servants, international consultants, journalists, and accountants.
They've gone on to work in:
Explore social justice and welfare issues to understand the key questions and challenges society faces around rights, equality and distribution of resources.
On this course, you’ll learn about the social and political foundations of policies that affect people’s lives. You’ll study the impact social policy has on identity, political organisations, social justice and human rights.
You'll explore the origins and evolution of state-run institutions, and their relationship with the economy and third sector in the UK and beyond. This will increase your understanding of contemporary social welfare issues at local, national and international levels.
Year 1 is your introduction to becoming a social scientist. You’ll explore social change and how social issues become constructed as policy problems. You’ll also learn about the major social, political and economic factors shaping equality and welfare in modern Britain.
In Year 2, you will focus on key policy areas such as the family, poverty, social inequality, and analysis of the policy process. You’ll learn how to evaluate data and information to develop your own arguments for different audiences. You'll also choose from a range of social science optional units.
In your final year, you will do your dissertation, and study the relationship between social research, policy making and governance. You'll also choose from a range of optional units from across the social sciences. These will allow you to build upon the theoretical understanding you’ll gain during Years 1 and 2 and apply it to contemporary sociological issues.
The flexibility of this course will allow you to create a degree that’s tailored to your interests and potential future career.
Informed teaching to advance your learning
You’ll learn from teaching staff with diverse backgrounds and expertise in social policy. Their passion, knowledge and research shape their teaching to give you the foundation to become a critical-minded social scientist.
Develop your professional skills
We work to provide you with the skills and support to prepare you for employment and further study. These include:
Prepare for your future career
Many of our social sciences graduates have gone on to work as social and policy researchers, civil servants, international consultants, journalists, and accountants.
They've gone on to work in:
Program Outline
Course structure
This course lasts 3 years. It starts in September 2023 and ends in 2026. Welcome week starts on 25 September 2023.
Occasionally we make changes to our programmes in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies, and the requirements of accrediting bodies. You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.
Units
At Bath, our courses are made up of units of study. Compulsory units cover core concepts that you'll need to understand as part of your degree programme. Some of our courses also offer the opportunity for you to study optional units. These allow you to specialise in particular areas of knowledge that interest you.
As an undergraduate, you will be expected to take 60 credits (ECTS) in each academic year. These are usually split into 30 credits for each semester you study. 60 credits are the equivalent of 1,200 notional hours of study; this includes contact time with staff and your own independent learning.
Year 1
Compulsory units
Becoming a social scientist 1
10 credits
Becoming a social scientist 2
10 credits
Social problems, social change and the state
10 credits
The making of modern society
10 credits
Understanding social change
10 credits
Options
Year 1 Options
10 credits
Year 2
Compulsory units
Policy making: politics and practices
20 credits
Qualitative analysis: the power of immersion
10 credits
Quantitative data analysis: the power of statistics
10 credits
Options
Year 2 Options
20 credits
Year 3
Compulsory units
Policy analysis for professional practice
10 credits
Social policy dissertation
20 credits
Options
Final Year Options
30 credits
Learning and assessment
You’ll be taught and assessed by a variety of methods and it will vary between units. These methods are designed to promote in-depth learning and understanding of the subject.
Learning
Assessment
Learning and teaching
Contact hours
Timetabled contact hours, which may be made up of laboratory sessions, lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops, vary throughout your course and between courses but are typically around 10 hours a week in your first year.
Independent learning
In addition to timetabled contact hours, you are expected to undertake independent learning and assessment activities. Typically, this might be around 25 to 30 hours per week in your first year, and include individual and group projects, preparing coursework assignments, presentations, or revising for exams. After your first year, the emphasis on independent learning becomes greater, for example, you may do a final year project in the final year. You’ll be expected to work both on your own and as part of a group.
Assessment breakdown
You will be assessed in a range of methods designed to develop and test your skills and knowledge.
10% to 25% of your course will be assessed through examinations.
75% to 90% will be assessed through essays, reports, and presentations.
The final degree classification is determined by your second and final year marks and each contributes 32% and 68% respectively.
You will primarily be assessed as an individual, but may also be assessed as part of a group.
We can make reasonable adjustments to assessment procedures for students with disabilities, take a look at our Disability Service’s pages for information.
Recognition of professional qualifications
As well as being recognised as a higher academic qualification, a number of our degrees are also accredited by professional bodies in the United Kingdom. An accredited degree may entitle you to work in a specific profession within the UK, and abroad (where there are reciprocating arrangements with professional bodies in other countries).
The requirements to practise a profession vary from country to country. If you wish to practise your profession outside the United Kingdom, you are advised to confirm that the UK professional qualification you seek is valid in the country in which you are intending to work.
The United Kingdom currently subscribes to The Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications (MRPQ) Directive. The MRPQ Directive provides a reciprocal framework of rules which enables European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals to have their professional qualifications recognised in a state other than the one in which the qualification was obtained. In the event of a no deal Brexit, from 1 January 2021, the MRPQ Directive will no longer apply to the UK. However, it is anticipated that there will be a new system for recognising professional qualifications between the UK, EEA, and Switzerland.