BSc Social and Political Sciences(For students entering from September 2023 onwards)

Year 2

(Award available for year: Diploma of Higher Education)

Learning outcomes

On completion of the year/programme students should have provided evidence of being able to:

Demonstrate a broad understanding of the concepts, information, practical competencies and techniques of the social and political sciences; this broad understanding would include an ability to apply theories and concepts outside of their original context

Show knowledge and application of the main methods of enquiry in the subject and critically evaluate the appropriateness of qualitative and quantitative methods;

Further their sense of criticality, by engaging in critical writing around the primary texts and debates that have been covered.

Start developing a confident academic style of writing with clear knowledge of both referencing and academic integrity.

An ability to find information from different sources, to be able to determine the reliability of those sources and to analyse them in various ways.

Be able to evaluate and criticise received opinion and effectively communicate outcomes from this.

Transferable (key) skills

In addition to those gained in year one, students should gain the following skills (as well as developing those gained in year one):

Critical Reading and Writing

Effective Communication

Quantitative and Qualitative research skills

Time Management



Additional skills information:



In level 2, you will develop, practice, and be assessed on your academic literacy through skills such as critical thinking (with an emphasis on critical reading and writing) and quantitative and qualitative skills. You will also have opportunities to develop effective communication through seminars/workshops further underpinning and practicing the skills developed in the first year. In addition, you will be building on the academic competency, started in the first year, in relevant theories, concepts and studies in both social and political thought.

You will have opportunities to further develop your professional literacy, refining through your own reflections the skills of teamwork (prompting negotiation and influencing skills), in addition to creativity, innovation and problem solving through seminars/workshops and assessments. These learning opportunities will enable you to confidently plan for additional extra-curricular opportunities and to consider your aspirations post-graduation.

You will make more deliberate choices about the most appropriate digital tools to use in your work and will be using these to work collaboratively with your fellow students but also with the aim of developing the skill of self-management and protecting your online presence.

Assessment

1. Demonstrating the ability to apply a broad range of aspects/competencies of the disciplines;

2. Work that draws upon a wide variety of critically engaged material (i.e. showing the ability to evaluate and criticise received opinion.)

3. A space to demonstrate competency in both critical reading and writing.