Programme And Module Handbook
 
Programme Specification


Date Specification Approved 02/07/2018
College College Social Sciences
School School of Social Policy
Department Soc Policy, Sociology & Crimin
Partner College and School
Collaborative Organisation and Form of Collaboration
Qualification and Programme Title B.A. Social Policy and Criminology Full-time
Programme Code 945A
Delivery Location Campus
Language of Study English
Length of Programme 3 Year(s)
Accreditations This programme has no outside accreditations
Aims of the Programme Social Policy and Criminology offer distinct insights into a range of social problems and social harms, as well as the operation of the welfare state(s) and criminal justice system(s) respectively to address these issues. The programme is designed to develop the following knowledge and skills:

1. An understanding of key concepts and theoretical approaches in both fields which offer an understanding of the aetiologies and responses to a range of social problems and social harms. In relation to criminology, this entails theories that seek to explain the causes of crime and responses to crime and deviance. In terms of Social Policy, the key concepts and theories of well being, including human needs; inequality, poverty and exclusion; and citizenship.

2. An understanding of the origins and development of both welfare and criminal justice institutions and the social and demographic contexts in which they operated, as well as the evolving and shifting inter-relationships between these systems as mechanisms to respond to social problems and social harms. Moreover, to develop an appreciation of the ways in which these institutions have developed in similar or different forms in other countries.

3. An understanding of how different social groups and individuals’ experience social problems and social harms, as well as the policies and regulatory responses that are purported to alleviate or ameliorate these issues.

4. An understanding of the construction and representation of social problems and social harms, and of responses to these in policymaking, mass/social media and public opinion.

5. An understanding of how the extent and experience of social problems and social harms vary comparatively, particularly as a consequence of different welfare and criminal justice regimes. Moreover, knowledge of supranational policy responses to global social problems and social harms will be developed.

6. An understanding of the basic principles of social research as applicable particularly to the study of social problems and social harms, as well as the strengths, weaknesses and uses of specific sources of data and research methods.

With an emphasis on examining contemporary policy debates in relation to a broad range of social issues and social harms, as well as exploring the range of ways in which responses to those issues are and could be formed, the Joint Honours Social Policy and Criminology degree makes strong connections with the concerns of a very wide range of employers and key professions.
Programme Outcomes
Students are expected to have Knowledge and Understanding of: Which will be gained through the following Teaching and Learning methods: and assessed using the following methods:
1. Key concepts and theories of well being: including human needs; inequality; poverty; social exclusion and citizenship
2. Key concepts and theories that explain the causes and societal responses to crime
3. The applications of key concepts and theories to the study of a range of social problems and social harms
4. The development of both welfare and criminal justice institutions in the UK and a comparative context, as well as the inter-relationships between these systems, as mechanisms to respond to social problems and social harms
5. Comparative and supranational policy responses to global social problems and social harms
6. Comparative and supranational policy responses to global social problems and social harms
7. The construction and representation of social problems and social harms, and of responses to these in policy making, mass/social media and public opinion
8. How the extent and experience of social problems and social harms vary comparatively, particularly as a consequence of different welfare and criminal justice regimes
9. Basic principles of social research as applicable to the study of social problems and social harms, as well as strengths, weaknesses and uses of specific sources of data and research methods
1, 2 and 3 will be met principally through the Year 1 modules that largely will consist of Lectures and Seminars. In later years, students will deepen this knowledge through study of specific harms and problems – with greater emphasis on student led projects and independent study.

4 will be met in modules specifically for Social Policy in year one and year two for Criminology through Lecture and Seminar format. Inter-relationships explored more closely principally in year three module ‘Harmful Societies’ which will also include more student led discussions and enquiry.

5 will run through the content of all degree modules, with specific attention paid in year two and three modules (Comparative Social Policy; Punishment in a Global Context; and Harmful Societies) delivered through lecture/seminars and more student led discussions and presentations.

6 will through the content of most degree modules at each level. It will be met principally will delivered through Lectures and Seminars in Year 1 modules. In later years, students will deepen this knowledge through study of specific harms and problems – with greater emphasis on student led projects and independent study.

7 will be explicitly addressed in year one Social Issues and Social Policy delivered through lectures and seminars. In year two Policy Analysis will facilitate enquiry based learning through a series of class based exercises/workshops.

8 will run through the content of all degree modules, with specific attention paid in year two and three modules (Violence in a Global Context, Comparative Social Policy; Punishment in a Global Context; and Harmful Societies) delivered through lecture/seminars and more student led discussions and presentations.

9 will be delivered through Researching Policy and Society; Social Research Methods; Policy Analysis that will deploy a mixture of lectures, class based exercises and problem solving culminating in the independent research project conducted in the dissertation.
1, 2, and 3 will be in year one assessed through principally unseen exam and essay.

1, 2, and 3 will be assessed in years 2 and 3 through independent study such as the dissertation and research reports.

4 will be in year one assessed through principally unseen exam and essay.

4 will be assessed in years two and three in addition to unseen exam and essay, as well as a greater degree of independent study, such as the dissertation and research reports.

5 will be assessed in years two and three through unseen exam and essay, as well as a greater degree of independent study, such as the dissertation and research reports.

6 will be in year one assessed through principally unseen exam and essay.

6 will be assessed in years 2 and 3 through independent study such as the dissertation and research reports.

7 will be assessed in year one through unseen exam and essay; in year two a greater degree of independent study/problem solving based assessment.

8 will be assessed in years two and three through unseen exam and essay, as well as a greater degree of independent study, such as the dissertation/extended essay and research reports.

9 will assessed through unseen exam, essay and research report in years one and two and the dissertation/extended essay in year three.
Students are expected to have attained the following Skills and other Attributes: Which will be gained through the following Teaching and Learning methods: and assessed using the following methods:
1. The ability to work individually and in groups
2. The ability to work flexibly and creatively, demonstrating independence and reflexivity
3. The ability to source, summarise, and critically engage with the existing theoretical and empirical material on a subject and deploy this, where appropriate, in constructing arguments
4. The ability to formulate research questions, select appropriate research tools, recognise ethical issues and collect and interpret data
5. The ability to formulate research questions, select appropriate research tools, recognise ethical issues and collect and interpret data
6. Presentation skills and audience awareness
7. Presentation skills and audience awareness
8. Writing skills, essays, reports, briefing papers
9. Oral communication skills
10. Oral communication skills
11. Working with data
12. Reflecting on their own learning
1, 2. Students are required to perform independent study through class preparation and assessment in all years. Group work is present in every year of the degree working with others in group projects and presentations participating in giving formative assessment.

3. Students through essay writing sessions in year one are taught to synthesise different sources and build a logical argument and this is a central feature of Researching Policy and Society, in year three students are encouraged through one to one dissertation supervision to produce critical literature reviews as part of the dissertation.

4 will be delivered through the Research Methods units that run through years one and two, culminating in the year three dissertation

5 will be delivered at all stages of the degree as students will be advised and supported to balance tasks and time frames in project work, as well as meeting long deadlines for independent study.

6 will be expected to make formal presentations in class/seminars at all stages of their degree

7 see 1, 2

8 is delivered incrementally through the degree. There is a particular focus in year one, in providing seminars and class tasks that seek to develop students essay writing and report writing skills. These are further honed later in the degree, through in particular the support provided in dissertation module.

9 Students participate in structured seminars and student-led discussions in seminars and classes throughout their degree. Additionally, they have the opportunity to undertake formative and summative oral presentations, especially in year three.

.10 see 3

11 see 4

12 Students are specifically encouraged in Researching Policy and Society to reflect on the process of learning and knowledge acquisition through a series of exercise. Other units such as 'Doing Justice' require the production of reflective accounts.
1, 2 the ability to work independently is assessed through unseen examinations, essays, reports, individual presentations, and the ability to work in a group through group presentations and reports.

3 assessed through unseen exam, essay and dissertation/extended essay.

4 assessed through unseen exam, essay and dissertation/extended essay.

5 assessed through essay, reports and dissertation/extended essay.

6 assessed through class presentations

7 See 1, 2

8 is assessed through unseen exam, essay, dissertation and report.

9 is assessed through class presentations.

10 See 3

11 See 4

12 is assessed through essay and reflective accounts.