BASocial Policy and Sociology (Year Abroad)

Study location	United Kingdom, Birmingham
Type	Bachelor courses, full-time
Nominal duration	4 years
Study language	English
Awards	BA
Course code	L34A

Entry qualification	High school / secondary education (or higher) The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English. Often you can get a suitable transcript from your school. If this is not the case, you will need official translations along with verified copies of the original.

Language requirements	English IELTS: 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 in each skill) CAE: 176 (with a minimum of 169 in each skill)

Other requirements	At least 1 reference(s) must be provided. A motivation letter must be added to your application.

More information	birmingham.ac.uk/..ogy-year-abroad-ba.aspx

Overview

Interested? To learn more about this study programme, entry requirements and application process, please contact one of our consultants in a country nearest to you.

Programme structure

Modules in the first year

Core modules are:

Introduction to Social Policy
Module Lead: Lee Gregory
Social Issues and Social Policy
Module Lead: Robert Page
Social Divisions
Social Worlds and the Sociological Imagination

Optional modules:

Introduction to Criminology
Module Lead: Simon Pemberton
Researching Policy and Society
Module Lead: Louise Overton
Research Skills and Literacy
Sociology of the Self and Everyday Life

Modules in the second year

Core modules are:

Social Research Methods
Module Lead: Matt Bennett
Social Theory and Social Policy
Module Lead: Tina Hearn; Robert Page
Modern Sociological Theory A
Modern Sociological Theory B
Global Societies
Gender and Sexuality

You can choose 20 credits from the following optional modules:

Social Policy modules
Managing Health and Social Care
Module Lead: Iain Snelling
Comparative Social Policy
Module Lead: Kelly Hall
Policy Analysis
Module Lead: Lee Gregory
Equalities and Diversity

Criminal Justice Systems
Module Lead: Clare Harewood
Poverty, Wealth and Inequality
Module Lead: Lee Gregory
Third Sector and Social Enterprise
Module Lead: John Mohan
Housing and Communities
Module Lead: David Mullins
Sociology modules

You can choose 20 credits from the following:

Data Analysis and Research Design
Sociology of Race and Ethnicity

Year Abroad

Our Social Policy, Criminology and Policy, Politics and Economics degrees offer a year abroad option. If selecting this option, your degree will follow the same programme as the standard BA in terms of Years 1 and 2. However, your third year will be spent abroad at a university in the EU or elsewhere in the world. After completing your year abroad, you will return for your fourth and final year to the same BA degree programme.

There are a wide range of countries and universities from which you can choose.
As well as a range of European universities, you may also choose from a range of current institutional partners worldwide. These include countries in which a variety of languages are spoken, including universities at which courses are taught in English.

In recent years, students in the department have taken their year abroad in Australia, Canada, Denmark and the United States, among others.

Modules in the final year

40 credits – Dissertation (Social Policy and Sociology)
20 credits – Contemporary Social Theory A & B
Social Policy

You can choose 40 credits from the following modules:

Prospects for Social Policy in the UK
Module Lead: David Mullins; Tina Hearn
Migration and Superdiversity
Module Lead: Lisa Goodson
Doing or Not Doing God

From Beveridge to Cameron
Module Lead: Robert Page
Your Money and Your Life
Module Lead: Karen Rowlingson
Harmful Societies
Module Lead: Simon Pemberton
Sociology (20 credits):

20 credits – Environment, Politics and Society A / Environment, Politics and Society B
20 credits – Family, Institution, Relationship and Myth A & B
20 credits – Political Sociology A / Political Sociology B
20 credits – The Public Domain A / The Public Domain B
20 credits – Sociology of Success and Fame
20 credits – Sociology of Film
20 credits – Technology and Society
20 credits – Sociology of Health and Illness
20 credits – Global Capitalism, Migration and the changing face of Europe
20 credits – Issues in Cross Cultural Studies

Career opportunities

There are a number of job paths for you to take after graduating. There are graduate schemes in managing welfare services in health care, the third sector and local government which can be popular choices with our graduates. Since a degree in Social Policy is based upon how policy is made it is a great degree for working in the civil service, local government or for think tanks. Our graduate also gain students many transferable skills such as critical thinking, written and verbal communication and team work which give them the flexibility to go into a wide range of employment opportunities:

NHS management trainee scheme
Planning Officer
Charity co-ordinator
Marketing project manager
Social enterprise co-ordinator
Campaign manager for an MP
Youth worker
Researcher
Communications officer
Graduate land buyer
Benefits Officer