Professor Elaine McFarland & Dr Stewart Davidson The BA Social Sciences Programme.
Distinctiveness of Social Sciences at GCU Careers & Employability Not a narrow vocational degree graduates pursue wide range of careers Graduates have gone into teaching, social work, journalism, criminal justice system, civil service, voluntary sector, politics, further study Increasing opportunity for relevant placements Cultivate a number of transferable skills, but especially critical thinking
Distinctiveness of Social Sciences at GCU Broad-based knowledge of key social science disciplines: Sociology, History, Economics, Politics, Psychology, Criminology Unique degree course in Scotland Range & breadth of disciplines available Increasing specialisation at Levels 3 & 4 Extensive module choices & flexibility in pathways Research-led teaching British Psychological Society accreditation possible
Work Placements International Exchanges Volunteering opportunities throughout the programme Citizen s Advice; The Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency;; Engender; STUC; National Museum of Scotland; Royal Highland Fusiliers Regimental Museum; SACRO; Poverty Alliance; North Lanarkshire Befriending Project. Level 4 Dissertation placement-based option Level 3 International Exchanges - Brock University, Saint Mary s University, Ryerson University, Carleton University and the University of Winnipeg in Canada; California State University, Long Beach, Iowa State University, Illinois State University, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, Middle Tennessee State University, Northern Kentucky University, Ohio Northern University, University of Massachusetts, Boston, University of Delaware and Western Carolina University in the United States; La Trobe University in Australia; Universidad Technica Federico Santa Maria and Universidad del Desarrollo in Chile.
Teaching and Assessment Lectures, podcasts and seminars On-line discussion boards Problem solving exercises Dissertations Wikis Documentary analyses Class papers Critical reviews of articles, book chapters Role playing exercises Class tests Comparative analyses Essays Seen and unseen examinations
Course Content History Economics Sociology Psychology Criminology Politics
Course Content Level 1 Structure Every student picks 6 year-long modules Students can choose to take the six introductory modules in the core Social Sciences disciplines OR They can drop one module for a language 7
Course Content Level 2 Structure Students pick 6 modules from the subjects passed in Level 1 Students can choose to specialise to a limited extent or continue to take modules from across the core disciplines Language options are also available 8
Course Content Level 3 Structure All students must take a research methods module plus 5 other options All students must take modules in at least 2 disciplines More module choice -students can start to specialise 9
Course Content Level 4 Structure Every student takes a dissertation which is double-weighted In addition students take four other modules Wide range of module choice Students can choose to specialise fully in one subject or take modules in up to three subjects 10
Course Content Examples of Level 4 Modules Environmental Political Thought Making and Managing Public Policy Building Fortress Europe? Immigration and Immigrant Policy in Europe One People, One Reich, One Leader? Hitler and the Germans at War, 1939-1945 From Lunatic to Citizen? Madness and Society since 1850 Ireland: From Union to Independence Victimology, Trauma and Social Harm Globalisation and Crime Understanding Violence Body, Sport and Society Ethnicity and Equality Global Social Entrepreneurship Contemporary Issues in the World Economy Economics of the Welfare State 11
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