Details
This degree explores some of the big issues facing today’s and tomorrow’s societies including: housing provision; climate change; sustainable development; property development; leisure tourism and transport infrastructure; exchange rates; trade agreements; income tax; international banking; and the NHS and other public sector organisations.
Why study this course
All planning degrees benefit from CURS’ international teaching and research reputation. CURS’ research, consultancy and professional development links with a wide range of public, private and community organisations ensure our teaching is relevant, at the cutting-edge and research-led.
Modules
The degree programme has been designed to combine study in both social policy and planning to ensure that you develop a strong foundation and an appreciation of how to use this knowledge to make decisions about the built environment. There are extremely close synergies between the two subjects. Knowledge of social policy is a fundamental part of our urban world and the understanding of how society works is critical to the operation of the planning system and how cities function. The programme offers a combination of both core and optional modules that will enable you to concentrate on issues and themes that are of particular interest to you.
Year 1
On the Social Policy side you will study a range of modules on social policy and social issues. On the planning side you will study the history and evolution of planning, explore how planning operates in the contemporary context, examine the socio-economic nature of cities and how they have changed and undertake some basic GIS mapping. There is an emphasis in the modules on developing applied skills through fieldwork, tutorials and project work.
In the first year students take 120 credits over 8 compulsory modules:
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The Planning of the Built Environment (20 credits)
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Society, Space and Policy (10 credits)
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Economy, Space and Policy (10 credits)
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Planning Tutorial (10 credits)
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Mapping the Midlands (10 credits)
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Introduction to Social Policy A and B (20 credits)
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Finding Out About Social Policy: Introduction to Social Research (20 credits)
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Social Issues and Social Policy (20 credits)
Year 2
The second year builds upon the knowledge acquired in the first year with a combination of both core and optional modules. The programme is designed to enable you to choose from a range of optional modules in order to tailor the degree to your own interests.
There is a focus in the second year of preparing students for their extended essay/dissertation in the third year – so there is work on research methods and techniques.
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Core Modules
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Optional (to include modules such as):
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The Urban and Regional Economy: Problems and Policies A and B (20 credits)
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Social Inclusion (20 credits)
Managing Health and Social Care (20 credits)
Statutory and Voluntary Perspectives A & B (20 credits)
Beveridge to Cameron: the political history of the welfare state from the 1940s to the present day (20 credits)
Social Policy into practice (20 credits)
New Migration and Super-diversity (20 credits)
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Understanding Neighbourhood Poverty (20 Credits)
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Introduction to Social Research A and B (20 credits)
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Social Theory and Social Policy A and B (20 credits)
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Year 3
In the third year you select specialised modules related to your areas of interest, and also undertake dissertation supervised by a member of staff, in which you are free to design, implement and analyse a research project of your own choosing.
The final year of study is designed to be fully flexible and allow for the development of individual interests.
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Core Modules
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Optional (to include modules such as):
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Dissertation (40 credits) or Extended Essay (20 credits)
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Comparative Social Policy (20 credits)
Crime and Justice (20 credits)
New Migration and Super-diversity (20 credits)
Poverty and Social Security (20 credits)
Your Money or Your Life (20 credits)
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Contemporary Urban Development and Planning (20 credits)
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Regenerating Urban Communities (20 credits)
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The Prospects for Social Policy A and B (20 credits)
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Fees and funding
Entry requirements
Number of A levels required: 3
Typical offer: ABB
Required subjects and grades: Grade C in each of GCSE English and Maths.
General Studies: We do not accept General Studies, Critical Thinking, Citizenship Studies, or World Development.
Additional information:
International students:
International Baccalaureate Diploma: 34 points with 6, 5, 5 at HL. Minimum of 5 in SL English and Maths if not offered at GCSE or equivalent.
Standard English language requirements apply
Learn more about international entry requirements
Depending on your chosen course of study, you may also be interested in the Birmingham Foundation Academy, a specially structured programme for international students whose qualifications are not accepted for direct entry to UK universities. Further details can be found on the foundation academy web pages.
How to apply
Key Information Set (KIS)
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