Social Sciences Pathway

Summary

Social science is the field of study concerned with the social world. As such, it brings together a diverse range of disciplines including economics, business management, government, politics, international relations, sociology, education, social work and social policy.

Generating new knowledge about society and transforming this in ways that improve wellbeing, is central to all work in the College of Social Sciences. It employs over 400 academics (including almost 100 professors) and has over 9,000 students from across the world.

The School of Government and Society is one of the leading UK and international centres for governance, politics, international development, sociology, public management, Russian and European studies.

Birmingham Business School is a dynamic and internationally focused school offering programmes across the full range of business school disciplines. The School’s academic staff conducts world-class research, in addition to achieving excellence in teaching and enriching students’ understanding. We pride ourselves on students graduating with a range of knowledge and skills that give them a competitive edge.

Birmingham Business School has developed and continues to maintain strong links with professional accountancy firms and organisations such as Deloitte and KPMG. It is accredited by EQUIS and many of the degree programmes have individual professional accreditation (for example AMBA, CIPD, ICSA and CIPS).

The Social Sciences Pathway will lead you towards a degree in one of the following four schools:

  • Birmingham Business School
  • Education
  • Government and Society
  • Social Policy

See the Social Sciences Pathway progression table (PDF - 120KB) for more information about the undergraduate degrees available for a Foundation Academy student choosing this pathway and the compulsory and optional modules to undertake.

Key facts

Duration: 1 year / 4 years

Start date: September 2012 (Check to see if this course is receiving applications for September 2012)

Entry requirements

Contact details

If you have any questions, please contact us at:

Email: foundation-academy@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0)121 414 9292

How to apply

Apply through the Birmingham Foundation Academy application process

Fees and funding

The Birmingham Foundation Academy Package

The cost of the Birmingham Foundation Academy Package for 2012–2013 is £20,300.

This includes:

  • One years tuition fees: £12,500
  • Fully catered, ensuite, single accommodation, for one year: £7,000
  • Books and all classroom equipment: £800

Please note: this is an all-inclusive package.

Programme overview

Social Sciences pathway modules

Compulsory modules  Credits
English and Study Skills for Academic Purposes (Term 1)   20
English and Study Skills for Specific Academic Purposes (Term 2)   20
Optional modules
Politics, Policy and Protest   20
Social Policy, Welfare and Society   20
How to Learn, Earn and Be Happy: An Introduction to Education   20
Business and the Market   20
Quantitative Methods for Business and Economics   20

You must take modules totalling 120 credits over the academic year.
You may choose up to 40 credits from other pathway optional modules, subject to availability and timetabling.

Module descriptions

English and Study Skills for Academic Purposes and English and Study Skills for Specific Academic Purposes modules are detailed here.

Politics, Policy and Protest

When studying Politics we are concerned, above all, with how power is obtained and how it is then used. In representative democracies power resides in elected office, and the main concern is how representative institutions function and how they can be held accountable. However, many countries are not democratic and so as well as looking at democratic practices, the module will also consider authoritarian political systems – countries where the military, a commanding political party or a personalist autocracy holds power. In particular, it will examine how these countries function and how they differ from established democracies.

Social Policy, Welfare and Society

This module explores the potential to create the societies in which we would want to live through the development and implementation of policies, which include health, social care, housing and criminal justice. This highly contemporary and dynamic module analyses current social issues and asks questions about the role and contribution of the individual, the family and the State in constructing societies for the future.

How to Learn, Earn and Be Happy: An Introduction to Education

Learning, and processes of formal and informal education, are widely held to be crucial components of a successful and happy life. This module introduces you to theories of learning, teaching and assessment, explores their impact on life chances in different areas of the world and reviews philosophical and empirical research on the relationship between education and happiness.

Business and the Market

This module focuses on the relationship between firms and markets. It looks at how markets work, how they differ and why these differences matter to the firm. It begins by introducing you to some underlying ideas that will help you think about the subject, before moving on to describe the operations of the market itself. After learning about the laws of supply and demand, you will also study the different types of market and how firms set about maximising their profits under different competitive conditions.

Quantitative Methods for Business and Economics

While this module has a mathematical foundation, it is not simply about developing your mathematical skills. Rather, the purpose of the module is to show you how you can use these skills to improve your understanding of business problems and to help you make business decisions more effectively.

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