Programme Specification

Programme Specification Title: Social Science Final Award: Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA (Hons)) With Exit Awards at: Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA (Hons)) To be delivered from: 1 Sep 2014 Level Date Level 1 or Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) 2014-15 Level 2 or Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) Level 3 or Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA (Hons)) 2016-17 Page 1/22

Table Of Contents 1. Introduction... 3 2. Basic Programme Data... 4 3. Programme Description... 5 3.1 Overview... 5 3.2 Aims and Objectives... 5 3.3 Variations to Standard Regulations and Guidance... 7 4. Programme Outcomes... 8 4.1 Knowledge and Understanding... 8 4.2 Subject Specific Intellectual Skills... 8 4.3 Subject Specific Practical Skills... 8 4.4 Transferable Skills and Attributes... 8 5. Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategies... 10 5.1. Learning and Teaching Strategy... 10 5.2. Assessment Strategy... 10 6. Programme Structure... 12 Appendix I - Curriculum Map... 13 Appendix II - Assessment Map... 16 Appendix III - Benchmark Analysis... 21 Appendix IV - Benchmark Statements(s)... 22 Page 2/22

1. Introduction This document describes one of the University of Lincoln's programmes using the protocols required by the UK National Qualifications Framework as defined in the publication QAA guidelines for preparing programme specifications. This programme operates under the policy and regulatory frameworks of the University of Lincoln. Page 3/22

2. Basic Programme Data Final Award: Programme Title: Exit Awards and Titles Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA (Hons)) Social Science Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA (Hons)) Subject(s) Social Sciences Mode(s) of delivery Full Time Part Time Is there a Placement or Exchange? UCAS code Awarding Body Campus(es) School(s) Programme Leader Relevant Subject Benchmark Statements Professional, Statutory or Regulatory Body Accreditation No L301 Programme Start Date 2014-15 University of Lincoln Lincoln Campus, Lincoln College, North Lindsey College School of Social and Political Sciences Rachela Colosi (rcolosi) Page 4/22

3. Programme Description 3.1 Overview BA (Hons) Social Science is unique in its combination of discrete threads of social scientific enquiry into an integrated whole. It is a generic programme comprised of a number of distinctive routes each of which can be tailored to suit the needs and interests of the individual. A coherent Criminological thread builds upon a detailed examination of the politics of law and order, race and gender and the sociology of deviance, policing and social control at level one. This leads directly to a more theoretical examination of the various attempts to explain the existence and causes of crime and how these are applied in practical criminal justice settings. Level three picks up on the various Sociological and Philosophical explanations/justifications for punishment in the context of contemporary policy initiatives and debates. A thread directed towards Politics and Government builds on core dimensions of culture, community and political representation and sets them in their appropriate context of resource allocation/distribution. Students build upon the broader dimensions of Sociological theory at level two and finally addressing Human Rights, Body Politics, Contemporary Social Theory and New Social Movements/Global Civil Society at level three. These threads are supported further either by a thorough evaluation of the political and sociological forces that shape our decisions at personal, collective and global levels. Alongside this is a thematic route derived from Social Policy that provides a robust analysis of the assumptions that inform contemporary social and political policies, the processes that characterise their formulation, and the consequences that ensue from policy implementation. The focus is on social policy fashioned in a variety of highly relevant contexts, for example, education, health, welfare, employment, poverty, social problems, citizenship and transport. And key dimensions involve fundamental considerations of power, inequality, race, gender, age and class. Each of these is underpinned by the skills modules offering a focussed introduction to social scientific modes of enquiry at level one in Applying Research; a substantial training in research methods allied to preparation for Independent Study at level two in Social Research; and the opportunity to complete an Independent Study in a relevant area of social science in the final year. Social Science offers a solid grounding in a number of key areas of contemporary social science allied to the more specialist coverage of a range and choice of contemporary issues and ideas. The opportunity to draw from a number of specialist threads allows for a truly interdisciplinary approach that is quite different from other degree programmes and reflects a major developing strength within the Department as a whole. Overall, the BA (Hons) Social Science can be seen as having a clear social scientific identity which coheres around a number of chosen themes. 3.2 Aims and Objectives Educational aims of the programme: The BA (Hons) Social Science aims to provide students with an education that: reflects the diversity of approaches to the study of the social sciences; enables students to develop their critical and intellectual abilities and apply these to an Page 5/22

understanding of the world in which they live; encourages the synergy between research and teaching through integrating research knowledge and experience in forms appropriate to teaching and learning. encourages students to think critically about issues of identity and citizenship; diversity, difference and exclusion; community and conflict; globalising and developing societies. The BA (Hons) Social Science is distinctive in that the objectives are to: provide opportunities for students, through their own areas of focus, to obtain an understanding of present-day society, including institutions, processes, ideas and issues; encourage students to obtain a range of skills and qualities which will assist them in their undergraduate study of the component subjects and in subsequent study and/or employment; provide intellectual and academic challenges appropriate to undergraduate education, including both theoretical and more practical approaches to the study of social science; develop students abilities to work independently, and to develop self-reliance in their choice of topics and methods of investigation. Internal contexts: The BA (Hons) Social Science programme seeks to implement the University mission and strategy by providing students with an education and learning experience that will equip them to compete in the world of work and provide them with a range of skills, knowledge and abilities, thus enabling them to build upon their University experience as lifelong learners. It does this by operating within the framework set by University policies and practices and by building on existing strengths in the social sciences. The programme is effectively constituted by a choice of modules from a combination of modules from the University s undergraduate subjects of Criminology, International Relations, Politics, Sociology and Social Policy. These are organised into discrete module threads designed to ensure internal coherence and mutual support. In relation to the subjects of Politics and International Relations, core modules from within these existing subjects have been refashioned as a distinctive strand of Political/Global Power. Politics and Social Policy modules figure also in the conceptualisation of power and here, in addition, the programme draws upon specialist expertise in the arena of Human Rights. Academically, the programme has been designed to ensure that students will gain a strong grounding in the theories that underpin the study of social science and the application of ideas in the real world of politics, power, policy and crime. The programme also draws upon and reflects staff research and professional expertise, particularly at level 3. External contexts: The BA (Hons) Social Science was developed as a cooperative venture in 2002 between the University and North Lindsey College. That particular programme was previously delivered partly on the University s campus (at level three) but now through established arrangements with partners at levels one and two and three including Lincoln College as well as The University Centre at North Lindsey College. The original version of social science reflected the particular strengths of the colleges at levels one and two and their potential for continuation/development at level three in Lincoln. The BA (Hons) Combined Social Science was developed in 2004 as a separate programme representing the distinctive combination of subjects available at the Lincoln campus and reflected core departmental strengths and subjects. Its distinctiveness derived from the combination of threads, honed within traditional Lincoln-based subjects and this was duly reflected in the substantially different title. Building upon this dual provision, the Department sought a much greater level of convergence between the two programmes and a much simpler identity. Thus in 2006 the two programmes were Page 6/22

merged into one much more coherent BA in Social Science with opportunities for marginally different options around a core structure of social science. The current reconfiguration is a result of the move to a different credit rating structure, the availability of new modules and the development of more interdisciplinary modules. In 2012 the partner colleges gained validation to deliver the full three year programme of study. 3.3 Variations to Standard Regulations and Guidance None Page 7/22

4. Programme Outcomes Programme-level learning outcomes are identified below. Refer to Appendix I Curriculum Map for details of how outcomes are deployed across the programme. 4.1 Knowledge and Understanding On successful completion of this programme a student will have knowledge and understanding of: 1 A1 theoretical and practical vocabularies of social science; 2 A2 complex functioning of society and social provision; 3 A3 theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of some of the main perspectives of social science; 4 A4 limitations and strengths of the main approaches to research and analysis in social science; 5 A5 contestable nature of social enquiry; 6 A6 major ethical issues relating to social science; 7 A7 contribution that can be made from a range of disciplines to the study of social science. 4.2 Subject Specific Intellectual Skills On successful completion of this programme a student will be able to: 8 B1 identify appropriate conceptual frameworks for the structuring of research and analysis of society; 9 B2 identify, access, interpret and evaluate critically a diverse range of relevant information; 10 B5 suspend personal judgement until appropriate evidence has been gathered, analysed and evaluated; 11 B6 apply and evaluate a range of different theories, ideologies and explanations that are appropriate to the study of social science and society; 12 B7 make links between diverse phenomena and issues.; 4.3 Subject Specific Practical Skills On successful completion of this programme a student will be able to: 13 B3 undertake simple social research projects; 14 B4 construct, analyse and evaluate different forms of argument and advance these through discussion and negotiation; 4.4 Transferable Skills and Attributes On successful completion of this programme a student will be able to: Page 8/22

15 C1 apply basic computer skills; 16 C2 record and interpret data; 17 C3 work, learn and pursue specific objectives in a manner which is both self motivated and responsive to appropriate supervision; 18 C4 identify personal strengths and weaknesses and understand the importance of continued reflection on experience, development and education; 19 C5 be self disciplined and determined in working under pressure and to deadlines; 20 C6 maintain a critical stance with regard to opinion and evidence; 21 C7 produce good quality written and oral reports and summaries; 22 C8 present different types of materials using a variety of techniques and media; 23 C9 take on the role of others; 24 C10 respond to, and benefit from, constructive feedback; 25 C11 function in a team, take on responsibility and anticipate problems and difficulties. For details of each module contributing to the programme, please consult the module specification document. Page 9/22

5. Learning, Teaching and Assessment Strategies 5.1. Learning and Teaching Strategy The teaching and learning strategy adopted within BA (Hons) Social Science derives from a commitment to student-centred learning, with an emphasis on research and analytical skills. The range of teaching and learning methods is matched by a variety of modes of assessment, as shown in the module outlines, including: student centred work; group based and individual research; large/small scale and multi-media presentations; case studies; auto-critiques; self appraisal; and agency relevant live projects. It is enhanced through the overall commitment of the department to research informed teaching and bears the hallmark of the departments two UoA submissions to the 2008 RAE. It is further enhanced through the departmental policy of researching what we teach, teaching what we research and research into teaching e.g. feedback and active learning/citizenship. There are a range of transferable skills that might be expected from Social Science graduates, including IT skills, analytical and critical abilities, presentation and group-work skills, awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses, ability to find and organise information, manage time and debate and negotiate views. These skills, together with the knowledge base provided by the study of Social Science, are valued by employers. The need to develop transferable skills, critical and theoretical abilities and provide a knowledge base together have been taken into account in the development of individual modules, and the programme as a whole, and are reflected in the learning outcomes. At levels 1 and 2 the programme draws upon the Departments research curriculum, but presents and develops skills in a context clearly applicable to the programme. The programme ensures compliance with the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in the following ways: The BA (Hons) Social Science offers a coherent programme of study involving appropriate levels, clear exit points and progression. The teaching, learning and assessment strategy reflects this with a balance between modules and across levels. Students studying at Certificate level will have a sound knowledge of the basic concepts of social science and will have learned how to take different approaches to solving problems. He or she will be able to communicate accurately, and will have the qualities needed for employment requiring the exercise of some personal responsibility. Students studying at Intermediate level will have developed a sound understanding of the principles of social science, and will have learned to apply those principles more widely. Through this, they will have learned to evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems. Their studies have an employability dimension enabling them to perform effectively via their direct and transferable skills application. An Honours graduate will have developed an understanding of a complex body of social scientific knowledge, some of it at the current boundaries of an academic discipline afforded by the involvement of staff research in the curriculum. Through this, the graduate will have developed analytical techniques and problem-solving skills that can be applied in many types of employment. The graduate will be able to evaluate evidence, arguments and assumptions, to reach sound judgements, and to communicate effectively. 5.2. Assessment Strategy The assessment strategy adopted within BA (Hons) Social Science offers a variety of modes of assessment employed at each level and designed to test and enhance students knowledge, skills and abilities as well as to prepare them for the demands of work. Assessments test students attainments of learning outcomes that demonstrate and encourage not only the knowledge base but Page 10/22

also the development of transferable skills across the programme. Written communication skills are developed through essays and examinations, oral communication skills through presentations and oral exams; literature searching and review through essays, examinations and presentations; computer literacy skills through word-processing and use of electronic resources including the Internet and Blackboard; and career planning through labour market research and application. Assessment Map gives a top-level indication of the scheduling and distribution of assessment modes within the programme. Details of module assessment strategy are included with each module specification. Page 11/22

6. Programme Structure The total number of credit points required for the achievement of Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) is 120. The total number of credit points required for the achievement of Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) is 240. The total number of credit points required for the achievement of Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA (Hons)) is 360. Level 1 Title Credit Rating Core / Optional Social Issues and Social Justice 2014-15 30 Core Applying Research (Social Sciences) 2014-15 30 Core Who Runs Britain? Power, Politics and Beyond 2014-15 30 Core Images of Crime and Criminal Justice 2014-15 30 Core Level 2 Title Credit Rating Core / Optional (Re)reading the Sociological Canon II 15 Core (Re)Reading the Sociological Canon I 15 Core Applying Criminology 30 Core Ideology into Practice 15 Core Diversity, Difference and Exclusion 15 Core Researching in Social Science 15 Core Social Science in the Professions 15 Core Level 3 Title Credit Rating Core / Optional Penology and Penal Policy 2016-17 30 Core Independent Study (Social Sciences) 2016-17 30 Core Human Rights (Social Sciences) 2016-17 15 Core Body Politics 2016-17 15 Core Global Civil Society 2016-17 15 Optional New Social Movements 2016-17 15 Optional Contemporary Social Theories and Approaches 2016-17 30 Optional Page 12/22

Appendix I - Curriculum Map This table indicates which modules assume responsibility for delivering and ordering particular programme learning outcomes. Key: Delivered and Assessed Delivered Assessed Level 1 Applying Research (Social Sciences) 2014-15 Images of Crime and Criminal Justice 2014-15 Social Issues and Social Justice 2014-15 Who Runs Britain? Power, Politics and Beyond 2014-15 Applying Research (Social Sciences) 2014-15 Images of Crime and Criminal Justice 2014-15 Social Issues and Social Justice 2014-15 Who Runs Britain? Power, Politics and Beyond 2014-15 PO1 PO2 PO3 PO4 PO5 PO6 PO7 PO8 PO9 PO10 PO11 PO12 PO13 PO14 PO15 PO16 PO17 PO18 PO19 PO20 PO21 PO22 PO23 PO24 Applying Research (Social Sciences) 2014-15 Images of Crime and Criminal Justice 2014-15 Social Issues and Social Justice 2014-15 Who Runs Britain? Power, Politics and Beyond 2014-15 PO25 Level 2 Page 13/22

(Re)Reading the Sociological Canon I (Re)reading the Sociological Canon II Applying Criminology Diversity, Difference and Exclusion Ideology into Practice Researching in Social Science Social Science in the Professions (Re)Reading the Sociological Canon I (Re)reading the Sociological Canon II Applying Criminology Diversity, Difference and Exclusion Ideology into Practice Researching in Social Science Social Science in the Professions (Re)Reading the Sociological Canon I (Re)reading the Sociological Canon II Applying Criminology Diversity, Difference and Exclusion Ideology into Practice Researching in Social Science Social Science in the Professions PO1 PO2 PO3 PO4 PO5 PO6 PO7 PO8 PO9 PO10 PO11 PO12 PO13 PO14 PO15 PO16 PO17 PO18 PO19 PO20 PO21 PO22 PO23 PO24 PO25 Page 14/22

Level 3 Body Politics 2016-17 Contemporary Social Theories and Approaches 2016-17 Global Civil Society 2016-17 Human Rights (Social Sciences) 2016-17 Independent Study (Social Sciences) 2016-17 New Social Movements 2016-17 Penology and Penal Policy 2016-17 Body Politics 2016-17 Contemporary Social Theories and Approaches 2016-17 Global Civil Society 2016-17 Human Rights (Social Sciences) 2016-17 Independent Study (Social Sciences) 2016-17 New Social Movements 2016-17 Penology and Penal Policy 2016-17 PO1 PO2 PO3 PO4 PO5 PO6 PO7 PO8 PO9 PO10 PO11 PO12 PO13 PO14 PO15 PO16 PO17 PO18 PO19 PO20 PO21 PO22 PO23 PO24 Body Politics 2016-17 Contemporary Social Theories and Approaches 2016-17 Global Civil Society 2016-17 Human Rights (Social Sciences) 2016-17 Independent Study (Social Sciences) 2016-17 New Social Movements 2016-17 Penology and Penal Policy 2016-17 PO25 Page 15/22

Appendix II - Assessment Map This table indicates the spread of assessment activity across the programme. Percentages indicate assessment weighting. Level 1 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Applying Research (Social Sciences) 2014-15 15 45 Images of Crime and Criminal Justice 10 2014-15 Social Issues and Social Justice 2014-15 40 Who Runs Britain? Power, Politics and Beyond 2014-15 20 40 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Applying Research (Social Sciences) 2014-15 Images of Crime and Criminal Justice 25 2014-15 Social Issues and Social Justice 2014-15 30 30 Who Runs Britain? Power, Politics and Beyond 2014-15 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Applying Research (Social Sciences) 2014-15 40 Images of Crime and Criminal Justice 65 2014-15 Social Issues and Social Justice 2014-15 Who Runs Britain? Power, Politics and 40 Beyond 2014-15 Applying Research (Social Sciences) 2014-15 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 Page 16/22

Images of Crime and Criminal Justice 2014-15 Social Issues and Social Justice 2014-15 Who Runs Britain? Power, Politics and Beyond 2014-15 Applying Research (Social Sciences) 2014-15 Images of Crime and Criminal Justice 2014-15 Social Issues and Social Justice 2014-15 Who Runs Britain? Power, Politics and Beyond 2014-15 49 50 51 52 EP Level 2 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 (Re)Reading the Sociological Canon I 50 (Re)reading the Sociological Canon II Applying Criminology Diversity, Difference and Exclusion Ideology into Practice 100 Researching in Social Science Social Science in the Professions 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (Re)Reading the Sociological Canon I 50 (Re)reading the Sociological Canon II Applying Criminology 35 Page 17/22

Diversity, Difference and Exclusion Ideology into Practice Researching in Social Science Social Science in the Professions 100 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 (Re)Reading the Sociological Canon I (Re)reading the Sociological Canon II 100 Applying Criminology 65 Diversity, Difference and Exclusion 100 Ideology into Practice Researching in Social Science 100 Social Science in the Professions (Re)Reading the Sociological Canon I (Re)reading the Sociological Canon II Applying Criminology Diversity, Difference and Exclusion Ideology into Practice Researching in Social Science Social Science in the Professions (Re)Reading the Sociological Canon I (Re)reading the Sociological Canon II Applying Criminology Diversity, Difference and Exclusion Ideology into Practice 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 EP Page 18/22

Researching in Social Science Social Science in the Professions Level 3 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Body Politics 2016-17 Contemporary Social Theories and Approaches 2016-17 Global Civil Society 2016-17 Human Rights (Social Sciences) 2016-17 65 Independent Study (Social Sciences) 2016-17 New Social Movements 2016-17 35 Penology and Penal Policy 2016-17 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Body Politics 2016-17 Contemporary Social Theories and 50 Approaches 2016-17 Global Civil Society 2016-17 Human Rights (Social Sciences) 2016-17 35 Independent Study (Social Sciences) 2016-17 New Social Movements 2016-17 Penology and Penal Policy 2016-17 50 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Body Politics 2016-17 100 Contemporary Social Theories and 50 Approaches 2016-17 Global Civil Society 2016-17 15 85 Human Rights (Social Sciences) 2016-17 Page 19/22

Independent Study (Social Sciences) 2016-17 100 New Social Movements 2016-17 Penology and Penal Policy 2016-17 50 Body Politics 2016-17 Contemporary Social Theories and Approaches 2016-17 Global Civil Society 2016-17 Human Rights (Social Sciences) 2016-17 Independent Study (Social Sciences) 2016-17 New Social Movements 2016-17 Penology and Penal Policy 2016-17 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 Body Politics 2016-17 Contemporary Social Theories and Approaches 2016-17 Global Civil Society 2016-17 Human Rights (Social Sciences) 2016-17 Independent Study (Social Sciences) 2016-17 New Social Movements 2016-17 Penology and Penal Policy 2016-17 49 50 51 52 EP Page 20/22

Appendix III - Benchmark Analysis This table maps programme learning outcomes to relevant QAA subject benchmark statements or PSRB guidelines. Knowledge and Understanding Subject Specific Intellectual Skills Subject Specific Practical Skills Transferable Skills and Attributes Page 21/22

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