Human, Social, and Political Sciences, BA (Hons)

This is general information about the course. For application-specific course materials and application information, please click HERELink opens in a new window.

By combining the study of Human, Social, and Political Sciences, the programme aims to provide a holistic understanding of contemporary societies and global as well as local (glocal) challenges. This programme is interdisciplinary in nature by highlighting the commonalities of various social science disciplines. It is not driven by bringing together separate disciplines but offering a unique synthesis, both focusing on common theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches. This interdisciplinary programme asks key questions such as: how can human behaviour, social structures and political systems be analysed through an integrated lens? What factors contribute to social change? How does social and political change affect individuals and groups in society? How can glocal problems be solved? Students will search for answers to these questions by examining individuals and groups in larger social and political contexts, and society as a whole.

The programme aims to encourage a cross-cutting, multifaceted, and critical understanding of theoretical and methodological debates in social science research, by developing your theoretical and conceptual interdisciplinary knowledge and by enhancing your understanding of empirical research across disciplines. Studying this interdisciplinary programme, comprising insights from various social science perspectives, will enable you to make sense of a world undergoing unprecedented social change and uncertainty, and to work towards solutions for complex societal and glocal challenges.

Drawing on the existing strength within the Faculty of Social Science unique aspects of this programme will be interdisciplinary learning, hands-on research opportunities on contemporary challenges, and work placement opportunities. You will explore cross-cutting areas such as: social justice, race and ethnic identities, ethno-national conflicts, artificial intelligence, climate change, social and political movements, gender, social and political theory, violence, religion, research methods.

In addition to interdisciplinary core modules and work placement opportunities, you have the possibility to tailor your studies and to specialise in one of the core areas (Human, Social and Political sciences, or Research Methods). An interdisciplinary focus will give a thorough, yet broad understanding of the surrounding issues, concepts and theories that relate to challenges of modern societies in a glocal perspective.

Course Structure

Core Modules

Year 1	Term 1	Key Perspectives in Human, Social and Political Sciences [SO180] This module provides a broad introduction to the human, social and political sciences, with a focus on their intersections.
		Researching Society and Culture [SO120Link opens in a new window]
		Two Optional Modules
	Term 2	Key Perspectives in Human, Social and Political Sciences [SO180] This module provides a broad introduction to the human, social and political sciences, with a focus on their intersections.
		Introduction to Social Analytics in Social Inequalities Research [SO130Link opens in a new window]
		Two Optional Modules
Year 2	Term 1	Your Idea, Your Research: How to Pursue an Interdisciplinary Project [IL321Link opens in a new window]
		Three Optional Modules
	Term 2	Change: Critical Understandings, Agency and Action [IL132Link opens in a new window]
		Three Optional Modules
Year 3	Term 1	Dissertation [SO301Link opens in a new window]
		Three Optional Modules
	Term 2	Dissertation [SO301Link opens in a new window]
		Three Optional Modules

You have the option of adding a specialism to your degree by choosing a number of modules in the specialist area, including the dissertation, which must address a topic within that area. You will be consulted on your module and specialism choices.

Optional Modules (Examples)

Human Sciences	Social Sciences	Political Sciences	Research Methods
Year 1 Culture, Cognition and Society, ET116-30, Applied Linguistics Language in Society, ET119-15, Applied Linguistics Mind and Reality, PH144-15, Philosophy Philosophy for the Real World: Knowledge, Ignorance and Bullshit, PH148-15, Philosophy	Year 1 History of Sociological Thought,SO128-15, Sociology Sociology of Gender, SO116-15, Sociology Class and Capitalism in a Neoliberal World, SO126-15, Sociology Sociology of Race, SO122-15, Sociology	Year 1 Introduction to Politics, PO107-30, PAIS World Politics, PO131-30, PAIS Contemporary Themes in Comparative Politics, PO132-15, PAIS Justice, Democracy and Citizenship, PO134-15, PAIS	Year 1 Introduction to Quantitative Political Analysis I, PO11Q-15, PAIS Introduction to Quantitative Political Analysis II, PO12Q-15, PAIS
Year 2 Becoming Yourself: The Construction of the Self in Contemporary Western Societies, SO249-15, Sociology Forms of Identity, IL001-15, IATL Applied Imagination: Theory and Practice, IL005-15, IATL The AI Revolution: Ethics, Technology and Society IL041-15, IATL Beyond the Binary: Trans-forming Gender, SO260-15, Sociology War, Memory and Society, SO253-15, Sociology	Year 2 Commercial Cultures in Global Capitalism, SO240-15, Sociology Relationship and Family Change: Demographic and Sociological Perspectives, SO247-15, Sociology Media, Audiences and Social Change, SO254-15, Sociology Gender, Race and Sexualities in the Criminal Justice System: Policy and Practice, SO256-15, Sociology Surveillance and Security: Race, Gender, Class, SO258-15, Sociology Gender and Violence, SO261-15, Sociology	Year 2 Politics of International Development, PO203-15, PAIS Theories of International Relations, PO219-15, PAIS States and Markets: An Introduction to International Political Economy, PO230-15, PAIS International Security, PO231-15, PAIS Capitalism and its Alternatives, PO240-15, PAIS	Year 2 Introduction to Casual Inference in Quantitative Political Analysis, PO22Q-15, PAIS Web Survey Design and Data Collection, SO27774-15, Sociology Survey Data Analysis and Reporting, SO27810-15, Sociology
Year 3 Ethnography and the Anthropological Tradition, SO338-15, Sociology Transnational Media Ecologies, SO341-15, Sociology The Social Life of Things, SO374-15, Sociology Creating Digital Futures, IL138-15, IATL Feminist Pedagogy Feminist Activism, SO353-15, Sociology Intercultural Communication in Theory and Practice, IL143-15, IATL	Year 3 Social Movements and Political Action, SO336-15, Sociology Racism and Xenophobia, SO337-15, Sociology Race, Resistance and Modernity, SO342-15, Sociology Punishment, Justice and Control, SO350-15, Sociology Postcolonial Theory and Politics, SO356-15, Sociology Sociology of End Times, SO363-15, Sociology	Year 3 Gender and Development, PO353-30, PAIS EU Policy-Making, PO358-30, PAIS Politics of Globalisation, PO374-30, PAIS Latin America: Democratisation and Development, PO397-15, PAIS War in the 21st Century, PO3A2-30, PAIS Violence, Rights, Justice and Peace in the Middle East, PO399-15, PAIS The Politics of Climate Change, PO3A5-15, PAIS The Political Economy of Islam in Southeast Asia, PO3A0-15, PAIS	Year 3 Experiments in the Social Sciences and Humanities, SO31Q-15, Sociology Social Data Science, SO365-15, Sociology Public Opinion, QS308-15, Sociology Determinants of Democracy, PO3B3-15, PAIS Data visualisation in Science, Culture and Public Policy, CIM Generative AI: Histories, Techniques, Cultures, and Impacts, CIM Numbers in the Workplace, QS305-15, Sociology

Placement Opportunities (Credited Optional Modules)

Three 3^rd Year Placement Modules

(1) Numbers in the Workplace [QS305]

This module includes a 4-week (summer) placement which renders students' degree professionally relevant, enabling students to develop real world employability skills and apply data analysis skills in a non-academic setting. Students are assessed through a reflective essay and a poster on their placement experience and development of their professional skills. By the end of the module, students should be able to: Develop a range of transferable professional skills for future employment (e.g. CV design, job application, cover letter. etc.); develop a critical understanding of the role of data analysis in the workplace; develop professional practice with clients; become familiar with key terminology and soft skills associated with acting as a consultant in quantitative analysis.

(2) Employer Project for the Social Sciences [SO372]

This module includes training components (workshops) at the University on writing a tailored CV and cover letter, internal selection application with feedback provided to students, a remote placement with employers offering a structured remote project with weekly meetings, participation in research & teams meetings and the possibility (logistics permitting) to spend a day on-site at the organisation. At the end of the project students are assessed through a reflective essay and a poster on their placement experience and development of their professional skills.

(3) Work Placement [SO373]

This module includes training components (workshops) at the University, a self-sourced placement with employers on degree-relevant sectors and assessments through a reflective essay and poster presentation on the placement experience and acquired professional skills. This module starts during the Term 2 of Year 2 with a workshop on writing CV & Cover Letter; practice on writing applications with feedback and preparation for the workplace. Students take placements over the summer and enrol on the module in Year 3, with the assessments (reflective essay and poster) during Term 1.