Cardiff School of Social Sciences. Undergraduate Degree Programmes.

Cardiff School of Social Sciences

Undergraduate Degree Programmes

Cardiff School of Social Sciences

WORLD-CLASS

RESEARCH

FRIENDLY

ATMOSPHERE

MODERN DEGREE

PORTFOLIO

OUTSTANDING

FACILITIES

1

Are you ready to ?

www.cardiff.ac.uk/thrive

EXCELLENT T

EACHING

BRIGHT

PROSPECT

S

CAPITAL CITY

LOCATION

◗ You’ll be part of a Russell Group university – one of the top 24 UK research

universities with global recognition.

◗ You can choose from more than 300 degree programmes. The Cardiff University degree is known and respected worldwide, with a substantial number accredited by the professions and other external bodies.

◗ You’ll benefit from outstanding teaching in a research-led environment. Our highly qualified staff include two Nobel Laureates and several Fellows of the Royal Society.

A leading university . . .

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◗ You’ll live in a friendly, compact and safe city, with all of your study, living and leisure needs within walking distance.

◗ Your money will go further at Cardiff with capital city attractions at affordable prices – including one of the lowest rates of all university cities for student

accommodation.

◗ You’ll be at a first choice university where demand for places is strong.

◗ You'll be studying in an environment with other able and motivated students who have top grades at A-level or equivalent.

◗ You’ll be at an international university with students from more than 100 countries.

◗ You can be confident of your future – in 2010, 94% of our students were employed or had entered further study within six months of completing their studies.

◗ You’ll be in demand – Cardiff is among the top 20 universities targeted by employers seeking high calibre graduates.

in an outstanding city . . .

with able and motivated students . . .

who have excellent career prospects.

Welcome

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Contents

Cardiff is an internationally recognised

centre of high quality teaching and

research in social science disciplines.

The School is home to some of the

leading scholars in the world in

sociology, criminology, education, social

policy, and psychology. Our work is both

interdisciplinary and international and

we have academic collaborations with

major universities in Europe, the USA,

South America and Australia.

Introduction to Cardiff School of 1

Social Sciences

Welcome

3

Cardiff: the City

4

Cardiff: the University

6

Accommodation

8

Student Life

9

Cardiff School of Social Sciences

10

Undergraduate Degree Programmes 11

Social Science

12

Criminology

13

Education

14

Social Policy

15

Sociology

16

Psychology in the Social Sciences

17

Staff-Student Relations

18

Employability and Careers

19

Applications

20

Further Information

21

Important information.

Please read carefully.

The University offers the information contained in this brochure as a guide only. It does not constitute a contract and is not binding on prospective students, current students or the University. While the University makes every effort to check the accuracy of the factual content at the time of

publication, some changes will inevitably occur in the interval between publication and the academic year in which you start your programme. For example, courses, entry requirements and typical offers may have changed in line with market and student demand, and research development. Applicants should not therefore rely solely on this brochure and should visit the University website (www.cardiff.ac.uk) for up-to-date information concerning course content, accreditation, and entry requirements for the relevant academic year when considering applying to the University.

09/12

Our interdisciplinary focus encourages creativity and collaboration in research, but also makes for an exciting and rewarding learning environment. A creative combination of academic interests and practical action in a range of policy areas is the hallmark of the School. The School stands at the forefront of policy debates at international, national and local levels. Members of staff act as advisers to international organisations, the

Westminster and European parliaments, the Welsh Government and many public and private sector organisations.

Despite the important role the School plays in research and on the national and international stage, it is a friendly place and students are welcomed and valued for the important role they play in this vibrant community. The School is a busy place with excellent facilities and opportunities. We host many events through the year, such as guest lectures, often from world leading social scientists, conferences and workshops. Students have the opportunity of participating in many of these events.

I hope you will find the School an exciting and interesting place to visit and even more, an enjoyable place in which to study for three years

Professor Malcolm Williams

4

The University is surrounded by attractive parkland and is adjacent to Cardiff Castle and the city centre

Cardiff: A capital city

“Cardiff is one of the best places to study in

Britain. It has well-situated, cheap housing,

lively nights out, friendly people, great shops

and hundreds of miles of countryside. It is all

that any right-thinking fresher could desire.”

Virgin Alternative Guide to British Universities

Cardiff: A capital city

More online at:

www.visitcardiff.com www.cardiff.ac.uk www.cardiff.gov.uk

5

Cardiff offers everything from the excitement of the city to the peace and tranquillity of the nearby coast and countryside. Such is the quality of the ‘Cardiff experience’ that in a recent survey, a large majority of students said they would like to stay and live in the city after graduating.

With its distinctive character, good quality of life, and growing national and international reputation, it hosts many high-profile sporting and cultural events, including international rugby, soccer, cricket and motor sport, Cardiff Singer of the World and the UK’s largest free summer festival.

Home to the world-renowned Welsh National Opera, it boasts prestigious concert venues such as the Wales Millennium Centre, St David’s Hall and the Motorpoint Arena, as well as the iconic Millennium Stadium, the National Museum and Gallery of Wales, several theatres and the historic Cardiff Castle.

Cardiff is the location for award-winning television productions, including Dr Who, Sherlock, Torchwood and Casualty, and the Dr Who Experience in Cardiff Bay is a popular new attraction.

One of the UK’s top shopping destinations, Cardiff’s outlets range from the 100 stores in the new £750 million St David’s Dewi Sant retail centre to indoor and outdoor markets, and a fascinating network of glass-canopied Victorian and Edwardian arcades.

Cardiff also has more urban green space than any other UK city, and offers easy access to the countryside, coast and mountains.

Cardiff is a thriving and attractive city which is widely

recognised as an outstanding place in which to live and study.

It combines all the advantages of a compact, friendly and

inexpensive location with the cultural and recreational

facilities of a modern capital.

Come and see for

yourself…

Cardiff benefits from excellent

road and rail links with Britain’s

other major towns and cities.

London, for example, is two

hours by train, and the M4 links

both the west and south of

England, as well as west Wales.

Travel to the Midlands and to

the North is equally convenient.

The journey by road from

Birmingham, for example,

takes only two hours. The main

coach and railway stations are

both centrally placed, and

Cardiff also benefits from an

international airport.

Don’t just take our

word for it…

“Cardiff has it all: grand

civic architecture

in a breezy waterside

location, super-smart city

bars just a short hop

from lovely countryside.”

Guardian University Guide

“Cardiff is a young, vibrant city. A blend of beautiful

old architecture and new, cutting-edge developments.

Cosmopolitan with a large student population.”

Daily Telegraph Guide to UK Universities

Cardiff is one of the UK’s most successful retail centres Cardiff Bay, the city’s waterfront The Millennium Stadium nestles in the heart

of the city, and is home to numerous sporting events and concerts throughout the year

Cardiff: A leading university

6

“Cardiff offers a compelling student experience:

Russell Group research credentials, the full gamut of

traditional undergraduate degree courses and relatively

affordable living with hot and cold running nightlife on tap.”

Sunday Times University Guide

Cardiff: A leading university

7

What the Guides say

“The University is as

confident and

forward-looking as the city it’s

located in, and has an

excellent reputation

for the quality of its

teaching and research.

Almost 60% of its

research is ranked as

world leading and it is a

member of the Russell

Group of leading

universities.”

Guardian University Guide

excellent student accommodation, and a hugely popular Students’ Union, all within easy walking distance of each other in a thriving city, it is not surprising that Cardiff is a university of first choice among well-prepared applicants.

We admit approximately 4,500 undergraduate entrants each year, the very large majority of whom are school and college leavers, and have top grades at A-level or equivalent. While competition for entry is strong, Cardiff is an inclusive university with a good record on widening access and increasing participation, and we welcome applications, irrespective of background, from everyone with the potential to succeed at Cardiff University.

The University’s Cathays Park campus is located in and around the impressive Portland stone buildings, parks and wide tree-lined avenues that form Cardiff’s attractive civic centre. The majority of academic schools are located here - just a few minutes’ walk from the city centre. The four academic

schools offering healthcare courses (excluding Optometry and Pharmacy) are based at the Heath Park campus, approximately one mile away, which is also home to the University Hospital of Wales.

Although dating from 1883, Cardiff is focused on the 21st century, and has modern state-of-the-art buildings and facilities. The University has invested £200 million in its estate in recent years and most academic schools have benefited from major refurbishment, including new and well-equipped laboratories, lecture theatres, libraries and computing facilities.

The University takes its environmental, safety and security responsibilities very seriously. We have recently introduced a comprehensive Energy, Water and Waste Policy, which is already making great savings in energy consumption. To support the safety and security of all members of the University community and their property, there is 24-hour security cover throughout the campus.

Cardiff University has an international reputation for excellence

in teaching and research, built on a history of service and

achievement since 1883, and recognised by our membership

of the Russell Group of leading research-led universities.

More online at:

www.cardiff.ac.uk

“Cardiff is a tip top uni academically . . . hugely

popular with its students. Is Cardiff perhaps the

best kept secret among Britain’s universities?”

8

Living in Cardiff

Accommodation

Cardiff offers guaranteed University accommodation, good quality and value, and a range of residences to suit individual preferences and budgets.

All first year undergraduates who apply during the normal UCAS admissions cycle are guaranteed a place in University residences. The University is continually investing in its student residences, and the views of students are taken into account at the design stage. Unusually for a civic university, most of our residences are within easy walking distance of lecture theatres, libraries, laboratories, the Students’ Union and city centre.

There are 14 different residences, providing more than 5,300 study bedrooms and students can apply for the residences which best suit their preferences, interests and budgets. Some 70% have en-suite shower and toilet facilities and all halls of residence have computer network connection points and access to Wi-Fi.

Fees depend on the facilities included and whether catered, part-catered or self-catered, but prices compare very favourably with those of other UK universities.

Besides managing University property, the Residences Office maintains close links with the private sector and provides property listings to students seeking to rent or share houses or flats.

Student Life

The Students’ Union

Cardiff Students’ Union is one of the biggest, best and most active in Britain. Solus, the Great Hall and the Taf Bar are among the Union’s major attractions. Solus is the students’ own high quality nightclub, and is the second largest in South Wales. The Great Hall is a 1,500 capacity venue for major concerts and the Taf Bar is the Union’s very own ‘local’. Other facilities include CF10, a café offering a variety of hot and cold food, a general shop and off licence, University bookshop, computer shop, a games room and video arcade, five full-size snooker tables and twelve pool tables, satellite TV, banking and insurance services. The Union also has its own

letting agency and Student Advice centre. In addition, it is home to CU TV and Xpress Radio (the students’ own TV and radio stations) and more than 150 cultural, political, religious, social and sporting societies.

Jobshop

The Unistaff Jobshop is a student employment service that provides casual, clerical and catering jobs around the University to hundreds of students.

Societies in the School

“The School of Social Sciences (SOCSI) Student-Staff panel consists of a group of elected students and staff

representatives who meet several times a year to discuss issues across all 3 year groups. The panel is a great way of making the student voice heard and as a result there have been many changes to the way the School has been run, such as more contact time with personal tutors. The Panel also organises academic events which includes Social Science Question Time. The SOCSI Society is a great way for students to get to know each other. Run by students, the Society organises social and academic events throughout the year and also has netball and football teams which compete in the University leagues. The Society always gets the students involved with the School, so whether it is a workshop on improving essay writing, a trip to the Welsh Government or an end of year Ball, there are many ways to get involved.”

Richard Pellow

As a fast developing capital city, Cardiff is a great place to be

a student. It’s large enough to offer you an exciting variety of

activities and entertainment, but small enough for you to feel

comfortable in.

Solus is the Students’ Union high quality nightclub

The Fitness and Squash Centre is located at the heart of the main campus

All study bedrooms in the halls of residence have computer network connection points and access to Wi-Fi

9

Living in Cardiff

What the Guides say

“Cardiff Students’ Union

is the biggest and best

equipped in Britain.”

The Independent

“Cardiff Students’ Union

is independently

recognised as the biggest

and best in Britain.”

Equitable Student Book

“The Students’ Union

provides an excellent

range of facilities, clubs

and societies.”

The Times Good University Guide

“Guaranteed

accommodation in halls

and houses for first

years. Very high quality

and relatively cheap.”

Equitable Student Book

More online at:

www.cardiff.ac.uk www.cardiff.ac.uk/residences www.cardiffstudents.com www.cardiff.ac.uk/thrive

How to find the Cardiff School of Social Sciences

The Cardiff School of Social Sciences is located in the

Glamorgan Building which sits at the heart of the Cathays Park

Campus, a short walk from the city centre.

The Glamorgan building is close to the Cathays railway station

and is easily accessible from many of the University’s Halls of

Residence.

Key

■

■

■

Students have access to a wide range of modern facilities, including Skype booths

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Cardiff School of Social Sciences

Cardiff School of Social Sciences is a thriving centre for

teaching and research in the social sciences, with an

excellent reputation in all areas. Around 300 undergraduates

join the School each year to follow degrees in Criminology,

Education, Social Policy (Joint Honours), Sociology, Social

Science and programmes accredited by the British

Psychological Society.

The Glamorgan Building

The Building and Facilities

The School of Social Sciences is situated in the historic (Grade I-listed) Glamorgan Building in Cardiff's prestigious Civic Centre, overlooking the scenic Cathays Park. It is within a few minutes’ walking distance of the main University buildings and the famous Student Union, as well as being convenient for the bustling city centre of Cardiff. The Building was once home to Glamorgan County Council and so it has an impressive debating chamber and

wellappointed committee rooms. As part of the University, the Building now boasts excellent teaching and learning facilities,

including two large computer labs, several new lecture theatres with the latest audio-visual technology, and a suite of tutorial rooms. The School also has a friendly and informal coffee bar where students and staff can meet and relax.

“The Glamorgan Building is such an excellent building to have as your home for three years. It makes you feel proud to be a student in the school and gives you a sense of history and grandeur you wouldn’t get in any other social science department in the UK.”

Cardiff School of Social Sciences

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Undergraduate Degree Programmes

Single Honours degrees

The School offers Single Honours degree programmes in Criminology, Education and Sociology. BSc Social Science (L301) is a Single Honours programme too, but it has an especially strong interdisciplinary character. It is also possible to pursue British

Psychological Society accredited pathways through Education and Social Science programmes. (See details of all these programmes under the relevant headings).

Joint Honours Combinations

Criminology, Education, Social Policy and Sociology can be studied as Joint Honours, in combination with each other or with subjects in other selected departments. Various permutations are possible across a range of humanities and social science disciplines. We also offer an LLB in Law/Sociology and Law/Criminology. Joint Honours programmes are also available with History, Journalism, Philosophy, Politics, Religious Studies and Welsh. Please see the table on page 20 for the available choices in our degree programmes.

Teaching Methods and

Assessment

The School prides itself on research-led teaching in which the content of all courses is based on key research carried out by staff within the School and the international academic community. Our curriculum is regularly updated to reflect the cutting edge of each subject area. Teaching is mainly through lectures and discussion-based seminar groups. Students currently take six modules each year, including weekly lectures and fortnightly seminars. In addition, in Year One, students meet with their personal tutor fortnightly in small groups and follow a programme in which they learn how to be social scientists, develop their study skills and manage the transition into higher education. In Year Two, our students normally carry out a supervised research project, with the option of doing a

supervised dissertation in their final year -which involves presenting at a dissertation conference. Students take primary responsibility for their own learning and the quality of a degree is judged by the degree to which students take advantage of the opportunities to succeed - mainly through learning opportunities provided in lectures, seminars, tutorials, feedback and during supervision. At the same time, private or independent study is crucial for developing your research skills and knowledge of social science. This includes background reading, preparing for seminars, conducting research, completing assignments and revising. Our degree programmes are carefully designed so that students will experience a range of assessment methods, including

examinations, essays, practical work, individual and group projects and presentations.

Graduate Destinations

Graduates from the School of Social Sciences have pursued a wide range of careers. Public service remains the most popular destination, with the police, probation service, welfare and housing services, youth work, community development, counselling and advocacy work, and administration and human resource management, all recruiting former students of ours. Almost as many graduates find work in the private sector, including finance and marketing, tourism, retail, journalism, advertising, and public relations. Helping students advance their career prospects, the School has its own Student Support and Engagement Officer, who works to improve students’ wider skills and experiences in order to maximise their employability. Because of the high calibre of student attracted to Cardiff University, as well as the training in research methods that is core to our degrees, around a quarter of our students go on to postgraduate study. Among the most popular postgraduate courses are teacher training degrees, Law conversion courses, and our own MA in

Social Work and MSc in Social Science Research Methods. The latter qualification is for many students a stepping-stone towards a doctorate.

All of our degree programmes are designed to teach the central

foundations of their respective disciplines. Where possible they

also allow students to select related modules according to their

personal interests. In each year of your degree, you will normally

study a number of core modules and a selection from a range of

other modules. Advice is always available from staff, especially

your personal tutor, to ensure that you make informed choices.

“Cardiff has been a great city to be a student. Whatever you want to do is on your doorstep - from sport to high culture … there’s also more than a few pubs and clubs as well!”

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Social Science

This degree allows students to study across the social science spectrum - anthropology, criminology, education, psychology,

sociology, social policy - and think outside of conventional disciplinary boundaries. Topics such as the body, childhood, crime, development, health, gender, poverty and race are studied from a variety of perspectives. Leading universities

throughout the world now give special value to interdisciplinarity and the Social Science degree creates a unique context to learn how to think and research in this way. You will have the chance to select an inter-disciplinary topic or ‘pathway’ as a special area of enquiry to study in greater depth, which you develop in the final two years of the degree. Your chosen pathway normally takes up a quarter of your time (or more, if you also choose to do a dissertation in this area). You choose your remaining modules from other modules taught in the School. Suggested pathways are currently available in the following areas:

●Anthropology

●Crime, Security and Justice

●European Public Policy

●Gender and Society

●Health and Medicine

●Psychology (see also BPS Pathway below)

●Social Theory

●Sociology of Education

●Work, Labour Markets and Economy It is not required by your degree scheme that you follow a pathway, and the pathway will not appear on your final degree certificate. Nevertheless, a pathway will provide a foundation around which you can build the rest of your programme of study. This will be invaluable if you do a

dissertation in your final year, and is useful when you describe your degree to potential employers. Whichever combination you choose, we will help you to become a social scientist with a knowledge of a range of disciplines and an understanding of how they can work together. In this way you will acquire knowledge and skills which you can combine in flexible ways to meet a variety of challenges in your subsequent career.

First Year Modules

Year Oneis a foundation year. Students will take compulsory modules, which may include:

■ Key Ideas in Social Sciencetraces the origins of social scientific theories and introduces the work of key thinkers in a range of social science disciplines.

■ Introduction to Social Science Researchintroduces the principles and skills that underpin social science research.

Remaining modules comprise introductions to a selection of social science disciplines, including criminology, education, social and developmental psychology, sociology, and social policy.

Second Year Modules

Year Twoallows you to pursue your specialist pathway. You must currently take two compulsory modules and four optional modules.

■ Social Research Methods helps students to conduct and evaluate social research.

■ Social Theory explores the main theoretical traditions in Sociology over the last 150 years.

Remaining modules are currently taken from your specialist pathway or other

interdisciplinary modules across the School. Substantive topics such as the body, childhood, crime, development, health, gender, poverty and race can be studied in depth.

Final Year Modules

In Year Threeall students continue on their specialist routes. The pathway modules chosen in Year Three must correspond with the pathway modules chosen in Year Two. Students can take up to four further modules from the Final Year on offer across the Sociology, Social Policy, Criminology and Education degree programmes, including a Dissertation.

Professional Recognition

Cardiff’s Social Science degree programme is recognised by the British Psychological Society (BPS) for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), as long as relevant conditions are met. This makes students eligible for further training or postgraduate study in psychology-related professions such as Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Forensic Psychology.

Please see page 17 for further details.

The Social Science degree provides an excellent opportunity

to do an inter-disciplinary degree: combining the theories

and methods of separate disciplines to increase knowledge

and understanding.

13

Cardiff School of Social Sciences

Criminology

Criminology is the field of study which focuses on crime, victimisation and responses to crime and deviance. It asks questions such as:

■ How do we define ‘crime’, ‘anti-social behaviour’, ‘disorder’?

■ Who commits crime and why?

■ How are victims affected by crime and disorder?

■ How fair is the criminal justice system?

■ How important is ‘prevention’ rather than ‘cure’ in crime control?

■ How do societies deal with new types of virtual and white-collar crime?

Criminology is both a theoretical and an empirical (factbased) subject. It has its roots in several social science disciplines, and staff adopt an interdisciplinary approach to their teaching and research. In particular, sociological, psychological and political approaches are explored in the undergraduate Criminology curriculum. The School of Social Sciences is in a unique position to offer Criminology programmes within an interdisciplinary social sciences context. Another key advantage of studying at Cardiff is that we are one of the few institutions offering Criminology degrees at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Criminology in Cardiff is set within a world-class research and teaching culture. Our undergraduate students are introduced to the challenge and excitement of being part of a research-led environment. For example, second year students participate in research projects supervised by leading Criminology staff, and final year students usually undertake a dissertation in Criminology.

First Year Modules

Year Oneis a foundation year. Students will take compulsory modules, which may include:

Foundations of Contemporary Criminology

provides an introduction to the key features of criminology as a distinct field of study in the social sciences, to research principles,

methods and strategies in criminology, and to a variety of criminological data.

■ Key Ideas in Social Sciencetraces the origins of social scientific theories and introduces the work of key thinkers in a range of social science disciplines.

■ Introduction to Social Science Researchintroduces the principles and skills that underpin social science research.

Remaining modules comprise introductions to a selection of social science disciplines, including criminology, education, social and developmental psychology, sociology, and social policy.

Second Year Modules

Year Twomodules build on the foundations laid in the previous year. Current core modules are:

■ Offending and Victimisation

■ Responses to Crime

■ Social Research Methods

■ Theory and Method in Contemporary Criminology (available to single honours students only)

Students must take their remaining modules from those on offer across the anthropology, criminology, education, psychology, sociology and social policy subject areas.

Final Year Modules

The final yearentails a wider range of criminology modules. Students are encouraged to concentrate on a specialised area by doing their own research

dissertation (which is compulsory for single honours students). The core modules are currently:

■ Criminological Practice (available to single honours students only)

■ Crime Control, Regulation and Policing

■ Diversity, Crime and Criminal Justice

■ Prisons and Community Sanctions

Law and Criminology

Students on the Law and Criminology degree take two Criminology modules each year in the School of Social Sciences. They make up their remaining 80 credits from modules studied in the Cardiff Law School. For up-to-date details, please visit the School’s home page at: www.law.cardiff.ac.uk

Careers in Criminology

The Criminology degrees in Cardiff provide high quality entrants to a range of criminology-related careers in criminal justice and the fast-growing fields of community safety, crime reduction and security management. Criminology

graduates may pursue academic research or they may seek work in a range of statutory and voluntary agencies and policy bodies. Past graduates have followed a variety of career paths including research, teaching, policing, legal professions, social work and social care, administration and

management.

“When I was choosing courses in sixth form I knew of Cardiff’s good reputation for social sciences. I haven’t regretted my choice! The chance to study sociology and criminology was ideal as I am gaining an in-depth understanding of an area of society which really interests me.”

Lizzy Hilton, Criminology & Sociology

Criminology is both a theoretical and an empirical

(factbased) subject. It has its roots in several social

science disciplines, and staff adopt an interdisciplinary

approach to their teaching and research. In particular,

sociological, psychological and political approaches are

explored in the undergraduate Criminology curriculum.

14

Education

Education studies is concerned with how people develop and learn throughout their lives, and the nature of knowledge and critical engagement with ways of knowing and understanding. It offers intellectually rigorous study of educational processes, systems and approaches, and the cultural, societal, political, historical and economic contexts within which they are embedded. It includes critique of current government policies and educational practice and challenges assumptions.

Education studies allows you to study topics including formal and informal learning, lifespan development, memory, problem solving, attention, social relations (peer collaboration, friendship groups, social identities), schooling and pedagogy, children and childhood, education policy, equality, equal opportunities, inequality and diversity based on gender, race, class, disability, sexuality differences.

Education BPS Pathway

Cardiff’s Education degree programme is recognised by the British Psychological Society (BPS) for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), as long as relevant conditions are met. This makes students eligible for further training or postgraduate study in psychology-related professions such as Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Forensic Psychology. Please see page 17 for further details.

First Year Modules

Year Oneis a foundation year. Students will take compulsory modules, which may include:

■ Key Ideas in Social Sciencetraces the origins of social scientific theories and introduces the work of key thinkers in a range of social science disciplines.

■ Introduction to Social Science Researchintroduces the principles and skills that underpin social science research.

Remaining modules comprise introductions to a selection of social science disciplines, including criminology, education,

developmental psychology, and social policy.

Second Year Modules

The second yearfurther develops the main themes introduced in the first year. Currently all Single Honours students must take the following two modules:

■ Contemporary Sociology of Education

■ Social Research Methods BPS students must also take:

■ Human Development

■ Learning, Biology and Cognition

■ Psychology and Social Behaviour Students may make up their remaining modules from the list above or from other modules, which may include:

■ Children and Childhood

■ Gender Relations and Society

■ Inequality and the Division of Labour

■ Race and Ethnic Relations

Joint students will normally choose half their modules from each of the subject partners.

Final Year Modules

Depending on their particular degree programme (BPS or non-BPS, Single or Joint), Education students currently take a guided selection from the list below, with additional modules chosen from across the school:

■ Conflict and Change in Educational Policy

■ Dissertation

■ Equality and Diversity in Education and Work

■ Issues in Social and Cultural Psychology

■ Identity and Individual Differences

■ Language and the Mind

Careers in Education

Studying Education at Cardiff will equip you with the skills you need to embark on a number of possible careers. At the present time, Education graduates have little difficulty in finding employment and enter an increasingly wide range of careers in both the public and private sectors. An Education degree provides an excellent basis for careers in teaching - allowing students to apply for entry on to postgraduate teacher training courses, as well as entering a variety of other occupations such as educational psychology, youth and community work, careers guidance, management, personnel work and social science research.

The Education programme is aimed at students who are

interested in the sociological, psychological and political

dimensions of education, as well as those who are more

vocationally oriented. The School has close and mutually

beneficial links with local schools, colleges, and other

educational organisations.

15

Cardiff School of Social Sciences

Social Policy

Social Policy addresses some fascinating topics and issues, such as:

■ Social justice (e.g. what is the nature of the ‘good’ society?)

■ Social inequalities and discrimination (e.g. along class/race/gender lines)

■ Welfare problems (e.g. poverty, homelessness, poor health)

■ Assessing the record of the welfare state in creating a better society

■ Forms of welfare provision (e.g. the move from state welfare to markets and the voluntary sector)

■ The impact of devolution and the European Union (e.g. policies on ‘social exclusion’)

Joint Honours Social Policy students will gain insights into the problems of handling social welfare in a modern industrial society. Our students are encouraged to develop their own critically independent views at the same time as learning how to interpret theories, evidence and policies in an objective fashion. Students also benefit greatly from the active involvement of teaching staff who act as advisers in important policy arenas in Wales, Britain and Europe.

First Year Modules

Module choices will depend on your particular Joint Honours Programme combination.

Year Oneis a foundation year. Students will take compulsory modules, which may include:

■ Key Ideas in Social Sciencetraces the origins of social scientific theories and introduces the work of key thinkers in a range of social science disciplines.

■ Introduction to Social Science Researchintroduces the principles and skills that underpin social science research.

Remaining modules comprise introductions to a selection of social science disciplines, including criminology, education, psychology, and social policy.

Second Year Modules

In Years Two and Three there is a move towards more specialised modules, which address key policy debates and themes or which offer greater in-depth exploration of sectors such as education, health and social security. Joint Honours Social Policy students currently take certain core modules along with a selection chosen from a wider list. Students must take their remaining modules from those on offer across the anthropology, criminology, education, psychology and social science subject areas. Substantive topics such as the body, childhood, crime, development, health, gender, poverty and race can be studied in depth.

Third Year Modules

Depending on their particular degree programme, Social Policy students currently take a guided selection from the list below:

■ Advanced Sociology of Health, Medicine and Illness

■ Conflict and Change in Educational Policy

■ Crime Control, Regulation and Policing

■ Dissertation

■ Diversity, Crime and Criminal Justice

■ Prisons and Community Sanctions

■ Power, Politics and Policy

■ Equality and Diversity in Education and Work

Careers in Social Policy

Social Policy is a versatile degree which has direct relevance for a broad range of careers, especially those within the flexible and growing modern welfare state. It is clearly an excellent preparation for the caring professions, and a number of our students proceed to the School’s MA in Social Work. But our graduates have embarked on careers in the police service, banking and finance, market research, law, retail, teaching, health service

administration and housing management.

“I chose social policy at Cardiff with very little background in the subject. However, the tremendous amount of enthusiastic and dedicated staff alongside a vibrant academic atmosphere made me enjoy my three years and meant that studying in Cardiff really became a life-changing decision.”

Thaker Hafid, Social Policy graduate student, now taking a PhD in the School

Social Policy can be studied jointly with Criminology,

Education or Sociology. Social Policy is the study of

social arrangements for handling people’s welfare

(e.g. income, health, education, housing, citizenship

rights, environmental safety).

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Sociology

These include the study of crime and deviance (Criminology), the analysis of the formation and function of the state (Social Policy), and the examination of the social influences on teaching, learning and accreditation (Education). Its central aim is to cultivate in students of the discipline the ‘sociological imagination’ necessary to understand how individual actions and beliefs shape, and are shaped by, the social conditions of their existence, and to apply this imagination to a wide spectrum of old and new phenomena.

Every society presents us with particular expectations, opportunities and problems, and though we each respond to these in different ways, we always do so through reference to the social relationships, groups and institutions that are familiar to us. In studying how societies are reproduced and changed through people’s behaviour, Sociology brings to light the complex and sometimes fragile connections that bind the individual to the collective.

Traditionally founded on an analysis of the core social influences of class, gender and race, modern Sociology has now spread and developed its field of investigation. In the School of Social Sciences, our expertise includes children, childhood and the hierarchies of age, the study of sexuality, health and the body, the construction and reconstruction of identities, the rise of consumer culture, and the profound transformations to social, culture and private life which the processes of economic and technological globalisation have delivered.

All these topics are taught by leading scholars in the discipline, in ways which draw on and promote both theoretical insights and robust empirical research.

First Year Modules

Year Oneintroduces the pivotal ideas and approaches of the discipline. Single Honours Sociology students, and those doing a BScEcon Sociology Joint with another subject currently take compulsory modules.

■ Sociology, Society and Social Change:

this covers a range of key topics such as work, class and gender, as well as addressing global developments in contemporary societies.

■ Key Ideas in Social Sciencetraces the origins of social scientific theories and introduces the work of key thinkers in a range of social science disciplines.

■ Introduction to Social Science Researchintroduces the principles and skills that underpin social science research.

Remaining modules comprise introductions to a selection of social science disciplines, including criminology, education, social and developmental psychology, and social policy.

Second Year Modules

Single Honours students currently take certain core modules (marked with an asterisk) which consolidate their understanding of the discipline’s theories and methodology. Depending on their degree programme, students may also choose a selection from other modules which help to develop specialised knowledge and expertise in particular areas of interest (e.g. health, race relations, culture).

■ Children and Childhood

■ Contemporary Sociology of Education

■ Gender Relations and Society

■ Inequality and the Division of Labour*

■ Race and Ethnicity

■ Social Research Methods*

■ Social Theory*

■ Sociology of Culture

■ The Body, Health and Medicine

Final Year Sociology Modules

The final year modules are informed by cutting edge research-based teaching and they reflect the sociological strengths within the school. Students may choose to specialise in certain areas or to follow a more open profile. Sociology students

(single and joint) currently take at least three modules from the following list:

■ Advanced Sociology of Health, Medicine and Illness

■ Globalisation and Social Change

■ New Frontiers in Sociology

■ Metropolis: Urban Life and Consumer Culture

■ Power, Culture and Identity

Single Honours Sociology students make up their remaining modules from those on offer across the School (including the

dissertation).

Careers in Sociology

Sociology is a highly marketable qualification offering entry to a wide range of occupations and postgraduate courses. Recent research has shown that sociology graduates have starting salaries in excess of students from most other disciplines. Graduates from Cardiff have successfully pursued careers in a wide range of fields including teaching, accounting, banking and finance, law, management, voluntary agencies, retail and market research.

Sociology is one of the oldest and most prestigious social

science subjects. It has provided many of the philosophical

and methodological premises for more specialised

investigations into social life and culture, some of which

have today become degree subjects in their own right.

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Cardiff School of Social Sciences

Psychology in the Social Sciences:

British Psychological Society Accredited

Degree Pathways

They cover core knowledge domains within psychology including social, developmental, cognitive and biological psychology, personality and individual differences, conceptual and historical issues in psychology, and research methods. The pathways are modular which means that you select the relevant compulsory modules for your programme. Students who undertake the accredited pathway are eligible to apply to the BPS for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC), provided that the minimum qualification of Second Class Honours is achieved, and the empirical psychology Dissertation is passed.

GBC is the first step towards becoming a Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) - the benchmark of professional recognition for psychologists. If you hope to continue to study psychology after your degree, it is recommended that you choose an

accredited course so that you can leave your options open.

At Cardiff, you will study the BPS syllabus critically and in relation to a wide range of social issues and problems - including racism, prejudice, schooling, regeneration, class, sexuality and gender - often using qualitative as well as quantitative research methods. This involves drawing upon distinctive British and European traditions of critical psychology, discursive psychology, psychosocial studies and psychoanalysis, and feminist psychology - not often encountered by undergraduates. Here, even topics considered considered as properties of individuals, such as mind, memory, perception, personality, intelligence, language and emotion, are studied socially and culturally. Recent BPS accreditation complimented our strong coverage of Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology across our programmes, and our external examiners have praised our unique approach.

Social Science BPS Pathway

This programme allows you to study psychology as a social science and in a social science context, alongside other disciplines. It is a good pathway to choose if you want to study people and their

development critically and in their social, cultural and historical circumstances. You can also study other selected social science subjects, such as anthropology, criminology, education, sociology, social theory or social policy.

Working alongside sociologists, who study society, necessarily involves critically engaging with psychology as a discipline, which is traditionally understood as the study of mind and behaviour. Our

programmes are especially strong in social psychology, where sociology and psychology meet.

Currently BSc Social Science is the only UK social science undergraduate degree in a School of Social Science accredited by the BPS. For more information on the Social Science programme, see page 12.

Education BPS Pathway

This pathway allows you to study psychology in the context of an education degree. It is a good pathway to choose if you are

interested in both the sociological and psychological aspects of education, learning and development throughout the lifespan and are interested

in potentially pursuing a career in psychology after graduation. A BPS accredited degree is required to gain acceptance on

postgraduate training courses in psychology. To become a professional psychologist, you will need to gain GBC, and then register with the Health Professions Council (HPC). This is the statutory body which regulates

practitioner psychologists in the UK, including educational psychologists.

For more information on the Education programme, see page 14.

Current BPS accredited pathway modules include:

Level One

■ Introduction to Social Psychology

■ Introduction to the Psychology of Development & Learning

Level Two

■ Psychology & Social Behaviour

■ Human Development

■ Learning, Biology & Cognition

■ Social Research Methods (Psychology)

Level Three

■ Issues in Social & Cultural Psychology

■ Language & Mind

■ Identity & Individual Differences

■ Dissertation (Psychology)

“I have thoroughly enjoyed following this BPS Route. To fulfil the

requirements I had to do specific BPS formatted seminars and lectures and a rewarding and challenging

dissertation under expert supervision. In my third year I was able to do in-depth study on a personally chosen topic in the area of social psychology. I feel I have become a confident and well-rounded student.”

Anna Morgan, BSc Social Science BPS Route

You can study psychology in the Cardiff School of Social

Sciences on pathways through Education and Social Science

degree programmes. These programmes are accredited with

the British Psychological Society (BPS).

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Careers in Psychology

Training in psychology is widely accepted as providing an excellent preparation for a number of careers, especially ones that involve working with people or that need good problem solving skills, because it develops a number of transferable skills. It is particularly relevant to any job that involves working directly with people (such as public relations, marketing, customer services or retail management) or any job that requires the use of problem solving skills.

A psychology degree also develops a number of transferable skills, which are valuable to employers, such as communication skills, numeracy and statistical skills, critical and creative thinking, independent learning, decision making, organisational skills, team working, and IT skills. Psychology graduates are well placed for careers and further training in many fields and often go on to work in disciplines such as: health and social care; management and human resources; education; public sector work. Around 15-20 per cent of psychology graduates end up working as professional psychologists. You will need a degree in psychology to become a psychologist. In order to obtain employment as a professional psychologist further

postgraduate study and supervised training are required, normally lasting a further three years. Psychology is comprised of a number

of academic and applied areas. You may train to become a teaching or research psychologist or a neuropsychologist. Or you may subsequently register with the HPC in order to practice clinical, counselling, educational, forensic, health, occupational, or sport and exercise psychology.

Staff-Student Relations

and Student Societies

The School is keen for students to play an active role in all aspects of university life. We place great value on student participation in teaching and learning: our students give feedback on all courses and our Student-Staff Panel encourages the fruitful exchange of ideas. Our system of small-group teaching will allow you to form good working

relationships with your tutors and with your fellow students. For more

fun-based activities, the student-run Social Science Society organises highly successful social events, and students can pick from an exciting range of sports and societies within the University.

Opportunities to Study Abroad

The School has links with universities around the world. Study Abroad programmes are currently in operation with universities in North America, Europe and Hong Kong, and new partnerships with other countries are being developed. Students who perform well in their first year may apply to spend their second year studying abroad.

Opportunities to pursue Further

Studies in the School

The School of Social Sciences has over 200 students studying for a PhD or MPhil by research. We also run Professional

Doctorates in Education, in Social Work and in Health Studies.

Every year a number of our students proceed from their undergraduate degrees on to one of the following taught

programmes within the School:

■ MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice

■ MSc Education

■ MSc Equality and Diversity

■ MSc Science, Media and Communication

■ MA Social Work

■ MSc Social Science Research Methods

■ Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Further Education)

“Studying for my second year in Vancouver was a blast! I got to take some really interesting courses at UBC, met loads of interesting people and got to live and travel in a part of the world I now love.”

Jenny Jones, BSc Econ Criminology & Education

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Cardiff School of Social Sciences

Employability and Careers

Jamie Tinto-Cradick

BSc Econ Sociology

“I chose Sociology because I wanted to study a subject that examined human behaviour and social organisation from ‘outside the box’. I also wanted to consider critical perspectives on society that weren't afraid to challenge the status quo. This is exactly what I got from the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff. I had never studied Sociology before and in truth was unsure what to expect. I was gripped from my first introductory lecture, and was blown away by the breadth and diversity of the modules throughout. My favourite thing about the course was being able to pick and choose modules from across the Social Sciences, not just in Sociology. After graduating I worked in Health and Social Care, supporting adults with learning difficulties and mental health problems. My education at Cardiff equipped me in a multitude of ways. Perhaps most valuably, I was able to understand the mechanics of the

bureaucracy I found myself working within. I was also able to get a deeper insight into how broader social and cultural issues affected the lives of the individuals I was working with. I will always cherish the experience, the knowledge, and the memories that studying Sociology at Cardiff gave me.”

Katie Whalley

BSc Social Science BPS Route

“When looking at degree choices I had not originally planned on a degree in Social Science, but now I am very glad that it is what I ended up doing. The path I followed (the British Psychological Society accredited course) was engaging and allowed for specialisation in the areas of the social sciences that I found most interesting. The lecturers are passionate about their subject areas, and their research generated enthusiasm carries through in lectures and seminars. I loved my three years at Cardiff University and I will take many of the skills I have learned from my time in the School of Social Sciences with me into future study and my career. I am now about to start a post-compulsory PGCE and look forward to developing my knowledge gained during my time at university in the position of a psychology teacher”

Careers and

Employability Service

The University offers a careers and employability service for students, graduates and postgraduates. You can access careers information, explore your options and speak to a consultant who can advise you of opportunities relating to your degree or preferred field, including advice on postgraduate degrees. The service offers guidance on preparing a CV and job applications and gives you the chance to meet and network with top graduate recruiters at Careers Fairs and events. If you are looking for work experience, the careers service can assist with planning and organising your placement. www.cardiff.ac.uk/carsv

Where did they go?

Graduate destinations (2010/11)

● Employment 66%

● Employment and Further Study 4%

● Further Study 18% ● Not Available 6.5% ● Unemployed 5.5%

66%

4%

18%

6.5%

5.5%

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To be considered for entry onto one of our degree programmes you should apply online via the UCAS website using the ‘UCAS Apply’ facility. To use this facility you need to log onto: www.ucas.ac.uk/apply

The website will provide you with information on how to apply and explains the UCAS procedure.

All applicants who are made an offer will be invited to attend one of the four School Open Days, which run from January to April each year. On these Open Days you will be taken on a guided tour of the School and university campus, and you will meet students and staff in an informal setting. If you take advantage of this opportunity you will be in a much better position to decide if the School of Social Sciences is the place for you. Also, a university-wide Open Day is held in April each year, when you have the opportunity to visit various schools, residences, the Students’ Union and sports facilities.

Equal Opportunities

The University conducts its student recruitment, selection and assessment procedures on an equal opportunities basis. It is committed to ensuring that all

applicants, students and employees are treated fairly, regardless of their colour, race, ethnic or national origins, gender, sexuality, age, marital status, family responsibilities, physical or sensory disabilities, or their political or religious beliefs.

Applicants with

Disabilities/Special Needs

All offers to study at Cardiff University are made solely on the basis of academic merit. Where applicants have specific requirements that relate to a disability or medical

condition, they are encouraged to discuss

these with relevant staff in order that appropriate arrangements can be made to ensure the University provides an accessible environment. Specifically, applicants are invited to contact the Disability Adviser who can provide information about the

applications procedure, course delivery and access to the physical environment. Where appropriate, informal visits can be arranged in which applicants can view accommodation and meet academic staff.

The Disability Adviser can be contacted at: Student Support Centre

50 Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT Tel: 029 2087 4528

Email: disability@cardiff.ac.uk

Entry Requirements

A2s: The School usually requires three A2s (or their equivalent) in subjects other than General Studies. Our entry requirements will depend on the degree scheme. Our current standard A-Level entry requirements range from AAB-BBB depending on degree scheme.

AS-level subjects will NOT be considered in lieu of one A2.

GCSE: English and Mathematics at Grade C or above are desirable.

Other: Applications are welcomed from mature-age applicants and those offering qualifications other than A2 e.g. International Baccalaureate, Welsh Baccalaureate, BTEC, accredited Access courses. Demonstration of active and formal study within the last two years is very important.

Further Information

The Admissions Tutor

Cardiff School of Social Sciences

Glamorgan Building King Edward VII Avenue Cardiff CF10 3WT Tel: 029 2087 5122

Fax: 029 2087 4175

Email: socsi-ugadmissions@cardiff.ac.uk www.cardiff.ac.uk/socsi

There are a range of opportunities to visit the University

BSc Social Science (L301) is available as a Single Honours Programme.

Applications

Criminology Education Social Policy Sociology

Criminology L370 XM39 ML94 LM39 Education XM39 X300 XL34 LX33 History LV31 Journalism LP35 Law M190 ML13 Philosophy LVH5 Politics LL32 Religious Studies LV36 Social Policy ML94 XL34 LL34 Sociology LM39 LX33 LL34 L300 Welsh QX53 QL53

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Further Information

Tuition Fees and Financial

Assistance

The University charges an annual fee which covers all tuition fees, registration and examinations other than the re-taking of examinations by applicants not currently registered. Please note charges for

accommodation in University Residences are additional.

Tuition Fees

Please see the following website for more information:

www.cardiff.ac.uk/fees

Scholarships and Bursaries

For more information please visit the following website:

www.cardiff.ac.uk/scholarships

Useful websites for information

about tuition fees and financial

assistance:

Cardiff University website:

www.cardiff.ac.uk/fees

Student Support Centre website:

www.cardiff.ac.uk/financialsupport/index.html

DfES Student Support web pages:

www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/

Welsh Assembly Student Finance web pages:

www.studentfinancewales.co.uk

Student Finance England:

www.studentfinanceengland.co.uk

Student Loans Company

www.slc.co.uk

Further Information

This document can also be

made available in large print

(text), Braille and on audio

tape/CD. To request an

alternative format,

please contact

Laura Roberts:

Tel:

029 2087 4455

Email:

RobertsL9@cardiff.ac.uk

Got questions about student life?

Get them answered at:

www.cardiff.ac.uk/thrive

Some of our current students are sharing their experiences online through their Facebook pages, so if you want to know what life as a student at Cardiff is really like, then you can find out now. There is also lots of information about what is happening in Cardiff, including articles written by our students, videos, and much more.

Enquiries

Email: socsi-ugadmissions Cardiff School of Social Sciences

Glamorgan Building King Edward VII Avenue Cardiff CF10 3WT

Stay in touch

facebook.com/cardiffuniug @cardiffuniug

To find out more about the Cardiff School of Social Sciences

please visit our website

www.cardiff.ac.uk/socsi