BA (Hons) Social sciences

You will be introduced to social science disciplines by developing your ‘sociology imagination’ and understandings of the key issues in modern society such as social class, gender identity and gender inequality, masculinity, health and race and ethnicity. You will also be introduced to research and academic skills and competences. Your modules will include:

Introduction to Academic and Research Skills

Introducing Sociology

Making the Modern World

You will learn about the world of social sciences research and will be introduced to the study of politics as well as the critical role of policy in supporting employment, health and education.

Your modules will include:

Introduction to Social Research

Democracy in the UK

Development of Social Policy

In second year, you will deepen your engagement with the key debates in social sciences. Core modules will equip you with knowledge of comparative politics and the classical works of social and political thought. You will also develop your qualitative research skills and knowledge. Your modules will include:

Foundations to Qualitative Research

Comparative Politics

Foundation of Social and Political Thoughts

The core modules will address questions of global society and will focus on the relationship between social policy and social change. You will further develop your research skills by undertaking foundations to quantitative research. Your modules will include:

Global Society

Social Policy and Social Change

Foundations to Quantitative Research

Starting from Year 3, you can choose a specialist pathway in Sociology (Lanarkshire); Politics and Policy (Paisley); or Sociology and Policy (Paisley). In addition, you will develop your research skills and knowledge to hone your research practice ahead of your final year dissertation.

You will be required to choose three modules from the following:

Data Analysis for Social Science (we strongly advise students to select this module if they are planning to collect empirical data for their dissertation)

Scottish Society (Politic focus)

Contemporary Social Issues & Policy Responses (Policy focus)

Capitalism, Culture and Celebrity (Sociology focus)

American Politics & Policy (Paisley provision only, Politics focus)

Gender in Society (Lanarkshire provision only, Sociology focus)

Designing Your Dissertation Project (core module)

You will be required to choose two modules from the following:

Art, Culture & Society (Sociology focus)

Western Culture in Crisis (Sociology focus)

Regeneration and Development (Policy focus)

Work, Welfare and Society (Policy focus)

Democracy & European Political Parties (Paisley provision only, Politics focus)

In your Honours year you will undertake your independent research project (a 40-credit dissertation). You will be supported by staff in using the methods skills that you have developed throughout the course to explore, in depth, the programme theme that has most interested you. In addition, you will increase the range of your specialist knowledge by choosing from a variety of electives.

Social Sciences Dissertation (40 credits; Term 1 and Term 2)

Plus two modules from:

Experiencing City Life (Policy focus)

Migration, State & Society (Sociology focus)

Family, Gender & Social Welfare (Policy focus)

Participation & Democracy (Politics focus)

Social Sciences Dissertation (40 credits; Term 1 and Term 2)

Plus two modules from:

Nationalism (Politics focus)

British and Irish Political History since WW2 (Politics focus)

International Relations (Paisley only provision, Politics focus)

Health Policy (Paisley only provision, Policy focus)

Parliamentary Studies (Paisley only provision, Politics focus)

Embodiment of Social Inequalities (Lanarkshire only provision, Sociology focus)