Sciences
Undergraduate Prospectus
2014/2015
I did it.
You can
do it too.
Change your life in five simple steps
Everything you need to know to make a start
on changing your life is right here in your hands.
Read on and find out why we have some of the
most satisfied students in the UK, then follow
these simple steps to join them
Contents
Register
We can help you manage the costs, making study more affordable
than you might think. Depending on where you live, we offer a
variety of ways to pay find out more on pages 5660.
Undergraduate study
10
56
Back cover
FACT
An OU qualification says
employ me
An OU qualification on your CV shows more than your level of
knowledge about a subject. It demonstrates to employers that
youre someone who is up for a challenge and committed to
successfully seeing it through, with excellent time management
and prioritising skills. Just the kind of person, in fact, that
employers are looking for, which is why organisations like KPMG,
the Metropolitan Police Service and Unilever work with our
Careers Advisory Service to recruit OU students.
With us, you dont have to put your life on hold to get
the qualification you need. Around 70 per cent of our
students fit study around their job and busy, changing
lives. Whether you want to start a new career or go
further in your current job, we can help. Find out more at
www.openuniversity.co.uk/careers-subjects.
Students love us
In 2013, the OU once again kept its place in the top five of all
UK universities for student satisfaction, the only university to
have achieved this every year since the survey began in 2005.
Theres nothing
distant about us.
Weve taken distance learning to a whole new, incredibly
supportive level many students whove studied elsewhere
say that theyve been better supported at the OU than at
campus-based universities.
FACT
Because we know that the grades you got at school arent the
only measure of ability, you dont need any previous academic
qualifications to study with us. You may, for example, discover
the skills youve gained through working will help your studies.
If you want it badly enough, well do everything we can to help
you achieve a qualification perhaps thats why more people
choose us every year than any other UK university.
Free tasters
If youre worried about your study skills, the free taster courses
at www.open.edu/openlearn are there to help you prove you
can do it. There are over 600 to choose from, ranging from
introductory to postgraduate level, each taking between one
and 50 hours to complete.
We wish you every success in your studies and hope you enjoy
your time with us.
Research ranked in the most recent Research Assessment
Exercise (RAE).
Your studies will help you develop a broad set of graduatelevel abilities that appeal to prospective employers. For social
sciences students the employability skills you will develop
include the ability to:
put together reasoned arguments and question assumptions
understand the processes of change in society and
its institutions
banking
politics
journalism and broadcasting
teaching
social work
accountancy
business management
advertising and marketing.
We advise you to research your career choices as early
as possible to clarify specific qualification and experience
requirements and to identify opportunities available within
your locality.
Many graduate-level jobs are open to graduates of any
discipline. Given the current economic climate and increased
competition for graduate jobs, it is important to consider a variety
of occupational areas. Bear in mind that many careers require
further study, training and/or work experience beyond
your degree.
To find out more about career opportunities related to social
sciences click www.openuniversity.co.uk/socsci-careers.
10
Undergraduate study
Undergraduate
study.
Thousands of students study social sciences with the OU
each year. The appeal is broad because the many subjects
that come under the social sciences umbrella provide
fascinating insights into everyday life in our communities,
families and workplaces.
16
16
18
18
30
31
32
19
19
20
21
32
34
Criminology
Politics 30
36
38
39
40
42
42
Social policy
43
Economics 22
43
44
45
22
25
25
Sociology 46
26
Geography 27
BA (Hons) Combined Social Sciences
(Geography) (Q69)
International studies
BA (Hons) International Studies (Q11)
27
46
Open qualifications
48
Undergraduate modules
49
28
28
Undergraduate study
11
Degrees
360 credits
An undergraduate or bachelors degree is a widely recognised
higher-education qualification that can help you progress in
your career. While you are studying for your degree you will
learn about your chosen subject(s) and develop your analytical,
intellectual and writing skills.
Degree-level study will demonstrate that you can understand
complex information, meet deadlines, work independently,
solve problems, and communicate with others effectively.
All our degrees are honours degrees. Like all universities
based in the UK, well grade your degree into one of four
classes: 1 (first the highest level), 2.1 (upper second),
2.2 (lower second) or 3 (third).
Foundation degrees
240 credits
Foundation degrees are equivalent to two thirds of an honours
degree and focus either on a particular job or profession; they
combine work-focused learning with academic study and are
designed and developed with external partners. They aim to
enhance the professional and technical skills of staff within a
profession or those intending to go into that profession. Most of
our foundation degrees are also offered as diplomas of higher
education for those living and working in Scotland.
12
Undergraduate study
Qualification
Credits required
at each stage
Total
credits
required
120
120
120
360
Foundation degree
/Diploma of higher
education
120
120
240
Certificate of
higher education
120
120
Qualification
Degree with
honours
6 years
3/4 years1
Foundation degree
/Diploma of higher
education
4 years
2 years
Certificate of
higher education
2 years
1 year
Undergraduate study
13
14
Undergraduate study
Undergraduate study
15
There are a range of ways you can pay, and you may even be
able to study for free.
You dont need to attend face-to-face tutorials and can fit your
studies around your work and family life. You fix your telephone
tutorials at times that are mutually convenient to you and your tutor.
If you dont meet the criteria set out above, and you live in
England or Wales, you may be able to cover the cost of
your studies with a Tuition Fee Loan (see page 56 for further
information).
Youll gain valuable knowledge and skills you can apply straight
away, at the same time as developing your confidence and giving
your CV a real boost.
16
Undergraduate study
Undergraduate
qualifications
in a named subject
Registration for the 2014/2015 academic year opens for all
undergraduate qualifications on 24 April 2014. Qualification
start dates are based on the start date of the first applicable
module(s) you can study as part of your qualification.
The qualification descriptions in this prospectus list the modules
that are currently available for study. However, as we review our
curriculum on a regular basis, the exact selection may change
over time.
Key
C
Compulsory module
Optional module
Choose a starting point
Interdisciplinary
social sciences
BA (Hons) Combined
Social Sciences (Q69)
Credits: 360
Start:
17
Undergraduate study
Credits Page
C
60
53
Credits Page
60
51
60
51
60
52
60
52
60
52
60
52
60
53
Qualification structure
Credits Page
Credits Page
C
60
50
Credits Page
60
50
60
60
53
60
53
60
54
60
54
60
54
60
54
60
55
60
55
60
55
50
18
Undergraduate study
Diploma of Higher
Education in Combined
Social Sciences (W40)
Certificate of
Higher Education in
Social Sciences (T06)
Credits: 240
Credits: 120
Start:
Start:
Are you interested in what shapes the lives we lead and the
decisions we make? Have you wondered why people continue
to smoke when they know the risks, or why governments want
to reorganise the NHS? Social scientists build theories and
conduct research to understand why and how people, groups
and institutions respond to change, exercise power and make
decisions. This certificate provides a compelling introduction
to social science approaches, and a springboard to further
study. Youll gain fascinating insights into everyday life in our
communities, personal lives and workplaces, drawing on ideas
from sociology, economics, social policy, psychology, geography,
criminology, and politics. This certificate will also develop a range
of skills focusing on the effective use of analysis and written
argument that will be valuable at work and in your personal life.
Undergraduate study
Criminology
19
20
Undergraduate study
Qualification structure
BA (Hons) Combined
Social Sciences
(Criminology) (Q69)
Credits: 360
Compulsory modules 120 credits
Credits Page
60
50
60
50
Credits Page
60
53
60
51
Credits Page
60
55
60
53
Start:
Undergraduate study
Qualification structure
Credits: 240
Start:
Credits Page
60
53
60
53
Credits Page
C
60
53
Credits Page
60
54
60
54
60
54
60
55
60
55
21
22
Undergraduate study
Economics
23
Undergraduate study
Credits Page
60
52
30
51
30
52
Credits Page
30
54
Qualification structure
C
C
60
54
Credits Page
30
53
30
54
Optimization (M373)*
30
55
Gentle start
Credits Page
30
49
30
50
Credits Page
30
49
30
49
Standard start
Optional module(s) 60 credits
Select from:
Credits Page
30
49
30
50
60
50
Credits Page
30
49
30
49
24
Undergraduate study
Qualification structure
Study order as listed.
Credits Page
60
53
60
52
Credits Page
C
60
54
Credits Page
60
53
60
54
60
54
60
54
60
55
60
55
Undergraduate study
Environment
and development
BA (Hons) Environmental
Studies (Q19)
Credits: 360
Start:
25
26
Undergraduate study
Qualification structure
Credits Page
60
60
49
50
60
54
60
Credits Page
Credits Page
C
60
51
Credits Page
Ecosystems (S396)
30
Credits Page
60
54
30
30
Oceanography (S330)
30
30
30
30
60
Geology (S276)
30
60
52
60
52
30
27
Undergraduate study
Geography
BA (Hons) Combined Social
Sciences (Geography) (Q69)
Credits: 360
Start:
Qualification structure
Study order as listed.
Credits Page
60
53
60
52
Credits Page
C
60
54
Credits Page
60
53
60
54
60
54
60
55
60
55
28
Undergraduate study
International studies
BA (Hons) International
Studies (Q11)
Credits: 360
Start:
29
Undergraduate study
Qualification structure
Credits Page
Credits Page
C
60
54
Credits Page
60
50
60
60
49
60
54
60
60
60
54
60
55
60
60
Credits Page
C
60
50
Credits Page
C
60
52
Credits Page
60
60
60
60
52
60
60
52
60
52
60
60
60
51
30
Undergraduate study
Politics
BA (Hons) Politics,
Philosophy and
Economics (Q45)
Credits: 360
Start:
Undergraduate study
Qualification structure
Credits: 360
Start:
Credits Page
60
50
60
52
Credits Page
60
52
60
51
Politics
International relations: continuity and
change in global politics (DD313)*
60
54
60
54
60
55
Philosophy
Economics
Doing economics: people, markets
and policy (DD309)*
31
60
54
32
Undergraduate study
Qualification structure
BSc (Hons) Criminology and Psychological Studies (Q48),
see page 19.
Diploma of Higher Education in Criminology and Psychological
Studies (W39), see page 21.
BSc (Hons)
Psychology (Q07)
Credits Page
60
53
60
52
Credits Page
60
54
60
54
Credits Page
60
60
54
60
55
60
55
Start:
53
Credits: 360
33
Undergraduate study
Qualification structure
Study order as listed. Modules marked * can be taken in any order.
Credits Page
60
50
60
50
60
50
Credits Page
Credits Page
30
51
60
52
60
30
52
Credits Page
C
60
52
Credits Page
60
54
60
54
60
60
Credits Page
C
60
34
Undergraduate study
Undergraduate study
Qualification structure
Study order as listed.
Credits Page
60
50
60
50
Credits Page
60
52
60
52
Credits Page
60
60
35
36
Undergraduate study
37
Qualification structure
Study order as listed. Modules marked * can be taken in any order.
Credits Page
60
50
60
50
Credits Page
30
51
30
53
60
52
Credits Page
60
60
38
Undergraduate study
Undergraduate study
Qualification structure
Credits: 360
Start:
Credits Page
60
50
60
50
Credits Page
60
52
60
52
Credits Page
60
60
39
40
Undergraduate study
Qualification structure
Foundation Degree in
Counselling (X09)
Credits: 240
Start:
Credits Page
60
53
60
51
Credits Page
60
55
60
53
Credits Page
60
53
60
54
60
54
60
54
60
55
60
55
41
Undergraduate study
Qualification structure
Recommended study order as listed. Modules marked * can be
taken in any order.
Credits Page
C
Credits Page
30
30
120
Credits Page
C
30
51
Credits Page
30
60
51
30
30
60
51
30
53
42
Undergraduate study
NEW Diploma of
Higher Education in
Psychology (W45)
NEW Certificate of
Higher Education in
Psychology (T22)
Credits: 240
Credits: 120
Start:
Start:
Undergraduate study
Social policy
BA (Hons) Social Policy
and Criminology (Q57)
Credits: 360
Start:
43
44
Undergraduate study
Qualification structure
BA (Hons) Combined
Social Sciences
(Social Policy) (Q69)
Credits: 360
Compulsory modules 120 credits
Introducing the social sciences (DD102)
Investigating the social world (DD103)
(planned for October 2015)
Credits Page
C
C
60
60
50
50
Credits Page
C
60
53
Credits Page
60
50
60
53
60
53
Credits Page
60
55
60
53
Start:
Undergraduate study
Qualification structure
Diploma of Higher
Education in Social Policy
and Criminology (W38)
Credits: 240
Start:
Credits Page
60
53
60
53
Credits Page
C
60
55
Credits Page
60
53
60
54
60
54
60
54
60
55
45
46
Undergraduate study
Sociology
BA (Hons) Combined
Social Sciences
(Sociology) (Q69)
Credits: 360
Start:
Qualification structure
Study order as listed.
Credits Page
C
60
53
Credits Page
60
51
60
51
60
52
60
52
60
52
60
52
60
53
47
Stage 3 module summary
Compulsory module 60 credits
Making social worlds (DD308)
Credits Page
C
60
55
Credits Page
60
53
60
53
60
54
60
54
60
54
60
54
60
55
60
55
48
Undergraduate study
Open qualifications
With an Open qualification a certificate of higher education
(CertHE), diploma of higher education (DipHE) or degree
you choose what you want to study.
Its one of the most flexible programmes of study in the UK,
letting you build a qualification thats unique for you.
You can:
tailor a qualification around your interests and career needs
a qualification that focuses on one main subject, but with
get
the freedom to mix in modules from other areas
use successfully completed credit from previous universitylevel studies elsewhere
easily change direction if you started out studying a particular
subject but your interests have changed.
Highly regarded by employers for their breadth and valued by
students for their flexibility, Open qualifications equip you with
a wide range of expertise, skills and capabilities that are much
sought after in todays highly competitive job market.
To find out more about career opportunities
with an Open qualification, click
www.openuniversity.co.uk/careers-subjects.
Where to start
If you are interested in social sciences we recommend that you
start your studies with Introducing the social sciences (DD102).
This will give you a firm foundation for future studies as well as
60 credits to count towards your qualification. For a full list of our
other key introductory OU level 1 modules see the Open CertHE
at www.openuniversity.co.uk/ug-open.
Undergraduate study
Undergraduate
modules
For the academic year 2014/2015, registration opens
for all undergraduate qualifications on 24 April 2014.
After youve registered on your qualification you will enrol
on the module(s) you intend to study in your first year.
The modules listed below are those that are currently available
for study. However, as we review our curriculum on a regular
basis, the exact selection may change over time.
Assessment key
EMA
End-of-module assessment
iCMA
TMA
Tutor-marked assignment
Stage 1
30 at OU level 1
Length: 8 months
30 at OU level 1
Length: 8 months
60 at OU level 1
Length: 8 months
Assessment: 7 TMAs
Start:
49
Credits:
30 at OU level 1
Length: 8 months
30 at OU level 1
Length: 8 months
50
Undergraduate study
Credits:
Credits:
60 at OU level 1
Length: 8 months
60 at OU level 1
Start:
Start:
Length: 8 months
60 at OU level 1
Length: 9 months
Start:
Length: 8 months
30 at OU level 1
Length: 9 months
Credits:
Start:
Stage 2
Adult health, social care and wellbeing (K217)
Credits:
60 at OU level 2
Undergraduate study
51
Credits:
Credits:
30 at OU level 2
60 at OU level 2
60 at OU level 2
60 at OU level 2
30 at OU level 2
Fear and sadness are the most common problems that people
seek counselling for. This module introduces you to the ways in
which they have been understood: as mental health problems;
by different forms of individual therapy; and by approaches that
focus on the family, the social group, or society. While the module
is primarily academic, youll develop awareness of counselling
skills, processes and techniques. The main sections of the
module cover: historical developments in understanding fear and
sadness; key individual counselling approaches; approaches
that consider relationships and cultural aspects of human
suffering; and the practice and evaluation of counselling.
60 at OU level 2
52
Undergraduate study
30 at OU level 2
60 at OU level 2
60 at OU level 2
Credits:
Credits:
60 at OU level 2
Credits:
60 at OU level 2
Tumultuous events like 9/11 and the war in Iraq have reminded
people how vital and sometimes how deadly the world of
politics can be. Even at the very local level, the everyday politics
of schools, hospitals, petitioning and local council debate affects
peoples lives. This module invites you into the world of politics in
a fresh and accessible way, using a wide variety of case studies
drawn from the UK and beyond. It sheds light on the inner
workings of power, decision making and protest, and it covers
politics from Parliament to the street, and the politics of ideas as
well as institutions.
This module will be available for the last time in February 2015.
60 at OU level 2
30 at OU level 2
Undergraduate study
30 at OU level 2
Stage 3
Cognitive psychology (DD303)
Credits:
60 at OU level 2
Credits:
60 at OU level 2
60 at OU level 2
60 at OU level 3
53
30 at OU level 3
60 at OU level 3
54
Undergraduate study
Credits:
Credits:
60 at OU level 3
60 at OU level 3
60 at OU level 3
60 at OU level 3
Credits:
Credits:
60 at OU level 3
30 at OU level 3
30 at OU level 3
60 at OU level 3
Undergraduate study
Optimization (M373)
Credits:
Credits:
55
60 at OU level 3
60 at OU level 3
60 at OU level 3
60 at OU level 3
30 at OU level 3
60 at OU level 3
56
When to apply
Apply as early as you can registration closing dates
for undergraduate qualifications are published in this
prospectus. For the most up-to-date information, click
www.openuniversity.co.uk/courses.
You should register well in advance of the closing date
if you wish to apply for financial support or credit for
previousstudy.
Time taken
to complete
a 360-credit
honours degree
25%
1316
12 years
part-time study
50%
2632
6 years
part-time study
120 credits
a year
Cost per
year
60 credits
a year
Percentage
of standard
fee
30 credits
a year
100%
5264
3 years
full-time study
Repayments are based on what you earn, not what you owe
and are deducted automatically by your employer through the
UK tax system.
57
Typical cost
per year2
Time taken to
complete a 360-credit
honours degree
Monthly repayment
Up to 21,000
30 credits a year
440815
22,000
60 credits a year
7751015
25,000
30
15502885
30,000
67
For illustrative purposes only in most cases, you can vary the
number of credits you study each year. Most OU students study
an average of 60 credits a year.
58
The price you pay depends on the number of credits you study
each year:
Credits studied
each year1
Typical cost
per year2
Time taken to
complete a 360-credit
honours degree
30 credits a year
440815
60 credits a year
7751015
15502885
Typical cost
per year2
59
Monthly repayment
Up to 21,000
Time taken to
complete a 360-credit
honours degree
22,000
25,000
30
30,000
67
30 credits a year
440815
60 credits a year
7751015
15502885
Yes the OU offers a range of other ways to pay your tuition fees:
Repayments are based on what you earn, not what you owe
and are deducted automatically by your employer through the
UK tax system.
60
Direct study
For information on available qualifications, your study experience,
and what the OU can offer international students, click
www.openuniversity.edu or call +44 (0)845 241 6555.
61
Data protection
We record your personal information when you contact us and
use this to manage registration, study, examination and other
services. When you register, well tell you more about how we
process and use your personal information.
Freedom of information
Information about the University can be found in our publication
scheme, click www.openuniversity.co.uk/foi. You have a general
right to information we hold that is not in our publicationscheme.
Undergraduate Prospectus
Getting started with The Open University
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Health and Social Care Prospectus
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To download or order
a printed prospectus.
Click www.openuniversity.co.uk/prospectus
Call +44 (0)845 300 60 90
I siaradwyr Cymraeg.
Os ydych yn siarad Cymraeg a byddain well gennych
drafod eich anghenion astudio drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg,
cysylltwch :
Y Brifysgol Agored yng Nghymru,
18 Heol y Tollty, Caerdydd, CF10 1AP
Ffoniwch 029 2047 1170
Ebost wales@open.ac.uk