Description
Introduction to Social Sciences
| Module title | Introduction to Social Sciences |
|---|---|
| Module code | INT0049 |
| Academic year | 2020/1 |
| Credits | 20 |
| Module staff |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 10 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 10 |
|---|
Description - summary of the module content
Module description
Introduction to Social Sciences is a compulsory, one semester module which introduces a range of key concepts relevant to all students wishing to study law, the humanities and social sciences. It provides an introduction to the study of Social Sciences through issues around criminality, justice, punishment, the media and education, identity, society and belief. Using elements of criminology, sociology, philosophy, history, film, and law, this module investigates questions such as,
- What is justice? What is ‘right’? What is criminal behaviour?
- Where do our beliefs come from?
- What is the role of media and education?
Module aims - intentions of the module
- To introduce an inter-disciplinary exploration of key concepts in criminology, including criminality, justice, ethics, and human rights relevant to students intending to follow a degree programme in law, humanities and social sciences.
- To enable students to understand key terms, ideas, and concepts related to the subject of study.
- By achieving 1 and 2 above, to provide students with a foundation for a degree programme in law, humanities and social sciences.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate awareness of key issues around the subject of sociology appropriate to this level as taught on the module. This may include the history of, and issues around crime, punishment, and the representation of crime and criminals, the role of the media and education, debates and issues around identity, society, and belief systems
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 2. To a standard appropriate to this level, analyse and evaluate materials set for the module
- 3. To a standard appropriate to this level, show awareness of relevant issues in the wider context of cultural and/or intellectual history
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. With tutor support, take responsibility for your own learning
- 5. Communicate effectively using scholarly conventions appropriate to this discipline
Syllabus plan
Syllabus plan
A first semester module for all humanities, law and social science students, weekly online lectures introduce and explore concepts relating to sociology. Follow-up online/face to face seminars ensure that key lecture concepts are understood and offer opportunities to discuss lecture content, text extracts and related issues. Assessment takes the form of a short written summary and response task, an essay and a written exam.
This module features a range of study methods which typically include lectures, seminars, e-learning and self-study. By the end of the module, students will be able to demonstrate the intellectual, transferable and practicable skills appropriate to this level of study and in particular will be able to:
- understand key terms, ideas, and concepts related to the subject of study
- engage with a number of disciplines within the social sciences
- distinguish between fact and opinion, between what is relevant and what is not, and between opposing views based upon conflicting evidence
- extract and synthesise information and formulate a response
- practice the skills of independent learning and time management
Topics may include
- Representations of crime and criminals
- Identity and belief systems
- The role of the media and education
Learning and teaching
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 140 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Formal lectures | 30 | Lectures (live or pre-recorded) |
| Seminars and e-learning activities | 30 | Seminars - these will be a mixture of class discussion and individual and group tasks online or face to face. E-learning tasks set. |
| Guided independent learning | 140 | Reading and preparation for class discussion, research for assignment, exam revision, use of online resources |
Assessment
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary and response task | 500 words | 1-5 | Written and verbal |
| Essay draft | 800 words draft | 1-5 | Written and verbal |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 40 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Task | 20 | 500 word summary and response task | 1-5 | Written and Oral Feedback |
| Essay | 40 | 800 words | 1, 3-5 | Written and Oral Feedback |
| Examination | 40 | 24 hour online, open book | 1-5 | Written feedback |
Re-assessment
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary and response task | Resubmission | 1-5 | As soon as possible after assessment period |
| Essay | Resubmission | 1-5 | As soon as possible after assessment period |
| Examination | Re-sit Examination | 1-5 | As soon as possible after assessment period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for reasons judged legitimate by the Mitigation Committee, the applicable assessment will normally be deferred. See ‘Details of reassessment’ for the form that assessment usually takes. When deferral occurs there is ordinarily no change to the overall weighting of that assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to take a re-sit exam. Only your performance in this exam will count towards your final module grade. A grade of 40% will be awarded if the examination is passed.
Resources
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Criminology: A Sociological Introduction (Third Edition) by Carrabine et al.
Sociology for AQA Volume 2 (Third Edition) by Browne et al.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Web based and electronic resources included on ELE
Module has an active ELE page
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
Additional sources provided by module convenor
| Credit value | 20 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 10 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 3 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 20/08/2019 |
| Last revision date | 30/07/2020 |