Social Problems
| Module title | Social Problems |
|---|---|
| Module code | SSI1004 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Alexey Bessudnov (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
This module will introduce you to the social sciences via the exploration of some of the most important problems of our society. You will learn about social inequality and poverty and the ways to measure and analyse them. You will examine gender differences, immigration, ageing and other widely discussed issues. The distinctive feature of this module is that the discussion will be driven by empirical data. This module will prepare you for other more specialised modules in Years 2 and 3 that focus on specific disciplines and areas in the social sciences.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The main aim of this module is to introduce you to the main areas, concepts and approaches in the social sciences. You will learn how to measure social phenomena and how to analyse important social problems using empirical data. You will also gain an understanding of the substantive areas where social data analytic skills can be applied.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Identify some of the major social problems in contemporary societies.
- 2. Discuss social problems using academic evidence from the social sciences.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Recognise the main concepts and methods in the social sciences.
- 4. Know about some sources of empirical data for social sciences.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Write clearly and in a structured way about social sciences using academic language.
- 6. Prepare and record presentations using specialised software.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following themes:
- Income inequality and poverty
- Social classes and social mobility
- Gender inequalities
- Race and ethnicity
- Immigration
- Education
- Social norms and values
- Religion and secularisation
- Population growth, ageing and demographics of Western societies
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 22 | 2-hour weekly lectures / seminars |
| Guided Independent study | 103 | Reading for lectures and seminars |
| Guided Independent study | 20 | Essay preparation / writing |
| Guided Independent study | 5 | Presentation preparation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay plan | 250 words | Written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | 0 | 30 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 70 | 2,000 words | 1-5 | Written |
| Recorded individual presentation | 30 | 5 minutes + slides | 1-4, 6 | Written |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay (2000 words) | Essay (2000 words) | 1-5 | August/September re-assessment period |
| Recorded individual presentation (5 minutes + slides) | Recorded presentation (5 minutes + slides) | 1-4, 6 | August/September re-assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
- F. van Tubergen. (2020). Introduction to Sociology. Routledge.
- N. De Graaf, D.Wiertz. Societal Problems as Public Bads. Routledge, 2019.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 11/08/2022 |
| Last revision date | 03/07/2023 |