University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2021/22 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Social Sciences and Law > School for Policy Studies > Social Policy with Study Abroad (BSc) > Specification
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Programme code | 9SPOL024U |
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Programme type | Single Honours |
Programme director(s) |
Sebnem Eroglu-Hawksworth
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Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
School/department | School for Policy Studies |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Relevant QAA subject benchmark groups | Social Policy (2019) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 4 years (full time) |
The central core of the Social Policy with Study Abroad degree is the critical study of welfare systems: the sets of arrangements designed to promote individual and collective well-being throughout the life course in different national contexts. In studying Social Policy a variety of social science perspectives is used. These include: sociology, economics, politics, philosophy and history. But Social Policy differs from these disciplines in its unique focus upon the development and implementation of policy measures designed to influence the social circumstances of individuals and collectivities. As part of the 4 year programme, students will study for a full-year with one of the School's partner institutions. They will have an opportunity to study the social policies of another country, or topics related to the broader social sciences or arts and humanities including languages.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Acquisition of core knowledge and understanding is through lectures, seminars, classes and workshops together with regular course work in the form of essays, presentations and projects involving analysis of data. Advanced knowledge is acquired through individual supervision and one-to-one tutorials as part of the preparation of the student's dissertation. Throughout the learner is encouraged to undertake independent study both to supplement and consolidate what is being taught and to broaden and deepen their individual knowledge and understanding of the subject. This independent study will include the reading of academic texts and journals, public documents and internet material. The Study Abroad Year will provide detailed knowledge of another country's social policies or topics related to the broader social sciences/arts/humanities. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Throughout the programme there is a combination of formative and summative assessment. Formative assessment is given through marking unit course work essays, feedback on student presentations and on a variety of work done in classes. During preparation of the dissertation regular meetings between student and supervising tutor include feedback on the student's work in progress. Summative assessment is through a combination of unseen written examinations (1-9) assessed extended essays (1-8) and a critical analysis of a piece of published research (9,10). In addition students following the single honours programme are required to produce a 10,000 dissertation based on an original investigation (9,10 and a selection of 1-8, depending on the research question addressed). |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Intellectual skills are being developed through the teaching and learning programme outlined above (and in Section 11) – and in particular learners are exposed to this form of analysis in the lecture programme. Acquisition of 1 & 2 are further developed by discussion of key issues, summarising key points from reading and unit course work unit essays. Acquisition of 3 & 4 is developed by the above plus training in research methods and data analysis (mandatory unit), one-to-one discussion with academic supervisor of student dissertation and dissertation empirical work. Acquisition of 4 is developed by one-to-one discussion with academic advisor of a student developed research plan and empirical work. Acquisition of 5 is developed and enhanced during the Study Abroad Year which will expose students to new topics and potentially different disciplines. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Formative assessment of intellectual skills is through unit course work unit essays, feedback on student presentations and on a variety of class work. Summative assessment of intellectual skills is through unseen written examination or assessed extended essay. Skills relating to the planning, performance and reporting on a programme of original research are assessed by the dissertation. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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All learners receive initial guidance on how to identify, locate and use material available in libraries and elsewhere. Comprehensive bibliographies are provided for each course unit at the outset, as are guidelines for production of coursework essays and extended essays. Workshops are given in the use of on-line databases for literature searching. the final year dissertation is supported by a series of workshops which enhance and extend these skills. All units require regular written work and feedback is concerned with enhancing the learners' powers of expression (2&3). Skill 5 is acquired through experience of learning to manage time and meet deadlines which are all given at the outset of each unit (for eg. Handing in essays and completing the dissertation to time). Skills 3& 4 are developed in seminars, classes and workshops, which rely on facilitated discussion and interaction as well as individual or group presentations. Skill 12 is largely developed through elements of taught units and individual learning to consolidate these skills. Skill 7 is achieved through self-reflection on course work unit essays, in comparison with tutor's feedback on essay, and discussion with personal tutor. It is also developed in some units by self and peer appraisal of class presentation. Workshops provide support for students' own personal and professional development. Skill 8 will be developed during the Study Abroad Year. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Formative assessment of skills 1-3,6&7 is through course work unit essays, feedback on student presentations (in particular the presentation of the student's own dissertation work at dissertation conferences). Summative assessment of skills 1 to 3 is through unseen written examination or assessed extended essays through submission of the dissertation. Skill 6 is assessed by the ability to meet the deadlines set for assessment. |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
At the end of this level, learners are expected to be able to demonstrate knowledge of the historical and contemporary issues in the production and supply of welfare, primarily in the UK. They should be able to show awareness in general terms of the major theoretical perspectives in social policy and show a basic level of competence in appropriate skills. The expectation is that their work may require substantial direction from members of staff. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
At the end of this level, learners are expected to be able to demonstrate that they have expanded the range and depth of their knowledge and understanding of welfare systems in comparative and theoretical directions, including their understanding of the policy process. They should be aware of the range of research approaches relevant to the study of social policy. Through their choice of optional units they should be developing their skills and knowledge in relation to particular fields of policy. They are expected to be developing a capacity for self-directed learning. During their Study Abroad Year students may also be exposed to broader social science topics or new disciplines. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
Learners should continue to develop the depth of their knowledge and understanding through their study of both mandatory and optional subjects. Students are expected to demonstrate an ability to apply the skills learnt in the research methods unit and to enhance their capacity for self directed study, especially through the completion of a dissertation. |
The intended learning outcome mapping document shows which mandatory units contribute towards each programme intended learning outcome.
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the undergraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
UG Workload Statement
Success as an undergraduate student depends on you being able to make the transition to self-motivated, independent learning. Programmes are designed to assist you in this development, in many cases by starting with units in which timetabled teaching, such as lectures and practical classes, provides the foundations of knowledge and skills in a subject, moving on to individual research-based work. Over time you will be expected to take increasing responsibility for your own learning, guided by the feedback on your work that you will receive. At the heart of your studies at every level there must be regular and disciplined individual reading, reflection and writing and it is this skill of independent studies, above all others, that will serve you best when you leave the University.
Most programmes use credits and a 20 credit unit broadly equates to about 200 hours of student input. This includes all activities related to the teaching, learning and assessment of taught units.
A component of this is the time that you spend in class, in contact with the teaching staff, which includes activities such as lectures, laboratories, tutorials and fieldwork. Some of this activity may be online and could consist of activity that is synchronous (using real-time environments such as Blackboard Collaborate) or asynchronous (using tools such as tutor moderated discussion forums, blogs or wikis).
In some programmes there are field courses and/or placements that will take place in concentrated periods of time.
Outside scheduled activities you are expected to pursue your own independent learning to build your knowledge and understanding of the subjects you are studying. Such independent activities include, reviewing lecture material, reading textbooks, working on examples sheets, completing coursework, writing up laboratory notes, preparing for in-class progress tests and revising for examinations.
We recognise that many students undertake paid employment. To achieve a sensible balance between work and study, you are advised to undertake paid work for no more than 15 hours per week in term-time.
Professional Programmes
Many undergraduates in the Faculty of Health Sciences will be following the professional programmes of:
For these professional programmes, full time attendance is compulsory unless absence is formally approved. Academic activities are timetabled throughout the 5-day week and student workload is around 40 hours per week on average. Where possible, students in the early years are permitted Wednesday afternoons for sport and extra-curriculum activities. This may not be available in later years of professional programmes as when a student progresses through the curricula there is an increasing exposure to clinical and professional activities. Students in clinic or on placements may need to stay later than core times of 08.00 – 18.00 or even overnight to observe out-of-hours activities. This increasing exposure to clinical activities means that students on these professional programmes often have longer term dates than the University standard. Individual years within programmes are likely to vary in length (for example because of the timings of placements) and further information on this will be found in individual programme regulations. Another important point to note is that many of the assessments sit outside of the standard University examination timetable and are likely to be more frequent meaning that students will more oftentimes be engaged in revision activities and self-directed learning.
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty Assessment and Feedback Statement for Undergraduate Students. University of Bristol access only.
Students studying on the SH Social Policy degree programme may be able to transfer onto this 4 year programme.
SPS UG Admin Team - sps-ugadmin@bristol.ac.uk
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Social Policy Past and Present | SPOL10034 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Critical Skills for Social Scientists: Social Policy | SPOL10026 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Key Concepts, Theories and Ideologies in Social Policy | SPOL10033 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Comparative and International Policy Studies | SPOL10035 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Segregation and Inequality in International Perspective | SPOL10038 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Students choose 20 cp from the following list, including up to 20 cp of Open Units | ||||
Collective Action and Policy Change | SPOL10040 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Contemporary Debates in Global Childhood | SPOL10024 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Responding to Crime and Social Harm | SPOL10031 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Choose open units | OPEN | 20 | Optional | |
Certificate of Higher Education | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Social Research Methods | SOAD20004 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Understanding Public Policy | SPOL20026 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Theorising Social Welfare | SPOL20059 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Select 40 credit points from the following list: | ||||
Health Policy in a Global Context (SPS) | SPOL20061 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Poverty, Social Exclusion and Social Policy | SPOL20019 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Social Care in Crisis | SPOL20047 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Social Policy and Development | SPOL20050 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
International Political Economy and Social Policy | SPOL20063 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Punishment in Society | SPOL20052 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Crime, Harm and Money | SPOL20064 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Work and Work Placements: Childhood Studies | SPOL20040 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
and 20 credits from the list above or below: | ||||
Colonialism, Sexual Offences and Law | SPOL20062 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Youth, Sexualities and Gendered Violence | SPOL22023 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Youth Policy and Social Welfare | SPOL22022 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Youth Justice | SPOL20022 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Harms of the Powerful | SPOL20034 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Diploma of Higher Education | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Year Abroad | SPOL20029 | 120 | Mandatory | AYEAR |
120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Dissertation (Social Policy) | SPOL30017 | 40 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Select 60 credit points from the following list: | ||||
Climate Emergency | SPOL30074 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Violence, Migration and Borders | SPOL30088 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Inequalities in Health, Poverty and Development | SPOL31021 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Housing and home: political economy, inequality and rights | SPOL30081 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Disability in Society | SPOL30075 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Work, Employment, and Society | SPOL30087 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Quantitative Data Analysis for Policy Research | SPOL30082 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Global Illicit Drug Markets | SPOL30080 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
and 20 credits from the list above or below: | ||||
Children and Young People in the Law A | SPOL30057 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Childhoods in a Global Context | SPOL30089 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Gender based Violence | SPOL30029 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Sex Power and Consumption | SPOL30073 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Students who were abroad in the second year and so did not take all mandatory second year units, must include: | ||||
Understanding Public Policy | SPOL20026 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Social Policy with Study Abroad (BSc) | 120 |
Unit Pass Mark for Undergraduate Programmes:
For details on the weightings for classifying undergraduate degrees, please see the Agreed Weightings, by Faculty, to be applied for the Purposes of Calculating the Final Programme Mark and Degree Classification in Undergraduate Programmes.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
Please refer to the specific progression/award requirements for programmes with a preliminary year of study, the Gateway programmes and International Foundation programmes.
All undergraduate degree programmes allow the opportunity for a student to exit from a programme with a Diploma or Certificate of Higher Education.
Integrated Master's degrees may also allow the opportunity for a student to exit from the programme with an equivalent Bachelor's degree where a student has achieved 360 credit points, of which 90 must be at level 6, and has successfully met any additional criteria as described in the programme specification.
The opportunities for a student to exit from one of the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry with an Award is outlined in the relevant Programme Regulations (which are available as an annex in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes).
An Ordinary degree can be awarded if a student has successfully completed at least 300 credits with a minimum of 60 credits at Level 6.
The pass mark for the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine and Dentistry is 50 out of 100. The classification of a degree in the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry is provided in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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