University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2020/21 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Social Sciences and Law > School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies > Sociology with Quantitative Research Methods (MSci) > Specification
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Programme code | 9SOCI006U |
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Programme type | Single Honours |
Programme director(s) |
Maud Perrier
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Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Relevant QAA subject benchmark groups | Sociology (2019) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 4 years (full time) |
The School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies aims to provide excellence in teaching and learning within a stimulating research environment. We aim to produce high quality graduates with an advanced understanding of social institutions, values and practices and the methodologies needed to analyse social relations and social processes. The programme provides a sound grounding in contemporary theoretical debates, their application to a number of substantive areas, and the philosophical and practical issues involved in undertaking empirical research. Strong emphasis is placed on the quality of students' written work, their capacity for rigorous and critical argument and an independent approach to learning.
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Acquisition of knowledge and understanding through lectures, classes and seminars, associated handouts and visual presentations, together with individual supervision in preparation of the student's final year dissertation. A wide range of special subjects in the third year to allow students to address areas in-depth. Directed and independent reading, with a strong emphasis on effective use of a wide range of literature and other information sources: academic texts, journals, articles, sociofile, websites, relevant fiction, film and other media. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Range of written essays (short coursework and extended, summatively assessed, essays). Examinations (unseen). Other coursework: written assignments and various tasks as appropriate to each unit of the course (eg: short written piece, reviews, oral presentations, group work, portfolio of assignments ) |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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|
Acquisition of knowledge and understanding through lectures, classes and seminars, associated handouts and visual presentations, together with individual supervision in preparation of the student's final year dissertation. A wide range of special subjects in the third year to allow students to address areas in-depth. Directed and independent reading, with a strong emphasis on effective use of a wide range of literature and other information sources: academic texts, journals, articles, sociofile, websites, relevant fiction, film and other media. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Range of written essays (short coursework and extended, summatively assessed, essays). Examinations (unseen). Other coursework: written assignments and various tasks as appropriate to each unit of the course (eg: short written piece, reviews, oral presentations, group work, portfolio of assignments ) |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
---|---|
|
Acquisition of knowledge and understanding through lectures, classes and seminars, associated handouts and visual presentations, together with individual supervision in preparation of the student's final year dissertation. A wide range of special subjects in the third year to allow students to address areas in-depth. Directed and independent reading, with a strong emphasis on effective use of a wide range of literature and other information sources: academic texts, journals, articles, sociofile, websites, relevant fiction, film and other media. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Range of written essays (short coursework and extended, summatively assessed, essays). Examinations (unseen). Other coursework: written assignments and various tasks as appropriate to each unit of the course (eg: short written piece, reviews, oral presentations, group work, portfolio of assignments ) |
Statement of expectations from the students at each level of the programme as it/they develop year on year.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
Students are expected to acquire the foundations on which to develop appropriate expertise in line with the aims and objectives of the course. They will acquire familiarity with the main themes and key concepts of classical and contemporary sociology, and hence the character of the discipline. They will develop an understanding of debates on issues of central importance to sociology and of current social relevance, and be introduced to theories of society, social institutions, social identity and culture. The expectation is that their work may require substantial direction from tutors at this stage with guidance on the development of study skills. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
In Year 2 students are expected to expand the range and depth of their knowledge in core areas of the discipline and their capacity to evaluate material using a variety of critical perspectives. They acquire an overview of key fields of study and appropriate methodologies, a strong conceptual basis for later theory and substantive units. Students will extend their analytical skills, their ability to structure their work and present it fluently. They will be encouraged in group work skills through active participation in seminars. They are expected to be developing a capacity for self-directed learning (for example, through the researching and writing of essays and coursework assignments). |
Level H/6 - Honours |
At level 3 students are expected to broaden and deepen their knowledge through their study of specialised optional subjects, the units being more closely linked to staff research interests developing the conceptual and methodological approaches used in more complexity. Students will be expected to develop further their ability to gather and assimilate information from diverse sources, to synthesise these in an appropriate way and to engage in sophisticated critical evaluation of sociological texts. Students will be encouraged to make their own critical judgements, to develop greater independence and self-directed study, in particular through the dissertation, and to further extend individual and group work skills. |
Level M/7 - Masters |
At level M students will be carrying out work at or informed by the forefront of an academic or professional discipline with a strong focus on quantitative research methods. Students will have shown originality in the application of knowledge, and they will understand how the boundaries of knowledge are advanced through research. They will be able to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, and they will show originality in tackling and solving problems. They will have the qualities needed for employment in circumstances requiring sound judgement, personal responsibility and initiative, in complex and unpredictable professional environments. |
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.
Workload Statement
Success at undergraduate level in the Social Sciences and Law depends on your being able to make the transition to self-motivated, independent learning. The programmes offered in the Faculty are designed to assist you in this development, in many cases by starting with larger lecture-based units providing the foundations of knowledge and skills in a subject, moving through to smaller seminar-based specialist units and finishing with an individual dissertation or research project. Over time you will be expected to take increasing responsibility for your own learning. But at the heart of your studies at every level there must be regular and disciplined individual reading, reflection and writing, whether in the library or at home. It is this skill of independent study above all others that you will take with you when you leave.
This model of academic development is particularly obvious in the more discursive subjects such as law, politics, social policy and sociology. The typical timetabled contact time for a discursive 20 credit point unit in the Faculty is about 30 hours. You will find that you need to allow for about 10 hours preparation on your own if you are to get the most from one of these teaching sessions. In addition there will often be class presentations or essays to write. Typically, the final year will include an independent research unit which by definition has a much smaller amount of more individualised support. Towards the end of any teaching block you may have additional revision or updating classes, and many programmes have occasional ad-hoc lectures of general interest and relevance. If you get stuck, there is always the chance to speak to your lecturer after a class or during their hours of general availability, or you could see your personal tutor. The Faculty also includes programmes which require increasing levels of mathematical sophistication, typically in Economics, Finance and Management. In this latter case, much larger numbers of lectures - up to 18 hours a week depending on option choices - and fewer small group classes are normal, as in the sciences.
As a result, and depending on your particular programme and option choices, your timetable is likely to be a lot less structured than that of fellow students who are linguists, scientists, engineers or medics. But the time that others spend in laboratories you should be spending in private study. In a sense, the library is your laboratory, and you will want to make best use of the excellent range of resources available to you here. A good University education does not tell you 'what you need to know'. Rather, we assume that, like your lecturers and professors, you are intellectually curious about your subject. We invite you to join us and we are there to help you satisfy your curiosity as best we can.
Assessment Statement
Please select the following link for a statement about assessment. This is University of Bristol access only.
https://www.bris.ac.uk/fssl/current-students/fssl-undergraduates/assessmentandfeedbackstatement.pdf
This course is ideal for those interested in learning more about how to use numbers and data within the social sciences, and in acquiring practical and analytical skills that are attractive to employers. It has been developed in partnership with the Nuffield Foundation, ESRC and HEFCE as part of the new Bristol Q-Step Centre: one of fifteen centres in the UK tasked with leading a step-change in the quality of quantitative methods teaching provided to undergraduate social scientists.
Two thirds of your studies will follow the Single Honours Sociology course, acquiring core knowledge in your subject. The remaining third provides applied inter-disciplinary training in quantitative methods. In year one, we discuss how numbers and data are used (and abused) to tell ‘convincing stories’ in the media and social research. We consider what is meant by segregation, and how it can be mapped and measured. Year two offers practical classes in social statistics and applied data analysis, developing your skills in numeracy and analysis to advance your study of sociology, and enabling you to undertake your own individual research project in an area of quantitative social science in year three.
There is also a four-year undergraduate degree option, offering more advanced quantitative methods for those wishing to graduate with a Master's (MSci) qualification.
Additional costs
In addition to the fees for the programme, a student may encounter the following costs:
Depending on optional unit choice in the 2nd and 3rd year of study, a student may have the opportunity to take part in an optional field trip.
www.bris.ac.uk/qstep www.nuffieldfoundation.org/q-step-centres
This Integrated Master's programme has been designated as type II: Advanced Study in accordance with the QAA descriptors for Master's programmes. Please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes for further information on this type of programme.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Thinking Sociologically | SOCI10004 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Social Identities and Divisions | SOCI10007 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Key Social Thinkers | SOCI10006 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Convincing stories? Numbers as evidence in the social sciences | UNIV10002 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Segregation and Inequality in International Perspective | SPOL10038 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Select 20cp from: | ||||
Doing Social Research | SOCI10005 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Choose open units | OPEN | 20 | Optional | |
Certificate of Higher Education | 120 |
The following units are must pass: POLI20001 and SOCI20069. For further information and a definition of must pass units please see the Glossary of Terms.
This Integrated Master's programme has been designated as type II: Advanced Study in accordance with the QAA descriptors for Master's programmes. Please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes for further information on this type of programme.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Conceptualising the Social | SOCI20016 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Principles of Quantitative Social Science | SOCI20069 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Conducting a Research Project using Secondary Data | POLI20001 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Students must choose 60 credit points from the following units: | ||||
Ethnicity and Racism | SOCI20017 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Sociology of Health and Illness | SOCI20035 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
The Sociology of Gender | SOCI20042 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Environment and Society | SOCI20049 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Investigating Society (Sociology) | SOCI20079 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Art and Society | SOCI20087 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
What is a Society? | SOCI20075 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
East Asian Societies: Alternative Modernities | SOCI20076 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Digital Society | SOCI20077 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
The Sociology of Childhood and Rights | SOCI20078 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Diploma of Higher Education | 120 |
This Integrated Master's programme has been designated as type II: Advanced Study in accordance with the QAA descriptors for Master's programmes. Please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes for further information on this type of programme.
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Dissertation (with Quantitative Research Methods) (Sociology) | SOCI30065 | 40 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Choose 80 credit points from the following: | ||||
Nations and Nationalism | SOCI30082 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Gender and Migration | SOCI30091 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Modern Slavery: Issues and Debates | SOCI30097 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Queering Sexuality and Gender | SOCI30105 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Religion and Politics | SOCI30107 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
BSc Sociology with Quantitative Research Methods | 120 |
This Integrated Master's programme has been designated as type II: Advanced Study in accordance with the QAA descriptors for Master's programmes. Please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes for further information on this type of programme.
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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