University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2021/22 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Social Sciences and Law > School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies > Sociology with Study Abroad (BSc) > Specification
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Programme code | 9SOCI003U |
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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 as well as providing students with an opportunity to undertake a full year's study at one of our partner institutions, providing an opportunity to improve their understanding of comparative sociology and broadening their theoretical framework, as well as enabling students to enhance their language skills.
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 specialist 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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Intellectual skills are developed through the lecture programme and linked seminars/classes, independent study and coursework. Students are exposed to relevant modes of enquiry and analyses; they are encouraged through class discussion and their individual written work to identify key issues, to summarise and reflect upon key points from their reading, to assess evidence and its relevance. Guidance on the location and use of library and web sources, on referencing, on the preparation of written and oral work is provided through handbooks, bibliographies and study skills tasks. Research skills are further developed through teaching in sociological methods and the planning and conduct of the dissertation. |
Methods of Assessment | |
A variety of written assignments, formative and summative essays and unseen examinations test summary, analytical and evaluation skills, problem-solving, report writing and the presentation of arguments. The dissertation additionally assesses independent enquiry. Seminar and coursework exercises and the dissertation assess the ability to interpret data and investigative skills. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning and Teaching Methods |
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Oral communication is developed by requiring students to engage in class discussions, in seminars or tutorials, and to give short presentations individually or in groups. Effective use of information sources, analytical ability, independent and group work are all developed through seminars, coursework tasks and study skills. |
Methods of Assessment | |
Communication and presentation skills are assessed through written coursework and essays (formative and summative), which it is expected that students will word process. Recall and the organisation of relevant material is tested through traditional unseen written examinations. Independent study is assessed through coursework, assessed essays, preparation for examinations and the dissertation Credit points depend on both written course requirements and participation in seminars involving group discussion and debate. |
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 6 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. |
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.
Additional costs
In addition to the fees for the programme, a student will encounter the following costs:
All students on this programme will undertake a study abroad year in their 3rd year of study. There will be costs for travel, accommodation, visa, insurance. Costs depend on the study abroad location.
Depending on optional unit choice in the 2nd and final years of study, a student may have the opportunity to take part in an optional field trip.
The Department welcomes mature students, who come with a variety of qualifications. The Department also welcomes a growing number of exchange students from Europe and the USA who add a stimulating international dimension to undergraduate work. Preview Day offers potential applicants an opportunity to visit.
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/Depts/Sociology/
Email: socug-enquiries@bristol.ac.uk
Admissions Tutor: Dr Kieran Flanagan
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Thinking Sociologically | SOCI10004 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Doing Social Research | SOCI10005 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Key Social Thinkers | SOCI10006 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Social Identities and Divisions | SOCI10007 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Students must choose 40 credit points from the list below: | ||||
Introducing Culture | SOCI10010 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Sociology in a Global Context | SOCI10008 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Choose open units | OPEN | 40 | Optional | |
Certificate of Higher Education | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Investigating Society (Sociology) | SOCI20079 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Conceptualising the Social | SOCI20016 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Students must choose 80 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 |
Class and Social Divisions | SOCI20045 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Environment and Society | SOCI20049 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
East Asian Societies: Alternative Modernities | SOCI20076 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Principles of Quantitative Social Science | SOCI20069 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
What is a Society? | SOCI20075 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Art and Society | SOCI20087 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Digital Society | SOCI20077 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
The Sociology of Childhood and Rights | SOCI20078 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Conducting a Research Project using Secondary Data | POLI20001 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Diploma of Higher Education | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Study Abroad (Year) | SPAI20029 | 120 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Dissertation | SOCI30050 | 40 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Students must choose 80 credit points from the following list: | ||||
Perspectives on Power | SOCI30062 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Public Opinion and Democracy | SOCI30072 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Religion and Politics | SOCI30107 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Nations and Nationalism | SOCI30082 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Gender and Migration | SOCI30091 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Modern Slavery: Issues and Debates | SOCI30097 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Risk, Danger and Disaster | SOCI30098 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Queering Sexuality and Gender | SOCI30105 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Consumption and Sustainability | SOCI30106 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Power, Politics and Food | POLI30027 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Apocalypse or Ecotopia? | POLI30037 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Politics of Rebellion | POLI30038 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Sociology 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.
Some Sociology optional units are approved at, and available at, both level I/5 and level H/6. The title of each unit is the same. Optional units are usually a run in alternate years so that each student will have the opportunity to choose to study that title at one or other level. In the event that a title is run in two successive years, a student may not select it in both years. So, for example, a student who has taken SOCI20071 `Inside Science’ may not select SOCI30096 `Inside Science’ even if it is available in their final year.
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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