© University of Kent - Contact | Feedback | Legal | Cookies
The University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NZ, T +44 (0)1227 764000
Social Policy and Politics BA (Hons)
This is a part-time, full-time joint honours programme within the Social Policy subject area.
Key facts
- Subject area: Social Policy
- Award: BA (Hons)
- Code: LL42
- Location: Canterbury
- Honours: Joint
- Mode of study: Part-time, Full-time
- Duration: 3 years
- Start: 2013
- Year in industry: No
- Year abroad: No
- Institution(s): University of Kent
Overview
Social Policy looks at the ways in which we as a society promote the welfare of individuals and families. You study some of today's central issues, such as poverty, well-being, ill health, education, crime, homelessness and child protection. This includes looking at both the nature of social problems and also at the policies directed towards them by government, and at the role of voluntary and private welfare. You look at debates regarding how best to provide health care, how to provide affordable housing, how to balance work and family life, and how to achieve equality for women, minority ethnic groups and people with disabilities. In studying these and many other vital topics, you develop the knowledge and skills to help you succeed in your future career.
What is distinctive about studying Social Policy at Kent is that the programme is highly flexible and provides a wide range of option choices, offered by leading academics. The programme is based within the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, which has consistently achieved the highest ratings for the quality of its teaching and research. It will help you develop the knowledge and skills that will appeal to a range of employers in welfare-related occupations and beyond (see overleaf under Careers).
Subject Leaflets
As this is a joint honours programme, you may find it useful to read both of the following subject leaflets for more information:
Modules
As this is a joint honours subject, please see both subject leaflets below for more details about the modules you may take:
Please contact us if you have any queries (Contacts are listed under the 'Further information' tab).
Teaching and assessment
Politics
Our main teaching methods are lectures, seminars, working groups, PC laboratory sessions and individual discussions with your personal tutor or module teachers. Assessment is through continuous feedback, written examinations, assessed essays and oral presentations.
Politics Open Forum
We hold a weekly extra-curricular Open Forum organised by our School research groups, where students and staff have the opportunity to discuss and debate key issues of the day that affect higher education and politics in the world today.
Social Policy
Usually you have four lectures and four seminars a week and additional tutorial input spread over the year. Some modules involve workshops to develop key personal and study skills, or computing and project work, which you can do individually or in teams. In addition, you spend time in individual study, using the resources of the University Library and computer-assisted learning packages.
Most modules in the School are assessed by 50% coursework and 50% end-of-year examination. A small number are assessed entirely by coursework. Marks from both Stages 2 and 3 count towards your final degree result. Stage 1 results do not count towards the final mark, but entry to Stage 2 depends on passing Stage 1 assessments.
Careers
Politics
Through your study, you acquire many of the key qualities that graduate employers expect, including: the ability to plan and organise projects; to analyse and summarise complex material, and to express your opinions coherently and with sensitivity. Those students who choose to take advantage of our study abroad options find it gives them a definite advantage in the employment market.
Recent graduates have gone into areas such as teaching, publishing, practical politics, local and central government, the diplomatic service, EU administration, financial services, nongovernmental organisations, journalism, international business or international organisations. Many have also gone on to postgraduate study.
Social Policy
We place a high emphasis on developing transferable skills such as those in written and verbal presentation, groupwork and the use of ICT. Our graduates fare extremely well in terms of finding employment, whether in directly related areas such as social work and health care; policy analysis in the public and voluntary sector; human resource management and advice services; education and research; and management in the Civil Service, local authorities or other public agencies, the voluntary sector; or beyond.
For more information on the services Kent provides to improve your employment prospects, visit www.kent.ac.uk/employability
Entry requirements
Passing the Kent IFP with an overall average of 60%, including passing all components and achieving 60% in the politics module, if taken, guarantees you entry onto the first year of this degree programme.
Passing the Kent IFP with an overall average of 50% guarantees you entry onto the first year of this degree programme.
Offer levels
ABB at A level, IB Diploma 33 points or IB Diploma with 16 points at Higher.
Required subjects
None.
Further information
School
Enquiries:
T: +44 (0)1227 827272
Key Information Sets
The Key Information Set (KIS) data (right) is compiled by UNISTATS and draws from a variety of sources which includes the National Student Survey and the Higher Education Statistical Agency. The data for assessment and contact hours is compiled from the most populous modules (to the total of 120 credits for an academic session) for this particular degree programme. Depending on module selection, there may be some variation between the KIS data and an individual's experience. For further information on how the KIS data is compiled please see the UNISTATS website.
If you have any queries about a particular programme, please contact information@kent.ac.uk