Health and Social Care - BA (Hons)

Course structure

Duration: 3 years full-time (4 with a year abroad), 6 years part-time (7 with a year abroad)

Modules

The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.  

On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘elective’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.

• Year abroad

Teaching and assessment

Teaching involves a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and one-to-one sessions with academic staff. 

Most modules in the School are assessed by 50% coursework and 50% end-of-year examination. A small number are assessed entirely by coursework. To see details for individual modules, click 'read more' within the module information in the course structure.

Contact hours

For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours.  The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Programme aims

This programme aims to:

• produce well-trained social scientists with a broad knowledge of the field of health and social care
• enable students to link theoretical knowledge with empirical enquiry to evaluate research findings and engage critically with the principal debates in the subject
• give students a good grounding in the areas of health and social care and corresponding political and policy issues
• equip students with the skills and knowledge that will enable them to enter a dynamic and diverse labour market and  carry forward their interest in the area further.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You gain knowledge and understanding of:

• the origins and development of UK welfare institutions, with particular emphasis on those of health and social care
• current structures of health and social care, including an ability to locate them in a wider context
• the operation and financing of health and social care and an understanding of the political economy of social welfare
• the roles of the private and voluntary sectors in relation to health and social care, with an understanding of the mixed economy of welfare
• key concepts of social policy such as need, equity, inequality, poverty, exclusion, identity, difference and diversity as they relate to health and social care
• local, regional, national and supranational dimensions of policy and understanding of the links between them
• the main sources of data in relation to health and social care and a grasp of the research methods used to collect and analyse data
• interdisciplinary approaches used to analyse issues in health and social care with an ability to use concepts from other social sciences
• key concepts and theories in relation to health and social care and an ability to apply these in a comparative approach.

Intellectual skills

You develop the following intellectual skills:

• problem-solving skills and the ability to seek solutions to social problems and individual needs
• research skills, including the ability to identify a research question and to collect and manipulate data to answer that question
• evaluative and analytic skills, to assess the outcomes of policy interventions in relation to health and social care as they impact on individuals and communities
• sensitivity to the values and interest of others and to the dimensions of difference

Subject-specific skills

You gain subject-specific skills in how to:

• identify and use theories and concepts to analyse the field of health and social care
• seek out and use statistical data relevant to the subject
• undertake an investigation of an empirical issue, either on your own or with other students
• distinguish between technical, normative, moral and political questions.

Transferable skills

You gain transferable skills in the following:

• independent study and learning
• having an appetite for learning and being reflective, adaptive and collaborative in your approach
• making short presentations to fellow students and staff
• communicating ideas and arguments to others, both in written and spoken form
• information technology
• preparing essays and correctly referencing the materials referred to
• time management
• developing interpersonal and teamwork skills to enable you to work collaboratively, negotiate, listen and deliver results

Careers

Graduate destinations

Our programmes provide you with knowledge and skills that appeal to employers such as:

• the NHS
• local authority adults’ and children’s services
• voluntary organisations
• private social and healthcare sector.

You also develop transferable skills such as planning and organisation, teamwork and leadership.

Help finding a job

The School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research has its own employability team who work with businesses to maximise opportunities for our students. We also hold an Employability Month every February and run networking events throughout the year.

The University has a friendly Careers and Employability Service which can give you advice on how to:

• apply for jobs
• write a good CV
• perform well in interviews.

Work experience

Taken as part of your degree, the Kent Student Certificate for Volunteering Platinum Award allows you to develop transferable skills in leadership, mentoring, project management and working within teams and organisations. You complete 100 hours of volunteering on campus, in the community and project leadership.

Career-enhancing skills

You graduate with subject-specific knowledge that is essential for a career in health and social care. You also develop the key transferable skills graduate employers look for, including:

• the ability to analyse information
• excellent communication skills
• work independently or as part of a team
• an understanding of, and sensitivity to, the values and interests of others.

You can also gain extra skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.