SC340-6-FY-CO: The Current Issues in Social Science
Key module for
BA LP33 Media and Digital Culture,
BA LP33TT Media and Digital Culture,
BA LP34 Media and Digital Culture (including Placement Year),
BA P300 Media and Digital Culture (Including Foundation Year),
BA PL33 Media and Digital Culture (including Year Abroad),
BA LY10 Social Sciences,
BA LY11 Social Sciences (Including Placement Year),
BA LY12 Social Sciences (Including Year Abroad),
BA LY13 Social Sciences (Including Foundation Year)
Module description
This module gives students an opportunity to apply social science to address key issues facing society at the local, national and global level. For example, what is the impact of the war in Yemen or in Syria? What is the impact of Brexit? How does global warming affect us? What are the major challenges in the 21st century?
This module will tackle a different theme each term to better understand how Social Science can be used to understand the big issues.
Module aims
The aims of the module are:
to understand the contemporary theories of how key topics intersect with politics, sociology, psychosocial analytic studies, economics, marketing, business, and language and linguistics
to develop student's ability to critically assess and discuss a variety of issues in different disciplines
to understand the effect that a variety of current issues have had on shaping behaviour and institutions
to adjudicate between competing theories or arguments, giving credit to perspectives other than their own
to improve students' abilities to write objectively and persuasively
to improve general writing skills in a concise fashion
to learn how to gather data and analyse it in a concise fashion
to learn how to present information orally
to learn how to work in large teams
Engage students in their own employability and development
Enable students to develop a thorough understanding of the range of careers and their ability to access and utilize resources effectively
Engage students with the purpose of developing employable skills and understanding why these specific skills are essential
Develop student's understanding of the recruitment process and what their ability is to influence this process
Develop students' ability to articulate their personal brand, skills and attributes in a positive, confident and professional manner.
Transferrable skills:
Identifying, gathering, assessing and organizing evidence
Understanding the different disciplines use different approaches to understanding current events; Critically comparing alternative perspectives on current events
Working in groups with other students from a range of different disciplines; developing inter-personal skills, people management, and ability to coordinate with others and negotiate
Exercising judgement on the relevance and reliability of information
Verbal, written and online communication
Effective time management and organising tasks to meet deadlines
Technical skills in putting together online content
Complex problem solving and critical thinking
Module learning outcomes
By the end of this module students will be expected to be able to:
1. Develop a detailed knowledge of the main theoretical and empirical concepts in social sciencel. To develop a detailed knowledge of the main theoretical and empirical concepts in social science
2. Gain an in-depth understanding of how social science applies to the big issues facing our world and the main findings of social science
3. Develop a comprehensive knowledge of developments, issues and debates in social sciences and the sources of information for studying social science from an inter-disciplinary perspective
4. Apply analysis and research to solve and explore common issues in social science
5. Develop skills in teamwork and technical presentations
6. Deliver successful planning and project implementation through strong organisational skills
7. Develop understand how to undertake independent research, to learn important research techniques, writing and critical thinking.