Utilising the Levels Framework Workshop 4 November 2009

Making the Future: Developing the Social Sciences Levels Framework in 2009 Jessica Evans Social Sciences Programme Director Faculty of Social Sciences

Social Sciences Levels Framework March 2005

Social Sciences Levels Framework October 2009

C95 – Certificate of Higher Education in Social Sciences

E50 – Diploma of Higher Education in the Social Sciences

BA/BSc (Honours) Social Sciences - Learning Outcomes Educational aims This is a broad-based social sciences degree. Your studies will: introduce you to a range of social science disciplines (sociology, economics, psychology, politics/government, geography, social policy); increase your understanding of a range of social issues and phenomena through interdisciplinary study; point out how the distinctive ways of thinking and methods of the social sciences can inform social policies and action; inspire you to critically engage with social issues; provide you with the support and guidance you need to develop as an independent learner.

Learning outcomes The programme leading to this degree provides you with opportunities to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas. Within these four areas we emphasise achievable outcomes for students from diverse backgrounds, who have chosen a broad-based social sciences degree and who are learning at a distance. Knowledge and understanding When you have completed this degree you will have knowledge and understanding of: the distinctive contribution made by the social sciences to the study of society; the contested nature of knowledge and the differences/distinctions that exist within the social sciences and between other forms of knowledge; key ideas, debates and arguments in the social sciences; processes of change and the diverse ways in which these can be interpreted; the different contributions of (some) individual disciplines to the understanding of society;

Cognitive skills When you have completed this degree you will be able to: define and use key terms and concepts in the social sciences; construct social science arguments and use concepts, theories and evidence appropriately; use different kinds of evidence to interpret and critically assess ideas and arguments; compare and evaluate social science arguments and theories; understand and evaluate the range of methods used by social scientists.

Practical and/or professional skills When you have completed this degree you will be able to: transfer and use relevant key skills in your workplace; use the specific knowledge, analytic skills and methods you have studied as a basis for work in many professions; engage critically with ’common sense’ /’taken for granted‘ understandings of the social world; identify and evaluate conflicting arguments and recognize the significance of different value positions in these arguments.

Key skills When you have completed this degree, you will be able to demonstrate the following skills: Communication You will be able to: select and read material in an appropriate way, and identify and record what is relevant; select, summarize and synthesize information from different types of material and sources; present written material in a coherent and organized form, with arguments and information set out in a logical sequence, and with sources referenced in an appropriate way. Application of number You will be able to: perform basic numerical operations; interpret graphical information presented as tables, graphs, diagrams, bar charts; use and manipulate statistical sources

Information technology You will be able to: access, process and prepare information using computers. Learning how to learn You will be able to: analyse tasks and make plans for tackling them that use your time effectively; identify and use sources of support and feedback; monitor your progress and reflect on how successful you have been.

B57 – BA/BSc (Hons) Social Policy and Criminology