Teaching, assessment and course structure
How will my course be organised?
All the University's degrees are modular in nature, giving students a wide range of choice over the topics that they wish to study in more detail. A module is a unit of teaching that the faculty then examines upon completion. Modules are weighted in terms of credits: most modules have a 20 credit weighting.
Degrees are usually divided into three years. In each year, you must study 120 credits worth of modules, with an additional 10 credit IT skills module in Year One. Some modules are compulsory but you will find that most are optional or elective modules.
In your first year, you will follow introductory modules in Sociology and/or Social Policy, take a Study Skills module and choose further elective modules. In your second and third years, you will, depending on your programme of study, follow some compulsory modules, but most of your studies will comprise optional modules which you choose from the range available.
Most of these will be within the School – less if you are doing joint honours with a discipline outside the School – and you are allowed to choose some additional modules from other Schools. For modules within the School, assessments come at the end of each module and take the form of essays and examinations.
How is the teaching organised?
Most teaching takes place in lectures and tutorials. Lectures 'set the scene' for a topic or theme, and provide you with a framework for further reading and investigation. Tutorials occur in smaller groups of about twelve to fourteen students, who meet for structured discussions under the guidance of the lecturer or a tutor. Tutorial groups allow student to investigate lecture topics in more depth, raising questions and developing arguments.
Some modules offer different modes of participation: in some modules, students can participate in group work for assignments. Computing workshops support the Year One IT and Computing Skills module.
How is assessment organised?
In general, the School assesses modules through both an essay and an exam. Most modules are assessed by one essay of 2,500-3,000 words and one two-hour exam.
Supported by a supervisor, final year students design and complete a dissertation: a large piece of independent study in an area of special interest to them. Social policy students may opt to follow independent, supervised 'desktop studies' in their final year.
The Library
The Library website also provides easy access to electronic resources, which include databases, journals, books and archives.
The Library Catalogue is on the internet and you can reserve and renew your books on-line.
The University has over 35 IT computer clusters, six of which are open 24 hours a day.