Open University

BA (avec distinction) en sciences sociales (études religieuses)

The qualification provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills, and other attributes in the following areas:

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of this qualification, you will have:

• An extensive knowledge and critical understanding of key concepts and theoretical approaches in the social sciences
• A systematic understanding of a range of disciplinary approaches within the social sciences and an awareness of the different sources that contribute to the social sciences
• An extensive and critical understanding of key social processes and their impact on individual and collective life
• A critical appreciation of how the social sciences understand, explain, and evaluate matters of social concern

Cognitive skills

On completion of this qualification, you will be able to:

• Interpret, critically analyse, and evaluate a diversity of social scientific ideas, concepts, and arguments, and identify, gather, interpret, critically analyse, and evaluate evidence from a wide range of sources
• Demonstrate knowledge of and familiarity with established techniques of social science analysis and enquiry
• Deploy a conceptual understanding of the social sciences to devise and substantiate arguments that address social problems
• Review, consolidate, and extend your knowledge and understanding, and initiate and carry out an independent social scientific project.

Practical and professional skills

On completion of this qualification, you will be able to:

• Regularly review current and future personal development and career options, including developing strategies to address factors that limit choices
• Engage critically with skills and ethical issues relevant to social scientific enquiry
• Learn from feedback and reflect on the process of learning to evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses and improve performance
• Recognise and critically evaluate personal viewpoints and engage constructively with others’ views.

Key skills

On completion of this qualification, you will be able to demonstrate the following skills:

• Communication: Accurately and effectively communicate information about the social sciences in a variety of ways suitable for a range of academic and non-academic audiences, both formal and informal.
• Digital information literacy: Select, access, and exploit a wide range of digital sources to find, use, create, and share information, data, and knowledge in ways relevant to the social sciences.
• Planifier et organiser : Élaborer et exécuter des plans efficaces impliquant l'identification d'informations et de ressources pertinentes, la formulation de questions et la prise de jugements pour résoudre un problème.
• Connect and work with others: Work collectively with other learners, playing an active and appropriate role and achieving joint outcomes.

This degree has three stages, each comprising 120 credits.

• In Stage 1 you'll begin with an introductory social science module before choosing between looking at the issues facing contemporary society or the key revolutions throughout history.
• Next, at Stages 2 and 3, you will take a sociology module, as well as explore a range of religions and religious practices and consider how they relate to wider social questions and concerns.

Stage 1 (120 credits)

You'll start your degree with:

• Introducing the social sciences (DD102)

You'll also choose one from:

• Global challenges: social science in action (D113)
• Revolutions (A113)

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll begin this stage with:

• Understanding digital societies (DD218)

You'll complete this stage with:

• Exploring religion: places, practices, texts and experiences (A227)

Stage 3 (120 credits)

You'll study the following:

• You’ll choose one from this list of Stage 3 option modules.

You'll complete your degree with:

• Why is religion controversial? (A332)

Assessment

Our assessments are all designed to reinforce your learning and help you show your understanding of the topics. The mix of assessment methods will vary between modules.

Computer-Marked Assignments

• Usually, a series of online, multiple-choice questions.

Tutor-Marked Assignments

• You’ll have a number of these throughout each module, each with a submission deadline.
• They can be made up of essays, questions, experiments or something else to test your understanding of what you have learned.
• Your tutor will mark and return them to you with detailed feedback.

End-of-Module Assessments

• The final, marked piece of work on most modules.
• Modules with an end-of-module assessment won’t usually have an exam.

Exams

• Some modules end with an exam. You’ll be given time to revise and prepare.
• You’ll be given your exam date at least 5 months in advance.
• Most exams take place remotely, and you will complete them at home or an alternative location.
• If a module requires you to take a face-to-face exam, this will be made clear in the module description, and you will be required to take your exam in person at one of our exam centres.

Skills for career development

Employers value the diverse skills of the social sciences very highly. The ability to work across different academic disciplines will provide you with a broad portfolio of transferable skills including the ability to:

• Interpréter, analyser et évaluer de manière critique les preuves quantitatives et qualitatives
• Appliquer l'apprentissage à des situations du monde réel
• Communiquer efficacement auprès d’un public varié en utilisant différents médias
• Utiliser un large éventail de pratiques numériques pour rechercher, utiliser et créer des données
• Apprendre de manière autonome et planifier, mener et présenter un travail indépendant
• Travailler efficacement avec les autres pour obtenir des résultats communs

Career relevance

Un diplôme en sciences sociales peut mener à un emploi dans les secteurs public, privé et bénévole. Les entreprises, les organisations du secteur public et les établissements d'enseignement doivent de plus en plus faire face à des problèmes sociaux et valoriser les compétences que les diplômés en sciences sociales peuvent apporter, ce qui rend ce diplôme pertinent pour un large éventail de professions, notamment les agents des gouvernements locaux, les fonctionnaires, les enseignants du secondaire, les travailleurs sociaux. , des organisations caritatives, des journalistes et des responsables syndicaux. Vous pouvez également utiliser votre BA (Hons) en sciences sociales pour poursuivre vos études dans le secteur de l'enseignement supérieur.

Other careers

Many graduate-level jobs are open to social graduates, particularly in business, the voluntary sector and the public sector. Please note, however, that some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience beyond your degree.

Grâce à notre approche unique de l’apprentissage à distance, vous pouvez étudier depuis chez vous, au travail ou en déplacement.

Vous aurez des délais d'évaluation à respecter, mais sinon, vous serez libre d'étudier aux moments qui vous conviennent, en adaptant votre apprentissage au travail, à la famille et à la vie sociale.

Pour chacun de vos modules, vous utiliserez soit uniquement des ressources en ligne, soit un mélange de supports en ligne et imprimés.

Chaque module que vous étudiez aura un site Web de module avec

• Un planificateur d'études hebdomadaire, vous offrant un guide étape par étape tout au long de vos études
• Matériel de cours tel que des lectures, des vidéos, des enregistrements et des activités auto-évaluées
• Forums de modules pour les discussions et les activités collaboratives avec d'autres étudiants
• Détails de chaque devoir et leurs dates d'échéance
• Un système de réservation de tutorat, des salles de tutorat en ligne et les coordonnées de votre tuteur
• Versions en ligne de certains supports et ressources de modules imprimés.