The programme adopts an interdisciplinary perspective to the study of health, illness and disease in modern Western and developing societies. You will study areas of sociology, psychology, nutrition, biology, social policy and ethics.
You will have the opportunity to explore answers to questions like Why are some people more likely to become ill than others? Why do women live longer than men? Why are older people, disabled people and people from minority ethnic groups often discriminated against in healthcare?
The programme aims to engage you in developing your knowledge and understanding of social development and contemporary social issues. You will be supported to develop a critical and analytical approach to knowledge and its application to social issues and social systems. It is expected that you will emerge as innovative, self-directed and self-motivated learners with an ability to critique theoretical perspectives and research findings.
This degree programme is designed to prepare you to answer the call by health and social care employers for workers at all levels in the healthcare sector and to develop graduates who are better prepared to take the health and social care sector in new directions.
Stage One
At stage one your knowledge of health and social care practice is developed and you will be introduced to major concepts of health, illness and disease from a multidisciplinary perspective. You will also take the ‘How to be successful at University’ module which will equip you with the knowledge and ability to achieve greater academic success in your assignments as well as developing your employability skills.
The value base of social care is emphasised and you will engage in teaching designed to support your learning and understanding of contemporary social issues and social development. You will benefit from a short shadow placement in your first year followed by an extended work-based placement and reflective experience in the second year of the course.
Stage Two
At stage 2 you will have the opportunity to further develop your interests in each subject area whilst learning new approaches and topics. Health Studies modules include health in later life, health matters, public health and research methods for health. Within these modules, you will have the opportunity to expand your knowledge of important and topical matters related to health in later life from physiological, sociological and psychological perspectives. Health Matters explores why healthy bodies matters, studying the determinants of a healthy body and the barriers to achieving a healthy body. The Public Health module examines the health of local, national and global populations drawing on Public Health and Epidemiology.
In social care you will gain more specific and detailed knowledge by exploring in greater depth the social issues that affect society which prevent people achieving independence and having choices. Social issues explored include law and policy in relation to achieving social change, living with disabilities and effective partnership working.
The research methods modules will equip you with essential and transferable skills in quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative skills include collecting, analysing and presenting data using numbers. The qualitative component does the same using words, images, pictures and interviews.
Optional Work Placement Year
There is an optional placement year available to students studying on the Social Care course between stages two and three.
Stage Three
In social care this stage consolidates your knowledge and learning. The Enhancing Leadership and Employability Skills module explores the role of leadership in contemporary social care and community practice and assists you to develop an awareness of your values and style of leadership. The final year dissertation acts as a gateway to future employment.
In Health studies there is a focus on the nature of health and disease from an integrated perspective on health and disease (IPOD) covering current health issues such as depression and obesity. Up until now modules have covered several different topics but in IPOD two topics are examined in great detail from a number of different perspectives. You will have the option to choose ethical, legal and social issues in health module which focuses on a range of ethical debates and dilemmas, underpinned by theory on topics such as human cloning, stem cell research, transplants, abortion and euthanasia. You will also complete your dissertation in Health Studies which is any topic of interest to you within the area of health.
You will be expected to undertake a dissertation at stage 3 that can major in your preferred subject or your dissertation can be equally weighted between your two subjects of health and social care. This will enable you to select an area of interest and develop your knowledge through a literature-based research process.
MODULES
Module information can be found on the Award Map.
