Open University

BA (Honours) in Social Sciences

This degree has three stages, each comprising 120 credits.

• You’ll start Stage 1 with an introductory social science module, and depending on your intended route through the qualification, continue with a broad-based study of social science or specialise in one area.
• Next, at Stages 2 and 3, you’ll continue to choose modules from across the social sciences curriculum or complete the study of your specialist route. 

Stage 1 (120 credits)

Introductory social science module

You'll start your degree with:

• Introducing the Social Sciences (DD102)

Broad-based study of social science

You’ll also choose from:

• Encountering psychology in context (D120)
• Global challenges: social science in action (D113)
• Introduction to criminology (DD105)
• You and your money (DB125)
• Economics in Context (DD126)
• Discovering the arts and humanities (A111)
• Revolutions (A113)

Criminology route

You'll complete this stage with:

• Introduction to criminology (DD105)

Development; Geography; and political routes

You'll complete this stage with:

• Global challenges: social science in action (D113)

Economics route

You'll complete this stage with:

• You and your money (DB125)
• Economics in Context (DD126)

Philosophy route

You'll also choose one from:

• Discovering the arts and humanities (A111)
• Revolutions (A113)

Psychology route

You'll complete this stage with:

• Encountering psychology in context (D120)

Religious Studies route

You’ll also choose one from:

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

Sociology route

You'll also choose one from:

• Global challenges: social science in action (D113)
• Introduction to criminology (DD105)

Stages 2 and 3 (240 credits)

Broad-based study of social science

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You’ll begin this stage with:

• Understanding digital societies (DD218) 

You'll complete this stage with:

• You'll choose one from this list of Stage 2 option modules. 

Stage 3 (120 credits)

You'll complete your degree with:

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

Criminology

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll begin this stage with:

• Understanding digital societies (DD218) 

Standard route – You'll complete this stage with one from:

• Social research: crime, justice and society (DD215) 
• Understanding Criminology (DD212) 

Dissertation route – You'll complete this stage with:

• Social research: crime, justice and society (DD215) 

Stage 3 (120 credits)

You'll study the following:

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

Standard route – You'll complete your degree with:

• Crime, harm and the state (DD311) 

Dissertation route – You'll complete your degree with:

• Researching current issues in criminology (DD315) 

Development

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll begin this stage with:

• Understanding digital societies (DD218) 

You'll complete this stage with:

• Introducing global development: poverty, inequality, sustainability (D229) 

You'll begin this stage with:

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

You'll complete your degree with:

• International development (D329) – planned for October 2026 

Economics

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll begin this stage with:

• Understanding digital societies (DD218) 

You'll complete this stage with:

• Essential economics: macro and micro perspectives (D217) 

Stage 3 (120 credits)

You'll begin this stage with:

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

You'll complete your degree with:

• Doing economics: people, markets and policy (DD309) 

Geography

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll begin this stage with:

• Understanding digital societies (DD218) 

You’ll complete this stage with one from:

• Changing geographies of the United Kingdom (D225) 
• Environment: sharing a dynamic planet (DST206) 
• Environment and Society (DD213) 

Stage 3 (120 credits)

You'll study the following:

• Environmental policy in an international context (DD319) 

You'll complete this stage with:

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

Philosophy

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll begin this stage with:

• Understanding digital societies (DD218) 

You'll complete this stage with:

• Investigating philosophy (DA223) 

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:

• Key questions in philosophy (A333) 

Politics

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll begin this stage with:

• Understanding digital societies (DD218) 

You'll complete this stage with:

• Understanding politics: ideas and institutions in the modern world (DD211) 

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 one from:

• International relations: continuity and change in global politics (DD313) 
• Modern political ideas (DD316) 

Psychology

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll begin this stage with:

• Understanding digital societies (DD218) 

You'll complete this stage with:

• Living psychology: from the every day to the extraordinary (DD210) 

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 one from:

• Advancing social psychology (DD317) 
• Counselling and forensic psychology: investigating crime and therapy (DD310) 

Religious Studies

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll begin this stage with:

• Understanding digital societies (DD218) 

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.

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/or 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 and to find, use, create and share information, data and knowledge in ways relevant to the social sciences
• Plan and organise - make and carry out effective plans involving the identification of relevant information and resources frame questions and make judgements to achieve a solution to a problem
• Connect and work with others - work collectively with other learners, playing an active and appropriate role to achieve joint outcomes.

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:

• Interpret, analyse, and critically evaluate quantitative and qualitative evidence
• Apply learning to real-world situations
• Communicate effectively to a variety of audiences using different media
• Employ a wide range of digital practices to find, use, and create data
• Learn autonomously and plan, conduct, and present independent work
• Work effectively with others to achieve joint outcomes

Career relevance

A degree in the social sciences can lead to employment across the public, private and voluntary sectors. Businesses, public sector organisations and educational institutions increasingly have to deal with social issues and value the skills that social science graduates can provide, making this degree relevant to a wide range of professions including local government officers, civil servants, secondary school teachers, social worker, charities, journalism and trade union officials. You can also use your BA (Hons) in Social Sciences for further study in the higher education sector.

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.

With our unique approach to distance learning, you can study from home, work or on the move.

You’ll have some assessment deadlines to meet, but otherwise, you’ll be free to study at the times that suit you, fitting your learning around work, family, and social life.

For each of your modules, you’ll use either just online resources or a mix of online and printed materials.

Each module you study will have a module website with

• A week-by-week study planner, giving you a step-by-step guide through your studies
• Course materials such as reading, videos, recordings, and self-assessed activities
• Module forums for discussions and collaborative activities with other students
• Details of each assignment and their due dates
• A tutorial booking system, online tutorial rooms, and your tutor’s contact details
• Online versions of some printed module materials and resources.