BA (Honours) in Social Sciences (Religious Studies)
Online, United Kingdom
BA
DURATION
6 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
GBP 21,816 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* total cost; part-time at a rate of 60 credits is £3,636 per year
Key Summary
About: This BA (Honours) in Social Sciences (Religious Studies) combines core interdisciplinary social science and sociology modules with specialized study of religion-related phenomena such as consumerism, the environment, atheism, Hindu nationalism, racism, urban environments and contemporary pilgrimage. You’ll develop independent-research skills through an extended literature-based essay, study online with tutor support and variable printed materials, and follow assessments including essays, short answers and exams. The course length is Full-time: 3 years, Part-time: 6 years, Time limit: 16 years.
Career Outcomes: Employers value analytical and communication skills; you'll suit roles in local government, civil service, teaching, social work, charities, journalism, policy.
This is one of several specialist routes available in our BA (Honours) Social Sciences (R23) degree. You'll study core modules in interdisciplinary social science and sociology, giving you a firm grounding in ideas central to the social sciences. This will be combined with exploring a variety of phenomena mediated by religion, from consumerism and the environment, atheism and Hindu nationalism, to racism, the urban environment and contemporary pilgrimage.
On completion of this degree, you’ll be able to apply knowledge and ideas from religious studies and the wider social sciences to a broad range of practical and real-world issues. You’ll also have gained many transferable skills - opening employment opportunities in private, public and voluntary sector organisations.
Key features
- Specialise in religious studies within a broad interdisciplinary social science degree.
- Learn how to apply cutting-edge ideas from the field of religious studies to a broad range of real-world situations.
- Develop skills in independent working and apply these in an extended essay based on a literature-based research project.
- Gain a degree directly relevant to careers where critical analysis is at a premium or that involve understanding the workings of society, such as the civil service, local government, research and policy work.
Accessibility
Our qualifications are as accessible as possible, and we have a comprehensive range of support services. Our BA (Hons) Social Sciences uses a variety of study materials and includes the following elements:
- Online study - most modules are online; some have a mix of printed and online material. Online learning resources could include websites, audio/video, and interactive activities
- Pre-determined schedules - we’ll help you to develop your time-management skills
- Assessment in the form of short-answer questions, essays, and examinations
- Feedback - continuous assessment includes feedback from your tutor and using this to improve your performance
- Finding external/third-party material online
- Online tutorials
- Group-work
How long it takes
- Part-time study - 6 years
- Full-time study - 3 years
- Time limit - 16 years
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.
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.
- Plan and organise: Make and carry out effective plans involving identifying relevant information and resources framing questions and making judgments for solving a problem.
- Connect and work with others: Work collectively with other learners, playing an active and appropriate role and achieving 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.