Open University

Diploma of Higher Education in Social Sciences

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 knowledge and understanding of:

• 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.

Practical and professional skills

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

• Regularly review current and future personal development and career options
• 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
• Connect and work with others - work collectively with other learners, playing an active and appropriate role to achieve joint outcomes.

This diploma has two stages, each comprising 120 credits.

• You’ll start Stage 1 with an introductory social sciences module, and then you'll choose one module from a range of subjects that includes psychology, criminology, economics and personal finance, interdisciplinary social science or interdisciplinary arts and humanities.
• Next, in Stage 2, you’ll begin with a sociology module before choosing one in either criminology, psychology, economics, geography and environmental studies, philosophy, politics, or religious studies.

Stage 1 (120 credits)

You'll start your diploma with:

• Introducing the social sciences (DD102)

You’ll also choose one from:

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

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)
• Investigating philosophy (DA223)
• Exploring religion: places, practices, texts and experiences (A227)
• Introducing global development: poverty, inequality, sustainability (D229)
• Living psychology: from the every day to the extraordinary (DD210)
• Essential economics: macro and micro perspectives (D217)
• Social research: crime, justice and society (DD215)
• Understanding Criminology (DD212)
• Understanding politics: ideas and institutions in the modern world (DD211)

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

As well as specific knowledge related to social sciences, this diploma course will help you to develop a wide range of transferable and work-related skills that are highly valued by employers. These include:

• Clear written communication
• Critical thinking
• Retrieval, analysis and evaluation of information using ICT
• Problem-solving
• Time management and self-motivation
• Ability to debate arguments effectively
• Manipulating numbers and basic statistical data
• Use of critical feedback to reflect and improve
• Working collaboratively
• Report writing and giving presentations.

Career relevance

A qualification in social sciences can open up employment opportunities in business, banking, insurance, education, the health professions, administration, law, social services, voluntary and campaigning organisations, the media, public relations, public service organisations and government (national and local), planning and environmental management, the criminal justice system and social welfare organisations.

This diploma is equivalent to the first two years of a full degree. A valuable qualification in its own right, it also provides a sound basis for further study. For example, you could progress to the BA (Hons) Social Sciences (R23) or another of our social sciences degrees.

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.