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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2017/2018

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Centre for Open Learning : Social and Political Science

Undergraduate Course: Introducing Social Science (Credit Plus) (LLLJ07002)

Course Outline
SchoolCentre for Open Learning CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThis course is not available to University of Edinburgh matriculated students. This is a for-credit course offered by the Centre for Open Learning (COL); only students registered with COL should be enrolled.

Develop the skills to read social science texts, apply key concepts, and interpret and use social science statistics. This course provides an ideal starting point for your study of sociology, social policy, politics, or economics.
Learn how to study for credit on a course with study and essay writing skills built in.
Course description Content of course
1. Introduction: Giddens on Sociology
Global Warming Statistics
2. Distributing Goods: Industry and the Environment
Brown Reading I
3. Distributing Bads: Global Markets, Risk and Fair Trade
Brown Reading II
4. Poverty & Social Unrest
Birth Weight Statistics
5. The Welfare State: Social Policy and Family Life
Bevin Reading
6. What is Politics? Power and Democracy
Lukes Reading
7. Social Obligation I: Sophocles & Socrates
8. Social Obligation II: Locke & Rousseau
9. Science & Society: The Authority of Knowledge
Smith Reading
10. Course summary and Revision
Discrete sessions will be offered in essay writing skills, note-taking, effective reading, time-management, working with others and problem solving.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  20
Course Start Lifelong Learning - Session 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 78 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Centre for Open Learning 10 credit courses have one assessment. Normally, the assessment is a 2000 word essay, worth 100% of the total mark, submitted by week 12. To pass, students must achieve a minimum of 40%. There are a small number of exceptions to this model which are identified in the Studying for Credit Guide.
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Explain the role of the social sciences, and the specific contributions of the component disciplines
  2. Explain the problem of defining and measuring poverty, and evaluate different approaches to poverty and government policy
  3. Define the concepts of politics and power
  4. Explain the notions of political obligation and obedience to state laws and exemplify instances of justifiable law breaking
  5. Discuss the issue of 'scientific method' in studying people (in social science)
Reading List
Essential Readings
Haralambos, M.and Holborn, M., 2008. Sociology: Themes & Perspectives. 7th ed. London: Collins.
Plato, Crito, Copyright Free eBook.
Sophocles, Antigone, Copyright Free eBook.

Recommended
Giddens, A., 2006. Sociology. 5th ed. Cambridge: Polity Press
Hinchliffe, S. and Woodward, K., 2004. The Social & the Natural: Uncertainty, Risk, Change. London: Routledge.
Study Skills
Northedge, A., 2005. The Good Study Guide. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.

Web sources
Polity Press¿ online resources for Giddens¿ Sociology:
http://www.polity.co.uk/giddens5/
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserMr James Mooney
Tel: (0131 6)50 3077
Email: james.mooney@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Benjamin Mcnab
Tel: (0131 6)51 4832
Email: Benjamin.Mcnab@ed.ac.uk
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