THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2019/2020

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Centre for Open Learning : Access

Undergraduate Course: Access Social Sciences 1 (AACE07003)

Course Outline
SchoolCentre for Open Learning CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryAccess Social Sciences 1 is a supportive and intellectually stimulating introduction to the skills required for successful study of the Social Sciences, taught via engagement with a range of classic and contemporary social issues. The course will develop students' confidence and communication skills and nurture an understanding of techniques used in observation, data analysis, and experimental design through the study of key extracts in Anthropology, Economics, Psychology, Social Policy and Sociology.
Course description 1) Academic Description

This course is offered as part of the Access Programme (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences). The Access Programme aims to prepare students for undergraduate study by introducing them to a range of essential skills and encouraging them to employ these
skills in a confident and flexible way.

Semester 1 courses are designed to foster those skills which are broadly transferable within their respective disciplinary areas and are designed to prepare students for progression to semester 2.

This semester 1 course aims to introduce students to a range of Social Science disciplines and the academic, study and personal and practical skills which are required for successful study of these disciplines at undergraduate level. The central aim of the course is to build confidence and inculcate good skills of academic reading and writing in preparation for progression to Access Social Sciences 2.

In addition, it will channel students' wonderment about their social world into areas of defined intellectual interest, cultivating their curiosity and facilitating an ability to undertake independent study. Students will be given a solid knowledge and skills basis from which to compare, contrast and evaluate different disciplines, approaches and positions within the social sciences.

2) Outline Content

A range of entry-level texts, excerpts, examples and case studies will be employed with which to develop a range of skills: from essential study skills (e.g. note-taking), through core academic skills (e.g. interpreting data), towards an ability to work reflectively and independently.

Students will gain a broad overview of where and how key Social Science disciplines (Anthropology, Economics, Psychology, Social Policy, Sociology) depart from one another, and where they converge. Representative research techniques (observation; interviews; surveys, modelling; experiments) will be selected to develop students' awareness of the specific nature of these disciplines, and of the skills which are employed in studying, appraising and writing in a critical and scientific manner.

Teaching will emphasise similarities and differences between how and why certain skills and techniques are deployed and why they are or are not appropriate in varying contexts.

3) Student Learning Experience

Teaching will be principally via tutorial. Tutorials will be student-centred, with small group and individual tasks related to the text or case study under consideration. Students will thus be encouraged to share their understanding and to participate in collaborative learning.

A range of technologies will be employed, both in the classroom, and in students' work outside class, with a view to developing individuals' familiarity with digital technologies employed in learning.

Students will submit a number of formative pieces of work linked to the learning outcomes for the course. Constructive feedback (both verbal and written) will be provided by the course tutor. Students will be encouraged to consider feedback and to respond to this in future work.

No grades will be provided for individual pieces of work but an overall indicative course grade will be given based upon participation, coursework and response to feedback.

In addition to support and feedback at course level, all students on the Access Programme will engage via an online learning journal, where they will be prompted to reflect on their learning experience, feedback and progress and will receive personalised guidance and support from their Personal Tutor.

Students will also participate in a range of cultural and social engagement activities which are intended to complement their studies, increase cultural capital, encourage engagement with peers and communities, and build a sense of belonging.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2019/20, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 34, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 64 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Five formative written assignments linked to the learning outcomes for the course. The course will be pass/ fail. No grades will be provided for individual pieces of work but an overall indicative course grade will be given based upon attendance, participation, responding to feedback and submission of coursework.

1. Field Observation/Writing Up of Notes
2. Summarising / Abstracting Exercise
3. Interpreting Visual Data
4. Answering Questions on Variable Dynamics
5. Writing an Evaluative Report

No grades will be provided for individual pieces of work but an overall indicative course grade will be given based upon participation, coursework and response to feedback.

Students will be deemed to have passed the course if they satisfy the necessary criteria (which will be provided in advance) in line with the course learning outcomes.

Students who do not satisfy the necessary criteria will be offered the opportunity to resit in accordance with taught assessment regulations.
Feedback Constructive feedback (both verbal and written) will be provided by the course tutor for each formative assignment. Students will be encouraged to consider feedback and to respond to this in future work.

Students will also be prompted to reflect on feedback via the online learning journal and will be provided with personalised guidance and support from their Personal Tutor.
No Exam Information
Academic year 2019/20, Not available to visiting students (SS2) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 34, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 64 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Five formative written assignments linked to the learning outcomes for the course. The course will be pass/ fail. No grades will be provided for individual pieces of work but an overall indicative course grade will be given based upon attendance, participation, responding to feedback and submission of coursework.

1. Field Observation/Writing Up of Notes
2. Summarising / Abstracting Exercise
3. Interpreting Visual Data
4. Answering Questions on Variable Dynamics
5. Writing an Evaluative Report

No grades will be provided for individual pieces of work but an overall indicative course grade will be given based upon participation, coursework and response to feedback.

Students will be deemed to have passed the course if they satisfy the necessary criteria (which will be provided in advance) in line with the course learning outcomes.

Students who do not satisfy the necessary criteria will be offered the opportunity to resit in accordance with taught assessment regulations.
Feedback Constructive feedback (both verbal and written) will be provided by the course tutor for each formative assignment. Students will be encouraged to consider feedback and to respond to this in future work.

Students will also be prompted to reflect on feedback via the online learning journal and will be provided with personalised guidance and support from their Personal Tutor.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an awareness of the scope of the Social Sciences, their differences and inter-connections;
  2. Identify practices and methods used in producing scientific claims, evidence and knowledge, and how these methods may be employed and evaluated;
  3. Participate effectively in small group tasks and tutorial presentations;
  4. Complete coursework to meet deadlines, and respond effectively to feedback;
  5. Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and in discussing numerical information.
Reading List
This is an indicative reading list. A full reading list will be provided via Leganto prior to the course start.

- Anthropology
Monaghan, J. & Just, P., 2000. Social and Cultural Anthropology: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: OUP.
Morris, M., 2012. Concise Dictionary of Social and Cultural Anthropology. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.

- Economics
Dasgupta, P., 2007. Economics: a very short introduction. Oxford: OUP.
Estrin, S., Dietrich, M. & Laidler, D.E.W., 2008. Microeconomics. 5th edition. Harlow: FT Prentice Hall.

- Psychology
Groome, D. et al., 2014. An introduction to cognitive psychology: processes and disorders. 3rd edition. Hove, East Sussex: Psychology Press.

- Social Policy
Bochel, H., & Daly, G., 2014. Social Policy. (Third ed.). Abingdon, Oxon.: Routledge.
McKendrick, J.H. et al., 2016. Poverty in Scotland 2016: tools for transformation. London: Child Poverty Action Group.
Wilkinson, R.G. & Pickett, K., 2010. The spirit level: why equality is better for everyone. London: Penguin.

- Sociology
Bruce, S., 1999. Sociology: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: OUP.
Cohen, S. (2011) Folk Devils and Moral Panics: the Creation of the Mods and Rockers. 3rd edition. London: Routledge.
Haralambos, M. & Holborn, M., 2008. 'Chapter 14: Methodology', in Haralambos, M. & Holborn, M. Sociology: Themes & Perspectives. 7th Edition. London: Collins pp.786-853.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Employability awareness will be enhanced through the development of skills on the Access Programme. The holistic nature of the skills included in the programme design will enhance students' readiness to develop both graduate attributes and the social and cultural capital that will enable them to make the most of their undergraduate studies. Those with alternative exit routes will be able to draw on the skills inculcated in the Access Programme for future employment or study.
KeywordsSocial science,Psychology,Economics,Sociology,Anthropology,Social Policy,Politics,Social Work
Contacts
Course organiserMr James Mooney
Tel: (0131 6)51 6079
Email: james.mooney@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Kameliya Skerleva
Tel: (0131 6)51 1855
Email: Kameliya.Skerleva@ed.ac.uk
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