SOC-10021 - Module Specification
School of Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

Investigating Social Issues gives you the chance to explore the world around you with a distinctively sociological lens. It will make use of key sociological readings alongside a range of other sources including film, podcasts, and documentaries to explore contemporary social issues and problems.
The module encourages students to think about the different approaches that sociology as a discipline takes to understanding different aspects of social life. It will also encourage critical reflection on the methods and study skills students need to be able to formulate social issues sociologically.

- To show how social life and sociological debates change over time.
- To examine how different types of sources describe and explore social problems in different ways.
- To develop links between academic and experiential knowledge.
- To explore the wider structural force which shape social problems which can be viewed as individualised events.
- To engage students in debate and group work.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Explore the distinctive character of sociological approaches to understanding social issues in relation to other disciplines, and everyday life explanations: 1,2
Describe how a sociological approach highlights the connections between individual experiences and wider public events and social, economic and political forces: 1,2
Explore potential solutions to current social problems: 1,2
Use a range of academic and non-academic sources (media reports, grey literature) to explore the nature and causes of social problems: 1,2
Reflect on personally held knowledge, assumptions and practices in relation social problems and sociological and everyday explanations for these: 1,2

Study hours

22 contact hours - 11 lectures / 11 tutorials
44 additional active learning hours comprising set readings and tasks related to seminar preparation
24 independent study
60 hours assessment preparation

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment