Public Services (Including Foundation Year)

The BA (Hons) Public Services is also available as a four year course including an integrated foundation year, and is designed for students who do not currently meet admissions criteria for direct entry onto the degree.

You will start by completing a foundation year, which provides well structured support, allowing you to develop your skills and knowledge before continuing onto the three year degree programme.
If you want to make a difference to day-to-day life in your local community, or make an impact at a national or even global level, our Public Services degree will help you make your mark. On this BA (Hons) Public Services degree, you’ll explore how these services operate and the challenges they face in the 21st century, preparing you for a career in this important and diverse sector.

A key feature of your Public Services degree is the link between theory and practice. Learning is often based on real-life data, as well as examples and case studies from public, voluntary and community organisations. This ensures that what you learn is relevant to the workplace and situations you may encounter when you graduate. You’ll also be encouraged to undertake a short-term placement during your studies. You could get the chance to work with public sector organisations such as the NHS. This valuable opportunity will ensure you’re equipped with skills needed by employers when you graduate.

During the Foundation Year (Social Sciences) you will study the following compulsory modules:
•Study Skills
•Investigative Project
•Psychology
•Sociology

You will also study two modules from the following options:
•Statistics/Further Mathematics
•Advanced IT
•Social Policy
•Childhood Studies
•Principles of Youth and Community Work
•Business Administration
•Economics

Course and module overview:

Compulsory Modules

Study Skills
The module will provide the learner with opportunities to explore their examination and revision techniques and overall planning along with furthering their written and discussion skills. Skills addressed would include note taking, essay writing, discussions, referencing, planning assignments and revising for examinations, whilst also recognising different approaches to studying.

Investigative Project
To enable the learner to become competent researching, planning and writing an independent interdisciplinary project. The learner will develop oral presentation skills and deliver and evaluate an oral presentation.

Sociology
You will learn to understand the focus of the sociological approach, particularly the importance of learned behaviour. At the heart of this module are investigations into the primary patterns of inequality, class, gender & ethnicity as well as the sociology of crime and deviance. Throughout the module, the importance of institutions such as the family, the state and the mass media in determining the structure and function of society as well as their influence on the way we think and behave.

Psychology
Psychology is the study of behaviour and this module will investigate the development of behaviour throughout the life span, from birth right up to older adulthood. Through a variety of real life case studies and your own piece of psychological research, you will examine what happens when things work out positively (attachment and bonds, pro social behaviour), and also what can happen when things don’t work out as expected (mental health issues, anti-social behaviour).

Optional Modules

Statistics / Further Maths
You will study a number of topics during this module including Introductory Statistics, Algebraic Techniques and Introductory Calculus.

Social Policy
This module provides an evaluation of welfare provision in the UK. It plots the origins and development of the public sector and the welfare state, as well as welfare provision in the voluntary sector. Subjects covered include, social security, community care, housing, homelessness, health and education. This module will analyse dominant political perspectives in the UK towards welfare spending as well as community based responses to welfare needs.

Childhood Studies
This module examines the concepts associated with the wellbeing of children and families. Topics include attachment, resilience, play, learning and safeguarding theory.

Principles of Youth and Community
The Youth and Community Work module teaches reflective practice, communication and planning skills appropriate for work with young people and families. Informal education theory and concepts of anti-discriminatory practice underpin the module; students learning about adolescent development, empowerment, and community development principles.

Business Administration
The module is designed to provide an understanding of the Business world, the function and structure of different organisations, and their relationship with their employees as they strive to gain competitive advantage over their rivals.

Economics
You will develop a broad understanding of the key features of the capitalist economic system, the role of governments in their attempts to influence the outcomes of the macro economy and address issues of inequality and the wealth gap.

For full details of BA (Hons) Public Services modules, please see the relevant course entry.