Programme Specifications

Details

Professional accreditation

Admission criteria

• A-levels: BBB - BBC or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A-levels.
• BTEC: DDM - DMM or 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of the equivalent of 2 full A-levels. The acceptability of BTECs is dependent on subject studied and optional units taken - email ugquery@essex.ac.uk for advice.
• Combined qualifications on the UCAS tariff: 120 - 112 UCAS tariff points from a minimum of 2 full A levels or equivalent. Tariff point offers may be made if you are taking a qualification, or mixture of qualifications, from the list on our undergraduate application information page.
• IB: 30 - 29 points or three Higher Level certificates with 555-554.
• IB Career-related Programme: We consider combinations of IB Diploma Programme courses with BTECs or other qualifications. Advice on acceptability can be provided, email Undergraduate Admissions.
• QAA-approved Access to HE Diploma: 6 level 3 credits at Distinction and 39 level 3 credits at Merit, depending on subject studied - advice on acceptability can be provided, email Undergraduate Admissions.
• T-levels: We consider T-levels on a case-by-case basis, depending on subject studied. The offer for most courses is Distinction overall. Depending on the course applied for there may be additional requirements, which may include a specific grade in the Core.

Contextual Offers:

We are committed to ensuring that all students with the merit and potential to benefit from an Essex education are supported to do so. For October 2024 entry, if you are a home fee paying student residing in the UK you may be eligible for a Contextual Offer of up to two A-level grades, or equivalent, below our standard conditional offer.
Factors we consider:

• Applicants from underrepresented groups
• Applicants progressing from University of Essex Schools Membership schools/colleges
• Applicants who attend a compulsory admissions interview
• Applicants who attend an Offer Holder Day at our Colchester or Southend campus

Our contextual offers policy outlines additional circumstances and eligibility criteria.

For further information about what a contextual offer may look like for your specific qualification profile, email ugquery@essex.ac.uk.

If you haven't got the grades you hoped for, have a non-traditional academic background, are a mature student, or have any questions about eligibility for your course, more information can be found on our undergraduate application information page or get in touch with our Undergraduate Admissions Team.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code

English language requirements for applicants whose first language is not English: IELTS 6.0 overall, or specified score in another equivalent test that we accept.

Details of English language requirements, including component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here

If we accept the English component of an international qualification it will be included in the academic levels listed above for the relevant countries.

English language shelf-life

Most English language qualifications have a validity period of 5 years. The validity period of Pearson Test of English, TOEFL and CBSE or CISCE English is 2 years.

If you require a Student visa to study in the UK please see our immigration webpages for the latest Home Office guidance on English language qualifications.

Pre-sessional English courses

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Pending English language qualifications

You don’t need to achieve the required level before making your application, but it will be one of the conditions of your offer.

If you cannot find the qualification that you have achieved or are pending, then please email ugquery@essex.ac.uk .

Requirements for second and final year entry

Different requirements apply for second and final year entry, and specified component grades are also required for applicants who require a visa to study in the UK. Details of English language requirements, including UK Visas and Immigration minimum component scores, and the tests we accept for applicants who require a Student visa (excluding Nationals of Majority English Speaking Countries) can be found here

Additional Notes

If you’re an international student, but do not meet the English language or academic requirements for direct admission to this degree, you could prepare and gain entry through a pathway course. Find out more about opportunities available to you at the University of Essex International College

Course qualifiers

A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).

• Applied Data Science: In order to be eligible for the qualifier, you must successfully complete the following modules: Year Two: SC202 (15 credits) Researching the Real World: Quantitative Approaches to Studying Crime and Society and SC208 (15 credits) Quantitative Research: Crime and Inequality Across the Life Course. Final Year: SC385 (30 credits) Modelling Crime and Society and SC830 (30 credits) Quantitative Research Project For details of further recommended modules please web search “Essex Q-Step”.

Rules of assessment

Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.

Additional notes

None

External examiners

External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment. External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course. They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards. External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.

eNROL, the module enrolment system, is now open until Monday 27 January 2025 8:59AM, for students wishing to make changes to their module options.

Exit awards

A module is given one of the following statuses: 'core' – meaning it must be taken and passed; 'compulsory' – meaning it must be taken; or 'optional' – meaning that students can choose the module from a designated list. The rules of assessment may allow for limited condonement of fails in 'compulsory' or 'optional' modules, but 'core' modules cannot be failed. The status of the module may be different in any exit awards which are available for the course. Exam Boards will consider students' eligibility for an exit award if they fail the main award or do not complete their studies.

Programme aims

• To provide students with an understanding of the distinctive character of sociological thinking (B) together with an understanding of human rights from a multidisciplinary perspective.
• To provide students with a knowledge of the main theoretical traditions of sociology (B) and of human rights.
• To provide students with an understanding of the main sociological methods (B) and of the main methods used in the investigation of human rights.
• To develop students' capacity for critical enquiry, argument and analysis.
• To develop students' capacity for independent learning.
• To provide students with the knowledge and skills to enable them to proceed to further study and research in sociology and in human rights.

Reference to the QAA Benchmarks for Sociology are indicated by the letter B

Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods

On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:

A: Knowledge and understanding

Learning methods

The Sociology Department and the Human Rights Centre use lectures to present material - ideas, data and arguments - in a clear and structured manner using examples, mapping the field and the contours of debates.

Lectures are also used to stimulate students' interest in the area under discussion.
In each course the issues and arguments covered in lectures are explored further through weekly classes or workshops for which students have to prepare.

The curriculum is designed to involve clear progression between the foundational work in the first year and the subsequent compulsory courses.

Students' theoretical understanding of sociological work is developed through the progressive structuring of the material in SC111, SC201 and SC301.

Students' understanding of human rights is developed through the progressive structuring of the material in HU 100, HU 200, HU201 and HU 300.

Their sociological and human rights knowledge and understanding is further enhanced through the work they do for their options. Classes, and preparation for classes, provide the opportunity for students to develop their knowledge and understanding of the content of the courses.

In addition student learning takes place through the work they do preparing essays and assignments.

In the first year students have to produce a critical review, an essay and answer a quiz for SC111 and have a required examination question on key sociological issues and key concepts.

SC111 also specifically introduce students to examples of ongoing research in the Department.

Students also do methodological assignments for SC101 including an ethics reading review, the use of archival data, an essay on quantitative methods and quizzes which test understanding of qualitative and quantitative research terms They have the opportunity to develop methodological skills further in a methods option.

In the second year course, SC201, there is a particular focus on reading key sociological texts.

In their first year in the human rights component, students have to participate in a forum on HU 100, as well as two reports on contemporary human rights issues.

In the second year course, HU200 and HU201, students complete an assignment on the application to a human rights topic of research methods from a range of different disciplines, as well as a quiz; and in the third year course HU 300, students do group presentations and three essays on contemporary human rights problems.

In their third year all students on the degree have to carry out independent work for a research project on the sociology of human rights for SC831 or SC830 which they receive some individual supervision, or they can elect to take one of our other capstone modules (SC340 and SC390). Students on SC390 have the opportunity to develop their knowledge of sociological concepts and theories through practical work-based learning.

Assessment methods

Outcomes A1 to A11 are assessed through coursework and unseen written examinations.

Coursework includes assessed oral presentations, essays, reports, presentations, quizzes, forum participation, critical reviews and data analysis exercises.
Written examinations not only include standard essay type questions, but SC201 involves a compulsory question interpreting a passage of text from a sociological classic.

In addition, the assessed work for all third year students includes a research project.

B: Intellectual and cognitive skills

Learning methods

Students enhance the above intellectual skills primarily through the work they do for their courses, although lectures and classes provide a means of teachers demonstrating these skills through example, and in the first year staff give specific presentations on their ongoing sociological research.

Preparation for classes and class presentations involve the reading, interpretation and evaluation of sociological and human rights texts and the collection and evaluation of empirical data.

Class tutors provide feedback on class presentations and contributions to classes through comment and discussion.

Similarly the preparation of essays and other assignments also develops the listed intellectual skills.

Students are provided with feedback on all assessed work and this is crucial to their intellectual development.

Their work the third-year research or capstone project is also vital to the Department's learning and teaching strategy for this degree.

Assessment methods

Outcomes B1 to B4 are judged and evaluated in every piece of assessed sociology work that the student has to do as part of this degree scheme.

BI is also specifically assessed through a compulsory question for SC201 requiring the interpretation of a passage of a classic text.

Not all assignments require the evaluation and interpretation of empirical evidence (B5) though many do, but these skills are particularly assessed in some of the assignments for SC101, SC203 or SC208.Outcome B6 is evaluated in the work assessed for HU 200, and outcome B7 is evaluated in the work assessed for HU201.

Outcomes B6, B7 and B8 are evaluated in the work assessed for HU 300.

Outcome B 9 is evaluated through the third year research or capstone project.

C: Practical skills

Learning methods

Throughout the three years of the degree practical skills are developed through preparation for classes, preparing essays and other assessed assignments, undertaking qualitative and quantitative analysis using software, giving presentations and doing written examinations.

In SC101, students carry out an archival analysis and SC111 requires students to undertake a reading review to demonstrate reflexive awareness in interpreting sociological material.
The work for SC 201 includes the detailed examination and interpretation of key sociological texts.

The third year project for SC831 and SC830 are particularly valuable in developing students practical sociological skills.

Some of these skills are further developed through the work students do for Human Rights and optional modules.

Students receive detailed feedback on all their coursework and presentations.

Study skills advice and training is available from the Study Support Manager in the Sociology Study Centre, which is dedicated to this purpose.

Assessment methods

Skill C1 is specifically assessed in a first-year assignment for SC111, but also forms part of the assessment of almost every piece of assessed coursework.

Skill C2 and C 3 are assessed in the majority of pieces of assessed coursework and written examinations.

C4 is particularly assessed in the assignments for SC201 and HU100 and HU300.

C5 is assessed in SC101and SC203/SC208 and C6 in the third year project.

D: Key skills

Learning methods

Generic skills are taught and learned throughout the degree through a range of strategies; for example, through requiring students to give oral presentations, giving them specific assignments such as carrying bibliographic and web searches, giving them specific assignments requiring numerical skills, and through class discussion and class and essay preparation.

Students have the opportunity to discuss essay plans with staff and are given clear deadline for their work which they have to meet.

They are given feedback on all their coursework and are encouraged to reflect on their own work and improve it.

Students also have the opportunity to develop skills in working in groups through their participation in the classes for every course.

Assessment methods

Key skills are assessed throughout the degree through continuous assessed coursework and examinations.

IT skills are a component in the evaluation of most assessed work which require bibliographic and web searches, but there is a particular focus on them in first year assessments in Sc 101 and HU 100 such as the sociological journal and the human rights journal.

Numeracy skills are assessed in the assignments for SC101, which include a statistics tests, and HU200 which includes the ability to interpret a statistical table.
Problem solving skills are assessed in assignments for SC101, and HU 100, 200, and 300.

Since the curriculum is structured in a progressive manner, students' skills in improving learning and performance are also assessed through the related structured progression of formal assessed work.