BSc (Hons) Social Sciences with Foundation Year Bachelor's degree at Keele University

This module explores the theories and methods used by sociologists for analysing culture and society. You will learn how global and local processes interact through a consideration of North Staffordshire, which becomes the backdrop for thinking about contemporary social concerns such as the housing crisis, generational conflict, and the effects of deindustrialisation. Beyond examining local expressions of wider global problems, we also speak to people working in frontline community organisations

This module aims to lay the foundations for your criminological studies and to ignite your 'criminological imagination'. The module introduces you to criminology as a subject, to where our understanding of 'crime' comes from, and to the ways in which criminological theories and ideas can help us to understand contemporary crime problems. You will also be introduced to theories of criminal justice and the work of, and relationships between, the main institutions of the criminal justice system.

How do we make sense of studying politics and the changing nature of politics? This module is designed to provide you with an introduction to the contestable nature of politics and its relevance in contemporary society. What is power? What is democracy? What seems to be going wrong with democracies throughout the world? These key questions are incredibly important at this moment in history. We will analyse how well these concepts describe what is happening in current events. You will tackle the

This module transitions you to university scholarship and introduces the employability and professional skills that a social science degree provides through a range of action-focused activities, e.g. analysing local council budgets and making decisions about where to invest money. Overall, the module introduces you to vital academic and professional skills and competencies that will allow you to thrive in the first year of your undergraduate studies.

Imagining Social Order and Deviance explores societal norms, values, and the construction of deviance through a series of real life case studies. You are invited to engage with diverse perspectives on what constitutes social order and deviant behaviour and consider the complexities of social control mechanisms, the stigmatisation of marginalised groups, and the dynamics of power in shaping perceptions of deviance. By fostering a deep understanding of the intricacies of social order and deviance,

This module introduces you to the core social science of designing, implementing, and analysing social phenomenon. You will learn to identify and analyse data sources that might be used by social scientists in real world situations. From quantitative surveys to qualitative interviews and ethnographic studies, you will explore a diverse range of methodological approaches to understanding society and develop practical researcher skills that prepare you to carry out a significant piece of original

This module introduces you to possible careers for social scientists and links to the work you are doing in your subject core and option modules asking the question 'how can we mobilise academic study into the real world?' You will also be encouraged to prepare for placement work that you may pursue and reflect on your social media footprint; developing your personal/professional brand and digital networking platforms.

In the face of challenges from above, below and within, democracy around the world is under threat. From challenges posed by populism and autocratic leadership to increasing political mistrust and declining levels of participation set against a backdrop of the threat posed by AI and misinformation, global democracies face numerous different threats. You will develop your data handling and analysis skills, exploring whether global democracy is resilient or in retreat and complete diverse assessme

How can we mobilise our sociological imagination to understand the complexities and challenges of the modern world and our place within it? This module rethinks classic sociological theories for the global digital world, considering poststructural, intersectional and non-Western perspectives. You will gain a critical appreciation of how competing sociologies have emerged as our understanding of positionality and difference has developed, and look to the ways in which the sociological project has

This module examines current and emerging challenges and issues in criminal justice policy, process and practice. We will examine contemporary case studies of issues requiring a criminal justice response to prevent, deter or reduce problematic impacts and explore the ways in which we can contextualise, measure and respond to these challenges and issues. The module will include visits from practitioners working in criminal justice to provide the opportunity to network and gain insights into poten

To influence the policies that shape our lives, whether that's the failure of trains to turn up on time or deep inequalities in our society, you have to understand the system that makes them. This module asks 'Why do some policies change while others stay the same?' and considers how might you start to think about influencing that process. Ultimately, most politics is about what governments do, or don't do. While many scholars of politics work in specific fields (e.g. legislatures, transport pol

Social Design is an interdisciplinary module exploring the interplay between societal structures, human behaviour, and crime. This module equips you with the knowledge and skills to critically analyse, design, and implement interventions that foster safer and more inclusive communities. You will explore how social factors influence crime patterns and the efficacy of preventive measures. Depending on your subject interest, you may explore the role of social policies in shaping community dynamics

This module gives you, as a student in the School of Social Sciences, the opportunity to contribute to the world beyond the University, in any workplace where the specialist knowledge, research, analytical, and communication skills developed as part of your Social Sciences degree can be used and can make a difference. The chosen workplace or volunteering opportunity may be, for example, with a local government agency or third sector organisation, a charity, a community group, a criminal justice

This module enables you to undertake a significant Independent Study Project (ISP) or dissertation focused on a social science topic of your choice. You will design and execute an original research project, applying relevant theoretical frameworks and methodologies learned during your degree. Guided by an academic supervisor, you will develop advanced skills in research, critical analysis, argumentation, and extended academic writing. The final dissertation/ISP will demonstrate your ability to c

Moving on from the previous skills modules, you will further consider how your degree can link to a range of life skills and careers through engagement with community groups, activists and people working in public and private sectors. You will be supported in your next steps either through transition to the workplace or postgraduate study.

This module explores how the extreme and the everyday intermingle. It looks on the one hand, at extreme perspectives, groups, and actions, and on the other hand, discusses a range of everyday experiences of citizen involvement in processes of legal and extra-legal crime control and punishment. It explores how extremism connects to everyday experiences of crime and policing. Themes include gender-based violence; religious and political terrorism; immigration and anti-immigration activism; prejudi

What is society in a world governed by data and algorithms? How do we adapt to and influence social change? In this module, you will analyse how societies respond to and resist transformations wrought by the technological revolution. Considering a series of case studies relating to the big social challenges of our time, from the spread of misinformation and rise of conspiratorial thinking to the human response to climate change, you will apply your knowledge of sociology to provide a roadmap for

The global political landscape is increasingly dominated by self-interest, violence, corruption, distrust, alienation, deception, polarisation and institutional failure. As citizens feel increasingly alienated from the political process, trust with political elites and satisfaction with democracy around the world, particularly in the face of technological advances such as AI, is in decline. In this module, you will focus on the dark side of politics, exploring issues such as polarisation, corrup

Beyond Human explores social behaviour, structures, and interactions among non-human entities, such as animals, artificial intelligence, and other forms of non-human life, seeking to understand the social dynamics present in non-human societies and their interactions with human societies.