University home > Unit and programme catalogues in 2022/23 > Programme catalogue > Faculty of Social Sciences and Law > School for Policy Studies > Social Policy with Criminology (BSc) > Specification
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Programme code | 9SPOL028U |
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Programme type | Single Honours |
Programme director(s) |
Sebnem Eroglu-Hawksworth
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Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
School/department | School for Policy Studies |
Teaching institution | University of Bristol |
Awarding institution | University of Bristol |
Relevant QAA subject benchmark groups |
Criminology (2022) (benchmark statement)
Social Policy (2019) (benchmark statement) |
Mode of study | Full Time |
Programme length | 3 years (full time) |
This section sets out why studying this programme is important, both in terms of inspiring you as an individual and in considering the challenges we face. It describes how this degree programme contributes to:
The central core of the Social Policy degree is the critical study of the distribution and organisation of human welfare and well-being within societies. It focuses on the ways in which different societies understand and respond to the social needs of their populations.
As an interdisciplinary and applied subject, Social Policy draws on ideas and methods from sociology, political science and economics, as well as insights from a range of other disciplines, including criminology, development studies, human geography, social anthropology, social psychology and social work.
However, social policy differs from these disciplines in its unique focus on the study of the politics and policies that promote or hinder people's well-being.
Within the broader context of Social Policy, Criminology involves the study of specific social responses which define behaviours as 'deviant' or criminal. Criminology is intrinsically a reflexive subject, involving an understanding of contested values in the constitution of 'crime', 'harm', 'criminalisation' and 'victimisation' and the application of criminological knowledge.
The BSc Social Policy with Criminology provides students a unique opportunity to examine the nature, extent and causes of crime, social harm, and deviance in national and international contexts, as well as to understand policy responses to them, within a broader conceptual and theoretical framework of social policy.
The course endeavours to unpack fundamental inquiries such as:
What are the serious crimes and other social harms that people experience? And why do they occur?
How effective is criminal justice in tackling and responding to crimes and social harms? Are rising imprisonment rates the answer?
Is it possible to imagine alternative systems of justice? And what role does or should social policy play in these debates?
The learning outcome statements shown below for your programme have been developed with reference to relevant national subject benchmarks (where they exist), national qualification descriptors (see the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) and professional body requirements.
Teaching, learning and assessment strategies are listed to show how you will be able to achieve and demonstrate the learning outcomes.
This programme provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Acquisition of core knowledge and understanding is through lectures, seminars, classes and workshops together with regular course work in the form of essays, presentations and projects involving analysis of data. Advanced knowledge is acquired through individual supervision and one-to-one tutorials as part of the preparation of the student's dissertation. Throughout the learner is encouraged to undertake independent study both to supplement and consolidate what is being taught and to broaden and deepen their individual knowledge and understanding of the subject. This independent study will include the reading of academic texts and journals, public documents and internet material. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Throughout the programme there is a combination of formative and summative assessment. Formative assessment is given through marking unit course work essays, feedback on student presentations and on a variety of work done in classes. During preparation of the dissertation regular meetings between student and supervising tutor include feedback on the student's work in progress. Summative assessment is through a combination of unseen written examinations (1-9, 11-13) assessed extended essays (1-8, 11-13) and a critical analysis of a piece of published research (9,10). In addition students following the single honours programme are required to produce a 10,000 dissertation based on an original investigation (9,10 and a selection of 1-8, depending on the research question addressed). |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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Intellectual skills are being developed through the teaching and learning programme outlined above (and in Section 11) – and in particular learners are exposed to this form of analysis in the lecture programme. Acquisition of 1,2,5 and 6 are further developed by discussion of key issues, summarising key points from reading and unit course work unit essays. Acquisition of 3 & 4 is developed by the above plus training in research methods and data analysis (mandatory unit), one-to-one discussion with academic supervisor of student dissertation and dissertation empirical work. Acquisition of 4 is developed by one-to-one discussion with academic advisor of a student developed research plan and empirical work. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Formative assessment of intellectual skills is through unit course work unit essays, feedback on student presentations and on a variety of class work. Summative assessment of intellectual skills is through unseen written examination or assessed extended essay. Skills relating to the planning, performance and reporting on a programme of original research are assessed by the dissertation. |
Programme Intended Learning Outcomes | Learning/teaching methods and strategies |
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All learners receive initial guidance on how to identify, locate and use material available in libraries and elsewhere (6). Comprehensive bibliographies are provided for each course unit at the outset, as are guidelines for production of essays. Workshops are given in the use of on-line databases for literature searching. The final year dissertation is supported by a series of workshops which enhance and extend these skills. All units require regular written work and feedback is concerned with enhancing the learners' powers of expression (2&3). Skill 5 is acquired through experience of learning to manage time and meet deadlines which are all given at the outset of each unit (for eg. Handing in essays and completing the dissertation to time). Skills 3& 4 are developed in seminars, classes and workshops, which rely on facilitated discussion and interaction as well as individual or group presentations. Skill 7 is achieved through self-reflection on course work unit essays, in comparison with tutor's feedback on essays and exams, and discussion with personal tutor. It is also developed in some units by self and peer appraisal of class presentation. Workshops provide support for students' own personal and professional development. |
Methods of assessment (formative and summative) | |
Formative assessment of skills 1-3,&6 is through course work unit essays, feedback on student presentations (in particular the presentation of the student's own dissertation work at dissertation conferences). Summative assessment of skills 1 to 3 and 6 is through unseen written examination or assessed extended essays and through submission of the dissertation. Skill 5 is assessed by the ability to meet the deadlines set for assessment, and preparation of contributions to classes. |
This section describes what is expected from you at each level of your programme. This illustrates increasing intellectual standards as you progress through the programme. These levels are mapped against the national level descriptors published by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Level C/4 - Certificate |
At the end of this level, learners are expected to be able to demonstrate knowledge of the historical and contemporary issues in the production and supply of welfare, and the development of criminal justice policy and services, primarily in the UK. They should be able to show awareness in general terms of the major theoretical perspectives in social policy and criminology and show a basic level of competence in appropriate skills. The expectation is that their work may require substantial direction from members of staff. |
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Level I/5 - Intermediate |
At the end of this level, learners are expected to be able to demonstrate that they have expanded the range and depth of their knowledge and understanding of welfare and criminal justice systems in comparative and theoretical directions, including their understanding of the policy process. They should be aware of the range of research approaches relevant to the study of social policy and criminology. Through their choice of optional units they should be developing their skills and knowledge in relation to particular fields of policy. They are expected to be developing a capacity for self-directed learning. |
Level H/6 - Honours |
Learners should continue to develop the depth of their knowledge and understanding through their study of both mandatory and optional subjects. Students are expected to demonstrate an ability to apply the skills learnt in the research methods unit and to enhance their capacity for self directed study, especially through the completion of a dissertation. |
For information on the admissions requirements for this programme please see details in the undergraduate prospectus at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/undergraduate/ or contact the relevant academic department.
UG Workload Statement
Success as an undergraduate student depends on you being able to make the transition to self-motivated, independent learning. Programmes are designed to assist you in this development, in many cases by starting with units in which timetabled teaching, such as lectures and practical classes, provides the foundations of knowledge and skills in a subject, moving on to individual research-based work. Over time you will be expected to take increasing responsibility for your own learning, guided by the feedback on your work that you will receive. At the heart of your studies at every level there must be regular and disciplined individual reading, reflection and writing and it is this skill of independent studies, above all others, that will serve you best when you leave the University.
Most programmes use credits and a 20 credit unit broadly equates to about 200 hours of student input. This includes all activities related to the teaching, learning and assessment of taught units.
A component of this is the time that you spend in class, in contact with the teaching staff, which includes activities such as lectures, laboratories, tutorials and fieldwork. Some of this activity may be online and could consist of activity that is synchronous (using real-time environments such as Blackboard Collaborate) or asynchronous (using tools such as tutor moderated discussion forums, blogs or wikis).
In some programmes there are field courses and/or placements that will take place in concentrated periods of time.
Outside scheduled activities you are expected to pursue your own independent learning to build your knowledge and understanding of the subjects you are studying. Such independent activities include, reviewing lecture material, reading textbooks, working on examples sheets, completing coursework, writing up laboratory notes, preparing for in-class progress tests and revising for examinations.
We recognise that many students undertake paid employment. To achieve a sensible balance between work and study, you are advised to undertake paid work for no more than 15 hours per week in term-time.
Professional Programmes
Many undergraduates in the Faculty of Health Sciences will be following the professional programmes of:
For these professional programmes, full time attendance is compulsory unless absence is formally approved. Academic activities are timetabled throughout the 5-day week and student workload is around 40 hours per week on average. Where possible, students in the early years are permitted Wednesday afternoons for sport and extra-curriculum activities. This may not be available in later years of professional programmes as when a student progresses through the curricula there is an increasing exposure to clinical and professional activities. Students in clinic or on placements may need to stay later than core times of 08.00 – 18.00 or even overnight to observe out-of-hours activities. This increasing exposure to clinical activities means that students on these professional programmes often have longer term dates than the University standard. Individual years within programmes are likely to vary in length (for example because of the timings of placements) and further information on this will be found in individual programme regulations. Another important point to note is that many of the assessments sit outside of the standard University examination timetable and are likely to be more frequent meaning that students will more oftentimes be engaged in revision activities and self-directed learning.
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty Assessment and Feedback Statement for Undergraduate Students. University of Bristol access only.
The programme is also available by part time study, with daytime teaching, in which case the maximum period of study would be six years.
The programme has formal study exchange links with the City University of Hong Kong and with Linkoping University, Sweden. These allow a certain number of students to spend up to 6 months studying abroad in their second year. Students can also arrange exchanges with universities in other countries through the University's Study Abroad Office. Formal credit points are awarded for the completion of studies abroad. The completion is a requirement for the award.
SPS UG Admin Team - sps-ugadmin@bristol.ac.uk
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Critical Skills for Social Scientists: Social Policy | SPOL10026 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Key Concepts, Theories and Ideologies in Social Policy | SPOL10033 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Criminological Theory: An Introduction | SPOL10029 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Understanding Crime, Harm and Society | SPOL10020 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Segregation and Inequality in International Perspective | SPOL10038 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Comparative and International Policy Studies | SPOL10035 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Certificate of Higher Education | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Understanding Public Policy | SPOL20026 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-1 |
Social Research Methods | SOAD20004 | 20 | Mandatory | TB-2 |
Select two units (40 credits) from the following: | ||||
Health Policy in a Global Context (SPS) | SPOL20061 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Social Policy and Development | SPOL20050 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Social Care in Crisis | SPOL20047 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Poverty, Social Exclusion and Social Policy | SPOL20019 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Theorising Social Welfare | SPOL20059 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Work and Work Placements: Social Policy | SPOL20042 | 20 | Optional | TB-4 |
International Political Economy and Social Policy | SPOL20063 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Select two units (40 credits) from the following: | ||||
Youth Justice | SPOL20022 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Youth, Sexualities and Gendered Violence | SPOL22023 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Globalisation, Crime, Harm and Justice | SPOL20025 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Key Thinkers in Criminology | SPOL20036 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Crime, Harm and Money | SPOL20064 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Colonialism, Sexual Offences and Law | SPOL20062 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Advocacy, Radical Activism, and Social Movement | SPOL20065 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Punishment in Society | SPOL20052 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Diploma of Higher Education | 120 |
Unit Name | Unit Code | Credit Points | Status | |
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Dissertation (Social Policy) | SPOL30017 | 40 | Mandatory | TB-4 |
Select two units (40 credits) from the following: | ||||
Housing and home: political economy, inequality and rights | SPOL30081 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Quantitative Data Analysis for Policy Research | SPOL30082 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Inequalities in Health, Poverty and Development | SPOL31021 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Climate Emergency | SPOL30074 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Work, Employment, and Society | SPOL30087 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Disability in Society | SPOL30075 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Select two units (40 credits) from the following: | ||||
Gender based Violence | SPOL30029 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Leisure, Pleasure and Harm | SPOL30063 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Sex Power and Consumption | SPOL30073 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Violence, Migration and Borders | SPOL30088 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Critical Studies of Harm, Violence, and Oppression | SPOL30086 | 20 | Optional | TB-1 |
Global Illicit Drug Markets | SPOL30080 | 20 | Optional | TB-2 |
Social Policy with Criminology (BSc) | 120 |
Unit Pass Mark for Undergraduate Programmes:
For details on the weightings for classifying undergraduate degrees, please see the Agreed Weightings, by Faculty, to be applied for the Purposes of Calculating the Final Programme Mark and Degree Classification in Undergraduate Programmes.
For detailed rules on progression please see the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes and the relevant faculty handbook.
Please refer to the specific progression/award requirements for programmes with a preliminary year of study, the Gateway programmes and International Foundation programmes.
All undergraduate degree programmes allow the opportunity for a student to exit from a programme with a Diploma or Certificate of Higher Education.
Integrated Master's degrees may also allow the opportunity for a student to exit from the programme with an equivalent Bachelor's degree where a student has achieved 360 credit points, of which 90 must be at level 6, and has successfully met any additional criteria as described in the programme specification.
The opportunities for a student to exit from one of the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry with an Award is outlined in the relevant Programme Regulations (which are available as an annex in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes).
An Ordinary degree can be awarded if a student has successfully completed at least 300 credits with a minimum of 60 credits at Level 6.
The pass mark for the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine and Dentistry is 50 out of 100. The classification of a degree in the professional programmes in Veterinary Science, Medicine, and Dentistry is provided in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
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