Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Science) - Psychology and Sociology

Modules

Unit 1: Academic Writing Skills

• Be able to write with relevance in responding to an academic task
• Know how to interpret and discuss ideas and issues in responding to a set, academic writing task
• Be able to summarise for academic purposes, selecting key points, information or central ideas

Unit 2: Preparing a Written Assignment  

• Understand how to use key information sources
• Understand why sources are acknowledged and referenced
• Understand a range of reading strategies
• Understand note-making methods
• Understand how to plan draft and produce a written assignment

Unit 3: Health and Wellbeing 

• Understand the relationship between resilience and mental wellbeing
• Understand the expression of feelings and emotions and how these could be managed
• Understand how mental wellbeing can be supported and managed

Unit 4: Introduction to Psychology  

• Understand the importance of research in psychology
• Understand the main approaches in psychology
• Understand ethical issues in psychological research

Unit 5: Understanding Crime and Deviance

• Understand explanations of crime and deviance
• Understand theories of crime and deviance
• Understand perceptions of crime and deviance

Unit 6: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

• Understand research in an area of cognitive psychology
• Understand how the findings of research into cognitive processes can be applied to real-life issues

Unit 7: Sociology of the Family

• Understand changes in family structure
• Understand sociological explanations of the family to include Functionalist, Marxist, feminist, interactionist and postmodern views

Unit 8: Foundations of Social Policy

• Understand the historical origins of social policy in the UK
• Understand the key influences on social policy in the 18th and 19th Centuries
• Understand changes in the political order
• Understand different types of voluntary action and role of poverty surveys

Unit 9: Sociology of Health

• Understand concepts and models of health
• Understand the social construction of health and ill health
• Understand alternative approaches to health

Unit 10: The Origins of The Welfare State

• Understand what is meant by the term Welfare State
• Understand the purpose of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act and its effects on society
• Understand early twentieth century Liberal Reforms and their effect on society
• Understand the social problems which the Welfare State attempted to address
• Understand the significance of the Beveridge Report 

Unit 11: The Brain and Nervous System (Psychology)

• Understand the major sub divisions of the nervous system
• Understand the structure and function of glial cells and neurons

Unit 12: Combating Prejudice and Discrimination

• Understand theoretical explanations for prejudice and discrimination
• Understand legislative responses to discrimination and prejudice
• Understand community initiatives in combating discrimination and prejudice

Unit 13: Sociology of Mass Media

• Understand the patterns of ownership and control of the mass media
• Understand the role of the mass media
• Understand the process of selection and presentation of the news
• Understand how media stereotypes are presented

Unit 14: Abnormal Psychology

• Understand the difficulties faced by psychologists in the definition and diagnosis of abnormal behaviour
• Understand a psychological disorder
• Understand possible treatments used to treat people with psychological disorders

Unit 15: Sociology of Education

• Understand the importance of education as a socialising agency
• Understand the roles of education in contemporary society
• Understand the sociological explanations of labelling and the use of stereotypes
• Understand the concept of meritocracy

Unit 16: Measurements of Crime

• Understand sources of crime statistics
• Understand the reliability of published statistics on crime
• Understand factors that are not reflected in criminal statistics

Unit 17: Psychobiology of Stress

• Understand common physiological and psychological responses to stress
• Understand the relationship between stress and illness
• Understand methods used to reduce stress

Unit 18: Contemporary Issues in Social Policy

• Understand current issues in social policy
• Understand current legislation in relation to current issues in social policy
• Understand the economic context of a contemporary issue

Unit 19: Understanding Poverty

• Understand definitions of poverty
• Understand ways of measuring poverty
• Understand the extent of poverty in contemporary Britain
• Understand explanations of poverty

Entry Requirements

Anyone wishing to continue their education with an Access to Higher Education Diploma need to have a GCSE grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or Functional Skills Level 2) with a desire to continue a related degree at university. If you do not hold these qualifications, then you must be working towards them whilst completing your Access to HE Diploma.

Our Access to Higher Education Diplomas fulfil entry criteria for a broad range of university degrees and can be used to support the UCAS application process. In short, Access to HE Diplomas have a track record of helping learners get to the university and degree of their choice. Learners must bear in mind, though, that each university has their own set of admission criteria and places are subject to demand. Varying admission criteria can include but are not limited to the following:

1. Number of credits to be attained at merit or distinction level
2. Successfully passing a face-to-face interview at the university
3. Passing a university’s proprietary literacy and numeracy assessments
4. Completion of specified work placements or work experience
5. GCSE grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent Level 2 Functional Skills)

Learners must undertake their own research to ensure their Diploma gives them the best possible chance of gaining entry to their university of choice. It is not possible for learndirect to accept any liability if any Access to Higher Education Diploma student fails to secure an offer from a higher education institution.

*Please note, this course is eligible for UK residents only

*You will have access to the course for 12 months only, after which, you can purchase extensions through your learning platform.

Assessment

A range of units make up this qualification, with an assignment at the end of each. You will submit your work to your tutor for marking and tailored feedback. You must acquire 60 credits in total in order to achieve the Access to HE Diploma (Social Science) – Psychology and Sociology. 

Of these credits, 45 will be taken from graded units which focus on the academic subject areas included in the course. The remaining 15 come from ungraded units included to help you to improve your academic writing and study skills.

As part of your programme, you will also receive help as well as guidance on your university application and the research you need to do to get the most out of your Diploma.

Qualifications

Open College Network West Midlands

Open College Network West Midlands Access to Higher Education (Social Science)

On successful completion of the Open College Network West Midlands Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Science) you will receive a QAA recognised Access to HE Diploma at level 3 (QAA ref: (40012554). This course has been assigned 60 credits.

Open College Network West Midlands are a national Awarding Organisation, regulated by Ofqual, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and Qualifications Wales, to develop and award nationally recognised qualifications.

Open College Network West Midlands work in partnership with employers, training providers, colleges, universities, schools and voluntary and community organisations to offer vocational credit-based qualifications, Access to Higher Education Diplomas and quality assured Customised Accreditation that enables learners gain employment or to progress into further learning and Higher Education. They also Quality Endorse organisations internal training and skills delivery.

Developing Your Career

• Government
• Counselling
• Health and Social Care
• Teaching

Further Qualifications and Prospects

• Advertising
• Psychology
• Human Resources
• Business Administration
• Personnel Management