Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Science and Health) - Biology Pathway

Modules

Unit 1: Academic Writing Skills

On completion of this unit you will:

• 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

On completion of this unit you will:

• 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 Well-being

On completion of this unit you will:

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

Unit 4: Introduction to Psychology

On completion of this unit you will:

• 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

On completion of this unit you will:

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

Unit 6: The History of the National Health Service

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the background to and the founding principles of the National Health Service
• Understand how political reforms have shaped the National Health Service

Unit 7: Cell Biology

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the structure and organisation of cells, including stem cells
• Understand cellular metabolism
• Understand how cells grow and divide

Unit 8: The Roles & Responsibilities of Health Care Professionals

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the changes to the roles and responsibilities of a chosen healthcare professional
• Understand the role of a professional/regulatory body for a healthcare professional, for example HCPC and Nursing and Midwifery Council
• Understand the multidisciplinary approach to healthcare

Unit 9: Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

On completion of this unit you will:

• 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 10: Human Reproduction, Growth & Development

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the structure and function of the human reproductive system
• Understand how hormones regulate the reproductive tract throughout life
• Understand the sequence of events from conception to puberty

Unit 11: Sociology of Health

On completion of this unit you will:

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

Unit 12: Abnormal Psychology

On completion of this unit you will:

• 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 13: Human Nutrition and the Digestive System

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the structure and functions of the organs of the digestive system
• Understand nutrients and their sources
• Understand the components of a healthy diet and the consequences of an unhealthy diet

Unit 14: Understanding Poverty

On completion of this unit you will:

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

Unit 15: The Human Endocrine and Nervous Systems

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the anatomy, organisation and function of the nervous system
• Understand how the endocrine system co-ordinates body functions
• Understand the role of the nervous and endocrine systems homeostasis

Unit 16: The Brain and Nervous System (Psychology)

On completion of this unit you will:

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

Unit 17: Classification and Use of Social Drugs and Medicines

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand why different types of social drugs are used
• Understand the classification of medicines and controlled drugs
• Understand the impact of the use of social drugs and medicines on the individual and society

Unit 18: Human Disease & Prevention

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the categories and causes of disease using infectious disease to illustrate your answer
• Understand the epidemiology of commonly occurring diseases/conditions
• Understand preventative measures for a chosen disease or condition

Entry Requirements

You must hold Level 2 qualifications in both English and Maths, or be working towards them alongside studying your Access to Higher Education Diploma.

University Entry Criteria

It must be reiterated that each university will set its own admission criteria. So, you must check with your desired institution if your Access to HE Diploma and other qualifications will be accepted. In many cases, to get started on healthcare courses at university, you will need: - A certain number of credits passed with a merit or a distinction grade - A face-to-face interview at the university - Literacy and numeracy assessments provided by the university - Course-related work placements or work experience - GCSE Grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent Level 2 such as Functional Skills/Key Skills, etc.) It is your responsibility to check that your Access to HE Diploma will be accepted as part of these entry requirements for your chosen degree. learndirect will not be held accountable if completing this Access to Higher Education Diploma doesn’t secure you a position with a higher education institution.

Minimum age restriction

This course is ideally suited to those who have completed full-time education but have not achieved the grades required to get into university.

Average completion timeframe

The average time it takes our learners to complete the course is 9-12 months.

Assessment requirements

A range of assessment methodologies are used, including: academic report, essay, case study analysis, illustrated report, journal article, experiment, portfolio, academic poster, presentation (video and audio recording), revision guide, series of questions, academic writing skills tasks

Exams required

There are no exams included in the assessment of the course.

Is Membership Required?

No membership is required to enrol on this course.

Additional requirements

Learners must be actively studying for a minimum of six months before results can be ratified and certificates ordered. The six month period does not start until you have passed unit 2 of your course and you must be submitting assignments regularly (in line with the deadlines in your Individual Learning Plan) to meet this six month requirement. Certificates can only be issued once your course is paid for in full.

Certification Timeframe

You can expect to receive your certificate 12-16 weeks from your final assignment being marked and graded, depending on the time of year. You will be provided with regular updates throughout the certification process so that you are fully informed of your individual timeframes.

Course Fees

All course fees, inclusive of all payment plans including our Premium Credit Limited option, must be settled before certification can be ordered.

*You will have access to the course for 24 months.

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 Higher Education Diploma (Social Science and Health) – Biology Pathway.

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

On successful completion of the Open College Network West Midlands Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Science and Health) you will receive a QAA recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma at Level 3 (QAA ref = 40012566). 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.

Career

By achieving an Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Science and Health) – Biology Pathway, you will be able to progress towards a range of career avenues, depending on your interests and passions. Firstly, you will need to study a degree that is related to biological sciences, social science, or health, such as:

• Social Science
• Speech & Language Therapy
• Counselling
• Criminology & Policing
• Food Science and Nutrition

With a degree, you can apply for and pursue various roles, and you will be eligible to work in multiple sectors. Whether you are keen to work in local government, the NHS, counselling, or education, studying a social science and health discipline will be hugely beneficial.

Having this expert knowledge can allow you to make significant strides in changing social policy and equality in healthcare, as well as other societal trends and issues, should you decide to pursue this path.

Further Qualifications and Prospects

Given the wide-ranging career options available, you may require additional qualifications. Many graduates opt to study a masters degree in social sciences as it gives them better standing when applying for certain roles. With a masters you could pursue the following roles:

• Psychologist
• Social Worker
• Menatl Health Nurse
• Many More

Whatever career path you choose to take, you will be able to kick-start this journey by studying an Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Science and Health) – Biological Pathway.