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

Modules

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 Wellbeing

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: 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 8: Contemporary Issues in Social Policy

On completion of this unit you will:

• 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 9: 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 10: 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 11: Understanding Dementia

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand dementia
• Understand types of dementia
• Understand the medical and social models of dementia
• Understand an individual’s experience of dementia

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: 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 14: 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 15: Psychobiology of Stress

On completion of this unit you will:

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

Unit 16: Approaches to Health

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand different definitions of health and ill health
• Understand different explanatory models of health and ill health
• Understand contrasting sociological perspectives on health
• Understand the different ways in which people respond to illness

Unit 17: Health Promotion

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand individual societal health promotion
• Organise and plan a health promotion activity

Unit 18: Sociology of the Family

On completion of this unit you will:

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

Unit 19: Equality and Diversity within Healthcare

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand equality and diversity within healthcare
• Understand the rights of the individual in a healthcare setting
• Understand the impact of equality and diversity legislation for Healthcare provision

Entry Requirements

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

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 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 Functional Skills Level 2)

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 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 and Health).

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 HE Diploma at level 3 (QAA ref = 40012566). This diploma 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

Once you have obtained your nationally recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma (Social Science and Health) – Health Studies pathway, you can apply to your chosen university if they accept the qualification as part of their entry requirements.

As well as gaining in-depth knowledge about the effects of health on societal structure, you will be able to use this to pursue a rewarding career. Social Science covers a broad spectrum and while this particular course focuses on health studies, you still have plenty of options to consider in terms of career paths.

Our Access to HE Diploma is designed to get you ready for university, so once you have achieved your qualification, you could study one of the following degrees:

• Social Science
• Social Work
• Occupational Health & Therapy
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Psychology, Cognitive & Clinical Neuroscience

With regards to career options, you could delve into the psychology field or physical health, depending on your ambitions. Depending on the degree you achieve, you could target the following job roles:

• Family Support Worker
• Care Manager
• Counselling
• Forensic Psychology

Further Qualifications and Prospects

If you want to enhance your career prospects in this sector, you could study a masters in Health in Social Science or a related subject. With this additional academic knowledge, you could pursue various professional areas, including:

• Health Services Management
• Health and Social Care
• Policy and Research
• Health Education