Taking it further
Has the idea of communities constantly in flux inspired you? Do you want to find out more - and perhaps even study social change? Here's a selection of options that you might like to consider:
Open University courses are the main 'building blocks' of our qualifications. You can take a single course or take several to build towards an Open University diploma or degree.
Which level of study is most suitable for you?
Openings
If you haven’t experienced higher education before, deciding to become an undergraduate student can be a big step. But don’t worry, the OU’s designed a programme that allows you to dip your toe in the water before committing yourself!
Understanding Society (Y157)
The course is designed to introduce you to selected key concepts and debates within the social sciences including families; culture; global markets; migrant labour; community; and social movements. It will help you develop learning skills that will provide a sound basis for further academic work. It will give you an opportunity, whatever your plans, to learn about what social scientists do and the kinds of questions they ask. It will also develop your understanding of some of the social issues and debates that dominate the news today, in the UK and elsewhere.
Longer Courses and Qualifications
Open University courses are the main 'building blocks' of our qualifications. You can take a single course or take several to build towards an Open University diploma or degree.
Which level of study is most suitable for you?
Where to Start
An Introduction to the Social Sciences (DD100)
The social sciences are about people, how they act individually and how they act collectively. This course tackles everyday issues in an approachable and accessible ways, so that you can build on what you already know and draw on your own experience.
DD100 will help you understand some of the big issues in the contemporary world, such as changes in family, work and identity; risk and the environment; and the impact of globalisation. Course texts and carefully structured workbooks help you to improve your study skills. After this course, further study in the social sciences could lead to employment opportunities in a wide range of occupations.
Higher level study
MA in the Social Sciences (F09)
This masters degree provides advanced study in social science theory and research. It offers a wide choice of courses enabling you to focus on one or more subject areas from the Postgraduate Studies in the Social Sciences programme, including cultural and media studies, psychology, social policy and criminology or environmental policy.
MA in Environment, Policy and Society (F19)
This course introduces you to the responses of social science approaches to environmental issues. You will work with tools, theories and models and consider critically how the social sciences have responded to complex and uncertain environmental changes. The core taught courses focus on ecological thinking, the economic aspects of environmental policy, environmental conflict resolution and international environmental negotiations.
