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UNDERGRADUATE COURSE GUIDE 2018
CONTENTS
MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE 2 APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES 4 RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE 8 SOCIAL WORK 11 ONCE YOU’VE APPLIED 15 WHAT NEXT? 16
WHY THE SCHOOL OF APPLIED SOCIAL STUDIES? The School of Applied Social Studies is a multi-disciplinary department incorporating Social Work and Social Sciences. We are extremely proud of our graduate employment record and our working partnerships with numerous agencies and service users. These partnerships ensure that our teaching is applicable to employer requirements and mean that our graduates possess skills and knowledge relevant to the workplace.
Study Abroad option as part of our ERASMUS Exchange Programme.
SUPPORTIVE STAFF Our staff have strong practice backgrounds and have a passion for helping you achieve your best – whether teaching you in class, supervising your dissertation or providing pastoral support.
For BA (Hons) Social Work students, your three placement opportunities will give you the chance to put into practice the skills and knowledge you gain on your course, as well as gaining experience in the workplace.
SMALL CLASS SIZES Small class sizes mean we get to know you as an individual throughout your course. We can help give one to one feedback on communication skills.
FACILITIES Both social work and social science students enjoy access to state-of-the-art facilities at Garthdee, including extensive library and IT resources.
STUDY ABROAD Why study abroad? A venture overseas is a great way to set off on your future career path. For several years now employers have emphasised the value they place on graduates who have direct experience of living or working abroad. Both the BA (Hons) Applied Social Studies and BA (Hons) Social Work course offer a
There’s a psychology laboratory and test library, plus computer facilities and laboratory space for experiments and studies. All courses use the best in contemporary IT developments to maximise student learning opportunities.
PLACEMENTS Robert Gordon University is proud of its outstanding record in graduate employment. Social Work Placements play an important part in this success, giving our graduates a valuable advantage when it comes time to start their careers.
“Best Scottish University for Graduate Prospects.”* *The Guardian University Guide 2017
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MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE In this School we offer undergraduate courses in Social Work, Residential Childcare and Applied Social Sciences. Our full-time and part-time courses are designed to ensure that students have a stimulating and enjoyable education while gaining a range of transferable skills that employers require. To help us to achieve this we consult with a range of stakeholders. These consultations enable us to deliver courses that are topical, relevant and applicable to the needs of the organisations who employ our graduates and the people who use their services and products. Within Scotland we are the largest provider of social work education. Our working partnerships include social work agencies, service users and carers whom students meet throughout our teaching and placement programmes. Together they help our graduates enter the workplace better equipped to utilise the opportunities they find there. In Applied Social Sciences we have developed a strong reputation for teaching with a research profile in psychology and sociology. Staff expertise and publications in these disciplines underpin the BA (Hons) Applied Social Sciences degree and enable our modules to be timely, absorbing and at the cutting edge of key cultural, environmental, political, psychological and social challenges. This degree equips the individual for a wide range of employment options such as human resources, public relations, police/criminal justice, health and social care or into a higher degree, research or a teaching qualification.
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OUR COURSES BA (Hons) Applied Social Sciences L310
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BA Residential Child Care
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BA (Hons) Social Work L500
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APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES
BA (HONS) UCAS L310
WHY STUDY APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES? Applied Social Sciences involves the study of society and the relationships people have within that society. Social scientists study all aspects of society including human behaviour, relationships among different groups of people, past events and achievements. They set out to understand and explain why humans behave in particular ways, make certain decisions, how and why we exercise power and our responses to change. Based on their studies, they suggest solutions to social, business, personal, political and environmental issues.
WHY STUDY APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCES AT ROBERT GORDON UNIVERSITY? Our class sizes are small and this, along with a high level of contact time with staff, enables us to provide a friendly and supportive learning environment. Our team of academic staff is actively engaged in applied research which underpins the teaching in areas such sport and exercise psychology, forensic psychology, health psychology, homelessness, culture, environmental issues, the body and political violence. Such research activity ensures that our course is kept current and relevant. This course is built around the core disciplines of psychology and sociology, providing the best possible launching pad for a career in these fascinating areas and related occupations.
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Innovative elective modules in the final years allow you to tailor your degree around your own areas of interest. We will encourage and enable you to become a reflective and independent learner, developing skills of analysis, interpretation, problem solving, team-working, communication and research – all of which will be invaluable when entering the workplace.
CAREER OPTIONS Undertaking a course in the social sciences keeps your career options open and offers a wide variety of routes into employment including health and social care management, human resources, the police, education, marketing and PR. Many of our graduates also undertake postgraduate study, enabling them to specialise in a variety of areas including psychology, corporate social responsibility, social work, teaching, management and postgraduate research
GRADUATE DESTINATIONS Care Team Leader, Council City Administrator, Criminal Justice System, HR Associate Health and Safety Administrator, Housing Officer, HR Development Administrator, Learning Disability Support Worker, Marketing Executive, Postgraduate study, Recruitment Consultant, Researcher, Police Scotland, Sales and Events Manager, Support and Resettlement Worker, Teaching.
HOW YOU WILL LEARN
STUDY ABROAD
We encourage you to be an independent learner from the start of your course.
During second and third year, students currently have the opportunity to study abroad at one of our partner institutions in Poland, Cyprus, Malta and Belgium as part of our Erasmus Exchange Programme. There is also the opportunity to study at the University of Tennessee for one semester. This allows you to enhance your personal development and confidence and benefit from studying your subject in a different culture.
Each module involves 2-3 hours timetabled teaching each week, but you will have considerably more follow-up work beyond this. You will be taught through a wide variety of teaching methods including formal lectures, seminar activities, group work, project work and directed reading. Assessment is through a combination of exams and coursework which may be a mix of essays, reports and presentations. In years 3 and 4 you are given the opportunity to specialise in psychology or sociology and politics by electing to study specific modules. Some of our students choose to specialise, whilst many others prefer to continue with all three disciplines. Work undertaken in your third year contributes to your Honours classification. You will then produce a major piece of work in the final year in the form of a dissertation on a related topic of your choice.
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ENTRY REQUIREMENTs SQA HIGHER BBBC to include a subject requiring the use of English.
GCE A LEVEL BCC to include a subject requiring the use of English. Advanced entry may be considered for applicants with appropriate A Level subjects and grades.
Irish Leaving Certificate Higher B2B2B2C1 to include a subject requiring the use of English.
IB Diploma 27 to include a Higher Level subject requiring the use of English.
Applicants from Partner Colleges A relevant HNC or HND from one of our partner colleges will be considered for entry into Year 2 or 3.
ADVANCED ENTRY All other applicants who are interested in applying for advanced entry will be considered on an individual basis.
INTERVIEW You may be required to attend an interview.
STUDY OPTIONS 4 years full-time
WHAT YOU WILL STUDY YEAR 1 • Introductory Psychology: Social Sciences • Social Sciences and Society • Gender Culture and Society • Research Methods and Study Skills • Cognitive and Social Psychology • Sociology of Identity, Difference and Deviance • Governing the UK • Understanding Social Change YEAR 2 • Social Construction of Everyday Life • Research: Statistics and Data Analysis • European Union • The Sociological Problem of Crime • Psychology: Personality and Individual Differences • Discovering Psychology: History, Concepts and Debates • Theorising Social Life • Exploring Research YEAR 3 • Qualitative Research Methods (Core) • Elective subjects include: • Health Psychology • Health, Self and Society •Organisational and Management Psychology • Sports Psychology • Sociology of Consumer Culture • Political Participation and Pressure Groups in an Age of Global Politics • Developmental Psychology • Cognitive Psychology • Counselling • Environment and Society • Violence Crime and Conflict • Contemporary Issues in Politics YEAR 4 • Dissertation (Core) • Elective subjects include: • Social Psychology • Biological Foundations of Behaviour • Developments in Counselling • Media, Culture and Society • Terrorism, People and Places • The Body in Contemporary Life • Clinical Psychology and Mental Health • Forensic Psychology • Crime, Criminology and the Justice System • Global Development • Effective and Ethical Leadership MODULE LISTING DISCLAIMER The modules quoted in this description are currently available for study. However, as we review the curriculum on a regular basis, the exact selection may change over time.
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“I really enjoyed the BA (Hons) Applied Social Sciences course. You are able to tailor the course to your interests which is beneficial when deciding what you would like to do after university. “From the skills and knowledge I have gained throughout the course, I have managed to secure a job in Human Resources within the oil industry.” Kathryn Hay BA (Hons) Applied Social Sciences Student
“Studying social sciences has opened my eyes to the world and enabled me to gain skills which have allowed me to develop and grow as a person. The freedom to also choose what modules you want to take in 3rd and 4th year is extremely beneficial as you can focus on your main interests. The best thing about being a student here is the number of opportunities that are available to you. RGU has such a dynamic and relaxed atmosphere with lovely helpful staff which is pleasant to work in.” Hannah Summers BA (Hons) Applied Social Sciences Student
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BA RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE WHY STUDY RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE? The BA Residential Child Care course content is underpinned by the Standard for Residential Child Care in Scotland (2013) and is a recognised Level 9 qualification for all Residential Child Care workers in Scotland*.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS The course is designed for employment based students. Course entry is at Stage 2 (SCQF Level 8) and so applicants will be expected to have attained an HNC or SVQ3 or equivalent.
COURSE LENGTH 3 Years
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emphasise group care and community based practice with a critical and reflective approach to application
HOW YOU WILL LEARN The course delivery will include: • Eight 3-day block periods of teaching • Workbooks and supporting material and information accessed via the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (Campus Moodle) • Two sixty day placements, one or both of which can take place in your own employing agency
January 2018
Agencies supporting individuals to undertake this qualification will be expected to identify a Mentor.
WHAT YOU WILL STUDY
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
START DATE
The course will focus on a number of themes including: • The Centrality of Relationships • Human Growth and Development • Adversity and Resilience • Group Processes and Practice In addition, the development of new skills will be supported by the creative use of activities to demonstrate how bonds between the service user and worker might be strengthened. The course will draw on: • models and theory from North American, European and Scottish traditions of Residential Child Care • provide an holistic focus on the individual, family and community • explore emotional, psychological, physical, spiritual and sexual development
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Sharon Munro Course Leader 01224 263371 s.munro@rgu.ac.uk Debbie Banner Course Administrator 01224 263225 d.a.banner@rgu.ac.uk
HOW TO APPLY Course entry is at Stage 2 (SCQF Level 8) and so applicants will be expected to have attained an HNC or SVQ (level 3) equivalent. To submit an online application for the course please use the link below: www.rgu.ac.uk/applyonline
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SOCIAL WORK
BA (HONS) UCAS L500 (SSSC APPROVED)
WHAT IS SOCIAL WORK? Social work is all about people. It is about empowering, supporting, caring for and protecting vulnerable people living in their own homes, in residential care, in prisons and in hospital settings. Social workers focus on helping individuals achieve change in their lives and support people through difficult circumstances. As a result, it can be extremely demanding and challenging, yet rewarding too. As a social worker you may work with individuals, families, groups, organisations and communities. Your role may involve working closely with other organisations including the police, local authority departments, schools and the health service. You may take part in multidisciplinary team meetings, and liaise with and make referrals to other agencies. To be a social worker, you will need a wide breadth of interpersonal skills as you will be working in potentially highly emotional and stressful situations. You will need to be able to balance this with a clear understanding of the needs, rights, responsibilities and risks of everyone involved and be able to articulate your cases in written reports. Social workers provide a professional service to a wide range of individuals, families and groups. Our course will equip you with the skills you need to become a confident and highly effective social worker.
WHY STUDY SOCIAL WORK AT ROBERT GORDON UNIVERSITY? We are the largest provider of social work education in Scotland and have a proven track record in producing confident, capable, professional graduates who are much sought after by employers. Our close working partnerships with a variety of social work agencies, employers and practitioners ensure that our course is kept in line with changes in social work practice and remains up-to-date and relevant to the needs of the workplace. All our academic staff are themselves qualified and experienced social workers who have specialist knowledge of a wide range of social work settings which include childcare, adult services, disability, social work law, social work methods, substance misuse, criminal justice, residential and community care. Our class sizes are small and this, along with a high level of contact time with staff, enables us to provide a friendly and supportive learning environment. For those interested in progressing onto further study, the School offers a number of short courses and post-qualifying courses.
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PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATION Successful completion of the degree confers eligibility to practise as a social worker within the UK, and to register with the SSSC and the other Social Care Councils in the UK. ‘Social Worker’ is a protected title and in order to practice, students must qualify with an accredited degree.
HOW WILL YOU BE TAUGHT? You will be invited to attend an induction programme just prior to the start of term in year 1 which will help you settle into University, allow you to meet staff and students and find out more about your course. You will be taught through a variety of methods including lectures, seminars, tutorials and projects. Assessment in year 1 is by coursework and three exams. After this, assessment is by coursework with no formal examinations. You will have around 12-16 hours a week of class contact and be expected to carry out additional self-directed study.
PLACEMENTS You will undertake three placements during the course, allowing you to apply theory to practice in real-life situations and preparing you for entering the workplace. Placements take place in a wide variety of social work settings including child and family care, criminal justice, mental health, learning disability, hospital social work, community care, prison social work, community support projects, substance misuse, advocacy and advice projects, residential care and youth justice. You will be supervised throughout your time on placement by a Practice Teacher. Your Personal Tutor will also maintain links with you while you are out of the University.
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STUDY ABROAD Currently, students may apply to undertake one of their placements in another European country – we currently have placements in Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. We also have placement opportunities in Tennessee, USA. This will allow you to experience first-hand, social work provision in a different social care system as well as provide a fantastic cultural experience.
CAREER OPTIONS Following successful completion of the course, students find employment across the social work sector. In the past our students have been in great demand throughout the UK. The international focus of the course also provides employment opportunities in a range of European countries, the USA and Australia. Our graduates have found employment in Criminal Justice, Child Care/Child Protection as well as working with people with mental health issues, substance misuse problems, physical disabilities or old age. Our recent graduates have taken up posts as social workers in local authorities and in the voluntary sector throughout the UK and Ireland.
GRADUATE DESTINATIONS Care Manager Career Manager and Rehabilitation Worker Child and Family Worker Children and Families Social Worker Fundraising Officer HR co-ordinator Hospital Social Worker Locum Social Worker Mental Health Social Worker Recover Facilitator/ Practitioner Social Worker Substance Abuse Worker Support Advisor
WHAT YOU WILL STUDY
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
YEAR 1
SQA HIGHER BBCC. Applicants will be expected to have Mathematics, Numeracy or equivalent at National 5 level Grade C or above.
• Study and Research Skills • Individual Psychology and the Lifespan • Introductory Sociology • Social Work Values, Roles and Tasks • Cognitive and Social Psychology • Sociology of Identity, Difference and Deviance • An Introduction to Law and Politics in Social Work • Social Work in Society
YEAR 2 • Law and Social Work • Human Growth and Behaviour • Social Policy and Social Work Practice • Social Work Methods • Social Work Practice 1 • Disability and Mental Health: A Life Course Approach • Social Work with Older People • Social Work with People with Substance Problems • Group Care/Support and Protection - Practice Issues and Ethical Dilemmas
YEAR 3
• Social Work Practice 2 • Practice Learning 2/Contexts • Personal and Professional Development 1 • Social Work with Children and Families • Social Work Practice and Research Methods • Social Work in Criminal Justice • Counselling within Social Work Practice
YEAR 4 • Social Work Practice 3 • Practice Learning – Risk Assessment/Risk Management • Evidence Based Practice • Dissertation Study • Integrated Health and Social Care • Social Work in a Global Context OR Management in Social Work Settings OR Therapeutic Practice with Children
GCE A LEVEL CCC. Applicants will be expected to have Mathematics, Numeracy or equivalent at GCSE Grade C or above. Irish Leaving Certificate Higher B2B2C1C1. Applicants will be expected to have Mathematics, Numeracy or equivalent at Ordinary level Grade C or above. IB DIPLOMA 26. Applicants will be expected to have Mathematics, Numeracy or equivalent at Standard Level Grade 4 or above. ADVANCED ENTRY Applicants who are interested in applying for advanced entry will be considered on an individual basis. If interested in this possibility please contact the Admissions Tutor to discuss further. INTERVIEW You will be required to attend an interview. Overseas applicants will be interviewed by Skype. Applicants who do not have an appropriate certificated level of Mathematics, Numeracy or equivalent will be expected to demonstrate an appropriate level of numeracy at interview. STUDY OPTIONS Full-time: 4 years
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“I really enjoyed completing the BA(Hons) Social Work course at RGU. I felt supported throughout and found each module within the course very interesting. The placements were a great opportunity to put theory into practice. “I now have a full time job in Criminal Justice working in the same team I completed my final placement with.” Nicola Low Social Work Graduate
“The course itself is stimulating and engaging, and thoroughly prepares you with the theory behind social work practice. The placements however are where you really learn how to conduct yourself as a competent social worker, and the placements that RGU secure are second to none. Social workers from RGU are always in high demand from employers and I found getting a job very easy. I secured a social work position before I even graduated.” Barry Clubb Social Work Graduate
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ONCE YOU’VE APPLIED To be a social worker, it is vital that you not only meet the academic requirements for your chosen course, but that you have the right personal qualities too – such as a genuine interest in people, good listening skills and a commitment to the job. Without these personal attributes, you may find the course very challenging. As part of our selection process, you will be invited to attend a morning or afternoon selection visit. This typically involves an opportunity to tour the facilities, meet staff and a group interview. There will also be a short written test and for those applicants who require it, a numeracy test. We want you to see this as a two way process – giving you the opportunity to ask us any questions you might still have about the course and for us to assess whether you are ideally suited to a career as a social worker. It is only after you are offered and firmly accept a place on one of our courses that PVG checks, previously Disclosure checks, required by the Scottish Services Council (SSSC) are carried out. An offer of a place on the course is subject to successful registration with the Scottish Social Services Council. For further information on PVG checks, please go to www.disclosurescotland.co.uk
DISCLAIMER This publication is intended as a guide for applicants for courses delivered by Robert Gordon University. In compiling it, the University has taken every care to be as accurate as possible, and the information in this brochure is correct at the time of going to print.To ensure the continued currency of its courses and, where appropriate, address the requirements of external advisors and associated professional, statutory or regulatory bodies, the University regularly reviews its courses, and implements changes to course content and/or structure.The University makes reasonable endeavours to inform applicants and students at the earliest opportunity of any significant changes to, or suspension/ cessation of, a course, particularly when this occurs between the offer of admission and enrolment. Significant changes may include (but are not limited to) changes to: • an existing course title or named exit awards; • the course curriculum/modules (e.g. replacement of core and/or optional modules); • the course structure (e.g. addition of a placement year, changes in clinical hours, changes related to professional, statutory or regulatory body accreditation); • additions/changes to mode(s) of delivery; • methods of assessment; • suspension or cessation of a course. Reasonable efforts will be made to assist applicants find an alternative RGU course if the original is no longer suitable. MODULE LISTING DISCLAIMER The modules quoted in this description are currently available for study. However, as we review the curriculum on a regular basis, the exact selection may change over time.
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EVENTS MANAGEMENT BA (Hons) UCAS N820
WHAT NEXT? THE NEXT THING TO DO IS TALK TO US. We can answer any questions you may have. Simply call us on 01224 262728 or email: UGOffice@rgu.ac.uk
We also provide a range of opportunities for you to visit us – so you can see what we can offer you first hand. OPEN DAY We organise two annual open days in September/October. It’s a perfect opportunity to visit us, meet the academic staff, experience the first-class facilities and talk to current students. For full details of dates and times, and to see a full programme please see: www.rgu.ac.uk/openday
APPLICANTS’ DAY When you apply for any course at the School of Applied Social Studies, you’ll be invited to one of our course-specific Applicants’ Days. We realise there’s a lot involved in making your final choice, so we hope to give you all the insight and information you need. For full details of dates and times, and to see a full programme please see: www.rgu.ac.uk/future-students/ applicants/applicant-days VISIT AFTERNOONS We hold monthly Visit Afternoons. The visit includes a talk by an Education Liaison Officer, a tour of the facilities and a chance to speak to a lecturer about the course you’re interested in. www.rgu.ac.uk/visitafternoons
A CONSISTENTLY TOP-RATED UNIVERSITY FOR GRADUATE #RGUTOPDOG EMPLOYABILITY* *HESA Destination of UK leavers’ survey (DLHE) 2015/16. Published by HESA, July 2017 16
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This publication is intended as a guide for applicants for courses delivered by Robert Gordon University. In compiling it, the University has taken every care to be as accurate as possible, and the information in this brochure is correct at the time of going to print. To ensure the continued currency of its courses and, where appropriate, address the requirements of external advisors and associated professional, statutory or regulatory bodies, the University regularly reviews its courses, and implements changes to course content and/or structure. The University makes reasonable endeavours to inform applicants and students at the earliest opportunity of any significant changes to, or suspension/cessation of, a course, particularly when this occurs between the offer of admission and enrolment.
Significant changes may include (but are not limited to) changes to: • an existing course title or names exit awards; • the course curriculum/modules (e.g. replacement of core and/or optional modules); • the course structure (e.g. addition of a placement year, changes in clinical hours, changes related to professional, statutory or regulatory body accreditation); • additions/change to mode(s) of delivery; • methods of assessment; • suspension or cessation of a course. Reasonable efforts will be made to assist applicants find an alternative RGU course if the original is no longer suitable.
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CONTACT US T: +44 (0)1224 262728 E: ugoffice@rgu.ac.uk www.rgu.ac.uk
* www.rgu.ac.uk/tef-gold