Applied Social Studies UG Guide

Social Work

School of Applied Social Studies Applied Social Sciences

UNDERGRADUATE COURSE GUIDE 2011 THE PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY

Contents 02 Why choose Applied Social Sciences?

03 Why study Applied Social Sciences at Robert Gordon University?

03 Career options 04 What you will study 05 How you will learn 05 Study Abroad 06 Entry requirements 07 What is Social Work?

08 Why study Social Work at Robert Gordon University?

08 Career options 09 What you will study 10 How you will learn 10 Placements 11 Entry requirements 12 The next step is to talk to us

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The Professional University 01

Applied Social Studies – MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE “Robert Gordon University is the largest provider of social work education in Scotland.

Our working partnerships with various social work agencies ensure that our BA (Hons) Social Work course is kept in line with current developments in social work practice and that our graduates enter the workplace better equipped to meet the challenges they find there.

“We have developed a reputation in the area of Applied Social Sciences with a growing research profile in psychology and sociology. Staff expertise and publications in these disciplines underpin the BA (Hons) Applied Social Sciences degree.

“We have a reputation amongst our students for providing a friendly and supportive learning environment to give you the best start on your chosen career path. We look forward to welcoming you to the School of Applied Social Studies.”

Professor Joyce Lishman, Head of School

02 The Professional University

Why CHOOSE Applied Social Sciences?

Are you interested in society and how it behaves? Applied Social Sciences is 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 and past events and achievements. They set out to understand and explain why humans 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, governmental and environmental issues.

“I didn’t want to be pigeon holed into one particular career. This course gave me flexibility and choice. Coming to University has helped me develop and mature as a person so I was ready to enter the workplace.”

“Some courses are very theory based but the course at Robert Gordon University is applied, allowing you to see how it can fit into real life after University. I also liked having a wide variety of subjects to choose from in my third and fourth years.”

The Professional University 03

Why Study Applied Social Sciences at Robert Gordon University?

In response to increasing demand, our course has been developed around the core disciplines of psychology and sociology.

It will provide you with a broad range of transferrable skills which are highly sought after by employers, such as information gathering, analysis and research methods.

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 as drug abuse, homelessness, Alzheimers disease, attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, forensic psychology and terrorism. Such research activity ensures that our course is kept current and relevant.

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.

“My decision to study Applied Social Sciences has led me to gain skills and knowledge that employers are looking for. Not only that, it has given me the academic ability and confidence to go on and study at Masters level.”

Fiona Cowe, BA (Hons) Applied Social Sciences 2010 “My Social Sciences course has shown me how to think differently about the world in general. I’ve enjoyed the challenges presented to me – especially through undertaking my dissertation. I found the group work enjoyable and also really enjoyed the immense satisfaction at successfully completing solo tasks and assignments.”

Sheila McAlinden, BA (Hons) Applied Social Sciences 2008

Career Options This flexible degree offers a stepping stone to many peoplecentred occupations, opening up a career in areas as diverse as the police, business or working with young or vulnerable people. Our graduates have also successfully pursued careers in housing management, health management, human resources, marketing and PR. Many graduates have also chosen to progress onto postgraduate study and specialise in a number of areas including social work, psychology and teaching.

“I came to university as a mature student and was quite apprehensive as to how I would manage, having last studied many years ago. I needn’t have worried as the staff couldn’t have been more helpful and encouraging, and my fellow students made sure I was included in any group work or social activities.

“I chose Applied Social Sciences as although I felt that psychology and sociology were my main areas of interest, I wanted a course which offered me a variety of subjects and the opportunity to streamline my studies into a particular topic as the course developed.

I ultimately found that psychology was my first choice and the range of modules in this area was excellent.”

Shona Lamb BA (Hons) Applied Social Science student 2010

04 The Professional University

What You Will Study Applied Social Sciences BA (Hons) L310

Year One 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 Ethics, Personal Relationships and Social Life

Year Two Children, Youth and Society Research: Statistics and Data Analysis European Union The Sociological Problem of Crime

Psychology: Personality and Individual Differences Discovering Psychology: Classic Studies and Debates Theorising Social Life Exploring Research

Year Three Qualitative Research Methods (Core), elective subjects include: Health Psychology Health, Self and Society Biological Foundations of Behaviour Sports Psychology Sociology of Consumer Culture

Year Four Dissertation (Core) Elective subjects include: Social Psychology Organisational and Management Psychology Developments in Counselling Art Culture and Society Terrorism, People and Places

Political Participation and Pressure Groups in an Age of Global Politics

The Body in Society

Developmental Psychology

Forensic Psychology

Cognitive Psychology Counselling

Crime Criminology and the Justice System

Urban Sociology

Risk, Fear and Uncertainty

Violence Crime and Conflict Contemporary Issues in Politics

Abnormal Psychology

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How You Will Learn

We encourage you to be an independent learner from the start of your course.

Each module involves 2-3 hours timetabled teaching each week, but you’ll have considerably more follow-up work beyond this. You’ll be taught through a wide variety of teaching methods including formal lectures, seminar activities, group work, project work and directed reading. In first year you’ll share some lectures with Social Work students. However, as most of the course is specialised, you’ll find that you become a distinctive, cohesive and mutually supporting peer group.

Assessment is through a combination of exams and coursework which may be a mix of essays, reports and presentations.

In years 1 and 2 everyone studies the same modules. 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.

“I believe that the core strengths of the course can be attributed to the fact that you are given the option to either elect to specialise in a particular area or study a broad range of subjects in the third and fourth years. The choice of elective subjects available to students is vast when compared with other courses, and the staff are more than happy to advise on potential routes.

Study Abroad

“The course’s attraction is heightened by the staff, all of whom are very personable and willing to provide one to one advice if needed, and by the location of the school, which makes revision all the easier due to the light and airy architectural design.”

“During my studies at Robert Gordon University, I was also given the opportunity to participate in the Erasmus Exchange programme with Orebro Universitet in Sweden.

During my stay in Sweden I extended my knowledge of various aspects of social services in Scandinavia and also made friends with people from all over the world”

Kathrine Gibson, BA (Hons) Applied Social Sciences 2010

During your second year, you will have the opportunity to study abroad at one of our partner institutions in Poland and Sweden as part of our Erasmus Exchange Programme. This allows you to enhance your personal development and confidence and benefit from studying your subject in a different culture.

Konrad Zdeb, BA (Hons) Applied Social Sciences 2009

06 The Professional University

Entry Requirements Applied Social Sciences L310 SQA Higher BBC to include either English or a subject requiring the use of English.

GCE A Level CC to include either English or a subject requiring the use of English.

Irish Leaving Certificate Higher BBC1 to include either English or a subject requiring the use of English.

IB Diploma 24 Alternative Qualifications Please see page 186 or visit www.rgu.ac.uk Degree Link Programme NQ Health and Social Care Higher course from partner FE Colleges will be considered for year 1 entry.

HNC Social Sciences from partner FE Colleges will be considered for year 2 entry.

HND Social Sciences from partner FE Colleges will be considered for year 3 entry providing you have completed the modules in Psychology B, C, D and Criminology.

The Professional University 07

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 probation service. You may take part in multi-disciplinary 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 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.

Much is made in the media of cases where social work has been seen to let people down, however there are also many more positive outcomes which go largely unreported. Our course will equip you with the skills you need to become a confident and highly effective social worker.

“The working relationship between the tutors and students is excellent.

The support during my placements was outstanding.�

Social Work students gave a score of 100% for overall satisfaction with the quality of the course and the quality of the teaching in the 2010 National Student Survey (www.unistats.direct.gov.uk).

08 The Professional University

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.

The majority of 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.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the social work course as it has given me a grounded theory base to draw from and allowed me to experience the job I am training for in a supported practical placement. The teaching staff are always keen to support students and have given me appropriate guidance when necessary. Staff have been open and honest and provide consistent, positive encouragement throughout the year to enable me to progress academically.

“The practical placements allow application of the theoretical learning we undertake during the lecture and study time. Practice teachers and on-site link supervisors work closely with academic staff to ensure the practice experience is well supported. The practicality of our placements means really learning how to do the job as well as learning theory.”

Euan Williamson Social Work student “The teaching staff group are very supportive and keen to help whenever they can. What you learn from the course not only prepares you for social work but also helps you in your daily life. The library is excellent and is a great resource for students. I have made a lot of very good friends since starting my social work training and hope to remain friends with them for many years to come.”

Alex Mills Social Work student

Career Options There is currently a national shortage of social workers so you will hopefully be very much in demand after graduation.

The international focus of the course also provides employment possibilities in a range of European countries as well as the USA and Australia.

Social workers can enter generic social work practice or specialise in a diverse range of areas including childcare and protection, adoption and fostering, criminal justice in area teams, prisons or community based projects, community care with older people or with disability, mental health projects, projects concerned with supporting people who have experienced some form of abuse, youth work and hospital social work. Career prospects are good and opportunities for promotion exist throughout the social work sector.

Our recent graduates have taken up posts as social workers in local authorities and in the voluntary sector throughout the UK and Ireland.

The Professional University 09

What You Will Study SOCIAL WORK BA (Hons) L500 (SSSC approved)

Year One

Year Two

Year Three

Study and Research Skills

Law and Social Work

Social Work Practice 2

Individual Psychology and the Lifespan

Human Growth and Behaviour

Practice learning 2/Contexts

Social Policy and Social Work Practice

Personal and Professional Development 1

Social Work Methods

Social Work in Child Care/ Child Protection

Introductory Sociology Social Work Values, Roles and Tasks Cognitive and Social Psychology

Social Work Practice 1 Practice learning 1/ Contexts

Research Methods and Social Work Practice

Disability and Mental Health: A Life Course Approach

Social Work in Criminal Justice

An Introduction to Law and Politics in Social Work

Social Work with Older People

Counselling within Social Work Practice

Social Work in Society

Social Work with People with Substance problems

Sociology of Identity, Difference and Deviance

Group Care/Managing Life Transitions

Year Four Social Work Practice 3 Practice Learning – Risk Assessment/ Risk Management Evidence Based practice Dissertation Study Interdisciplinary Practice Comparative Health and Social Work OR Management in Social Work Settings OR Therapeutic Practice with Children

10 The Professional University

How You Will Learn

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 juvenile 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.

You may apply to undertake one of your placements in another European country – we currently have placements in The Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.

This will allow you to experience first hand social work provision in a different healthcare system as well as provide a fantastic cultural experience.

“I have had really enjoyable placement experiences. My first was working with adults with learning disability and my second was working within a criminal justice team. I enjoyed being treating as a professional and being given responsibilities, my own caseload and working within a team. For me, this made me feel like a “social worker”.

Kelly Mackenzie, BA (Hons) Social Work 2010

The Professional University 11

Entry Requirements BA (Hons) Social Work SQA Higher BBCC GCE A Level CCC Irish Leaving Certificate Higher BBC1C1 IB Diploma 26 Alternative Qualifications Please visit www.rgu.ac.uk Advanced Entry Entry into year 2 will be considered for candidates with appropriate qualifications.

If interested in this possibility please contact the Admissions Tutor to discuss this further.

Professional Accreditation Successful completion of the course will allow you to register with the Scottish Social Services Council and the other Social Care Councils in the UK. Employment opportunities also exist in a range of European countries, the USA and Australia.

12 The Professional University

The next step is to talk to us We can answer any questions you may have. Simply call us on 01224 262728 or email admissions@rgu.ac.uk. We also provide a range of opportunities to visit us – so you can see what we can offer you, first-hand.

Open Days: For full information and to register, please go to www.rgu.ac.uk/open day

Visit afternoons: If you are unable to attend an Open Day, come along to one of our monthly Visit Afternoons. To register go to: www.rgu.ac.uk/ visitafternoons

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Disclaimer Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information given in this brochure, Robert Gordon University can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. The University reserves the right to amend or discontinue courses or amend entry requirements as part of continued improvement.

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 short interview. There will also be a short written test and numeracy test and some group work.

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 the Disclosure checks required by the Scottish Services Council (SSSC) are carried out.

For further information on selection visits and Disclosure, please go to www.rgu.ac.uk

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School of Applied Social Studies Faculty of Health and Social Care Garthdee Road Aberdeen AB10 7QG Scotland

Talk to us.

We can answer any questions or queries you may have.

Simply call us on 01224 262728, email admissions@rgu.ac.uk or visit us at rgu.ac.uk