Access to Humanities and Social Sciences – Social Science Pathway

Access to Humanities and Social Sciences – Social Science Pathway

Your Course at a Glance

• Go to university without A-Levels
• Explore career options in multiple sectors
• Get prepared for degree-level study
• Study online from the comfort of your own home
• Tutor support
• No exams

About Your Diploma

Our Access to Humanities and Social Sciences – Social Science Pathway is designed to provide learners with a foundation in various social science disciplines. This online course is ideal for those aiming to pursue higher education and careers in fields such as psychology, sociology, social work, criminology, and other related areas.

Learners will explore a broad spectrum of topics that cover essential theories, practices, and contemporary issues within social sciences. For example, you'll delve into different psychological theories, the development of human behaviour from infancy through adulthood, and the study of mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving.

You’ll also examine the causes and effects of social inequality, the impact of poverty in contemporary society, and the dynamics of family structures. You'll also study the relationship between brain function and behaviour, gaining insights into biopsychology.

Upon completion of this diploma, you'll be well-prepared to pursue a degree in various social science disciplines. Possible career routes include psychology roles such as clinical psychologist or counsellor, sociology careers in social research or community development, social work positions, criminology roles in law enforcement or forensic psychology, opportunities in health and social care, and education roles in teaching or academic research.

Getting Started

Our course is designed by subject matter experts in collaboration with universities to ensure the material is highly relevant and valuable for your future degree studies.

The course is delivered entirely online, allowing you to study from the comfort of your home. Upon enrolment, you’ll have immediate 24/7 access to all course materials, enabling you to start learning right away.

As part of the course, you’ll receive an Individual Learning Plan, which will detail assignment deadlines, helping you stay organised and on track. While the diploma can be completed within two years, most learners typically finish in approximately nine months.

As the UK’s leading online course provider, learndirect ensures you receive support throughout your studies. Our digital learning platform, combined with a dedicated team of tutors, will assist you every step of the way. They will answer your questions, mark your assignments, and provide comprehensive feedback to help you achieve the best possible results and reach your goals.

Modules

Unit 1: Academic Writing Skills

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Be able to structure a written response
• Be able to develop a structured response to a plan
• Be able to present the response appropriately for audience and purpose
• Understand how to apply academic writing principles to own work

Unit 2: Reading and Note Making

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand a range of reading strategies
• Understand the use of language in terms of the purpose and context of a range of texts
• Be able to use methods for developing notes from a range of sources

Unit 3: Perspectives in Psychology

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand different psychological perspectives
• Understand the differences between alternative psychological perspectives
• Understand the application of psychological perspectives to contemporary issues in psychology

Unit 4: Crime and Society

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand crime and deviance
• Understand crime statistics
• Understand theoretical explanations of crime
• Understand social and cultural patterns of crime and criminality

Unit 5: Developmental Psychology

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand the nature/nurture debate in developmental psychology
• Understand early socialisation and the formation of attachment
• Understand cognitive development and the ways in which children process and use information
• Understand the application of developmental psychology theories in the real world
• Understand psychological changes that accompany ageing

Unit 6: Family

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand the relationship between the family and the wider society
• Understand role relationships within the family
• Understand the influence of feminism on the study of the family

Unit 7: Cognitive Psychology

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand theories relating to cognitive psychology
• Understand the contribution of cognitive psychology research to our understand of three of the following:
  • Development
  • Memory
  • Attention
  • Perception
  • Language and thought

Unit 8: Social Inequality

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand the relationship between social differentiation and social inequality

Unit 9: Psychological Disorders and Therapeutic Strategies

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand theoretical explanations for a psychological disorder
• Understand the theoretical basis for different therapeutic strategies used in the treatment of psychological disorders
• Understand the effectiveness of different treatments for psychological disorders

Unit 10: Poverty in Contemporary Britain

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand definitions of poverty
• Understand the historical context of poverty in Britain
• Understand the different methods used to measure poverty
• Understand theoretical explanations of poverty
• Understand explanations about why certain social groups are more likely to experience poverty
• Understand recent policies for tackling poverty in Britain

Unit 11: Biopsychology: Behaviour and the Brain

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand the concept of localisation of function
• Understand the strengths and weaknesses of methods of investigating the relationship between the brain and behaviour
• Understand the interaction between the brain and behaviour

Unit 12: Health and Illness

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand the definitions and approaches to health and illness
• Understand explanations of health inequalities
• Understand the social construction of health and illness
• Understand the relationship between medicine and social control

Unit 13: Social Interaction

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand theories of social influence

Unit 14: Biopsychology: Behaviour and Drugs

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand how neurotransmitters in the brain control behaviour
• Understand the action of drugs on synaptic transmission
• Understand how psychoactive drugs change behaviour
• Understand the role of serotonin antagonists and reuptake inhibitors in the treatment of disorders

Unit 15: Current Issues in Criminology

Upon successful completion of this module, you will:

• Understand and apply key concepts in criminology to two topic areas
• Compare and contrast different approaches to crime issues
• Evaluate the usefulness of different theories of crime for understanding to two topic areas

Entry Requirements

To study an Access to HE Diploma you must be resident in the UK and have a UK postcode.

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 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

Access to HE Diplomas are designed to support students to progress to university who have substantial experience of life outside of formal education which they have gained since completing compulsory schooling.

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: essay, scenario analysis, illustrated report, experiment, presentation (video and audio recording), 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.

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 Humanities and Social Sciences – Social Science 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.

Skills & Education Group Access

On successful completion of the Access to Humanities and Social Sciences – Social Science Pathway, (QAA aim code: 40012888), you will receive a Skills & Education Group Access, QAA recognised, Access to Higher Education Diploma at Level 3. 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.

An access validating agency with a strong social purpose to recognise achievement, particularly for those who have benefited least from their previous educational experiences, Skills and Education Group Access supports the needs of learners, providers, businesses and communities by enabling progression into higher education.

Studying this diploma and a subsequent related degree can open up a wide array of career opportunities. Graduates can pursue careers in psychology, sociology, social work, criminology, health and social care, education and more.

For example, you could consider the following career paths:

• Counsellor
• Community Development
• Family Support Worker
• Academic Researcher
• Educational Psychologist

Further Qualifications and Prospects

After completing a degree, you may want to consider postgraduate qualifications, such as a master’s degree or PhD in your chosen field, leading to advanced roles. Specialised certifications and diplomas can further expand your qualifications. Continuous professional development courses are also available to keep you updated with the latest advancements and practices in your field, ensuring you remain competitive in the job market.

By beginning your journey with our Access to HE Diploma, you lay a strong foundation for a rewarding career and open doors to various advanced qualifications that can significantly enhance your professional prospects.