Public Services (Top-up), BA (Hons)

Program Overview

This one-year program at the University of Central Lancashire equips students with knowledge and skills for public services careers. It covers critical issues, fosters critical thinking, and emphasizes social justice. Graduates have secured roles in various settings, including criminal justice, the NHS, and the police service.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This is a one-year, full-time, top-up degree program offered at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston. It is designed for students who already hold a foundation degree or HND in Public Services or Criminology and Criminal Justice. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful career in public services. It focuses on the impact of public services on society, the challenges faced by local and central government, and the critical issues encountered in the public sector, such as cybercrime, gender violence, hate crime, human trafficking, and terrorism. The program emphasizes developing critical thinking, resourcefulness, and collaborative skills, preparing students to be effective leaders in the workplace.

Outline:

Year 1:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Policy Interpretations: Comparative Perspectives (PL3004):
This module examines the impact of government policy on marginalized groups and how it is implemented across different countries.
• Public Services (PL3020): This module explores diverse leadership styles and their relationship to broader political and social transformations in contemporary society.
• Dissertation in Public Services (PL3992): This module allows students to delve into an academic interest from their Public Services program, demonstrating independent research skills, analysis, and the ability to create a strong research proposal and dissertation.
• Optional Modules:
• Work Placement (CJ2208):
This module provides insights into career progression and translates knowledge into practical workplace settings.
• Crimes of the Powerful (CJ3203): This module explores theoretical ideas and issues related to corporate crime, state crime, and genocide.
• Human Trafficking (CJ3204): This module examines the global problem of human trafficking, exploitation, and control, evaluating the effectiveness of policy responses.
• Prison and Society (CJ3208): This module critically explores the use of imprisonment both domestically and globally, encouraging reflective thinking and analysis of prison as a punishment method.

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods: The program utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including interactive lectures, seminars, workshops, individual tutorials, and practical sessions.
• Faculty: The program is taught by staff who are experts in their fields and are actively engaged in research.
Many staff members deliver research-informed teaching, exposing students to cutting-edge research.
• Unique Approaches: The program emphasizes social justice and encourages real-world change.
For example, the course leader, Jessica Marshall, is involved in the Northern Rail Accessibility User group, promoting accessibility for disabled people. She is also a Research Fellow at UCLan's Cybercrime Research Unit, focusing on issues like romance scams and online trolling.

Careers:

The program prepares students for a wide range of careers in public sector organizations, including:

• International organizations
• Non-governmental organizations
• Criminal Justice
• Educational environments
• Police Service
• Armed Services
• Youth Justice
• National Health Service
Graduates have found employment in various settings, such as:
• Teachers
• Police service
• Prison service
• Environmental health
• NHS
• Charitable organizations
The program also provides a foundation for postgraduate study in fields like Criminology, Counter Terrorism, and Sociology.

Other:

• The program has strong industry links with various public sector and charitable organizations, including SERCO, local councils, Chrysalis transexual support group, the NHS, Armed Services, Police Service, Disability Equality Northwest, several rail and community partnerships, and schools and colleges across the Northwest.
• Students have the opportunity to participate in designing, planning, and delivering local conferences and symposiums organized by the Public Services team.

| Category | Fees | |---|---| | UK (Full-time) | £9,250 per year | | International (Full-time) | £16,500 per year |