Social Sciences (with a foundation year) BA (Hons)

Program Overview

The University of Sussex's Social Sciences BA (Hons) with Foundation Year is a four-year program that provides a comprehensive understanding of the field. Students explore core disciplines, develop critical thinking skills, and tailor their studies through optional modules in the Foundation Year. The program emphasizes real-world engagement, transferable skills development, and support from experienced faculty, preparing students for successful careers.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This four-year full-time program is designed for students who want to develop a broad understanding of the social sciences. It provides a foundation in various disciplines, including geography, anthropology, international relations, development, law, politics, and sociology. The program aims to equip students with essential skills in critical analysis, argument development, and self-expression. The Foundation Year allows students to explore a range of social science subjects before specializing in a specific degree. Successful completion of the Foundation Year guarantees entry into a wide range of social science degrees at Sussex.

Outline:

Foundation Year:

• Core Modules:
• Academic Development for Social Sciences 1 & 2:
These modules focus on developing essential academic skills, such as critical thinking, research methods, and effective communication.
• Local Lives: Identifying Global Studies: This module explores the interconnectedness of local and global issues, examining how social, economic, and political factors shape our lives.
• Options: Students can choose from a wide range of optional modules to tailor their studies to their interests.
Some examples include:
• Analysing Media, Film and Music
• Arabic Beginners A & B
• British Sign Language and Deaf Culture 1A & 1B
• Business in Society & Business in Action
• Chinese Beginners A & B
• Cradle to the Grave A & B: Welfare and Wellbeing Across the Lifecourse
• Foundation Mathematics A & B
• Foundations in Clinical Psychology & Foundations in Health Psychology
• Foundations in Psychology: Applied Psychology & Foundations in Psychology: Social Psychology
• French Beginners A & B
• German Beginners A & B
• Introduction to Product Design 1: Process & Introduction to Product Design 2: Practice
• Italian Beginners A & B
• Japanese Beginners A & B
• Leading Social Change: Communication and Activism & Leading Social Change: Taking Action
• Making History A & B
• Quantitative Methods for Business and Economics: Maths & Quantitative Methods for Business and Economics: Statistics
• Reading Literature 1 & 2
• Spanish Beginners A & B

Year 1-3:

Other:

• The program is highly regarded, ranking 9th in the UK for Social Sciences (The Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2024).
• The program emphasizes the development of transferable skills, such as critical thinking, research, and communication, which are valuable in a wide range of careers.
• The program provides opportunities for students to engage with real-world issues and develop their understanding of the social world.
• The program is taught by experienced and dedicated staff who are committed to supporting students' academic and personal development.