MA in Social Sciences
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Taught Masters
- Code
- F09
- Level
- Postgraduate
- Made up of
- 180 credits
Description
Please note that this qualification is only available until 31 December 2014. In order to claim this qualification you must have completed the required 180 credits by this time. This qualification is not available to new students. If you have any questions about your eligibility for this qualification please contact the Qualifications and Ceremonies Centre on +44 (0)1908 653003 or by email.
This masters degree provides advanced study in social science theory and research. It offers a wide choice of modules enabling you to focus on one or more subject areas from the postgraduate studies in social sciences programme, including psychology, forensic psychology, criminology, environmental policy or research methods.
It aims to:
- provide an overview of the conceptual and philosophical basis of modern social science
- provide a fuller understanding of several subject areas within the postgraduate studies in social sciences programme
- enable you to expand and update your knowledge of the social sciences at postgraduate level.
Planning your studies
The minimum entry requirement is a recognised UK honours degree or its equivalent.
Although the honours degree can be in any subject, you are unlikely to be prepared for this qualification if you have not had a prior academic grounding in the social sciences or psychology. This is because your postgraduate studies will assume you are familiar with social scientific or psychological language and concepts, and the characteristic ways in which social scientists and psychologists construct arguments, use theory and handle evidence.
Postgraduate study requires that you have the ability to:
- write accurately, clearly and concisely
- read large quantities of text quickly, accurately and critically
- classify evidence precisely, and assess its value and reliability
- argue logically, consistently and sceptically
- marshal evidence to support a logical argument.
All our postgraduate modules are taught in English, so your spoken and written English must be of an appropriate standard for postgraduate study. If you’re not sure whether your English skills are good enough, there is some help and guidance at our Skills for OU Study website.
Most modules start in either May or November; some start in February and end in October. 30-credit modules are taught over a sixteen-week study period, 60-credit modules over thirty-two weeks. Examinations are held in April and October.
Social science modules in this qualification are not available for study on a stand-alone basis.
It is expected that you will have commenced your studies towards the MA in Social Sciences with one of the discontinued foundation modules. This module will have equipped you with the requisite skills to undertake postgraduate-level study.
Because of the demands that study of this degree will make on you we recommend that you take only one module at a time, particularly in your first year. You should also read the detailed advice about entry and preparation in the individual module descriptions.
We cannot guarantee that the same selection of modules will continue to be available.
To claim this qualification, you must complete the required 180 credits of study within eight years of the commencement of your study.
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 60 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.
Career relevance and employability
The MA in Social Sciences will enable you to develop advanced skills relevant to a broad range of careers. Social scientists are found, among other areas, in the worlds of commerce, industry and the media; in education and the caring professions; in central and local government; and in the non-governmental and the voluntary sectors, including policy analysis and campaigning organisations. The transferable skills you develop will be recognised by employers who value people with an ability to think independently, communicate clearly, analyse and interrogate complex information, and take the initiative for themselves.
There is more information about how OU study can improve your employability in the OU’s Employability Statement from our Careers Advisory Service. You can also read or download our publication OU study and your career and look at our subject pages to find out about career opportunities.
Modules
For this 180-credit masters degree, you require:
30 credits from one of the discontinued foundation modules:
D821, D822, D820
AND 90 credits from the following Group A optional modules:
| Postgraduate optional modules | Credits | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | Nov 2012 |
|
30 | May 2012 FINAL |
|
30 | May 2012 |
|
30 | May 2012 FINAL |
|
30 | May 2012 |
|
30 | Nov 2012 |
|
30 | May 2012 |
|
30 | Nov 2012 FINAL |
|
60 | Oct 2012 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules A822, B856, D830, D831 (or version DXX831), D832 (or version DXX832), D833, D834, D840, D841, D850, D851, D852, D853, D854, D857, D860, D861, D862, D863, D864, DS871, DT840, DTZY840, DZY843, DZY844, ED826, ED837, ED840, DXX831, SD805
AND 60 credits chosen either from the Group A optional modules listed above or from these Group B optional modules:
| Postgraduate optional modules | Credits | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | May 2012 |
|
30 | May 2012 |
|
30 | May 2012 |
|
30 | May 2012 |
|
30 | May 2012 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules A813, A821, A823, A831, A832, A833, A834, DMZX863, DMZX871, SD805, T830, T860, T861, T862, TUXX870, TUXX871, TUXX872, TUXX875, TXX861, TXX863
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
For this qualification, we do not allow you to count credit for study you have already done elsewhere.
On completion
On successful completion of the required modules you will be awarded the MA in Social Sciences entitling you to use the letters MA (Soc Sci) (Open) after your name. You will have the opportunity of being presented at a degree ceremony.
If you leave the programme before you qualify for the masters degree, after successfully completing 60 credits including one of the discontinued modules D821, D822 or D820 you will qualify for the Postgraduate Certificate in Social Sciences (C24) (please note that C24 will be withdrawn at the end of December 2013), and after gaining 120 credits of required modules (again including D821 or D822 or D820) you will qualify for the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Sciences (D41) (please note that D41 will also be withdrawn at the end of December 2013).
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Qualification Regulations and the Student Regulations.
Qualification Regulations
- Introduction to the Qualification Regulations
- General Qualification Regulations
- MA in Social Sciences
Student Regulations
The Student Regulations (including the Code of Practice for Student Assessment and the Code of Practice for Student Discipline) are available on our Policy Documents for Students website.
How to register
To register for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
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A postgraduate qualification.
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