F09 - MA in Social Sciences

Taught Masters

Code: F09

Level: Postgraduate

Made up of: 180 credit points

Description

This masters degree provides advanced study in social science theory and research. It offers a wide choice of courses enabling you to focus on one or more subject areas from the Postgraduate Studies in Social Sciences programme, including cultural and media studies, psychology, forensic psychology, social policy and criminology or environmental policy.

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.

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Planning your studies

The minimum requirement for entry is a UK honours degree (or equivalent), ideally but not necessarily in the social sciences. You should also read the detailed advice about entry and preparation in the individual course descriptions.

Most courses start in either May or November; some start in February and end in October. 30-point courses are taught over a sixteen-week study period, 60-point courses over thirty-two weeks. Examinations are held in April and October.

It is expected that you will commence your studies towards the MA in Social Sciences with the foundation course Investigating the social world (D822) which is the preferred entry course for this award. It will equip you with the requisite skills to undertake postgraduate-level study.

You can take courses worth a maximum of 240 points from the social science postgraduate programme, though only 180 points will count towards your degree.

We cannot guarantee that the same selection of courses will continue to be available. Because of the demands that courses in this programme will make on you we recommend that you take only one at a time, particularly in your first year.

To claim this award, you must complete the required 180 points of study within eight years of the commencement of your study.

You must include at least 60 credit points from OU courses that have not been counted in any other OU qualification you have been awarded.

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Courses

For this 180-point masters degree, you require:

30 points from one of the following compulsory foundation courses:

Postgraduate compulsory courses	Points	Next start
Investigating the social world (D822) Investigate and report on a social sciences topic using information from various sources, including academic journals, government-provided websites, special interest groups and individual experts. See full description.	30	May 2010
Investigating the psychological world (D821) Conduct an investigation in the social sciences using publicly available information from various sources, including academic journals, government websites, special interest groups and individual experts. See full description.	30	May 2010

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued course D820

AND 90 points from the following Group A optional courses:

Postgraduate optional courses	Points	Next start
Advanced experimental design and analysis (D841) Explore statistical methods for psychological research through advanced data analysis, and consider experimental design in psychology – extending analysis of variance into several advanced topics. See full description.	30	Nov 2010
Community safety, crime prevention and social control (D863) This introduction to new thinking on crime prevention, safety and risk management considers contemporary contexts of crime reduction and community safety in Britain and abroad. See full description.	30	Nov 2010 FINAL
Discourse analysis (D843) This course focuses on the varied traditions around meaning-making, including socio-linguistics, conversation analysis, critical discourse analysis, discursive psychology and genealogical research. See full description.	30	Nov 2010
Environmental responsibility: ethics, policy and action (TD866) This course is about understanding and taking responsibility, individually and collectively, for policy and action relating to environmental dilemmas, from climate change to biodiversity loss. See full description.	30	May 2010
Ethnography (D844) This course introduces ethnography, an approach to researching social worlds that is characterised by the central role of the researcher and multiple data collection methods. See full description.	30	May 2010
Exploring cognition: damaged brains and neural networks (DS871) Discover how cognitive neuropsychology and connectionist modelling inform our understanding of how the brain might work and what goes wrong when it is damaged. See full description.	30
Forensic psychology: crime, offenders and policing (D872) This course explores important and fascinating questions and issues in the psychology of crime, offenders and policing See full description.	30	May 2010
Forensic psychology: witnesses, experts and evidence on trial (D873) Examine important questions and issues in the psychology of witnessing, legal decisions and expertise in court. See full description.	30	Nov 2010
Identity in question (D853) Explore social identity, ‘socialisation’, subjectivity and personhood, and learn how to assess the value of different theoretical frameworks for understanding identity with real case studies. See full description.	30
Introduction to research: basic skills and survey methods (DT840) This broad introduction to survey research and statistical analysis at postgraduate level covers sampling, questionnaire design and construction, interviewing, and qualitative methods such as ethnography. See full description.	60
Issues in brain and behaviour (SD805) Draw on biological and social sciences to investigate addiction and neural ageing; including neurobiological and psychological factors, treatments and therapies, and the role of genetics. See full description.	60	Feb 2010
Psychometrics: selection and assessment (D842) Explore the key psychological ideas behind selection and recruitment policy and practice, comparing major techniques, their applications in a global market, and implications for stakeholders. See full description.	30	Nov 2010
Rethinking social policy (D860) Examine new ways of thinking about social policy, including post-structuralism and feminism, which are starting to challenge traditional approaches such as the Fabian ideal. See full description.	30	May 2010 FINAL
Shaping public policy: contexts and processes (B856) Develop your critical understanding of public policy, its global trends and local contexts, and the skills needed to negotiate in this complex and challenging arena. See full description.	30	Nov 2010 FINAL
Understanding children's development and learning (ED841) Examines children's development and learning in cultural, educational and social contexts and how children shape their own development through meaningful interaction with others. See full description.	60	Oct 2010
Youth justice, penality and social control (D864) Explore the separate system of youth justice, and examine how welfare, punitive and liberal justice, and diversionary and crime reduction initiatives have affected its development. See full description.	30	May 2010

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses A822, D830, D831, D832 (or version DXX832), D833, D834, D840, D850, D851, D852, D854, D857, D861, D862, DTZY840, DZY843, DZY844, ED826, ED837, ED840, DXX831

AND 60 points chosen either from the Group A optional courses listed above or from these Group B optional courses:

Postgraduate optional courses	Points	Next start
Capacities for managing development (TU870) This course provides development practitioners with a conceptual framework for analysing development management practice; and develops skills and capacities for analytical thinking and strategic action. See full description.	30	May 2010
Development: context and practice (TU871) This foundation course for our MSc in Development Management gives a grounding in development studies and explores the meaning and challenge of international development today. See full description.	30	May 2010
Enterprise and the environment (T862) This course emphasises sustainable production and product stewardship. It covers concepts such as environmental management systems, life-cycle assessment and corporate disclosure (environmental reporting). See full description.	30	May 2010
Environmental decision making: a systems approach (T863) This course uses systems ideas to explore environmental decision-making situations, to make sense of their complexity and to look for feasible changes and action. See full description.	30	May 2010
Institutional development: conflicts, values and meanings (TU872) Develop the conceptual and practical skills needed to frame, manage and negotiate institutional development, change organisational structures and adopt new norms and values. See full description.	30	May 2010
War, intervention and development (TU875) This course analyses the roots of violent conflicts, investigates the processes of peace-building and development, and helps develop the tools necessary for successful intervention. See full description.	30	May 2010

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses A813, A821, A823, A831, A832, A833, A834, DMZX863, DMZX871, T830, T860, T861, TUXX870, TUXX871, TUXX872, TUXX875, TXX861, TXX863

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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.

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Credit for previous study elsewhere

For this qualification, we do not allow you to count credit for study you have already done elsewhere.

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On completion

On successful completion of 180 points of required courses you will be awarded an MA in Social Sciences entitling you to use the letters MA (Soc Sci) (Open) after your name. You will have the option of being presented at a degree ceremony.

After successfully completing 60 points including Investigating the social world (D822) or Investigating the psychological world (D821)(or the discontinued course D820) you will qualify for a Postgraduate Certificate in Social Sciences (C24) and after gaining 120 points (again including D822 or D821 or D820) you can gain a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Sciences (D41).

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Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Award Regulations and the Student Regulations.

Award Regulations

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.

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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 course you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that course.

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About this page

A postgraduate qualification in Social Sciences.

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MA in Social Sciences

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