Undergraduate

Introducing the social sciences - part two

On this page

• What you will study
• Entry
• If you have a disability or additional requirement
• Study materials
• Teaching and assessment
• Students also studied
• Future availability

This key introductory Level 1 course provides an approachable and contemporary introduction to the disciplines and subjects that form the social sciences, as well as the questions and issues that social scientists investigate and explore. Together with Introducing the social sciences – part one (DD131), which you must study first, it presents the same study materials as the 60-credit course Introducing the social sciences (DD101), but allows you to work at a more gradual pace. Both parts tackle everyday issues in an approachable way, so that you can build on what you already know and gain a solid grounding in study techniques and social science skills and debates.

Course facts

Register for the course

This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.

What you will study

This course completes the introduction to the social sciences. It continues the study of contemporary UK society in a national and international setting – begun in part one – through the approaches of psychology, social policy and criminology, geography and environment, politics and international studies, economics and sociology. In contrast to part one, however, the focus is much more on how the making of contemporary UK society can be understood through its connections to elsewhere. Using a blend of text, audio, DVD and online materials, you’ll explore a wide range of topics, including questions of the economy, happiness and well-being; environmental concerns; issues of national and personal identity; and questions of governing and order. These questions and issues are explored in a national and international context, though the focus is much more on the latter. Your study will equip you with a range of skills for independent study and for your personal and working life.

The course-wide questions are How is society made and repaired? How are differences and inequalities produced? How do we know? Social sciences answers to these questions are explored by looking at three strands of study materials called Material Lives, Connected Lives and Ordered Lives and the complex connections between these three strands. The course is introduced by a DVD and has an integral virtual learning environment (VLE) throughout that complements the text-based materials.

Material Lives considers the nature of the economy and economic change, the relations between economic and social changes, and questions of the environment and well-being; questions of risk and uncertainty in modern societies; and questions of the global environment and how policies to shape the environment can be made in a world of many, competing states.

Connected Lives looks at the connections and disconnections between people and places in relation to migration and the identities of people, places and institutions; questions of national identity and the contested notion of ‘Britishness’; and issues relating to changes in personal and social identity as people move through the life-cycle, such as becoming a mother.

Ordered Lives explores some of the ways in which social life is ordered and governed by governments, states and other organisations and institutions by looking at how some problems are made public and governed; questions of legitimacy and the contested nature of the right of states to rule; and issues of international order and disorder in a world of many states.

You will learn

You will build on the knowledge and skills acquired in Introducing the social sciences - part one (DD131) about the nature of social sciences and the ways they develop through a process of questions, arguments, evidence and evaluation. The emphasis in part two, however, is much more on developing the skills of evaluation and critical analysis which were introduced towards the end of part one. You will also learn about key issues and debates at the centre of life in the UK and the wider world. You’ll develop an awareness of a range of different disciplinary approaches in the social sciences and how these might link to future study options. You will develop and consolidate skills in studying and accessing information from a range of sources; constructing arguments; reading, interpreting and evaluating evidence; and presenting and communicating ideas and information in a variety of formats.

You will also practice how to:

• manage your time effectively
• organise and complete a programme of work
• learn from feedback and reflect on your own learning, and be given an opportunity to plan a study pathway leading to personal and/or career goals.

Vocational relevance

After this course, further study in the social sciences could open up employment opportunities in a wide range of occupations in business, banking, insurance, education, health professions, administration, law, social services, voluntary and campaigning organisations, the media, public relations, public service organisations and government (national and local), planning and environmental management, criminal justice system, and social welfare organisations. The course builds a strong basis of vocationally orientated skills that are transferable to the job market:

• clarity of written communication
• critical thinking
• ability to analyse, reflect on and present arguments, evidence and theories
• problem-solving
• evaluating issues
• time management
• self-motivation
• basic numerical skills.

Entry

This is a key introductory Level 1 course. Level 1 courses provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning, to help you progress to Level 2.

You must study Introducing the social sciences - part one (DD131) before studying this course. These two 30-credit courses are an excellent choice if you want a gradual entry into the social sciences. They cover all the material of the 60-credit course Introducing the social sciences (DD101) over two six-month periods and offer help with refreshing and improving your study skills such as taking notes, writing essays and other necessary skills for study at more advanced levels.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

If you have a disability or additional requirement

Written transcripts of any audio-visual components are available through the website. Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and scientific, diagrammatic or foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.

If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.

You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.

Study materials

What's included

Course book, other printed materials, DVD, audio CDs and website.

You will need

Audio CD and video DVD playback facilities.

Computing requirements

This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.

You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. If you are new to the OU, you will find that your tutor is particularly concerned to help you with your study methods. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where tutorials are held depends on the distribution of students taking each course.

Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.

You can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.

Students also studied

Students who studied this course also studied at some time:

• Introducing the social sciences - part one (DD131)
• Discovering psychology (DSE141)
• Exploring psychology (DSE212)
• Environment: journeys through a changing world (U116)
• Welfare, crime and society (DD208)

Future availability

The details given here are for the course that starts in November 2012 when it will be available for the last time.

Fees 2012

See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.

Study explained

Financial support

- find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.

Study explained

- all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.

Student Reviews

Having completed DD131 previously, this was the natural follow on - given that I was not intending going down the ...
Read more

Your questions

We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.

Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35

Employers' questions

Contact Corporate Enquiries
Visit our website for employers or Email us

Browse the prospectus

• Undergraduate prospectus
• Postgraduate prospectus
• Research prospectus
• Professional skills
• Open qualifications
• A-Z of qualifications
• A-Z of courses
• A-Z of subjects

Get a prospectus