Modules for course LL1B | BA/SPEC1
BA Social Policy & Economics (4yr with Incorp Foundation)

This is a provisional list of modules to be offered on this course in the 2019–20 academic year.

The list may not be complete, and the final course content may be different.

You can also view the modules offered in the years: 2017–18; 2018–19.

Use the buttons after the module titles (where available) to see a brief description of the content, or:
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Year 0 Modules

Year 1 Modules

Compulsory Modules

Semester 1

Semester 2

Optional Modules

20 credits from:

  • HPS-1002: Power, Freedom & the State (20) (Semester 2)
  • SXU-1003: Understanding Society (20) (Semester 1)
    This module introduces students to Sociology. The module runs over two semesters giving students a comprehensive sociological foundation to some of the key sociological issues and debates. The module introduces following aspects of social sciences: Semester 1 The nature of social sciences and relations between key disciplines and methods (2 weeks). Interaction and communication (2 weeks) Life course and the family (2 weeks) Gender and socialisation (2 weeks) Culture and media (2 weeks) Semester 2 Social stratification, Education and work (2 weeks) Organisations and institutions (2 weeks) The environment, urbanisation (2 weeks) Political Sociology and social movements (2 weeks) Globalisation (2 weeks)
  • SXY-1005: Introduction to Criminology (20) (Semester 2)
    This module is intended to provide Level One students with a thorough familiarity with the major ways of thinking about crime, with reference to some of the main theoretical perspectives within criminology. This module provides an introduction to criminological thought, ranging from classical to strain theories of crime. Theoretical perspectives have been developed in an attempt to explain why people commit crime, and the history of thought on this question will be examined. The module considers the shifting definitions of crime over time and space, and explores the ways in which society responds to crime and criminals. Empirical concerns are likely to include the role of the media in crime construction, the use and abuse of drugs, the experiences of victims of crime and attitudes towards white-collar and organised crime.
    or
    SCY-1004: Cyflwyniad i Droseddeg (20) (Semester 2)
    Mae'r fodiwl yn eich cyflwyno at faes trosedd a chyfiawnder troseddol. Trafodir theorïau a themau allweddol a ddefnyddir i egluro ymddygiad droseddol sy'n cynnwys esboniadau clasurol i'r rhai mwyaf cyfoes; y mesurau a ddatblygwyd i atal trosedd, ynghyd â gorolwg o'r system gyfiawnder troseddol sy'n cynnwys prif asiantaethau cyfiawnder troseddol, datblygiad hanesyddol, strwythur ac atebolrwydd y system.
  • SXY-1007: Intro to Criminal Justice (20) (Semester 1)
    Part One of this module is intended to provide Level One students with a sound understanding of the ways in which in England and Wales, crime comes to the attention of the authorities, how crime is measured and investigated, how accused persons are brought to trial, and those who are convicted are sentenced and punished. This module takes an historical view of criminal law, the police, the criminal courts and the prision system, examining the significant social, economic, and philosophical changes that have helped to shape the modern criminal justice and penal systems. It examines the functions of the criminal justice agencies, explores some of the predominant ideas and theories about how the system operates and raises critical questions about the ways in which criminal justice is done and punishment is delivered. In Part Two the aim is to provide students with a thorough familiarity of major ways of thinking about crime, with reference to some of the main theoretical perspectives within criminology. This module provides an introduction to a range of criminological thought. Theoretical perspectives have been developed in an attempt to explain why people commit crime, and the history of thought on this question will be examined. The module considers the shifting definitions of crime and to offenders. Empirical concerns are likely to include to role of the media in crime construction, the use and abuse of drugs, the experiences of victims of crime and attitudes towards white-collar and organised crime.
    or
    SCY-1002: Cyflwyniad i Gyf Troseddol (20) (Semester 1)
    Cyflwyniad i'r modd yr ymchwilir i drosedd yn Lloegr a Chymru, triniaeth y sawl sydd wedi eu cyhuddo ac ar brawf, yr euogfarnedig a systemau cosb. Edrychir yn hanesyddol ar wreiddiau cyfraith troseddol, llysoedd a'r carchar ynghyd â sut mae newid economaidd, athronyddol a chymdeithasol wedi siapio'r system gyfiawnder a chosb. Trafodir swyddogaethau'r asiantaethau cyfiawnder troseddol, prif syniadau a theoriau ar weithredu'r systemau, a chwestiynir yn feirnadol y modd y trosglwyddir cyfiawnder a chosb.

Year 2 Modules

Compulsory Modules

Semester 1

  • ASB-2111: Statistical Methods (20) or
    ADB-2111: Dulliau Ystadegol (20)
  • ASB-2307: Microeconomics (20)
    • Demand and supply microfoundations • Rational choice • Individual and market demand • Uncertainty and consumer behaviour • The cost of production and profit max • Market structure • Strategic interdependence • Game theory • General equilibrium • Markets with asymmetric info • Externalities • Government regulation • Productivity and comparative advantage • International trade theory.

Semester 2

  • SXP-2010: World Poverty and Inequality (20)
    This module will examine the explanations for, and the experience of, poverty in the UK and in comparative perspective. It will aim to address the following aspects: 1. Defining poverty – how is poverty defined? What is social exclusion? How important is inequality? 2. Explaining poverty - how has the persistence of poverty been explained? This will look particularly at ‘pathological’ explanations involving a ‘culture of poverty’ or the existence of an ‘underclass’ 3. The risk of poverty – who is most at risk of being poor, and what are the possible consequences? 4. Experiencing poverty - what does it mean to be poor in the UK today? 5. Dimensions of poverty - what are the various dimensions of poverty, including income, wealth, health, education and housing. 6. International issues – can we ‘make poverty history’? 7. Confronting poverty – what policies are most effective against poverty? Is poverty or inequality the real problem?
  • ASB-2111: Statistical Methods or
    ADB-2111: Dulliau Ystadegol
  • ASB-2308: Macroeconomics (20)
    • The role of macroeconomics, macroeconomic variables and statistics; • Introduction to schools of thought; • The classical model; • The Keynesian model; • Aggregate demand and supply analysis; • The Phillips curve; • The role of expectations; • Open economy macroeconomics; • Macroeconomic policy debates: monetary policy, fiscal policy, exchange rate policy, government debt management; • Theories of consumption; • Theories of growth.

Optional Modules

40 credits from:

  • HPS-2001: Work Placement - Semester 1 (20) (Semester 1) or
    HAC-2001: Lleoliad Gwaith - Semester 1 (20) (Semester 1)
  • SXU-2002: Contemporary Social Debates (20) (Semester 1)
    There will be no set curriculum - rather this will emerge each time the module is taught depending on staff and student interests. The approach adopted will be to devote the first workshop to identifying themes and issues to be addressed, and to draw up the curriculum for that academic session in collaboration between staff and students. The workshop style of teaching and learning will allow emerging issues and contemporary debates to be addressed. Possible topics to be covered: Should drugs be legalised? Social control and the media Thinking critically about criminology Should there be a sociology of the environment? Exploring disaster capitalism Girls will be girls and boys will be boys – debunking the myth of gender. Exploring the relationship between inequality and capitalism Radicalisation, immigration, identity and racism. The Arab Spring Riots and civil liberties Thinking beyond the norm – the rationalization of ‘them’ and ‘us’
  • SXY-2004: Crime & the Media (20) (Semester 2)
    Media stories on crime and law are numerous. They form an object of inexhaustible interest to audiences. Many people learn about crime and law from the media, especially from newspapers, books and films. Media portrayals often contributed decisively to changes in public opinion and politics. Also, deviant behaviour can be influenced by media. Media construct deviance (e.g. by identifying `folk devils`), but media also offer cultural templates for people involved in deviant activities. The class deals with the cultural and political significance of media portrayals of crime and law. Students learn about economic, political, legal and other backgrounds. Major narratives employed by the media will be identified. The standard patterns of telling and other technical means of the media are analysed. The audience's reaction to media portrayals and its use of media also form a topic for the class.
  • HPS-2005: Work Placement - Semester 2 (20) (Semester 2) or
    HAC-2005: Lleoliad Gwaith - Semester 2 (20) (Semester 2)
  • HAC-2009: Cymdeithas, Iaith a Phrotest (20) (Semester 2)
  • SXS-2011: Identity & Diversity (20) (Semester 2)
    The structure of the module covers following topics: 1. The nature of social diversity and identies. 2. The scope of social inequalities in the global, national and local contexts; 3. the class and economic inequalities; 4. Gender inequalities and sexualities; 5. Race and ethnicities; 6. Nationality; 7. Consumer culture and subcultures 8. New types of inequalities in global age.
  • SCS-2018: Cymdeithas, Iaith a Phrotest (20) (Semester 2)
    Ymdrinia’r modiwl hwn â’r mudiad iaith fel symudiad cymdeithasol newydd gan olrhain hanes a chymdeithaseg ymgyrchoedd iaith yng Nghymru a chanolbwyntio ar rôl a dylanwad canu protest yng Nghymru a thu hwnt. Yn ogystal, ffocws amlwg i’r modiwl hwn yw cynnig trosolwg effeithiol o ddatblygiadau polisi iaith a chynllunio ieithyddol yng Nghymru o safbwynt hanesyddol, beirniadol a damcaniaethol. Cyflwynir cerrig milltir deddfwriaethol nodweddiadol y maes. Ymhellach, cynigir y modiwl hwn cyd-destun Ewropeaidd perthnasol sy’n darparu trosolwg cychwynnol o sefydliadau a deddfwriaethau allweddol i faes cynllunio ieithyddol. Yna, yr ymdreiddir i feysydd allweddol i faes polisi a chynllunio ieithyddol yng Nghymru sef meysydd addysg cyfrwng Cymraeg, iechyd yng Nghymru a’r trydydd sector yng Nghymru yn benodol er mwyn asesu eu cyfraniad i ddatblygiadau cymdeithaseg iaith yn y Gymru gyfoes.
  • SXP-2050: Issues in Equality (20) (Semester 1)
    Workshop topics include: How to help young people who are not in education, employment or training needs (NEETS); Encouraging more men into in care related professions; How to create inclusive work places for transgender employees and understanding/tackling hate crime.
  • HGH-2138: Europe 1945-1992 (20) (Semester 1)
  • VPR-2301: 20th Century Phil of Religion (20) (Semester 2)
    The module begins by clarifying the state of the analytic philosophy of religion at the turn of the 20th century, reflecting upon its inheritance of 19th century ‘modernity’. This is contrasted with some concurrent developments in the continental tradition (German Romanticism, Dostoevsky, Nietzsche). This is the context from which, and into which, Wittgenstein speaks. We will cover the early, middle, and late eras of Wittgenstein’s thought, and show the revolutionary impact that his thought had for the philosophy of religion. We track the various directions in which Wittgenstein’s influence was felt; for example, in A. J. Ayer’s verificationism, or those overtly ‘Wittgensteinian’ philosophers of religion such as D. Z. Phillips. The ‘meta-philosophy of religion’ is introduced throughout, as we tackle the question of how best to philosophise about religion.

Year 3 Modules

Compulsory Modules

Semester 1

  • ASB-3514: Industrial Organisation (10)
    1.Market structure. a. Static imperfect competition. b. Dynamic imperfect competition. 2. Sources of market power. a. Product differentiation. b. Advertising and marketing. c. Information and reputation. 3. Pricing strategy. a. Price discrimination. b. Intertemporal price discrimination. c. Bundling. 4. Competition and regulation. a. Mergers and acquisitions. b. Entry and exit.

Semester 2

  • ASB-3301: Macroeconomics (10)
    Economic growth, physical and human capital, technological progress; Labour market, skills and unemployment; Business cycles, consumption and investment; Fiscal policy, public finances; Monetary policy, money and inflation; International macro, currencies and exchange rates.

Optional Modules

40 credits from:

  • ASB-3008: Financial Technology (10) (Semester 2)
  • ASB-3313: Financial Economics (10) (Semester 1)
  • ASB-3316: Applied Economics (20) (Semester 2)
    • Introduction to econometric software. • Sourcing data. • Organisation and manipulation of data. • Programming of software. • Applied skills in analysis of data including summarising and visualisation, and a variety of regression techniques. • Analysis of outputs. • Application to economic problems: o Analysing economic relationships o Testing economic theories
  • ASB-3317: Econometrics (20) (Semester 1)
    1. The linear regression model; 2. Ordinary least squares; 3. Maximum likelihood estimation; 4. Goodness of fit and the explanatory power of a regression model; 5. Endogeneity; 6. Instrumental variables; 7. Dynamic regression models: distributed lag and autoregressive models; 8. Non-stationarity and testing for unit roots; 9. Modelling long-run relationships: cointegration; 10. Regression analysis using panel data.
  • ASB-3320: Current Issues in Economics (20) (Semester 1 + 2)
  • ASB-3527: Executive Compensation (10) (Semester 2)
  • You must ensure you have the relevant pre-requisites.

60 credits from:

  • HPS-3001: Work Placement - Semester 1 (20) (Semester 1) or
    HAC-3001: Lleoliad Gwaith - Semester 1 (20) (Semester 1)
  • SCS-3010: Hawliau Ieithyddol (20) (Semester 2)
    Ceir ymdriniaeth drylwyr o faes hawliau ieithyddol yn ystod y modiwl hon. Mae'n cynnwys ymdrin â'r ddadl ynghylch hawliau ieithyddol a gosod yr hawliau hyn o fewn fframwaith polisi hanesyddol y maes ac yn ogystal o fewn cyd-destun ehangach hawliau lleiafrifol. Mae'r modiwl yn pwyso a mesur hawliau'r unigolyn a hawliau grwp a'r damcaniaethau allweddol sydd ynghlwm wrthynt. Bydd y modiwl hefyd yn cynnwys trafodaeth ynglyn â sicrhau hawliau ieithyddol mewn perthynas â'r iaith Gymraeg yng Nghymru, ac yn ogystal, yn tynnu ar ddatblygiadau ar lefel Ewropeaidd yn y maes.
  • SXY-3015: Crime & Power (20) (Semester 2)
    State crimes: from ghettos to genocide. How does criminology and criminal justice respond when it is the formal State who offends? How do we define crime, justice and victimisation in this context? Transnational and organised crimes: human trafficking and the international trade in sexual services and illegal substances are examples of crimes which transcend national boundaries. Interpersonal levels of crime and power: examples may include ‘honour’-based violence and coercion; homophobic hate crimes; gender violence in intimate relationships; what happens when the victim becomes the offender as in the case of battered women who kill? How do the law, society and criminal justice system respond to these forms of crime?
  • SXY-3021: Perspectives on Youth Crime (20) (Semester 1)
    Indicative content • Introduction: Youth crime and youth justice – reasons for a separate category • Theoretical perspectives on youth justice • Nature and prevalence of youth crime • Young people as folk devils • Youth justice in a devolved nation • International perspectives on youth justice • Effect of crime control on young people • Youth justice policy – historical and comparative perspectives • The future of youth justice
  • SXS-3030: Globalisation & Social Change (20) (Semester 1)
    Topics include: • theories of social change • demographical changes to the modern societies • debating and explaining globalisation • migration • capitalism and globalisation • politics, the state and globalisation • power and inequality in the global economy • globalisation movements • global culture
  • SXS-3040: Gender Perspectives (20) (Semester 2)
    Conceptualizing gender Feminisms Men and masculinities Social movements Families, intimacy and sexuality Gender and schooling Gender and work Gender and the media Representations of gender in popular culture Cyberspace and technology Methodologies Gender mainstreaming Gender from a worldwide perspective
  • SXP-3210: Issues in Housing (20) (Semester 1)
    This module introduces students to some of the key current issues in housing policy, concentrating on the three key areas of quantity, quality and affordability. It examines the factors affecting the supply of, and demand for, housing, and explores the characteristics of the different tenures people may experience during their housing careers, looking at contemporary issues in each housing tenure. The module will also examine housing standards, and the policies for maintaining housing quality, together issues of housing finance. It will explore the managerial context of social rented housing which has undergone considerable change both governmentally [through devolution] and administratively [through a changing mix of local authorities, housing associations and other social rented housing agencies].