Society from Open Learn - free learning materials from the Open University.

The Directory Of Social Change - the leading source of information and training to voluntary and community sectors worldwide.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation - A charity whose mission is defined as "to search, demonstrate and influence, providing evidence, solutions and ideas that will help overcome the causes of poverty, disadvantage and social evil."

Open University courses are the main 'building blocks' of our qualifications. You can take a single course or take several to build towards an Open University diploma or degree.

Which level of study is most suitable for you?

• New to study?
• Have some experience of study?

Openings

If you haven’t experienced higher education before, deciding to become an undergraduate student can be a big step. But don’t worry, the OU’s designed a programme that allows you to dip your toe in the water before committing yourself!

Understanding Society (Y157)
The course is designed to introduce you to selected key concepts and debates within the social sciences including families; culture; global markets; migrant labour; community; and social movements. It will help you develop learning skills that will provide a sound basis for further academic work. It will give you an opportunity, whatever your plans, to learn about what social scientists do and the kinds of questions they ask. It will also develop your understanding of some of the social issues and debates that dominate the news today, in the UK and elsewhere.

Longer Courses and Qualifications

Open University courses are the main 'building blocks' of our qualifications. You can take a single course or take several to build towards an Open University diploma or degree.

Which level of study is most suitable for you?

• Is studying society new or unfamiliar to you?
• Do you feel ready for an undergraduate course?
• Already have experience of studying Social Sciences?

Where to Start

Introducing the social sciences (DD101)

This course is an ideal introduction to the social sciences – psychology, social policy and criminology, geography and environment, politics and international studies, economics and sociology – through study of contemporary UK society. You will learn about the nature of the social sciences and the ways they develop through a process of questions, arguments, evidence and evaluation. You will also learn about some key issues and debates at the centre of life in the contemporary UK.

Undergraduate courses

Family Meanings (D270)

Are families important to you in your personal or professional life, or academic studies? If so, you will know that family lives are constantly being scrutinised, but debates seem to sidestep the question of what ‘family’ means. This course provides an introduction to family studies by focusing on what ‘family’ means in our everyday lives, in family research and statistics, and policy and professional practice, drawing on varied social science, historical and comparative perspectives. The course will develop your skills in interpreting research data and will equip you to approach family studies and interventions with a sound foundation and new insights.

Higher level study

MA in the Social Sciences (F09)
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 the Social Sciences programme, including cultural and media studies, psychology, social policy and criminology or environmental policy.

MA in Environment, Policy and Society (F19)
This course introduces you to the responses of social science approaches to environmental issues.  You will work with tools, theories and models and consider critically how the social sciences have responded to complex and uncertain environmental changes. The core taught courses focus on ecological thinking, the economic aspects of environmental policy, environmental conflict resolution and international environmental negotiations.