How we teach

To give you a better idea of some of the topics we cover and teaching styles we use, we will be writing a few case studies and interviewing staff and students about their experience on our courses. Teaching styles and learning activities vary between the programmes, taking into account placements and practice learning for example on the Social Work programmes. Underpinning the modules are lecture series and seminars. In selected modules, additional activities which take place online or in class, offer students more interactive ways to explore the subject. Our first three case studies will look at a debate, a simulation, and a field trip.

Age of Consent Debate

This activity asks students to debate the age of consent and whether it should be lowered to 14 years old across Europe. The activity is just one of the ways that political, moral and sociological issues are considered in the module 'Sex, Sexuality and Policy', an option module for BA Year 3 applied social science and social policy students.

Housing Policy Field Trips

Housing policy is an aspect of social policy that is directly visible in the world around us. Dr Stuart Lowe explains how the field trips connect with the module 'Housing Policy' and how the experience of talking to housing professionals gives an insight into the often challenging and rewarding careers of local housing policy and management.

Murder Investigation

In this activity, students on the module 'Criminal Justice and Policing' undertake a mock murder investigation. The aim of the activity is to allow students to experience the decision-making processes that police officers have to undertake whilst drawing upon guidance from police manuals, crime surveys and academic articles.

Student presents his work to others 

Lecturer and students discuss

Students and lecturer prepare for debate