Level: 3 | Duration: 1 Year | Start Date: September
Online Study: You will need to travel to college for the induction sessions at the start of the course and also any drop-in progress/support meetings throughout the course. They are NOT fully distance learning courses. See below for more information.
Begin your journey in Social Science and combine the study of psychology and criminology into one Access qualification online at Riverside College to gain the essential qualifications to progress to university.
- Flexible online learning with the added security of face-to-face induction and weekly support sessions when needed
- Learn about the internal and external influences that impact behaviour
- Explore factors that lead to criminal and deviant activities
- Get qualified to work with criminals and victims of crime
- A qualification which is equivalent to 3 A-Levels for entry to university
- Midwifery Access course assessed through end-of-unit assignments with no exams!
The Access to HE Diploma (Social Science) will give you the foundations to progress to university to study social science with crime and psychology studies. You will be working towards a career dealing with criminals including the victims of crime and the related systems that exist around them. By studying social science, you will spot influential elements and patterns in behaviour in those that commit these acts.
You will learn:
- The explanations, theories and perceptions of crime and deviance
- The difficulties faced by psychologists in the definition and diagnosis of abnormal behaviour
- The effects of imprisonment
The course will help you to understand why people commit crimes, the knock-on effect of criminal and deviant activity and the importance of the rehabilitation process. Click the Modules Tab to find out about all of the units on this course.
Entry Requirements
- You will need GCSE English at Grade A-C (9-4) or equivalent (Level 2 Functional Skills) and GCSE Maths at Grade A-C (9-4) or equivalent (Level 2 Functional Skills) - you will need to provide us with written evidence from your chosen Universities that they will accept Functional Skills for your year of entry to University
- Some Universities will only accept GCSEs to meet entry requirements. They will also require you to have additional GCSEs at Grade A-C (4-9) for some courses, including a science for some pathways
- As the course is fully online you must have strong ICT skills to enable you to cope with the demands of the course
- You will also need to have your own laptop
University Entry Criteria: Each university will set its own admission criteria. You will need to check the entry requirements of your chosen university and course. The specialist Access tutors alongside the ACE/ Careers team at Riverside College can support you with your application to university. You are likely to require:
- A certain number of credits passed with a merit or a distinction grade* (see the Modules tab for the individual modules included in this course)
- GCSE Grade C/4 or above in Maths and English alongside literacy and numeracy assessments provided by the university
- A face-to-face interview at the university
- Course-related work placements or work experience
Course Fees:
Fee: £3,022
You can apply for an ADVANCED LEARNER LOAN; the Loan eligibility does not depend on your income and there are no credit checks. The loan will cover the full cost of your Access Course, this will be written off when you complete your degree – saving you up to £9,000 in fees and not using any of your Student Loans allowance.Assessments:
There are no exams on the Access to HE course, you will be assessed via academic reports, essays, case study analysis, illustrated mind map, illustrated report, worksheet, journal article, portfolio, academic poster, presentation (video and audio recording), revision guide, series of questions, academic writing skills tasks.Why choose Riverside College:
- Flexible online learning for your Access to Higher Education qualifications with the support of weekly face-to-face drop-in support sessions when and if needed*
- Initial face-to-face induction to fully prepare you for your studies
- Up to six hours per week of drop-in support sessions with tutors when needed (Daytime and Evening sessions available)
- Interactive online sessions (Assessed and marked online).
- Access college facilities including the Learning Resource Centre, Study Rooms with PCs and printing, UCAS support, and bursaries
- Streamline your qualification to fit into your spare time giving you the option to complete the Access to Higher Education faster.
- Social groups offering tutor and peer support and encouragement.
- Ofsted Outstanding Access teaching and support teams
- Dedicated specialist Access teachers with over 10 years' experience in successfully supporting adults to progress onto degrees
- Study for FREE, saving up to £9,000 in fees AND you won’t use up any of your Student Loans allowance. See the ADVANCED LEARNER LOAN for more details.
Career
After completing the Access course and relevant degree, you can pursue professional opportunities in many key areas including jobs related to criminal activity, psychology, and the justice system. You could also work in the police force, victim and offender support, academic research, the prison service and other fascinating areas. The careers include:- Counter Fraud Intelligence Analyst
- Defence and Security Analyst
- Investigative Data Analyst
- Offender Case Administrator
- Police Officer
- Probation Officer
- Youth Offending Support Officer
Unit 1: Academic Writing Skills
On completion of this unit you will:- Be able to write with relevance in responding to an academic task
- Know how to interpret and discuss ideas and issues in responding to a set, academic writing task
- Be able to summarise for academic purposes, selecting key points, information or central ideas
Unit 2: Preparing a Written Assignment
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand how to use key information sources
- Understand why sources are acknowledged and referenced
- Understand a range of reading strategies
- Understand note-making methods
- Understand how to plan draft and produce a written assignment
Unit 3: Health and Well-being
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand the relationship between resilience and mental wellbeing
- Understand the expression of feelings and emotions and how these could be managed
- Understand how mental well-being can be supported and managed
Unit 4: Introduction to Psychology
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand the importance of research in psychology
- Understand the main approaches in psychology
- Understand ethical issues in psychological research
Unit 5: Understanding Crime and Deviance
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand explanations of crime and deviance
- Understand theories of crime and deviance
- Understand perceptions of crime and deviance
Unit 6: The Origins of The Welfare State
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand what is meant by the term social welfare
- Know the purpose of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act and its effects on society
- Understand early twentieth century Liberal Reforms and their effect on society
- Understand the social problems which the Welfare State attempted to address
- Understand the significance of the Beveridge Report
Unit 7: Introduction To Cognitive Psychology
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand research in an area of cognitive psychology
- Understand how the findings of research into cognitive processes can be applied to real-life issues
Unit 8: Sociology of Mass Media
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand the patterns of ownership and control of the mass media
- Understand the role of the mass media
- Understand the process of selection and presentation of the news
- Understand how media stereotypes are presented
Unit 9: The Criminology of Prisons
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand the philosophical approaches to imprisonment
- Understand the categories of prison and their relative costs
- Understand the effects of imprisonment on the individual and society
Unit 10: Foundations of Social Policy
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand the historical origins of social policy in the UK
- Understand the key influences on social policy in the 18th and 19th Centuries
- Understand changes in the political order
- Understand different types of voluntary action and the role of poverty surveys
Unit 11: Measurements of Crime
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand sources of crime statistics
- Understand the reliability of published statistics on crime
- Understand factors that are not reflected in criminal statistics
Unit 12: The Brain and Nervous System (Psychology)
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand the major sub divisions of the nervous system
- Understand the structure and function of glial cells and neurons
Unit 13: Criminal Justice and Social Policy
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand models of crime prevention
- Understand theories of crime control
- Understand criminal justice theories as informed by different political perspectives
Unit 14: Abnormal Psychology
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand the difficulties faced by psychologists in the definition and diagnosis of abnormal behaviour
- Understand a psychological disorder
- Understand possible treatments used to treat people with psychological disorders
Unit 15: Sociology of Education
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand the importance of education as a socialising agency
- Understand the roles of education in contemporary society
- Understand the social explanations of labelling and the use of stereotypes
- Understand the concept of meritocracy
Unit 16: Criminal Law and Procedures
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand the criminal court process and its personnel
- Understand sentencing policy and procedures
Unit 17: Psychobiology of Stress
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand common physiological and psychological responses to stress
- Understand the relationship between stress and illness
- Understand methods used to reduce stress
Unit 18: Contemporary Issues in Social Policy
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand current issues in social policy
- Understand current legislation in relation to current issues in social policy
- Understand the economic context of a contemporary issue
Unit 19: Sociology of The Family
On completion of this unit you will:- Understand the changes in family structure
- Understand sociological explanations of the family to include Functionalist, Marxist, feminist, interactionist and postmodern views
Course Features
- Lectures 0
- Quizzes 0
- Duration 10 weeks
- Skill level All levels
- Students 0
- Assessments Yes
