Modules
This module provides an introduction to the basic principles, key concepts, and key theories that underpin the use of counselling skills. Students are introduced to the ‘core values’ and begin to understand how these create and sustain the helping process. With this understanding, students will work with their peers to practice their own counselling skills.
This module provides students with an understanding of various ethical issues within counselling, such as confidentiality, informed consent, boundaries, and working with risk. We explore all stages of the counselling process, from beginnings to endings, and incorporate reflective practice to support students in understanding their own beliefs and values in relation to ethics.
This module provides an introduction to sociological and social theory, as well as key sociological concepts, and demonstrates the breadth of sociological investigation in contemporary society. It considers the making of social identities – both individual and collective with a focus on theorising social divisions, in particular diversity and inequality. The module proposes thematic applications of social science, including education, work and leisure, consumption, culture, knowledge and belief, impairment, normalcy and disability, as well as the body, health and medicine.
Additionally, the module considers the making of Sociology as a discipline, reflecting upon the considerable roles that modernity and colonialism have played in its development and direction. The module also fosters an understanding of the contributions of authors from within and beyond the sociological canon in thinking about what is next for sociological research.
Alongside fostering the requisite sociological knowledge, the module equips students with core academic skills.
You will explore the influence of both traditional and contemporary media platforms on societal views of crime, deviance, inequality, mental health and politics as well as other key social issues. You will examine key academic literature and theories, learning to critically analyse concepts such as agenda-setting, news values, and media framing, as well as influential models like Chomsky and Herman's propaganda model and moral panic theory. You will discover the evolution of media, from its historical roots to the complex world of social media, examining the power dynamics in media ownership, the regulatory landscape, and the framing of social issues. Through case studies, you will apply your learning to real-world examples, understanding how media representations impact public opinion and influence policy on topics like mental health, poverty, welfare, and crime. This module is essential for anyone interested in understanding the major impact of media on society and social change.