The BSc Social Sciences, majoring in Information & Communication Studies, is aimed at students who may wish to develop a career or pursue further studies in information studies, social media, communications, and other related areas. The programme is designed to spark and deepen understanding and appreciation of the role that information, communication, digitisation and social media play in all aspects of life and society. It is structured to foster the development of both academic and critical thinking competencies, and practical skill-sets, including digital literacy, research and information management skills, the basics of web and app design, information architecture, and the design, creation and publishing of digital and other media. The programme provides the necessary groundwork for postgraduate study in these areas, and serves as an initial springboard for professional training, leading to careers in such areas as Social Media Consultancy, Communications, Web Design and Development, HCI and User-Centred Design (UXD), Digital Publishing, Digital Marketing, Information Architecture and Information Management.

We value a questioning and analytical perspective on the key issues surrounding information, communication, digitisation and social media, as well as the broader impacts and consequences of the digital revolution in society. We encourage students to adopt a reflective approach to our subjects, and endeavour to provide the basis for meaningful engagement with course content through the use of real-world examples, case studies and practical projects. We encourage responsible citizenship through the consideration of the societal, cultural and ethical issues surrounding information creation, communication and use, and endeavour to provide a balanced learning environment that engages, motivates and supports students. Students work individually and collaboratively to debate and discuss social and ethical issues, to develop practical information and digital skills, and to design, create, publish and share information products. We support our students’ learning through a blend of approaches, including traditional lectures, face-to-face and online tutorials, team projects and presentations, computer lab sessions, virtual classrooms, videos, guest speakers, and independent learning.

 

1 - Display knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and conceptual basis of the digital society and the impact of modern media, including the social web, on professional, social and everyday information behaviour.
2 - Demonstrate highly developed information and digital literacy skills, including essay and report writing, information searching & retrieval, critical evaluation, creation of audio-visual media, presentation of the self online, ethical use of information, and communication.
3 - Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how digital information systems and applications are implemented and used in a variety of contexts, both personal and professional.
4 - Work to a high level in collaborative and team-based learning situations, requiring excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
5 - Demonstrate highly developed information management and organisational skills, which enable them to function effectively in the modern, technology-enabled workplace.
6 - Demonstrate foundational competency in research skills, including in digital environments.
7 - Display an understanding of the relevance and application of academic knowledge to the real world and the skills to communicate information to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
8 - Display an enhanced awareness of societal and global issues in relation to information and communication studies.

Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below. Please note that there are 5 and 10 credit modules available – this means that you may need to choose more than the minimum requirements in order to choose 25 credits. If you are studying abroad (Erasmus/non EU exchange) and/or undertaking an internship, please see registration guidelines here.

Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below. Please note that there are 5 and 10 credit modules available – this means that you may need to choose more than the minimum requirements in order to choose 25 credits.

Module ID	Module Title	Trimester	Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
IS10010	Information & Social Media	Autumn	5
IS10050	Digital Judgement: Truth, Lies, & the Internet	Autumn	5
IS10040	Information, Society, and Culture	Spring	5
IS10060	Digital Technology	Spring	5
Stage 1 Core Modules
Stage 2 Options - A)MIN4OF: Select a minimum of 4 of the following option modules
IS20010	Core Competencies for Digital Citizenship	Autumn	5
IS20020	Information Modelling	Autumn	5
IS20130	Social Studies of ICTs	Autumn	5
IS20030	Information & Collaboration in Organisations	Spring	5
IS20110	Social Media & Participation in an Online World	Spring	5
IS20120	Computer-Mediated Communication	Spring	5
Stage 2 Options - A)MIN4OF: Select a minimum of 4 of the following option modules
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN2OF: Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below. Please note that there are 5 and 10 credit modules available – this means that you may need to choose more than the minimum requirements in order to choose 25 credits. If you are studying abroad (Erasmus/non EU exchange) and/or undertaking an internship, please see registration guidelines here.
IS30020	Web Publishing	Autumn	5
IS30050	Information Architecture: Designing the Web	Autumn	5
IS30380	Digital Storytelling	Autumn	5
IS30350	The Digital Self	Spring	5
IS30370	Information Ethics	Spring	5
IS30410	Web UX Evaluation	Spring	10
IS30450	Artificial intelligence	Spring	5
Stage 3 Options - B)MIN2OF: Please ensure that you register to a minimum of 25 credits from the option list below. Please note that there are 5 and 10 credit modules available – this means that you may need to choose more than the minimum requirements in order to choose 25 credits. If you are studying abroad (Erasmus/non EU exchange) and/or undertaking an internship, please see registration guidelines here.
Stage 4 Options - B)MIN4OF: Select a minimum of 25 credits from the following option modules. Please note that there are 5 and 10 credit modules available - this means that you may need to choose more than the minimum requirements in order to choose 25 credits.
IS30020	Web Publishing	Autumn	5
IS30050	Information Architecture: Designing the Web	Autumn	5
IS30380	Digital Storytelling	Autumn	5
IS30350	The Digital Self	Spring	5
IS30370	Information Ethics	Spring	5
IS30450	Artificial intelligence	Spring	5
Stage 4 Options - B)MIN4OF: Select a minimum of 25 credits from the following option modules. Please note that there are 5 and 10 credit modules available - this means that you may need to choose more than the minimum requirements in order to choose 25 credits.

		Award		GPA
Programme	Module Weightings	Rule Description	Description
BHSOC010	Stage 4 - 50.00% Stage 3 - 30.00% Stage 2 - 20.00%	Standard Honours Award	First Class Honours	3.68	4.20
			Second Class Honours, Grade 1	3.08	3.67
			Second Class Honours, Grade 2	2.48	3.07
			Pass	2.00	2.47