Master of Science in Social Work

at University of Bedfordshire - Luton Campus United Kingdom

This 2 year Master’s courses will give you the opportunity to be awarded a subject specific degree in Project Management with Data Analytics.

The course will improve your knowledge and skills to manage projects effectively in the commercial, public and third sectors (including the voluntary sector). You will learn from your experience of managing real projects by critically assessing a range of project management methodologies, tools and techniques.

The Data Analytics units cover a wide range of topics including programming, databases, security, project management and computer networking, giving you both the underpinning theory and the ability to apply it to complex real-world problems.

Why choose this course?

• 2 year subject specific degree with data analytics.
• During this course you will learn from your experience of managing real projects by critically assessing a range of project management methodologies, tools and techniques.

It’s never been more important to understand the impact of human action on the environment as well as the effect environmental change may have on human health. This integrated course works at the cutting edge of environmental and health science, exploring the issues, challenges and new technologies that will decide our own and our planet’s future.

This degree gives you a sound base in biology and biochemistry where you explore the functioning of living organisms; the diversity of life on the planet; and the interactions between the environment and humans. You also develop your understanding of how the human body functions in health and disease, and how this is related to the environments in which we live. Focusing on the environment, you investigate the impact humans have on ecosystems; the consequences of environmental change, locally and globally; and the sustainable management of food production, the food chain and the importance of food security to human health.

Laboratory work is an essential part of the course and you build your skills in this area as well as your expertise in the practical and analysis techniques relevant to working in environmental and health sciences.

Why choose this course?

• Develop your understanding of environmental protection and the role of individuals, organisations and governments in preserving the environment
• Be able to discuss the ethical issues and challenges around environmental protection
• Study with an academic team with established research expertise in areas across biomedicine, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, genomics and bioinformatics
• Benefit from our academic collaborations with the University’s Schools and Research Institutes as well as with external institutions and organisations
• Gain work experience through the Life Sciences Liaison Board, which has strong links to a network of industry and practice organisations
• When you graduate, there are a number of career paths open to you including government agencies; industry; science laboratories; higher education institutions; and environmental agencies
• Take the course over four years and include a fee-free year in industry, gaining work experience, building your CV and making contacts for the future
• If you need a step up into higher education, start with a Foundation Year which guarantees you a place on the degree course

The contemporary professional and economic environment of globalised markets commands persistence on quality, the immediate adjustment to the rapidly changing conditions and opportunities, as well as the need for a long-term vision. The world is recovering from a very severe economic crisis which originated in the financial sector and very quickly affected the economies of most countries in the western world.

In the aftermath of this and in a globalised world, the study of finance proves to be essential in understanding the way businesses operate, governments exercise policies and countries cooperate and compete with each other.

Economics on the other hand is the foundation of modern finance. It offers students the opportunity to acquire the cognitive knowledge and skills required to understand the structure of the world we live in.

This course will provide students with an intimate knowledge of the structural issues economies are facing and the way they are being realised in today’s economic affairs through the dominance of financial institutions. Student will be able to apply economic analysis to real-life issues while the technical and analytical skills that are necessary to understand key developments in the global markets will be developed.

The Department of Law and Finance has a critical number of academic staff who will support the delivery of this course. They are highly qualified academics and experienced professionals whose research achievements in the areas of economics and finance and real-life experience promise a unique student experience.

Why choose this course?

The world is recovering from a very severe economic crisis, which originated in the financial sector and very quickly affected the economies of most countries in the western world. In the aftermath of this and in a globalised world, the study of Finance is essential in understanding the way business operate, governments exercise policies and countries cooperate and compete with each other. Economics on the other hand is the foundation of modern finance.

If you are willing to pursue a degree in Economics, driven by the need to understand how the western world is structured and how the environment, in which businesses and financial institutions operate, is working, this course will be of interest to you. You will be able to apply economic and financial analysis to real life issues. All necessary technical and analytical skills that are desired by employers in economics and finance relevant institutions will be developed.

From online behavioural marketing to in-game advertising, and from SMS marketing to app-based adverts, digital marketing has revolutionised the way advertisers sell and consumers buy. And as the established major players and ambitious start-ups continue to develop and expand the landscape, so a ‘digital skills gap’ has appeared, both in the UK and internationally.

This course aims to help fill that gap by providing you with the knowledge and expertise you will need to make an impact in this rapidly expanding global industry.

There are six entry points through the year. This allows you to start when it is most suitable.

Why choose this course?

• Learn the theoretical and practical skills that are demanded by the world’s leading digital marketers
• Study with seasoned professionals, academics and practicing experts, focusing on areas such as Marketing Data Analysis and Marketing Communications
• Develop your entrepreneurial expertise through seminars, workshops, project work and our well-established links with the local digital community
• Gain an understanding of the strategic knowledge and skills you will need to make effective business decisions and become a successful digital professional
• Explore the innovative creative concepts that are driving the latest global digital success stories, and develop the confidence to take your own imaginative ‘leaps of faith’
• Challenge yourself as you study the theory and practice behind audience behaviour and what make consumers buy (or not buy) products and services
• Benefit from studying at a university with recognised expertise in ‘Big Data’, and a campus that is home to Phase 1 of the award-winning MK Data Hub

Models of work are constantly evolving, but one thing does not change: people still need to be recruited, trained, motivated and paid to meet an organisation's requirements. If your interests lie in effective people management, this course puts you on the right path.

You begin your journey with a thorough grounding in business before exploring the many aspects of human resource management (HRM): professional practice; leadership and motivation; creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship; business systems including international business; selection and recruitment; employee relations; and employment law.

Learn from expert tutors as you carry out practical projects that emulate working as a professional manager, and develop your practical experience with an optional year’s paid work placement in a HRM role.

In your final year, study strategic HRM, examining real firms with a view to solving people problems, and carry out an independent research project.

Why choose this course?

• Develop your understanding of how HRM works with other business disciplines, knowledge that will enable you to fit into numerous types of organisation in the future - private, public or not-for-profit
• Learn from experts in their field, active within the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), and in both consultancy and research
• Challenge yourself with an optional sandwich year placement after your second year.
• If you want to step up into higher education, we also offer a degree path with an initial Foundation Year (see below)
• Equip yourself with a range of subject-specific and transferable skills suited to a career in specialist human management roles or professional business and management environments, both national and international

“The University has offered me numerous opportunities to develop my skills and expand my network, and has constantly pushed me outside of my comfort zone, helping me become a real HR professional. My lecturers have always been supportive and understanding, and put great effort into communicating with us. All in all, these have been the most important three years of my life!”

This course focuses on the technical aspects of network design, network installation and configuration, systems administration, maintenance and management, as well as how they can be applied in modern technologies.

Computer networks have become part of our everyday lives - they form the backbone of modern information systems.

As networks expand, there is a growing need for individuals who understand their practical benefits, as well as how to implement and manage them.

By studying this course, you'll develop the required skills to implement computer network infrastructures in all sectors of the community.

Emphasis is placed on the development of strong technical skills in combination with the management of networks, implemented through design, and managing the needs of clients and businesses.

Why choose this course?

• Learn the highly sought-after skills needed to design, implement, install, configure, maintain and manage the latest state-of-the-art networks
• Study core computing and information systems
• Develop your ability to manage the needs of a wide range of clients and businesses, both large and small
• Gain advanced knowledge on a course that is focused on employment and establishing a rewarding career
• Explore the subject using a carefully structured mix of theory and practice
• Challenge yourself in our dedicated test network laboratory using the latest industry-standard programmes
• Benefit from a course that prepares you for a number of professional certification programmes

This course examines key issues of media and communication, introducing principles of cultural theories and media research methods, providing a broader understanding of how different aspects of the media interconnect.

Why choose this course?

• Data Analytics Units covers a wide range of topics including programming, databases, security, project management and computer networking.
• This gives you both the underpinning theory and the ability to apply it to complex real-world problems, as well as an awareness of emerging technologies and developments.

Biochemistry has revolutionised our understanding of biological systems, from microbes to humans, and led to ground-breaking biotechnology applications. Our degree equips you with the specialist knowledge and skills you need for a career in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries, as well as other related sectors.

Offering a strong foundation in modern biochemistry, this course allows you to explore core subjects such as genetics, cell biology and molecular biology along with specialised fields including bioinformatics and molecular modelling; drug design and development; biotechnology; and genetic engineering.

You gain specialist knowledge in areas such as structure-function relationships; signalling and regulatory systems; and metabolic pathways as well as building the practical laboratory skills to work at the forefront of this exciting and developing field.

Why choose this course?

• Learn the techniques and practical laboratory skills essential for working in the field of biochemistry
• Benefit from our new science facilities and STEM building, which offer a modern working environment including high-spec laboratories
• Study with research-active experts in their field, many having previously worked at leading institutions such as Cambridge University, Imperial College London and King’s College London
• Develop transferable skills highly sought after by employers, such as independent thinking; planning and problem solving; analysis; and communication skills
• As a graduate, seek wider career opportunities in hospitals, government departments, academic organisations and the publishing industry. Or move on to further study at postgraduate level
• Take the course over four years and include a fee-free year in industry (see below), gaining experience, adding to your CV and making contacts for the future
• If you need to step up into higher education (see below), start with a Foundation Year which guarantees your place on the full degree course

This BA (Hons) Psychology course explores how professional psychologists use evidence-based practice to make a difference in people’s lives. It also introduces you to the psychological theories that explain human thoughts, emotions and behaviour.

The course shows how applying psychological knowledge can help us better understand and explain human behaviour. You learn about the key approaches - cognitive, social, developmental, biological, individual-difference psychology – as well as investigating psychological theories; historical and conceptual issues; and research methods.

In your final year, you complete a literature-based Honours project.

Why choose this course?

• Apply theory to real-life situations so you understand how psychology works in the real world
• Explore different perspectives on issues and problems, and learn to evaluate them in a critical manner
• Learn with an academic team actively involved in leading-edge research, activity which feeds back directly into your learning
• Benefit from studying in our modern facilities with a range of up-to-the-minute equipment to aid your learning
• Develop skills highly valued by potential employers such as the ability to conduct research, manage projects, problem solving, critical analysis, communication and team-working
• Use your degree to move on to postgraduate education and training to become a chartered psychologist, or specialise in a specific field such as forensic or health psychology
• It can open doors to a career in research, the prison service, police, social services, the mental health sector, business and HR, and teaching

If you’re interested in a career in forensic science, we have a crime scene for you! A unique mix of biosciences and criminal psychology, our degree course offers you the opportunity for practical forensic processing in our crime scene facility.

Technological advances have made the role of the forensic scientist – the expert who collects, preserves and analyses evidence - increasingly important in crime investigation, and also in other fields such as archaeology.

The course starts with an introduction to psychology and the sciences relevant to forensics, followed by more detailed applied forensics including the preparation of evidence for court, pathology, medical physiology and haematology. You’ll also study the most recent advances in DNA analysis, toxicology, criminal psychology, and fire and explosive analysis.

Why choose this course?

• The Forensic Science team includes international experts in the psychology of criminal behaviour and forensics experts from a variety of operational backgrounds
• Our teaching is rated as ‘Excellent’ by the QAA and the team is part of a highly experienced department that has run biological science courses for over 30 years
• You’ll study in a specialist forensic laboratory, with key laboratory skills incorporated into most of the taught units, especially your final-year research project
• You’ll learn the skills and techniques needed to evaluate a real-life crime scene in our scene-of-crime lab, designed to resemble an 'normal' flat
• There’s the option to take the course over four years and include a year’s work placement (see below) to gain experience and industry contacts
• If you’d like to step-up into higher education, you can take an introductory Foundation Year (see below), which guarantees entry to the Undergraduate course

    "Studying forensic science with Bedfordshire has been an awesome, inspiring experience, with lecturers who are specialists with industry experience in the areas they teach. I highly recommend anyone wishing to study this subject with Beds to 'Go 4 it'."