Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Social Policy

at University of York United Kingdom

Explore theories and practices of sustainability and global justice with tools from across the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities.
We are all responsible for the drive towards a fairer world. This course will equip you with the skills to become a leader of change. You'll further your understanding of global inequalities and develop an awareness of how various organisations interact with each other as they contribute to, and resolve, problems such as global exploitation, environmental degradation and injustice.

Supported by the Interdisciplinary Global Development Centre, you'll learn through a problem-based approach, applying your skills to tackle real-life issues from the very first day.

You’ll gain the leadership skills and creativity needed to succeed in a range of careers in the private and public sector, non-governmental organisations, advocacy organisations, the media, research and consultancy.

Combine a broad and balanced foundation in the social sciences with an exploration of a range of social problems such as poverty, unemployment, crime, child abuse, pollution and environmental damage.

With the breadth of knowledge and transferable skills you'll gain on this course, you'll be well placed to pursue a career in a number of fields, especially in the public and voluntary sectors as a policy advisor, policy analyst, researcher, campaigner, journalist or civil servant.

In a rapidly changing globalised world, inequality, injustice and discrimination are rife. On this course, you'll engage with issues of social justice through a distinctive approach combining law, policy and the study of the social construction of crime. You'll work collaboratively to analyse real-world problems, as well as undertake individual legal research, all while drawing on the expertise of criminologists and world-leading legal researchers.

Our graduates are skilled written and oral communicators, coordinators and team players. You'll be well-placed to contribute to society as a creative, ethical and robust thinker and problem-solver within a range of roles in the social and criminal justice system, in the wider legal profession and beyond.

Develop your skills in economic analysis and quantitative techniques.

This course emphasises problem-solving and practice in economic theory, applied economics and econometrics. You'll have opportunities to study areas of application at the frontiers of economics such as experimental economics, regulatory policy, industrial organisation, intertemporal and international macroeconomics, financial markets, and labour economics.

Students who have a Bachelors degree in Economics with a very high average mark and a research proposal of outstanding quality can apply for the 1+3 PhD. This gives you the chance to first study for a Masters then a PhD in Economics.

Our BSc Mathematics and Physics program gives you access to the combined expertise of the Departments of Physics and Mathematics. Our specialist teaching emphasises the mathematical structure of physical theory, providing a strong basis on which to build a comprehensive understanding of modern physics.

You'll work with dedicated staff, all of whom are engaged in current research and many are world leaders in their field. You will benefit from training in cutting-edge mathematical and theoretical physics techniques, and use these to probe the nature of physical reality and push the boundaries of research.

Gain a unique perspective on landscape archaeology as you focus on human ecology and the interactions of people with their environments. You'll examine case studies from many different periods and areas around the world to understand different approaches to the study of landscape change. You'll also investigate the varying lifeways of humans through the ages, and how people have interacted with the natural world since early prehistory.

With guidance from leading researchers and experienced academics, you'll develop your understanding of the recognition, recording, interpretation and conservation of archaeological landscapes and build key practical skills in surveying, GIS, geoarchaeology and aerial photography.

This course is ideal if you want an interdisciplinary approach to Ecology and you will have a wide range of options to tailor the course to your developing interests.

You’ll develop an understanding of the processes that occur within and between organisms, through to investigating global systems and the influences that drive changes in these settings. Ecology at York ranges from studying the fundamentals of evolution, to the structure of populations and communities, and applications in conservation and environmental biology. You will build a solid foundation in theoretical concepts, which you will supplement with valuable experience in the field, and we have a dedicated field course in each of the first three years of the programme. As an ecologist, your focus on understanding our ecosystems and the processes occurring in them will be vital in helping us to work towards sustainable and effective solutions around current and future global challenges, whether around climate change, feeding the world sustainably or tackling diseases.

Adding a year in industry or a year abroad are both an option with this course too, so you can benefit from the advantages that a year away can bring. The Department of Biology will provide you with the opportunity to learn in new, spacious and modern teaching laboratories which provide excellent facilities for practicals and small group project work, alongside our state-of-the-art computing facilities.

Communications is one of the most exciting and rapidly-expanding subjects in engineering, with the internet and mobile phones revolutionising life for many people over the last few decades.

Increasingly, the internet and mobile telephone networks are converging, and an understanding of both systems, and the diverse information they carry, is required to fully appreciate the issues in modern digital communications.

Develop your ability to fully appreciate these complex communications systems. It is taught by internationally leading experts from our well-established Communication Technologies who draw on their wealth of experience to ensure you gain the skills you need to be an effective engineer.

You will cover the latest techniques and issues in modern communications systems, along with a thorough grounding in the required technical and mathematical backgrounds, with an emphasis on wireless communications, signal processing, and cutting-edge technologies. You will be exposed to a balanced picture of modern communications technology and networks to obtain a sound theoretical and practical knowledge of radio communication techniques, signal processing and network protocols. You will have the opportunity to design and optimise communication networks and learn about new techniques and technologies as they are developed.

You'll become an attractive candidate for employers throughout the field of modern communications. You will leave with experience in designing and building industry-standard tools, managing projects and teams, and conducting innovative research working at the cutting edge of communications.

Environmental geography focuses on the physical environment and its effect on humans.

Understanding the integration of physical and environmental geography has never been more important than it is today to address the environmental challenges facing the world.

This course covers aspects of physical geography such as sea level change, glacial and coastal environments and environmental hazards. It also covers other areas of environmental geography such as biogeography, Geographical Information Systems and sustainability. You'll have opportunities to study the human impacts on the environment through the study of natural resource management, environmental law and policy and environmental economics.

Explore what crime means in our culture and society and how it affects our lives.

Look beyond traditional views and develop new ways of thinking about the effects of crime, its impact on individuals and societies and how we respond to it.

Challenge your existing opinions about the nature of crime and disorder and learn to evaluate evidence, think critically and craft arguments – attributes valued by employers.