Social Sciences

Studying BA Social Sciences (including Foundation Year) prepares you for university while introducing you to the fields of sociology, politics and economics Our BA Social Sciences (including Foundation Year) could be suitable for you if your academic qualifications do not yet meet our entry requirements for a three-year version of our social sciences courses and you want a programme that improves your skills to support your academic performance. Open to UK and EU applicants, this four-year course includes a Foundation Year (known as Year Zero) which is delivered by our Essex Pathways Department followed by a further three years of study in our Department of Sociology and Criminology. During Year Zero you will study on our Social Sciences Pathway which will cover topics such as Analysing the Social and Political World, and People and Society.

At the end of Year Zero all students who pass the Social Sciences Pathway will have a choice of which course to progress with. As well as BA Social Sciences students on the Social Sciences Pathway could also study BA Politics or BA Sociology, amongst other courses. Combining three interconnected social science disciplines, this course explores how societies function, how political decisions are made, and how economies shape people's lives.

You’ll develop a broad understanding of the social, political, and economic forces that influence contemporary issues at local, national, and global levels.