The BSc Social Science will help you to take a broad view of current social issues, and explore them from a range of different perspectives.
Our department is a large multi-disciplinary centre hosting subjects as diverse as Law, Sociology, Social Policy, Criminology and Social Work. You will also be taking modules from another department in the school - the Department of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy. This reflects the broad nature of Social Sciences at Royal Holloway and we look forward to welcoming you warmly in September.
In the meantime, we have put together these resources to help you get to know us before joining us, and to get ready for your studies. Below you will find a range of different suggestions for reading, viewing and thinking. We hope you enjoy them as a way to get you thinking like one of our students and to offer you some inspiration during the summer.
We look forward to welcoming you at Royal Holloway very soon!
Read on
- Driver, J. (2007) Ethics: The Fundamentals, Oxford: Blackwell
- Green, L. (2017) Understanding the Life Course: Sociological and Psychological Perspectives, Cambridge: Polity Press
- Herring, J. (2021) Law through the Life Course, Bristol: Bristol University Press
- Isaacs, S. (2015) Social Problems in the UK: An Introduction, London: Routledge
- Roberts Clarke, W., Golder, M. and Nadenichek Golder, N. (2019) Foundations of Comparative Politics, Thousand Oaks: CQ Press
Tune in
Akwugu Emejulu - A Sociological Playlist: https://www.thesociologicalreview.com/akwugo-emejulu-a-sociological-playlist/
ESCR Social - What is Social Science - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BiLj35g_cAU
Child Poverty Action Network - https://cpag.org.uk/
Homeless Link - https://www.homeless.org.uk/
Black History timeline (created by one of our students!) - https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2020/jul/11/black-history-timeline
Social Science Space - https://www.socialsciencespace.com/
Try this
Watch Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie discussing the danger of a single story and jot down your reflections on what you've heard. At university level, you'll need to take in information and make sense of it in writing. Answering the following questions will help you develop criticality and an ability to develop your own academic voice. Key questions for you to reflect on are:
• What was the talk about (using your own words, not the speaker's)?
• What did you learn from the talk?
• Did anything surprise or interest you?
• What questions did the talk leave you with?
• How would you explain the message of the talk to a friend, using your own words?
• What could you do to find out more?
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story | TED Talk
Get ready
Karl Mason, Programme Lead for the BSc Social Science at Royal Holloway, recorded a "Unitaster" for students considering studying social science.
Watch to hear more about what to expect from your degree: Study Social Science at university - what to expect, careers & application tips |UniTaster On Demand - YouTube
Interesting movies on social science
I, Daniel Blake (dir. Ken Loach, 2016), trailer available at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ahWgxw9E_h4
Do the Right Thing (dir. Spike Lee, 1989), trailer at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BT2al2t2jnU
Persepolis (dir Marjane Sartrapi, 2007), trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ22VyjJ6n8
Moonlight (dir. Barry Jenkins, 2017), trailer at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9NJj12tJzqc
The Street (dir Zed Nelson, 2019), trailer at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=--0plmv7SkI
63 Up (and the 7 Up series) (dir. Michael Apted), trailer at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ugw7hUoJ0C0
Mrs America (tv series, 2020), trailer at: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IFDrs1iuGmQ
The Truman Show (dir. Milos Forman, 1975), trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loTIzXAS7v4
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (dir. ), trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q4suWxAt30
Made in Dagenham (dir Nigel Cole, 2010), trailer at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD-MuEKbOAM
For more information
Just ask
You're welcome to contact us with questions before joining, you're also welcome to chat to one of our students.
Keep in touch
If you'd like to keep in touch with us on twitter, please follow @rhulsw
Be prepared
If you'd like to know more about getting prepared for university, please visit our pages for applicants.
