Open University
Milton Keynes
Any experience with criminology / psychology or any social sciences
Hi everyone,
What are people's expreiences with the social sciences at the OU, particularly criminology & psychology?
How have you found the course and how have you found employment afterwards?
Any info would be great.
Thank you!
What are people's expreiences with the social sciences at the OU, particularly criminology & psychology?
How have you found the course and how have you found employment afterwards?
Any info would be great.
Thank you!
I've finished my L1 social science modules DD102 and DB123 i'm just awaiting on results which I should get next month. If you like psychology and criminology theres a fair bit of interest in there. You start out on City Road to teach you about the basics of making and remaking of lives which is a bit boring but later on you go on to do reading into behavioural economics and social policy surrounding youth offending.
I'm a politics student so can't really comment much on psychology but I do know that the psychology pathway by reputation gets very hard going. The OU is the largest provider of psychology training in europe and its a very popular and competitive field post graduation. Its likely that you'll find it easier to gain employment afterwards in the private sector rather than a clinical setting but thats not impossible just more competitive.
if your interested in reading more - check out my blog http://rossdundas.co.uk
Plenty to get your teeth into.
I'm a politics student so can't really comment much on psychology but I do know that the psychology pathway by reputation gets very hard going. The OU is the largest provider of psychology training in europe and its a very popular and competitive field post graduation. Its likely that you'll find it easier to gain employment afterwards in the private sector rather than a clinical setting but thats not impossible just more competitive.
if your interested in reading more - check out my blog http://rossdundas.co.uk
Plenty to get your teeth into.
(edited 6 years ago)
Open University
Milton Keynes
Overall its been great, I've had as much support as I need and the face to face tutorials (which average about 5 for a 60 point course) have been helpful. Slight caveat on that is that some modules have online tutorials only. Living in Scotland its also nice to not to have to pay any tuition fees! I don't think I could have went back to Uni if i lived in England.
The course materials are excellent and well written and it slowly builds up your skills so that your not overwhelmed. I have had some issues with the content and TMA methods of one particular module that i'm studying (B123) but thats an issue that everyone has to suffer on it and isn't specific to me. The only thing I would say is that you have to be very disciplined and good at managing your time. It SO easy to procrastinate, especially surrounding TMAs. Some people (particularly younger students which are growing in number at the OU) might find it difficult to adjust to the isolation and the fact that support is lead by you from your tutor on a needs basis.
If your doing psychology and criminology you'll have masses of support as its probably the most 2 most popular subjects in the faculty of Arts and Social Science. You can access this from Facebook groups, Tutor group forums and your tutor.
The course materials are excellent and well written and it slowly builds up your skills so that your not overwhelmed. I have had some issues with the content and TMA methods of one particular module that i'm studying (B123) but thats an issue that everyone has to suffer on it and isn't specific to me. The only thing I would say is that you have to be very disciplined and good at managing your time. It SO easy to procrastinate, especially surrounding TMAs. Some people (particularly younger students which are growing in number at the OU) might find it difficult to adjust to the isolation and the fact that support is lead by you from your tutor on a needs basis.
If your doing psychology and criminology you'll have masses of support as its probably the most 2 most popular subjects in the faculty of Arts and Social Science. You can access this from Facebook groups, Tutor group forums and your tutor.
Thanks Ross that's really helpful. I think if I lived in Scotland I'd soak up as many courses as my brain would allow. Hopefully this won't be a problum for us southeners much longer...
I've completed 2 years of a BA hons in english lit and philosophy but had to leave due to personal issues, I was planning on counting my credits towards a new degree. I'm hoping that now I'm older and more experienced I can manage my time better, as I do have a full time job that can be quite demanding.
What are you hoping to go on to?
I've completed 2 years of a BA hons in english lit and philosophy but had to leave due to personal issues, I was planning on counting my credits towards a new degree. I'm hoping that now I'm older and more experienced I can manage my time better, as I do have a full time job that can be quite demanding.
What are you hoping to go on to?
Original post by TCK1992
Thanks Ross that's really helpful. I think if I lived in Scotland I'd soak up as many courses as my brain would allow. Hopefully this won't be a problum for us southeners much longer...
I've completed 2 years of a BA hons in english lit and philosophy but had to leave due to personal issues, I was planning on counting my credits towards a new degree. I'm hoping that now I'm older and more experienced I can manage my time better, as I do have a full time job that can be quite demanding.
What are you hoping to go on to?
I've completed 2 years of a BA hons in english lit and philosophy but had to leave due to personal issues, I was planning on counting my credits towards a new degree. I'm hoping that now I'm older and more experienced I can manage my time better, as I do have a full time job that can be quite demanding.
What are you hoping to go on to?
You should be able to get a credit transfer if you did an open degree rather than Psych, could save you some time?
Myself when I finish i'm looking to either enter a graduate program with one of the big 4 Management Consulting firms or do a masters specialising either in CSR or public affairs management. (RGU here in Aberdeen do both, but masters funding is a bit of a minefield)
Original post by TCK1992
Thanks you've given me a lot to consider.
Also who did you do your blog with? or did you just buy your own domain?
Also who did you do your blog with? or did you just buy your own domain?
I own the domain. Its just tacked onto a tumblr blog as I don't have any other use for it right now.
I did two social science modules - Welfare, Crime and Society and Making Social Worlds. Making Social Worlds was my favourite OU course and also infinitely better than any of the modules I studied at a brick uni.
Welfare Crime and Society wasn't too hard but it was annoying, there was a 'key phrase' (entanglements) that popped up everywhere that drove me nuts.
I was already in a job when I started study so it hasn't had that much impact, but if you can, I would advise against doing an open degree, because I've found employers are curious about it in a bad way. I've had conversations like this in interviews:
"What did you study?"
"An Open Degree, so lots of things,"
"But what did you study?"
"Maths, social science, business..."
"So like A levels?"
Also, a lot is dependant on your tutor. Some are great, some not so. And take advantage of the forums, they will improve your grades as you get to iron out any kinks in your understanding with other students, especially useful in social science.
Welfare Crime and Society wasn't too hard but it was annoying, there was a 'key phrase' (entanglements) that popped up everywhere that drove me nuts.
I was already in a job when I started study so it hasn't had that much impact, but if you can, I would advise against doing an open degree, because I've found employers are curious about it in a bad way. I've had conversations like this in interviews:
"What did you study?"
"An Open Degree, so lots of things,"
"But what did you study?"
"Maths, social science, business..."
"So like A levels?"
Also, a lot is dependant on your tutor. Some are great, some not so. And take advantage of the forums, they will improve your grades as you get to iron out any kinks in your understanding with other students, especially useful in social science.
(edited 6 years ago)
Original post by hannahbo
I did two social science modules - Welfare, Crime and Society and Making Social Worlds. Making Social Worlds was my favourite OU course and also infinitely better than any of the modules I studied at a brick uni.
Welfare Crime and Society wasn't too hard but it was annoying, there was a 'key phrase' (entanglements) that popped up everywhere that drove me nuts.
I was already in a job when I started study so it hasn't had that much impact, but if you can, I would advise against doing an open degree, because I've found employers are curious about it in a bad way. I've had conversations like this in interviews:
"What did you study?"
"An Open Degree, so lots of things,"
"But what did you study?"
"Maths, social science, business..."
"So like A levels?"
Also, a lot is dependant on your tutor. Some are great, some not so. And take advantage of the forums, they will improve your grades as you get to iron out any kinks in your understanding with other students, especially useful in social science.
Welfare Crime and Society wasn't too hard but it was annoying, there was a 'key phrase' (entanglements) that popped up everywhere that drove me nuts.
I was already in a job when I started study so it hasn't had that much impact, but if you can, I would advise against doing an open degree, because I've found employers are curious about it in a bad way. I've had conversations like this in interviews:
"What did you study?"
"An Open Degree, so lots of things,"
"But what did you study?"
"Maths, social science, business..."
"So like A levels?"
Also, a lot is dependant on your tutor. Some are great, some not so. And take advantage of the forums, they will improve your grades as you get to iron out any kinks in your understanding with other students, especially useful in social science.
This is one of the reasons why that they advise you to focus on 3 subjects max in an open degree. If i'm asked that question I can simply say an Open Degree focused on Politics and Business management.
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