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SSC-30003 - Module Specification
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

SSC-30003 - Work Placement for Social Sciences Final Year Students
Coordinator: Rachel Adcock Tel: +44 1782 7 33144
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

No

Barred Combinations

No

Description for 2025/26

This module is designed to give students studying subjects in the opportunity to contribute to the world beyond the University, in any workplace where the specialist knowledge, research, analytical, and communication skills developed as part of your Social Science degree can be used and can make a difference. The chosen workplace or volunteering opportunity may be, for example, with a local government agency or third sector organisation, a charity, a community group, a criminal justice agency, a campaign group, a public service, a school or education provider, or another suitable opportunity identified by the student and approved by the module leader.

Aims
This module will provide further opportunities for Social Sciences students to engage with employers at the same time as they are entering the jobs marketplace. The module will:
- Further enhance the career knowledge and employability of students studying Social Science disciplines.
- Support students in effectively researching and applying for employment roles, just at the point where they are thinking about their steps after graduation.
- Provide students with the opportunity to apply advanced theoretical knowledge and skills developed through studying Social Sciences disciplines in a professional context.
- Enhance transferable skills, including leadership, communication, teamwork, and ethical practice, while addressing interdisciplinary and real-world challenges.
- Support students in reflecting critically on their placement experiences and articulating how these contribute to their personal and professional growth.
- Increase students' knowledge of and familiarity with the Careers and Employability service and the Placements and Projects team.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Reflect upon and articulate their subject-specific and transferable skills developed through their education (and additional experiences) in order to be effective in securing work experience, employment, or further study.: 1,2,3
Understand the variety of ways in which the theoretical knowledge and skills developed during the study of Social Sciences subjects can address complex problems in professional contexts.: 1,2,3
Understand the aims and priorities of an external organisation - and the sector in which it sits - and critically reflect on designing and/or producing appropriate activities/projects/materials that support these.: 2,3
Reflect on and articulate the integration of academic concepts, theoretical frameworks, and practical experiences to reflect critically on placement challenges and opportunities.: 2,3
Articulate their placement experiences effectively and reflect on their enhanced skills set in front of an audience, utilising visual aids.: 2

Study hours

In-situ learning 20 hours:
Semester 1: 7 x 2hr workshops = 14hrs
Semester 2: 2 x 1hr workshops + 2 x 2hr workshops = 6hrs
75 hours of placement = 75hrs
Independent study 55 hours:
Applying for placement (including Assessment 1): 25hrs
Preparation for presentation (Assessment 2): 10hrs
Preparation for portfolio (Assessment 3): 20hrs

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Assignment weighted 20%
Placement Plan
Students will complete a Placement Plan by the end of Semester 1 and before they begin their placement. This comprises: 1) An Intended Learning Outcomes form that the student will complete following a discussion with their placement provider (200 words) 2) A reflective paragraph on the process of compiling and revising their CV and cover letter in response to feedback from the module convenors (200 words) Students must pass this assignment to progress to Semester 2. The ILO form includes questions about workplace expectations, GDPR/data handling, DBS checking, and any ethical considerations.

2: Presentation weighted 30%
Individual Presentation
Students will deliver a 7-minute individual presentation followed by a short Q&A which will be delivered to the cohort using visual aids. This will take place at the end or towards the end of their placement, in the Semester 2 assessment period. Students will summarise their activities and critically reflect on the challenges they faced.

3: Portfolio weighted 50%
Reflective Portfolio
Students will complete a Portfolio comprising: 1) Evidence of tasks/outputs completed on placement with explanatory captions. These might be promotional materials, research, lesson plans, exhibitions, and so on. [Permission should be sought by the student regarding what is appropriate to include and no images of people should be included.] 2) A chronological reflective diary of 1,500 words comprising 5 entries, each reflecting on 15 hours of placement work (placements are 75 hours in total). Each entry must be a minimum of 100 words, but otherwise the proportion of the diary given to each entry is the student's choice to determine.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025