Modules and Courses with community relevance
Undergraduate
Partnership and Participation with marginalized groups
This is an optional module within the School of Nursing and Midwifery. Students learn about policies on health care and disadvantage and then work first hand with representatives from specific groups to hear their experience of marginalization.
The module brings together theory, policies and practical experience, using members of these groups to teach a part of the programme and including a practical activity in the assessment.
Students select their own project within their work or related area in which they aim to make a difference in professional practice to issues of marginalisation and to provide a justification for their choice. More information
Optional module with community arts
Various projects within the School of Arts and Architecture have used the Community Participation Development module as a way to validate student led activities within the elective programme. An example of this was the Peer to Peer programme in which photographic students had the opportunity to design and run workshops for primary school children. Using this module they are able to gain credit towards their degree programme by producing an evaluative report of the experience and a poster presentation about a local community arts organization.
By contacting and interviewing a local organization that deals with community or inclusive arts they were able to expand their own perceptions of the kinds of work that might be available to them when they graduate as well as addressing important questions of access and equality.
Students from Arts and Architecture with particular project ideas could consider this as a way forward.
Politics in Brighton
This module is part of a new half degree in Politics, looking particularly at the Politics of Social Change. Students make a number of visits to local voluntary or community based organisations alongside lectures on citizenship, social movements and social capital.
The module assessment asks students to identify a particularly local issue and examine the role of key decision makers locally. It is good preparation for active involvement in an organisation especially when taking the Community Participation Development module in the second year. More information.
Business Planning for Social Enterprises
Students on a third year business studies programme undertake a module on the role of Social Enterprises. Part of this entails them writing a business plan for a local voluntary organisation.
Students work in groups of three to apply their learning on business planning to the work of the organisation and with the support of supervisors produced a three year business plan. More information.
Postgraduate
Applied Social and Community Research MSc (PGCert PGDip)
This course is designed to provide practical and comprehensive postgraduate training in social research methods. It builds on the school's excellent public service and community-based research activities, including the university's unique Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP), and the school's excellent relationships with a number of public service providers. The programme is also based on a range of specific academic research expertise in a range of social science disciplines. The degree will be suitable for those wishing to continue to a research degree (MPhil / PhD), or those seeking an immediate career in a public social research agency or similar. More information
Community Psychology MA (PGCert PGDip)
Community psychology is an internationally recognised sub-discipline of psychology that brings community participation and social change to the forefront of the way that we understand and promote psychological wellbeing. Community psychology injects critical, liberal and human rights perspectives into psychology and is concerned with political processes and value-based enquiry. As such, it is able to reflect on traditional modes of scientific enquiry and what they mean for groups and individuals struggling with issues of marginalisation within diverse communities.
This course is of interest to anyone currently practicing psychology in voluntary and NGO organisations, clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists and other mental health professionals wishing to broaden their areas of expertise, and those interested in developing a career in community mental health and advocacy. More information
Inclusive Arts Practice MA (PGCert PGDip)
This course enables students to carry out practice-based arts research whilst working on real-life projects such as Access to Art (http://www.rocketartists.co.uk) and Inside Out (http://www.art-architecture.co.uk/insideout/) in such areas as learning disabilities, disability arts, and the built environment. Support for working collaboratively with diverse groups is provided by specialist arts practitioners and other professionals. Students explore key issues and debates around disability and the arts while gaining practical skills enabling them to independently initiate, seek funding for, and deliver collaborative and inclusive arts projects and to develop their own professional practice. More information
Masters in Public Administration MPA (PGCert PGDip)
This postgraduate programme offers students the opportunity to examine the rapidly changing context of public work, including the pressures of globalisation, and international examples of how local communities can maintain public value and traditions.
The programme offers a critical social science appraisal of the international privatisation, marketisation and business reforms in the public sector. The course has core elements in managing public and voluntary organisations, partnerships and networks, participation and democracy, and strategy and planning in the public services. Local policy examples are examined in the context of different international examples of how localism evolves with national and international policy. There are also options to examine personal development and personal transformation as part of one's career development. More information.