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BSc Sociology with a Minor in Human Resource Management

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Introduction

Give yourself the opportunity to earn a degree which provides you with a rounded examination of sociological and human resource management ideas and concepts.  This programme is meant to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to enter an exciting career or for professional advancement in the context of public, private or not-for-profit organisations related to social work, welfare, employee assistance programmes, politics, teaching, personnel management, industrial relations, community development and youth development, among other fields

About the Programme
The B.Sc. Sociology Major with a Minor in Human Resource Management focuses on behavioural science courses including social theories and social work as well as skills and competencies in human resource management, industrial relations and team building. Students pursuing this degree will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the plurality of complexities governing society and in so doing they will be able to offer tangible contribution to the achievement of growth and development in the workplace and society in general.

Who is this programme for?

The B.Sc. Sociology with a Minor in Human Resource Management programme is intended for persons who are currently working in any of the numerous areas of the social sciences within governments, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions, businesses or health related organizations and recent school leavers with an interest in the field of social and human resource development.

 

Programme Structure

Duration of Programme

The programme will be offered over 3 years (full-time) and 5 years (part-time).

Award of Degree
In order to be awarded the BSc Sociology with a Minor in Human Resource Management degree, students must successfully complete 90 credits with at least 30 credits at Levels II and III for the Major and at least 15 credits at Levels II and III for the Minor. 

Delivery Mode

All courses will be delivered fully online. However, some courses may have face-to-face final examinations.

 

When will the programme start?

August and January of each academic year.

 

Entry Requirements

Applicants must meet the University’s normal matriculation requirements in order to be accepted into the programme.  They must satisfy the requirements in either (a), (b), (c) or (d) below:
 

(a) Holders with CXC/CSEC and CAPE/GCE A Level qualifications having:

An acceptable pass in CXC/CSEC English A or CAPE Communications Studies; AND
An acceptable pass in CXC/CSEC Mathematics or its equivalent; AND
One of the following minimum qualifications:

either five subjects (at least two GCE A Level or CAPE) and the remainder acceptable passes in CXC/CSEC or GCE O’ Level; OR
 four subjects (at least three GCE A Level or CAPE) and the fourth an acceptable pass in the CXC/CSEC or GCE O’ Level

 Note: Grade requirements for CXC/CSEC subjects are General Proficiency - Grades I or II prior to June 1998 and Grades I, II, or III from June 1998       
  (b)  Holders of five (5) CXC/CSEC or GCE O’ Level passes or equivalent, not necessarily obtained at the same sitting      
  (c) Entrants with a Diploma, Certificate or Associate Degree from UWI or an approved Caribbean tertiary level institution    
  (d) Persons over the age of 21 who have been out of school for at least five years, on the basis of their overall academic and professional attainments

 

English Language Proficiency Examination

The English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) is used to assess whether persons applying to pursue

undergraduate degree programmes at the UWI Open Campus possess a satisfactory level of writing

and reading proficiency in English for university academic purposes. For detailed information on the

ELPT, see English Language Proficiency Test.

 

Academic Preparation

OOL1001 Orientation to Online
IYRS1001 Improving your Reading Skills
IYSS1001 Improving your Study Skills
IYMS1001 Improving your Math Skills (if applicable)
ECON0001 Remedial Mathematics (if applicable)
 

Course of Study
Level 1 
PSYC1001
Introduction to Psychology

Assessment:

Coursework - 25%

Final Exam -75% (face-to-face)

SOCI1004
Logic of Social Inquiry

This course addresses those general philosophical questions which form a necessary grounding to the understanding of these techniques and procedures which follow. It will not be dealing with those methodological issues featured in faculty introductory courses. Some of the topics include: epistemological issues and theories of knowledge, Weberian and other perspectives, causality and association, social sciences as a science, induction and deduction, the distinction between a social problem and what is socially problematic.

ECON1010
Mathematical Thinking and Introductory Statistics

Assessment:

Coursework - 60%, Final Exam - 40% (face-to-face)

 

Political Science students are asked to take this course in semester 2.

The  summer offering will depend on the students’ registration number.

GOVT1000
Introduction to Political Institutions and Analysis
SOWK1001
Introduction to Social Work

Exempted if completed ASc. In Social Work

MGMT1001
Principles of Management

The course is designed to introduce learners to the major aspects of management principles. It will expose them to the corpus of knowledge required to assist an organisation to achieve its objectives. It provides important information intended to expose learners to the intricacies of managing enterprises - be these private or public, corporate or small business enterprises, and government or nongovernmental organisations.

Credits: 
3
FOUN1101
Caribbean Civilisation

This course is designed to develop an awareness of the main process of cultural development in Caribbean societies, highlighting the factors, the problematic and the creative output that have fed the emergence of Caribbean identities. It also develops a perception of the Caribbean as wider than island nations or linguistic blocs and stimulates students’ interest in, and commitment to Caribbean civilization and to further their self-determination.

 

Credits: 
3
SOCI1002
Introduction to Sociology

This course will introduce students to classical social theory through an understanding of the work of writers such as Auguste Comte, Max Weber, Karl Marx and George H. Mead. The main focus of this studying is to understand the central ideas of these writers and to reflect on the usefulness of their theory in contemporary Caribbean societies. This reflection will support students’ further investigations of the explanations given for issues on the front line of Caribbean societies’ development agendas. At the same time, students will learn about the central ideas and perspectives of writers such as Edward Kamau Brathwaite, M.G. Smith and George Beckford. The combination of classical and Caribbean schools of social inquiry will set the tone for a synthesizing of perspectives on race, class, gender, ethnicity and the family in society. This process will assist students with developing their theoretical base in social theory, as well as independent thought on happenings in Caribbean society.

Credits: 
3
FOUN1001
English for Academic Purposes
FOUN1501
Foundations for Learning Success
Credits: 
3
Level 2 
SOCI2006
Qualitative Research Methods

In this course, students will learn a variety of qualitative research methods to investigate the social world and to comprehensively understand the use of qualitative methods in sociological research. Through the exploration of the topics covered in the course, students will be introduced Academic to the various tools that scientists use to conduct research within a given society to produce knowledge. They will explore theoretical meaning and underlying principles of qualitative inquiry in sociological research. The course will address several of the basic issues of the qualitative research process, ethical dilemmas and procedures for collecting and analyzing data. The definitive goal is to provide students with practical research experiences that will allow them to critically examine the process and methods of qualitative research in their social world.

Credits: 
3
SOCI2000
Classical Social Theory

This course critically examines the theoretical perspectives of 19th and early 20th century pioneers of sociology like Comte, Spencer, Durkheim, Du Bois, Marx, Weber, Martineau and
Addams. The main focus is an understanding of the transition from traditional to modern society and its attendant challenges such as class, race and gender inequality. Theorists’ works would be analysed within their own specific social and historical context as they addressed the central concerns of social order and change. Specifically, the course provides an understanding of past and contemporary social issues as well as the roots of social scientific thinking and the basis for theory building. It will examine the philosophical (ontological, methodological, epistemological) bases of sociological theories. During the course concepts, related to theory building, like axiom, tautology and taxonomy will be defined.

Credits: 
3
SOCI2001
Modern Social Theory

This course aims to give students an introduction to contemporary trends in sociological theory. At its core, the course examines a range of theoretical debates that have acquired international prominence in recent years. Sociological theory unavoidably has to be approached from an international perspective. This is due to, on the one hand, the universalising claims inherent in many contemporary theoretical approaches and, on the other hand, the proliferation of sociology, sociologists, and sociology departments throughout the world. At the same time, however, questions remain as to the scope of relevance of internationally dominant theories that emanate from leading sociology departments and publishing houses in Western Europe and North America. The present course addresses this tension by introducing students to a broad range of contemporary theories and interrogating their importance to social research in the Caribbean.

Credits: 
3
SOCI2036
Ethical Literacy in Behavioural Sciences

This course is premised on the rationale that ethics can be learned. Ethical literacy is a critical priority in a world where some of the greatest challenges graduates will face will not be matters of fact but rather matters of value and judgement. Knowledge of the ethical rules associated with the Behavioural Sciences will equip students with the necessary tools to engage the moral self with professional rules of ethics. Included in the concept of a psychologically literate citizen, for instance, is an expectation that undergraduates will learn to behave ethically and humanely at work and in other everyday contexts. The same holds true for other Behavioural Science areas. Learners will therefore be given the opportunity to relate practical solutions to ethical dilemmas. Students will be able to distinguish ethics from ethical literacy, apply ethical skills to current situations and issues, use ethical actions to resolve conflict.

ECON2027
Intermediate Statistics
SOCI2035
Research Methods in the Behavioural Sciences
GEND2111
Gender in the Caribbean Social, Political & Economic Relations

Assessment: 100% Continuous Assessment.

MGMT2111
Contemporary Issues in Human Resource Management

This module explores contemporary themes and issues associated with HRM from a critical and multi-dimensional perspective. It facilitates an analytical review of current practice and thinking in HRM, clarifies the complexities of organizational functioning and issues facing contemporary workplaces. It also evaluates through the application of different theories, the nature of contemporary organizations and key aspects of the management of people within organizations.

MGMT2064
Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management

This course seeks to introduce students to the fundamentals of organisational behaviour and human resource management. The course introduces the students to some of the factors that shape behaviour in organisations, the types of options and strategies managers use to shape behaviour, and the responses of individuals and groups to these strategies. This course also examines the role of the HR professional. Students will learn about the evolution of human resource management with emphasis on the importance of HRM in today’s world.

Level 2 Electives 
SOCI2032
Population Studies

This course is a general introduction to the fundamental principles of population studies (demography). The major focus of the course will be on population growth, trends and its distribution. Interrelations between demographic, social, cultural, and economic factors will be examined. The hallmark of population studies includes the study of fertility (births), mortality (deaths), and migration (geographic mobility).

Credits: 
3
SOCI2037
Principles of Sustainable Development

This is a Level 2 course. It covers the concepts, principles, objectives and practical applications of sustainability and sustainable development from an environmental, social, economic, corporate and political perspective. There is a natural environmental orientation to an overarching course of this nature, however, it seeks throughout to identify and analyze relationships between environmental sustainability and socio-economic factors, most centrally, the relationship between resource consumption (individual and collective) and sustainable livelihoods. The course examines, inter alia, the origins of sustainability, sustainability concepts, terms, standards and indicators, economic activity/output and sustainability, the role of industry and issue of waste, the issues of energy, water and clean air; environmental issues, political implications and decision-making and discourse/policy trends in energy, resource use, pollution, climate change and water; the three ‘E’s’ – environment, economics and equity; the environmental-social nexus – current and future resource availability and constraints, livelihoods and policy-making; sustainability in the business world – resource allocation, investment, stakeholders, shareholders, public and/v private-sector actors, the role of NGOs, multilaterals, bilaterals. The course also examines the global political economy of sustainability: individual versus collective state action, the tragedy of the commons, sustainable development, rights, obligations, sacrifices, opportunity costs as viewed by the developed and developing world.

Credits: 
3
Level 3 
SOCI3050
Family Sociology

This course presents and examines the social and cultural forces that have implications for the formation and maintenance of social relationships. It exposes students to the concepts,
theories, and methods involved in studying the family. It provides an opportunity for students to critically examine issues associated with marriage and the family so that they can derive a
clearer understanding of marriage and the family as critical institutions in society. The course helps students to apply theoretical perspectives to go beyond personal experiences and view
the family from diverse social contexts.

Credits: 
3
SOCI3000
Research Projects in Sociology

When we allow ourselves to be curious about life around us we are doing social exploration. We are discovering the substance and fabric of our social reality. Social exploration is an iterative
process of learning, reflecting and documenting our observations. Deep social exploration makes us a student of life. Sociologists must practice deep social exploration so that we will
have a body of knowledge about how we live in society. This course will help you to enjoy the art and practice of research as deep social exploration. The course is designed to give students an appreciation for conceptualizing contemporary issues from a sociological perspective and the opportunity to integrate sociological theories and research methods to investigate selected issues. The course covers the three main components involved in doing research: preparing a research proposal, completing the research, presenting the findings to the audience. Using an iterative process, learners will be supported through the steps involved in moving from a research idea to a research project. Learners will design a research study, collect and analyse information gathered and share that information with different audiences. The chosen topic has to be relevant, important, and have a sociological perspective.

Credits: 
3
SOCI3049
Social Development

This course presents students with the opportunity to comprehensively understand the nature, scope and dynamics of social development and its interplay on the lives of individuals, families, communities and groups. It interrogates the contributions of education, income, health, technology and welfare system in contributing to an egalitarian society with opportunity and mobility for all.

Credits: 
3
SOCI3028
Caribbean Social Structure
Credits: 
3
MGMT3018
Industrial Relations
MGMT3063
Labour & Employment Law
MGMT3061
Team Building and Management
Level 3 Electives 
SOCI3045
Theories of Development II

This course is geared towards elucidating the complexities that exist in the systemic nature of capitalism. It underscores the developmental challenges that confront modernity.

Credits: 
3
SOCI3044
Evaluation of Social Programmes

This course is designed to equip students with a myriad of methods to conduct formative and summative evaluation of social programmes. In so doing, students are exposed to intervention
strategies in contextualizing treatment plans to effect desired change. The efficacy of the methods will be brought into question and their relevance to cultural context will be examined.
Special attention is placed on evaluating the extent to which social programmes address issues of social justice, ethics, diversity and empowerment across diverse populations and settings.

Credits: 
3
SOCI3043
Theories of Development 1

This course is designed to provide students with a historical understanding of development and its antecedents of the modern world. We will examine development as a concept and practice in the era beginning around 20th century. This epoch is considered to be the heyday of ‘development thought and practice’. New thinking about social change associated with improvements in the quality of life of the less well off in the global village emerged as major contestants to Development. However, in order to properly understand these and the ways in which post-colonial societies such as Caribbean are changing in the 21st century, it is necessary to understand earlier thinking on the subject.

Credits: 
3
SOCI3008
Industrial Sociology 1: Theories and Practices

SOCI 3008 Industrial Sociology 1 is concerned with the interrelationship of society and industry or industrial activity. It involves the application of sociological theory and method to the problems that arise in the process of producing goods and services in modern society. These arrangements emerged with the industrial revolution and marked the beginning of the societal form that we have come to call industrial society. The course begins by locating industrial society in the context of human development. Associated with this is the emergence of sociology as a way of understanding the profound changes in human relations and social organization associated with the industrial revolution. In the sections that follow, the course examines the sociology of work, the sociology of industrial relations, industrial and post industrial society, the sexual division of labor in the Caribbean, industrialization in the Caribbean, technology
and its effect on relations at the workplace and the impact of the technological revolution of the late twentieth century on the organization of industrial production.

Credits: 
3
SOCI3035
Caribbean Social Problems
Credits: 
3
ECON3080
Advanced Statistics

This course extends on the introductory and intermediate courses completed in Levels 1 and 2, respectively. It is the first course presented as a specialization in the Psychology programme. This course covers the design of experiments in psychology and appropriate statistical methods to analyse the data. This course will include training in analysis of variance, regression analysis, factor analysis and more advanced statistical methods employed in psychology such as path modelling.