undergraduate modules prospectus - open university · on the first pages of this prospectus you...

Undergraduate ModulesProspectus

Modules for study as standalone courses 2014/2015

I did it.“I like the way you study, the flexibility. The materials were brilliant and my tutors were immensely helpful. The feedback you get from them is very good and the written feedback is constructive.”

Catherine Flint

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You can do it too.Change your life in three simple steps

Everything you need to know to make a start on changing your life is right here in your hands. Read on and find out why we have some of the most satisfied students in the UK, then follow these simple steps to join them…

Learn about the OU On the first pages of this prospectus you will learn how the

OU works, the benefits of studying with us and more general information about being an OU student. If there’s anything you’re not sure about, call one of our advisory staff on +44 (0)845 300 60 90.

Choose your module With over 300 inspiring modules to choose from, we are sure we

have one for you. Have a look through the subject areas, read the descriptions or click www.openuniversity.co.uk/modules to get more detailed information on each module.

Register and pay When you’ve chosen your module, you will need to register.

• Just call our Student Registration & Enquiry Service on +44 (0)845 300 60 90 or register online at www.openuniversity.co.uk/modules.

• You can either pay in full when you register, using a credit or debit card, or set up an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA) to pay by monthly instalments – find out more about ways to pay on page 94.

• Depending on where you live and how much you earn, you may be eligible for financial support – see pages 94–95 or call +44 (0)845 300 60 90 for more information and that’s it – you’re a fully-fledged OU student and ready to get going.

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Contents

Wherever you’re going, it starts here 2

Reasons to study a standalone module 4

How you study with us 5

Getting started with an Access module 8

Arts and humanities 10

Business and management 20

Computing and IT 26

Education, childhood and youth 30

Engineering, design and technology 36

Environment and development 40

Health and social care 44

Languages 52

Law 58

Mathematics and statistics 62

Psychology and counselling 68

Science 72

Social sciences 82

Non-credit-bearing short courses 88

Becoming an Open University student 94

Ordering other prospectuses 96

Index 97

Any questions about studying with us? Back cover

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Wherever you’re going, it starts here.The launch of The Open University changed the landscape of higher education forever. The principle we were founded on – that the very highest standard of education should be accessible by the many, not the few – still drives everything we do. It’s why we’re the undisputed experts in part-time study and why more adults choose the OU to help them get ahead than any other university.

We’re the UK’s largest universityWe offer one of the widest choices of modules in a broad range of subjects. Four out of ten of all part-time undergraduate students in the UK study with us and over 1000 tutorials are held across the UK every week.

We’ve spent over 40 years honing our methods, harnessing new and emerging technologies, and drawing on an unrivalled level of practical experience to make sure every student has the best possible chance to learn, achieve and succeed.

“The OU rekindled my joy of learning things just for the sake of learning them. It was fantastic to have access to these people who knew so much more than me.”Philip Vincent, OU student

We’re experts in flexible, part-time studyNo-one understands how to help students succeed and make knowledge stick better than us – we’re the experts in part-time study. To do what we do successfully, year after year, requires exceptional technology, methods and staff. The way we work, works – not least because it’s flexible enough to work around you and your life.

So, whether you’re a crofter in the Shetland Isles or an engineer on a nuclear submarine, a working parent or a retired grandparent, our methods are tried, tested and proven.

FACT Someone logs onto our servers every 0.5 seconds.

Studying with the OU says ‘employ me’Studying part time while managing work and personal commitments demonstrates to employers that you’re someone who is up for a challenge and committed to successfully seeing it through, with excellent time management and prioritising skills. Just the kind of person, in fact, that employers are looking for, which is why organisations like KPMG, the Metropolitan Police Service and Unilever work with our Careers Advisory Service to recruit OU students.

With us, you don’t have to put your life on hold to get the qualification you need. Around 70 per cent of our students fit study around their job and busy, changing lives. Whether you want to start a new career or go further in your current job, we can help. Find out more at www.openuniversity.co.uk/careers-subjects.

We offer outstanding value for moneyWe understand that you’re investing your time, effort and money into studying. We work hard to make sure great learning is affordable and also great value. So ask anyone who knows us whether studying with the OU is worth it. Ask our 540,000 alumni, or the 30,000 employers that have chosen us to develop their workforce – organisations like the NHS, John Lewis and O2. We’re confident that their answer will be ‘yes’.

And it isn’t just about getting the most out of the money you spend. You save money with us, too. You won’t need to move away to a campus-based university, or pay extra travel expenses. And because you have the flexibility to carry on working, you can earn while you learn.

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We’re one of the world’s finest universitiesAnyone who wonders whether the way we do things means cutting corners on the quality of the education we provide should consider this: our learning materials are so good, over two thirds of the 100 largest universities in the UK use them too.

Everything we do is grounded in the research we’re internationally famous for – OU research changes the world. It’s this reputation as one of the world’s finest research universities that makes our qualifications so highly respected and our learning materials so sought after.

We’re more local than you thinkMany people are surprised to learn that we operate from 13 OU offices located right around the UK. Why not come and talk to us at a regional event? You can find one nearest to you at www.openuniversity.co.uk/events.

We’re just a phone call awayStudents get excellent study assistance from student support teams – specialist teams dedicated to helping students successfully complete their modules. Once you are registered as a student, you will have access to these specialist teams. If you’d like to find out more, contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service on +44 (0)845 300 60 90.

Students love usIn 2013, the OU once again kept its place in the top five of all UK universities for student satisfaction, the only university to have achieved this every year since the survey began in 2005.

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Reasons to study a standalone module.Here are just some of the reasons why studying a standalone module may be right for you:

Improve your work prospectsStudying with the OU is a great way to make yourself more employable and boost your career prospects. Did you know that OU study is highly regarded by employers? In fact, over 80 per cent of FTSE 100 companies have sponsored their staff on our modules.

As well as the specific subject knowledge you’ll gain, you’ll also develop many transferable and work-related skills that will increase your employability. For example, on many modules you’ll learn how to:

• select and analyse relevant data and present conclusions concisely and logically

• deal with large amounts of complex information

• communicate effectively, clearly and accurately with others orally and in writing

• put together reasoned arguments and question assumptions

• think creatively and critically

• use IT effectively and be able to interpret data

• be competent in team and project work

• work independently, reflect on your own performance and take steps to improve it.

Continue your professional development If you are already in an established career, studying with the OU is a great way to keep up to date with professional and subject developments and/or can help you adapt to challenges in your workplace – for example absorbing a new area of work, leading a new team or having responsibility for change management.

For many professions there is a requirement to engage in continuing professional development (CPD); studying with the OU can provide the CPD you need as well as the evidence for your commitment to professional development.

Work towards OU qualificationsOU qualifications are modular in structure, so if you decide to register for an OU qualification in the future, the modules you’ve studied could count towards a certificate of higher education, diploma of higher education, foundation degree or honours degree.

Study something just for youAt various stages in your life, you may decide you want to learn something new. It may be time to:

• make up for lost educational opportunities at school

• explore a subject that’s always fascinated you

• keep your mind active

• take on the challenge of something completely different.

Whatever your reason for study, you’ll find the OU offers a great learning experience that will be enjoyable, rewarding and, in many cases, life changing.

Give us a tryIf you’d like to see if distance learning is right for you, want to build your confidence or simply don’t feel ready to study a full qualification just yet, you could dip your toe in the water with one of our short introductory modules. We have a wide range of fascinating and challenging subjects to choose from, each giving you the chance to:

• see what OU study is like

• try out a new subject

• develop your study skills

• build your confidence

• improve your knowledge and thoroughly enjoy yourself in the process.

If you want to expand your horizons without taking examinations or writing assignments, many of the OU’s study materials are also available for self-study and personal interest, including course books, DVDs, CDs and software. You can buy these from selected local booksellers or at www.ouw.co.uk.

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How you study with us.The best thing about The Open University is that, within reason, you call the shots. When you study, where you study – it’s all up to you.

Choosing your module

All our modules are set at different levels, according to their difficulty. They start with our introductory Access modules and then go on to longer modules at OU levels 1, 2 and 3. Each level helps you to develop the academic knowledge and skills – and the confidence – to move on to the next one. The following information will give you lots of helpful advice about what to study, where to begin and how to get started.

Access modulesIf you’re new to study or haven’t studied for a while, an Access module is the best place to start. It will introduce you to a subject – for example, arts, social sciences or science – and help you develop your study skills. On successful completion you will gain an OU Access Module Certificate. To find out more, see pages 8–9.

OU level 1 modulesMost OU modules are planned so you are able to study progressively from one study level to the next. Even if you have been through higher education, we recommend taking this approach, especially if studying a new subject.

OU level 1 modules (which normally take around 6–9 months to complete), will give you a firm foundation in your chosen subject and will help you to develop good academic learning and organisational skills, as well as giving you a full introduction to the OU’s teaching methods. As you study your module you’ll learn to:

• organise your time and pace your studies

• read constructively and effectively

• take notes

• approach questions analytically and systematically

• write coherently and produce well-structured arguments.

Short online modulesWe also run some shorter online OU level 1 modules that typically take around 3–5 months to complete. These have the particular purpose of offering an opportunity to study a specific subject at higher-education level for a shorter period of time. The descriptions of these short online modules can be found under the relevant subject headings.

Modules at OU levels 2 and 3All modules at OU level 2 and OU level 3 assume that you are suitably prepared for study at this level. If you want to take a single module to satisfy your career development needs or pursue particular interests, you don’t need to start at OU level 1 but you do need to have adequately prepared yourself for OU study in some other way. Check with advisory staff at our Student Registration & Enquiry Service (see back cover) to make sure that you are sufficiently prepared.

Because modules at OU levels 2 and 3 expect that you already have appropriate study skills, you won’t usually be given any special preparatory support. Many of these modules also assume that you’ve acquired knowledge of the subject from earlier modules and they usually offer less tutor support than OU level 1 modules. OU level 3 modules in particular expect you to be able to work independently, perhaps using original source materials, planning and carrying out projects and writing extended reports and essays.

OU level 3OU level 3 modules are intended for students who already have at least two years’ higher education in a related subject or two years’ relevant professional experience in the field of study. If you’re thinking of starting your studies at OU level 3 we strongly recommend that you talk to one of our advisory staff.

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Continued on page 6.

6 How you study with us66

OU levels and other national frameworksAcross the UK and the Republic of Ireland, there are three main systems which are used to define and describe the levels of modules in higher education. Although these different frameworks express complexity in different ways, they are broadly comparable.

The table below shows how OU levels correspond to the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) in England and Northern Ireland; the Credit and Qualification Framework for Wales (CQFW) in Wales; the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) in Scotland; and the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland (NFQI) in the Republic of Ireland.

OU module level

Typical level of learning

FHEQ/ CQFW level

SCQF level

NFQI level

OU level 1

First stage of higher- education study

4 7 6

OU level 2

Last stage of a foundation degree; second year of a bachelors degree

5 8 or 9 6 or 7

OU level 3

Final year of a bachelors degree

6 10 7 or 8

How will I be assessed?Your academic progress will usually be measured by the assessment of assignments that you submit throughout your module and by written exams and project work.

The assignments you’ll get will either be multiple choice questions marked by computer or written work marked by your tutor. But assessment isn’t just about marks. Your tutor will also comment on your work, pointing you in new directions, congratulating you when you’ve done well, and guiding you through anything you find difficult.

For more information about teaching and assessment, see the full module descriptions on our website www.openuniversity.co.uk/modules.

Earning creditsCredits are a measure of the amount of work required for the successful completion of a single module or longer programme of study. At the OU, you’ll be awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module. Access modules are worth 30 credits, short online modules are usually worth 10 or 15 credits and our longer modules at OU levels 1, 2 and 3 are worth either 30 or 60 credits.

We also offer a series of non-credit-bearing short courses that offer you the opportunity to learn informally about a subject for personal or professional development. To find out more, see pages 88–92.

7How you study with us 77

Planning your time

Everyone works at a different pace and there may be minor variations in how long modules last. In addition, some modules may have study breaks built in. For this reason our estimates below should be taken as an approximation. However, this table gives you a rough idea of how many study hours are required each week to complete a module. Approximately 60–80 per cent of this time will be spent using the module materials and the balance will be used for independent learning, review and revision.

OU modules Time required to complete

Length Approx. study hours per week

Access modules

30-credit Access module 30 weeks 9

Short modules

10-credit short online module (mathematics and statistics)

10 weeks 8

10-credit short online module (business and management)

Flexible: from 12 weeks up to 24 weeks

8 hours for 12 weeks (less if you study the module over a

longer period)

10-credit short module (science)

20–22 weeks5 hours for

20–22 weeks

15-credit short online module (psychology and counselling)

12 weeks 10

15-credit short online module (social sciences)

12 weeks 10

Longer modules at OU level 1, 2 or 3

30-credit module 6 months 14

30-credit module 8/9 months 9

30-credit module 12 months 6

60-credit module 8/9 months 18

Move onto an OU qualification

There is no qualification as such for completing an individual module, but if you’re interested in continuing your studies with us, you may be able to transfer the credit you earn from the successful completion of your module into an OU qualification.

The table below shows how many credits are required to gain a nationally recognised OU qualification.

Qualification Credits at OU level 1

Credits at OU level 2

Credits required

at OU level 3

Total credits

required

Certificate of higher education (CertHE)

120 − − 120

Diploma of higher education (DipHE)

120 120 − 240

Foundation degree

120 120 − 240

Degree with honours

120 120 120 360

So, for example, if you’ve successfully completed the 60-credit module The arts past and present (AA100) at OU level 1 and wanted to work towards the 120-credit Certificate of Higher Education Humanities, you will have already earned half of the academic credit required to complete the qualification.

Thinking about postgraduate study?This prospectus focuses on our range of modules at undergraduate level, but you may be interested to know that we have a wide range of modules available at postgraduate level. To find out more visit our website: www.openuniversity.co.uk/pg.

8 Getting started with an Access module8 Undergraduate study8

Getting started with an Access module.

Increase your confidence, improve your skills, and prepare yourself for further study.

The OU offers a range of Access modules that have been specially designed to help you find out what it’s like to study with the OU, get a taste for the subjects we offer, develop your study skills, build your confidence, and prepare you for further study towards a nationally recognised qualification. They are perfect for new learners with little or no knowledge or experience of studying and use the same high-quality teaching materials and study support we’re famous for.

Is an Access module right for me?Do you have little or no experience of university-level study?

Do you want to develop or refresh your study skills?

Do you want to increase your confidence about studying?

Are you unsure about studying with The Open University?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the questions above, and you live in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or have a BFPO address, an Access module may be the ideal starting point for you.

What kind of support will I receive?You’ll have your own personal tutor who will provide regular one-to-one telephone tutorials and support throughout your study, along with providing written feedback on your work. Our dedicated Access support team will help with any general queries about your studies and you’ll be able to exchange ideas with other students using our active online forums.

How will I be assessed?There aren’t any examinations to sit. Instead, there are four short written assignments and a number of online quizzes to complete.

What can I study?We offer a choice of three Access modules:

Arts and languages Access module (Y031)

This fascinating module explores a wide range of subjects, including art history, English literature, English language studies, history, modern languages and also touches on the areas of creative writing and religious studies. The different subject areas are linked through the theme of popular protest. Your exploration of language will include the study of a First World War poem, hip-hop and football chants. In history you’ll examine the debates surrounding the Chartist and Suffragette movements, and examples of graffiti feature in your exploration of art. This module provides you with lots of opportunities to develop both your study skills and your subject knowledge in the arts and languages.

People, work and society Access module (Y032)

This module draws from a range of subject areas: children and young people; health; law; management; psychology; and social science. The module is divided into four blocks, each of which deals with a specific theme: Individuals; Families and relationships; Organisations and communities; and Society. Within each block, you will explore the theme from the perspective or point of view of each subject area allowing you to develop both your knowledge and your study skills. As a student you will be well prepared for further study on a wide variety of Open University qualifications.

Science, technology and maths Access module (Y033)

This module introduces a range of subjects, including science; engineering and design; environment; mathematics; and computing and IT. There are three blocks. In Life you’ll explore biology, ecology and how humans interact with and change the environment. In Water you’ll investigate how water has shaped our planet and our lives. And in Home you’ll be introduced to design, engineering and computing. Throughout each block you’ll develop your understanding of the key mathematical ideas and techniques that underpin the study of science and technology.

9Getting started with an Access module 9

When can I start?Access modules start in October and February each year.

How much time will I need to study?These modules are studied over a period of 30 weeks and during that time you should expect to spend approximately nine hours per week on your studies.

You don’t need to attend face-to-face tutorials and can fit your studies around your work and family life. You fix your telephone tutorials at times that are mutually convenient to yourself and your tutor.

What do I need to begin my studies?You’ll receive a complete set of study materials in the post. There will be study books and other printed material, as well as a DVD. All of these materials are included in the fee.

You will require access to equipment that plays DVDs, a phone and the use of a computer with internet access. You don’t need to rush out and buy a computer as you could use one at a library or drop-in centre.

What will I get at the end?On successful completion of an Access module you’ll gain an OU Access Module Certificate. Although an Access module does not earn credits towards our qualifications, you will be well prepared to continue your studies with us.

You’ll gain valuable knowledge and skills you can apply straight away, at the same time as developing your confidence and giving your CV a real boost.

How much will it cost?The arrangements for the funding of higher education are different across the four nations of the UK. The fees and funding available to you are based on where you are ordinarily resident:

• If you live in England the fee is £660.

• If you live in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales the fee is £225.

How can I pay?There are a range of ways you can pay, and you may even be able to study for free.

How can I study for free?If you study an Access module as an additional preparatory stage towards a qualification1 you could be entitled to study your module for free.

In order to qualify for a free place you must:

• be resident in the UK (or have a BFPO address outside the UK)

• have a household income (personal income if you live in Scotland) of less than £25,000 (or be in receipt of qualifying benefits)

• have no previous experience of study with The Open University

• have not completed a higher education qualification at NQF level 4/SCQF level 7 or above.

1If you are ordinarily resident in Scotland you do not need to be studying towards a qualification in order to qualify for a free place.

Can I pay by student loan?If you don’t meet the criteria set out above, and you live in England or Wales, you may be able to cover the cost of your studies with a Tuition Fee Loan if you study the module as an additional preparatory stage towards an OU qualification.

What if I want to pay by monthly instalments? If you don’t qualify for a Tuition Fee Loan, or would rather not apply for one, you can pay your tuition fees by setting up an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA) and pay in monthly instalments.

See www.openuniversity.co.uk/ousba for more information.

Are there any other ways to pay?You can pay upfront and in full by debit/credit card or by bank transfer.

If you live in the Channel Islands or the Isle of ManYou won’t be eligible to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan or for a free place if you live in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. You can, however, pay for your module by instalments with an Open University Student Budget Account, upfront with a debit/credit card, or by bank transfer.

Your next step.Click www.openuniversity.co.uk/ug-accessCall our Student Registration & Enquiry Service on +44 (0)1908 659253Request a copy of our Access Module Certificates brochure – see page 96

Arts and humanities10

History 16

OU level 2 16

OU level 3 16

Music 17

OU level 2 17

OU level 3 17

Philosophy 18

OU level 2 18

OU level 3 18

Religious studies 19

OU level 2 19

OU level 3 19

Humanities 11

OU level 1 11

OU level 2 11

Art history 12

OU level 2 12

OU level 3 12

Classical studies 13

OU level 2 13

OU level 3 13

English language 14

OU level 1 14

OU level 2 14

OU level 3 14

English literature and creative writing 15

OU level 2 15

OU level 3 15

There’s more onlineTo find out more about a module that interests you and to register, go to www.openuniversity.co.uk/search and enter the code into the search box.

Arts and humanitiesArts and humanities are essential in understanding the modern world, and constitute rewarding and enjoyable subjects to study which develop highly valued skills. Exploring and analysing human culture and history gives us deeper insights into the world in which we live, enabling us to approach and solve problems, based upon well-reasoned arguments and firm foundations.

If you thrive on intellectual challenges and want to learn about specific subjects – such as music, civilisations and their histories, philosophical ideas about human existence, the world’s religions, cultural practices and objects people have made, how English became a world language, how grammar generates meaning, or explore creativity in a range of texts – then our modules have much to offer you. As well as subject-specific skills, studying arts and humanities modules provides you with an adaptable set of skills for a wide range of occupations, and can improve your career prospects while in work. Individually stimulating, our modules also form our qualifications, allowing you to study at certificate, diploma or degree level should you wish to take your learning further. The rewards include academic achievement, enhanced career opportunities and personal fulfilment.

Worldwide availability

This symbol indicates that a module is available to be studied by students resident outside the European Union, see page 95 for more information.


HumanitiesOU level 1Our OU level 1 interdisciplinary modules have been designed to provide you with a firm foundation in studying arts and humanities subjects at university level.

We recommend that you begin your studies with the 60-credit module, The arts past and present (AA100), followed by the 60-credit module Voices, texts and material culture (A105). If you complete these modules successfully, you can claim the Certificate of Higher Education in Humanities (T07).

The arts past and present (AA100)

Credits: 60 at OU level 1 Length: 8 months

Start: 04 Oct 2014 − register by 11 Sep 201431 Jan 2015 − register by 08 Jan 2015

Recommended prior study: None

This broadly-focused module introduces you to university-level study in the arts across a range of subject areas – art history, classical studies, English, history, music, philosophy and religious studies. It is structured around four themes, in order to guide you through some of the basic concerns of arts subjects: Reputations; Tradition and Dissent; Cultural Encounters; and Place and Leisure. Your studies will range from poetry to string quartets, and from sculpture to short stories – across a wide variety of cultures and historical periods. This introductory OU level 1 module is also a useful means of acquiring the key skills required for further study of arts and humanities subjects.

NEW Voices, texts and material culture (A105)


Start: 04 Oct 2014 − register by 11 Sep 2014 31 Jan 2015 − register by 08 Jan 2015

Recommended prior study: AA100

This is an interdisciplinary module built around the broad concepts of voices, texts and material culture. It will enable you to extend your understanding of the arts and humanities, both from the perspective of specific disciplines and through interdisciplinary study. The module incorporates elements of art history, classical studies, creative writing, English language studies, heritage studies, history, literature, music, philosophy and religious studies. Throughout the module you will have opportunities to consolidate and extend your critical and analytical abilities, to work collaboratively and to develop flexibility in your writing skills.

OU level 2OU level 2 modules are not designed as entry points to university study. We strongly advise beginning your study with our introductory OU level 1 module The arts past and present (AA100). If in doubt, please see the advisory information on page 5 or contact us on +44 (0)845 300 60 90.

From Enlightenment to Romanticism c.1780–1830 (A207)


Start: 04 Oct 2014 − register by 11 Sep 2014

Recommended prior study: AA100, A105

This interdisciplinary module is designed to give you a critical understanding of this crucially formative period in modern European history. At its heart is a range of European texts associated with the epoch-making transition from Enlightenment to Romanticism. The texts include music, philosophical and scientific writings, historical documents, literature, paintings and architecture by figures as diverse as Mozart, Rousseau, Davy, Byron, Goethe, Schubert and Delacroix – and topics as varied as Napoleon, the French Revolution, religious revival, African exploration and slavery, the Lake District, New Lanark, the Soane Museum and Brighton Pavilion.

Understanding global heritage (AD281)




What is the nature and value of heritage? Why are certain objects, places and practices considered more worthy of protection than others? This module will introduce you to the study of heritage and its function at local, regional, national and global levels. You’ll develop a critical understanding of how heritage is created and consumed across different cultures, and the roles heritage fulfils in contemporary and past societies. Using case material from around the world you’ll explore the global scope of heritage, from the ways in which local communities use heritage to build their own sense of identity, to the ways in which the state employs heritage in nation building.


Art historyInterested in the visual arts? If you’d like to learn more about the history and theory of art – painting, sculpture, photography, prints, architecture, installations and video art – then this subject is for you. Study art from the Renaissance to the present day, and develop skills of visual analysis.

The study of visual culture can be especially rewarding, enabling a deeper understanding of how and why art works and why objects look as they do. Our modules also broaden your general knowledge and help you to understand the historical and cultural contexts of these works.


Exploring art and visual culture (A226)




What is art and how has it changed through history? What is visual culture? These and many other issues are explored through case studies focused on artworks, buildings and other visual artefacts from 1100 to present day. Topics addressed range from Gothic churches to modern design, Renaissance altarpieces to Dutch seventeenth-century painting, eighteenth-century landscape parks to recent installations and videos. You will also gain an understanding of the art-historical debates that have shaped approaches to this exciting subject. The module is taught using lavishly illustrated books, alongside extensive audio, video and interactive material.

The art history residential school (AXR272)

Credits: 15 at OU level 2

Length: 1 week residential school and other study

Start: 17 May 2014 − register by 09 May 2014 16 May 2015 – register by 08 May 2015

Recommended prior study: AA100

Looking at art can be a rich and rewarding experience, stimulating the imagination and even challenging us to see the world differently. This week-long residential school equips you to look at and interpret artworks in an informed and critical manner. It provides classroom-based learning and first-hand experience, with the emphasis on looking at actual works of art. Teaching is structured around guided visits to the National Gallery, Tate Modern, and British Museum. Topics covered range from Renaissance to contemporary art and artefacts from a variety of cultural traditions. You’ll also develop skills of discussion and debate, and gain confidence in presenting your ideas to others.

Depending on where you live, there may be an additional fee for accommodation and meals.

OU level 3We strongly advise that you do not begin your studies at OU level 3. If in doubt, please contact our advisory staff on +44 (0)845 300 60 90.

Longer descriptions of OU level 3 modules are available on our website, click www.openuniversity.co.uk/modules.

Art of the twentieth century (AA318)


Explore the key media, artists, and movements that have revolutionised the concept and practice of art in modern times – from painting and sculpture to performance art.

Renaissance art reconsidered (AA315)


Renaissance art wasn’t just confined to Italy. In this module, you’ll examine Renaissance art more broadly and in different social and geographical contexts.


Classical studiesCurious about the people, cultures, civilisations and languages of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds? If your interests lie in ancient literature, language, history, philosophy, art or archaeology, then classical studies is for you: it covers the wide-ranging study of multiple aspects of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds.

Classical studies will also help you understand the modern world, by giving you a deep perspective on the origins and development of contemporary societies and cultures. As well as studying past culture and creativity you can also start, or continue, to learn ancient Greek or Latin.


Exploring the classical world (A219)




This module is for anyone interested in classical Greece and Rome. You will investigate a wide range of topics (such as the world of Homer; political uses of theatre; art and rhetoric in Athens; the history of the Roman Republican period; Latin poetry and Roman social history), studying sources as varied as poetry, drama, history writing, art, architecture, archaeology, inscriptions, and philosophy. Whether your interest in the classical world is long-standing or new, this module will give you a fresh perspective, develop your skills in analysis and evaluation and lay a firm foundation for further exploration.

Reading classical Greek: language and literature (A275)




This module combines an introduction to classical Greek language with the study of classical Greek culture and literature in translation. It is intended for beginners in Greek and assumes no previous experience of language learning. The module teaches you basic vocabulary and grammar, and sets you on your way to reading Greek texts in the original. The module uses the Joint Association of Classical Teachers Reading Greek series, augmented by Study Guides. Your language learning is also supported by specially designed interactive resources. Alongside your language work, you study set texts in English (Euripides’ Medea, Aristophanes’ Clouds and Plato’s Defence of Socrates) from literary, cultural and performance angles.

World archaeology (A251)


Start: 01 Nov 2014 − register by 09 Oct 2014


This module explores the human past across all inhabited areas of the globe, from the last Ice Age to historic times. It covers most of the past 12,000 years, ending with the fall of the Roman Empire in Europe, but continuing until the eighteenth century in the Pacific and North America. Its main focus is the development of human culture and societies – from agriculture to technology, and from the earliest civilisations to the spread of populations worldwide. The module fosters a broad knowledge and understanding through a comparative approach to study, introducing methodology and theoretical issues when necessary.



Continuing classical Latin (A397)


Build on your knowledge of Latin grammar and vocabulary and learn to read and appreciate the great works of Roman literature, from Catullus to Virgil.

Myth in the Greek and Roman worlds (A330)


Explore Greek and Roman myth through detailed study of individual works of literature, art and architecture combined with an examination of context, function and purpose.


English languageEnglish language studies is one of the fastest growing subject areas in UK universities. The growth of the English language from a local dialect to a lingua franca around the world, its relationship with economic and political power, and its cultural richness mean that it affects the lives of hundreds of millions of people.

You will learn about how speaking and writing in English is bound up with history, identity and culture.

OU level 1

NEW Exploring languages and cultures (L161)


Start: 04 Oct 2014 – register by 11 Sep 2014


This module will help you develop intercultural skills and language awareness to support and complement what you learn about language and culture in language-specific modules. Study resources include printed books, a dedicated website with online activities and audio-visual resources, and a discussion forum. Together, they will introduce you to some of the elements that define studying modern foreign languages and English language studies.

OU level 2OU level 2 modules are not designed as entry points to university study. We strongly advise beginning your study with our introductory OU level 1 module The arts past and present (AA100) or Exploring languages and cultures (L161). If in doubt, please see the advisory information on page 5 or contact us on +44 (0)845 300 60 90.

Worlds of English (U214)



Recommended prior study: AA100 and L185

What are the origins of the English language? How has it spread internationally? Is the worldwide influence of English a cause for celebration or concern? How is it changing in response to social, cultural, and technological developments? These are just a few of the questions that you will investigate in this module which looks at the history, diversity, and use of English around the world. Using a combination of printed materials and computer-based resources you will be introduced to the major debates in the field, and to some of the ways language is described and analysed.



English grammar in context (E303)


Understand how English ‘works’ in a wide range of contexts, including the media, academic writing and everyday conversation, on this practical and intellectually stimulating module.

The art of English (E301)


Explore creativity in the English language: from everyday use (conversation, children’s language, correspondence, online chat) to ‘high culture’ literary language and contemporary media texts.


English literature and creative writingStudy a wide range of literary texts and authors from the time of Shakespeare right up to the present day. An in-depth and up-to-date study of a variety of historical periods and themes allows you to focus on new perspectives on novels, poetry and drama.

You will learn to understand how literary works interact with wider cultural and social developments. You can also develop your own writing skills through our creative writing modules. These will be particularly valuable if you’re a budding author or plan to pursue a career in the media, publishing, advertising or teaching.


Creative writing (A215)




This module takes a student-centred approach to creative writing, offering a range of strategies to help you develop as a writer. The emphasis is highly practical, with exercises and activities designed to ignite and sustain the writing impulse. The five-part module starts by showing ways of using your memory and experience and building a daily discipline. This is followed by demonstration and practice of the three most popular forms – writing fiction, writing poetry, and life writing (biography and autobiography). The concluding part aims to demystify the world of agents and publishers, teaching you how to revise and present your work to a professional standard.

Reading and studying literature (A230)




Reading and studying literature builds on the introductory modules in arts and humanities, The arts past and present (AA100) and Voices, texts and material culture (A105). It will introduce you to the study o f English literature by looking at a selection of texts from the Renaissance to the present day. The module offers a stimulating mix of classic texts and less well-known works from a range of genres, including drama, poetry and prose fiction as well as autobiography, travel-writing and film. An overarching concern of the module is the uses we make in the present of the literature of the past.



Advanced creative writing (A363)


Improve your creative writing skills by widening your range and developing your individual style and voice – includes fiction, film, radio, stage, poetry, and life writing.

Children’s literature (EA300)


A broad introduction to the vibrant field of children’s literature studies, encompassing eighteenth-century fairy tales to examples of contemporary fiction illustrating current trends.

Shakespeare: text and performance (AA306)


Develop your knowledge of the range and variety of Shakespeare’s dramatic work, as well as how it has been perceived critically.

The nineteenth-century novel (AA316)


Engage with and understand novels of the period, in the context of the events, beliefs and attitudes of their time, and the contemporary and current debates around them.

20th century literature: texts and debates (A300)


Gain a new appreciation and understanding of twentieth-century literature – both the writing itself and the excitement and controversy it caused in its own time.


HistoryStudying the past helps us to understand how the society we live in came to be, and to appreciate differences between cultures and between individuals. You’ll learn what history is, why it is important and how we study it. In studying our modules, you will encounter a number of different approaches to history and use a wide range of primary sources.


Exploring history: medieval to modern 1400–1900 (A200)




This module is a varied and wide-ranging introduction to historical study and will teach you the techniques of professional historians. It covers: fifteenth-century France, Burgundy and England during the Hundred Years’ War; the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century; the civil wars of the British Isles in the seventeenth century; slavery in the Atlantic world in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; the development of nation states in western Europe following the French Revolution; and European imperialism in Africa. To ensure coherence and focus, the module is linked by common themes, enabling you to study a long chronological period.

Medicine and society in Europe 1500–1930 (A218)




This fascinating introduction to the last five centuries of medical history traces developments in medicine from the Renaissance to the early twentieth century. It shows how a heritage of medical thought and practice inherited from classical Greece gradually became a recognisably modern medicine. The module aims to set medicine in its social, political and economic contexts, looking at the patient’s changing experience of illness, their access to care, and the role and identity of healers across Europe. It shows how western medicine interacted with ideas from contemporary science, religion, and other systems of thought.



Empire: 1492–1975 (A326)


Explore the origins, rule, experience and end of empires (British, French, Russian, Chinese and others) over the last five centuries and their impact on the modern world.

Europe 1914–1989: war, peace, modernity (A327)


This module introduces Europe’s economic, social, medical and cultural history, political and military developments between the First World War and the end of the Cold War.


MusicWhether music is your chosen career or your passion, our music modules will satisfy your interests. They focus on western art music of the last 500 years while incorporating explorations of world music, jazz and popular music. Studying music can take you in a variety of directions within the musical world and its associated spheres of activity, from performing, teaching and publishing to areas such as advertising, industry and law.


Inside music (A224)




This module is an introduction to the principles of music, in which you will learn how music ‘works’. You’ll begin by examining the fundamental elements of Western music and comparing them with those of other musical cultures (such as India). In later units you will develop a more detailed understanding of Western rhythm, melody, harmony, polyphony, instrumentation, structure and form. You will learn how to use these elements in song composition and – by the end of the module – will have written a complete song with piano accompaniment, using Sibelius music notation software.

The technology of music (TA212)




The technology of music is a joint technology/arts module that starts with an introduction to music theory and notation and the technological techniques needed for a study of music technology. You’ll study the principles of sound and acoustics and how musical terms and fundamentals relate to their physical equivalents. The module examines the operation and characteristics of acoustic and electronic musical instruments; how music can be represented and stored; the fundamentals of recording; manipulation and transmission of sound; MIDI; current developments; a brief history of sound recording and some associated legal/commercial issues.



From composition to performance: musicians at work (AA302)


Study how music is created, transmitted and received – and how composition and improvisation relate to editing, publishing, performing and recording music in different periods and cultures.


PhilosophyEveryone thinks about the meaning of life from time to time, but studying philosophy gives you the opportunity to ponder the big questions. What is reality? Do emotions conflict with reason? How do we reconcile different world views?

The OU’s philosophy programme is based broadly on the Western tradition running from Plato to the present day. You’ll learn to think clearly, reason logically and put forward and evaluate arguments.

OU level 2 OU level 2 modules are not designed as entry points to university study. Before studying philosophy at this level, we strongly advise you to study our introductory OU level 1 module The arts past and present (AA100) or Introducing the social sciences (DD102). If in doubt, please see the advisory information on page 5 or contact us on +44 (0)845 300 60 90.

Exploring philosophy (A222)



Recommended prior study: AA100 and A105 or DD102

This introduction to philosophy considers fundamental questions from six core areas: the self; philosophy of religion; ethics; knowledge and science; the mind; and political philosophy. What makes me ‘Me’? Does God exist? Why should I act morally? Can I trust science? How can I, a physical being, have thoughts and emotions? Should I obey laws I disagree with? Philosophers – both past and present – have offered radically diverging answers to these and the other questions asked in this module. Guided engagement with this philosophical tradition will provide the platform for you to tackle the big questions of philosophy for yourself.



NEW Key questions in philosophy (A333)


Investigate five topics in philosophy: truth in fiction, the justice of war, reason and action, life and death, and knowledge and reason, through a set of accessible and engaging questions.


Religious studiesCentral to a wide range of civilisations and cultures throughout history, religion is powerful and persistent. As daily media reports show, religion is all around us: it is at once both a force for global co-operation and conflict, and at the heart of local communities.

Studying religion with the OU helps you to be better informed about the contemporary world and to understand a range of world views and lifestyles.


Introducing religions (A217)




This module offers an introduction to the study of religions, and to six living religious traditions that have had – and continue to have – a major influence on world affairs: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. You will explore their historical development and contemporary manifestations, developing your knowledge and understanding of different practices and beliefs and their underpinning concepts and principles. You will also examine aspects of the religious dimension in current affairs – while developing skills of analysis and evaluation that will benefit future studies in religion and other academic disciplines.



Why is religion controversial? (A332)


Investigate why religion is seen as a cause of controversy in the world, exploring religious figures, practices, ideas and futures, and the impact of current trends on religious communities.

Business and management20

Accounting and finance 21

Short online modules at OU level 1 21

OU level 2 21

OU level 3 22

Business studies 22

OU level 1 22

OU level 2 23

OU level 3 23

Leadership and management 24

OU level 1 24

OU level 2 25

OU level 3 25



Business and managementStudying business and management with the OU is all about you: where you are now and where you want to be in the future. Starting from your own experience, you’ll develop and extend your knowledge, skills and practice.

If you’re new to study, our OU level 1 business modules are a great place to start, but there are entry routes at higher levels if you’re more experienced and seeking a professional qualification. Employers are attracted by the relevance and accessibility of our programmes too. So whether you’re developing your current role or heading for a new career, you’ve come to the right place.



Accounting and financial skills are in demand all over the world. If you want to get ahead in your career and develop essential accounting skills, find a route into the accounting profession, or gain some insights into investment and the financial services industry in the UK, you’ll find a module to suit. The skills and knowledge you will develop are recognised by employers as being of great value and relevance in the workplace.

Short online modules at OU level 1Please note: 10-credit business and management short modules cannot be counted towards undergraduate qualifications.

Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting (B190)

Credits: 10 at OU level 1 Length: 12–24 weeks

Start: 01 May 2014 – register by 24 Apr 2014 01 Aug 2014 – register by 25 Jul 2014 01 Nov 2014 – register by 24 Oct 2014 01 Feb 2015 – register by 23 Jan 2015 01 May 2015 – register by 24 Apr 2015


This short module caters for people who want a good grounding in double-entry bookkeeping and the production of basic financial statements, as well as anyone who wants to proceed to professional qualifications as bookkeepers, accounting technicians or fully qualified accountants. You’ll gain practical skills in Excel spreadsheets and double-entry bookkeeping, both manual and computerised, as well as knowledge and understanding of the essential principles, concepts, ethics and limitations that underpin bookkeeping and financial accounting. It has a choice of start dates, and you decide how long to take over your studies, from twelve up to twenty-four weeks.

This module is a recommended preparatory module for our Professional Certificate in Accounting (S25) although it does not count towards the qualification.

Introduction to financial services (BD131)


Start: 01 May 2014 – register by 24 Apr 2014 01 Aug 2014 – register by 25 Jul 2014 01 Nov 2014 – register by 24 Oct 2014 01 Feb 2015 – register by 23 Jan 2015 01 May 2015 – register by 24 Apr 2015


This module examines the history of the development of financial services in the UK and the ways in which the sector is regulated. You will also study the recent financial crisis, including the role that many financial services firms played in its origins and the impact the crisis is having on the sector. Although the module covers a number of subjects that are international in nature – and certainly many that have an EU context – the focus of the module is on the structure, operation and regulations of the UK financial services industry. This module has a choice of start dates, and you decide how long to take over your studies, from twelve up to twenty-four weeks.

OU level 2You must be suitably prepared for study at this level. If in doubt, see page 5 or contact our advisory staff on +44 (0)845 300 60 90.

Financial accounting (B291)


Start: 04 Oct 2014 – register by 11 Sep 2014 11 Apr 2015 – register by 05 Mar 2015

Recommended prior study: B190

This is the module for you if you want a route into the accountancy profession or need to gain fundamental accounting skills for a management or other role. You will gain an understanding of how financial statements are prepared and develop the skills to prepare financial statements. You will explore differences in financial accounting for different businesses, building an understanding of the frameworks underpinning accounting and audit practice. If you successfully take this module and Management accounting (B292) you will be able to claim the Professional Certificate in Accounting (S25). We strongly recommend that you study this module before Management accounting (B292), but both modules can be studied independently.

Accounting and finance


Management accounting (B292)




If you require a substantial grounding in the fundamentals of management accounting in different organisations and environments, this is the module for you. You will gain an applied knowledge and understanding of the purpose, principles and scope of management accounting. The module is designed for anyone interested in the role of management accounting in financial management, but is particularly suitable if you wish to qualify as a professional accountant. If you successfully take this module and Financial accounting (B291) you will be able to claim the Professional Certificate in Accounting (S25). We strongly recommend that you study Financial accounting (B291) before this module, but both modules can be studied independently.

Personal investment in an uncertain world (DB234)



Recommended prior study: DB123

Why, where and how should I invest? How are these decisions affected by economic uncertainty? What is the relationship between risk and return? These are some of the questions addressed in Personal investment in an uncertain world. Investment planning requires financial decisions about the allocation of resources in a world of uncertainties that affect the value of pensions, shares and bonds. You’ll learn how to understand the sources of uncertainty, the way that financial service providers adapt to it and how individuals form personal strategies to manage it.



NEW Advanced management accounting (B392)


With a strategic focus on techniques and theories, such as risk analysis and strategic pricing, this module will enable you to contribute to an organisations’ successful navigation of mid- to long-term challenges.

Business studiesOur business studies modules provide an innovative and accessible introduction to the world of business, and will help you relate your studies directly to your own workplace. You’ll investigate how organisations think and work, how they’re managed, and the external world in which they operate. You’ll also gain a general understanding of business organisations and their key elements; wider considerations such as environments, markets and processes; and how all these work together.

OU level 1

An introduction to business studies (B120)




This OU level 1 module is the first in our degree in business studies and is the recommended introductory module in business studies. It explores the question ‘What is a business?’ and investigates the business functions of human resource management, accounting and finance, and marketing. Different internal and external elements of a business are introduced, and the context in which a business operates explained. You’ll explore the common aims and characteristics of business – investigating what makes them different. Business structures, cultures and functions are identified and the political, social, economic, technological and ethical considerations affecting business are introduced.

An introduction to retail management and marketing (B122)




The retail industry is highly dynamic and innovative, which means it is very engaging to study. This module looks at how retailing has developed, how retail outlets operate and how retailers apply retail marketing techniques. During your studies you will consider the elements of a retail business and consider contemporary factors that affect retailing: globalisation; the impact of ever-changing technology; and social and ethical issues. This module is designed for retail industry employees wishing to develop a career in management, and anyone interested in working in the retail sector, or simply wanting to know more about the world of retailing.


NEW Management practice (B123)




This module introduces management ideas and uses activities to build on your existing knowledge and skills through the application of management theory. You will develop your understanding of management practice in your work, and in the wider context of organisations. You will critically evaluate your workplace context in relation to management practice and review your knowledge and skills. This module is suitable for anyone who has undertaken 150 hours of workplace learning in the last three years and wants to develop an academic understanding of management disciplines such as operations, marketing, strategy, and their own management practice.

Professional communication skills for business studies (LB160)


Start: 04 Apr 2015 – register by 05 Mar 2015


Personal and corporate success in business relies on effective communication. Professional communication skills for business studies will help you acquire skills that distinguish you from your peers. This practical introductory OU level 1 module will empower you to undertake more insightful case-study analysis, write successful essays, and produce influential documents. From proposals to company reports, you’ll work with a wide range of texts from business studies modules and the wider business world, deepening your subject knowledge while developing your written communication skills – helping you to succeed in the field of business studies and business in general.


Business functions in context (B203)




This module focuses on the essential organisational functions of human resources; marketing; operations management; information management; and accounting and finance. You will examine their key practices, processes and thinking, and their contributions to organisations and their operations – with an

emphasis on practice-based learning. You will also explore activities undertaken by functional specialists, and develop skills in critical thinking, problem solving, numeracy, and written and oral communication. By the end of the module, you’ll understand how and why distinct business functions have developed and how they are integrated; their structure and operations in different contexts; and their role in organisations’ interactions with their environments.

Business organisations and their environments (B201)




Business organisations come in all shapes and sizes, and form a central feature of our everyday lives. Our experiences of business organisations vary depending on where we are globally, but we interact with them daily in very personal ways. This module is inspired by the ways in which these organisations are conceived, function, survive and prosper in these turbulent times of the twenty-first century. It is a practical module, grounded in your own experience of business organisations as an employee, customer or stakeholder, and is designed to develop your personal and professional practice in diverse business environments. The module is delivered mainly online and you’ll take part in an online collaboration with other students.



Investigating entrepreneurial opportunities (B322)


If you’re considering starting your own venture, this module helps you test your ideas to arrive at a business proposition with ambitious yet attainable objectives.

Making sense of strategy (B301)


Explore the origins and development of strategy as a subject and how organisations and individuals try to interpret and exploit opportunities and strive for success.


Managing across organisational and cultural boundaries (B325)


This module is about collaboration – working, managing and organising across organisational and cultural boundaries. Whether in organisations, partnerships or joint ventures, collaboration can be stimulating and rewarding.

Marketing and society (B324)


Explore the theory and practice of responsible marketing, the interrelated areas of corporate social responsibility and marketing ethics, and the emergent area of social marketing.

Leadership and managementThese modules provide an innovative and accessible introduction to leadership and management in business including wider considerations in the external environment. You will also have the opportunity to explore the impact of leadership and management on organisations.

You will develop a range of analytical and problem-solving skills incorporating the management of functions such as marketing, human resources and finance, and leading change. You’ll also examine how business organisations are shaped and changed, and how stakeholder behaviours and management decision-making contribute to the various organisational functions.

OU level 1

Working and learning: developing effective performance at work (BU130)




This introductory OU level 1 module enables you to put your work experiences to practical use in your academic study of business and management. It provides a first taste of work-based learning with the OU and helps you develop the study skills needed in higher education. The module will be useful for anyone looking to change or improve their working life or for anyone wishing to incorporate personal and professional development in their OU study programme. As work-based learning is highly personal, you will take control of your learning and choose what you want to learn and how you learn.



Making it happen! Leadership, influence and change (B204)



Recommended prior study: B120 or BU130

This module focuses on leadership and change practice, and has considerable potential to support employability. Its strong work-based and reflective enquiry component will help you explore how to initiate and carry through improvements and projects in your current work from an early stage. You will also develop skills to enable you to manage your learning in new work contexts. ‘Work’ isn’t just limited to paid jobs. However – for successful completion of this module – it’s very important to be involved in some ongoing project where you can influence others and initiate change.

Making it happen! Leadership, influence and change in retailing (BXA204)



Recommended prior study: B120 or BU130

This module focuses on leadership and change practice in a retail context. Its strong work-based and reflective enquiry component will help you explore how to initiate and carry through improvements and projects in your current work from an early stage. You will also develop skills to enable you to manage your learning in new work contexts. For successful completion of this module it’s very important to be involved in some ongoing project in a retail context where you can influence others and initiate change.



Managing 1: organisations and people (B628)


This module investigates organisational behaviour and human resource management taking a practice-based approach to studying management concepts focusing on your own work role. It is designed for managers, supervisors, team leaders and those in similar roles in formal and informal contexts. Assessed activities assume you have current or recent prior experience in such a role.

Managing 1: organisations and people – online version (BZX628)


This is an online version of the module described above.

Managing 2: marketing and finance (B629)


This practical module covers topics in marketing and accounting and finance through activities and problem-solving. It takes a practice-based approach to studying management concepts focusing on your own role.

Module assessment activities assume you have current or prior work situations to which you can apply what you are learning.

Managing 2: marketing and finance – online version (BZX629)


This is an online version of the module described above.

Managing 3: the integration challenge (B690)


Consolidate the key learning points from your previous management studies and integrate organisational, people, customer and financial-based perspectives of the managerial role.

Depending on where you live, there may be an additional fee for accommodation and meals for the residential-school element of this module.

Computing and IT 26

Computing and ITUp-to-date computing and IT knowledge and skills are always in demand. You may be interested in developing your knowledge in a particular area or you may just want to learn more about this fast-growing field.

We offer a wide range of modules from a gentle introduction to the world of computing and digital technologies through to specialist options in networking and software development. So, whether you simply have an enquiring mind or are looking to enhance your career prospects, we offer a wide range of modules to meet your needs.



OU level 1 27

OU level 2 27

OU level 3 29


Computing and IT 27

OU level 1

My digital life (TU100)


Start: 04 Oct 2014 – register by 11 Sep 2014 31 Jan 2015 – register by 08 Jan 2015


While you’re learning about tomorrow’s technology why not help create it? My digital life takes you on a journey from the origins of information technology through to the familiar computers of today, and on to tomorrow’s radical technologies. You’ll get hands-on experience of the ubiquitous computing approaches that will become increasingly common over the next decade. You’ll also learn about the profound social and technological changes associated with information technology – changes that will affect every one of us. This introductory OU level 1 module will help you prepare for these changes – think of it as an online survival kit for the twenty-first century.

Technologies in practice (TM129)




This module provides an opportunity to sample some of the key areas in computing and information technology. You will be introduced to three subjects as tasters for your future studies and career: networking, Linux and robotics. Studying these subjects will enable you to develop essential skills if you are considering future employment in the computing and IT industry. You will be applying what you learn to develop a portfolio to demonstrate your skills and understanding in these areas to potential employers. By studying this introductory OU level 1 module you can also begin to explore where your future career ambitions might lie.


Algorithms, data structures and computability (M269)



Recommended prior study: TU100 and MU123

The aim of this module is to help you become a computational thinker. Formulating a problem for efficient solution by computers is an extremely important skill. In this module, you will hone this skill: exploring a range of computing concepts; applying these to a variety of problems; and, in the process, becoming familiar with the popular Python programming language. This is the module for you if you are specialising in computing or if – whatever your field – you need to understand both the power and the limitations of computing. Though the focus is on the underlying ideas, you will also need to work with some mathematical concepts and notation.

Cisco networking (CCNA) (T216)



Recommended prior study: TU100

Cisco Systems are market leaders in supplying networking equipment for the internet. They also have a well-established educational programme for network professionals. As a Cisco Academy, The Open University offers the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) (CCENT and CCNA) Version 5 curriculum, which provides the knowledge, understanding, and skills needed to configure a LAN/WAN using Cisco equipment. You’ll also gain hands-on experience of configuring networks at four compulsory day schools. When you’ve completed the module you should be well prepared for the industry-standard CCNA certification examinations. You’ll need to make your own arrangements to sit these – there are exam centres all over the world.

Computing and IT 28

Communication and information technologies (T215)




Digital communication and information technologies have become fundamental to the operation of modern societies. New products and services are rapidly transforming our lives, both at work and at play. This module helps you to learn about these new developments, and equips you with the understanding and skills to continue learning about them in the future. You will study the core principles on which the new technologies are built and, through a range of online and offline activities, investigate new topics and technologies. After studying the module you’ll be in a better position to appreciate the potential of the new technologies.

Designing applications with Visual Basic (MT264)




This module in object-oriented programming will teach you how to design and write small applications using Visual Basic Express. Software applications discussed in the module range from a very simple traffic survey application, to more complex applications that are linked to a database. Roughly one third of the module consists of important practical Visual Basic Express programming exercises, using web-based units. You’ll also use printed module books that use a design language similar to Visual Basic, to learn essential programming skills. You should be ready to study computing at OU level 2 and ideally have some programming experience.

IT project and service management (M258)




Do you want to know more about the issues involved in working in a project team or service team environment in the computing industry? Then this is the module for you. You’ll have practical experience of applying project management techniques and service management concepts to case studies. There will also be opportunities for you to practise your team-working skills by collaborating with other students. By the end of your studies, you will have a better understanding of how IT projects and services are managed, and which principles, concepts and techniques can and should be applied to particular situations.

Object-oriented Java programming (M250)




This module teaches the fundamental ideas behind the object-oriented approach to programming through the widely-used Java programming language. Concentrating on aspects of Java that best demonstrate object-oriented principles and good practice, you’ll gain a solid basis for further study of the Java language and object-oriented software development. You should have experience in writing small computer programmes that use selection and iteration; successful completion of the programming tasks in the OU level 1 module My digital life (TU100) would be ideal preparation. You should also be able to write short explanations of technical ideas and be able to communicate with others electronically.

Software development with Java (M256)


Start: 31 Jan 2015 – register by 08 Jan 2015

Recommended prior study: M250

Discover the fundamentals of an object-oriented approach to software development. Starting from an analysis of requirements, you’ll be introduced to up-to-date analytical techniques and processes essential for specifying, designing and implementing a software system, including a graphical user interface. Although the small systems developed in the module have been chosen to facilitate learning, the underlying concepts are widely used by professional software developers. Software models are created with UML and implemented with Java 6, using NetBeans. The module requires knowledge of Java to the level taught in Object-oriented Java programming (M250).

Web technologies (TT284)



Recommended prior study: TU100 or M250

The World Wide Web continues to provide a foundation for the development of a broad range of increasingly influential and strategic technologies, supporting a large variety of applications and services, both in the private and public sectors. There is a growing need for management and decision makers to gain a clearer understanding of the application development process, from planning through to deployment and maintenance. This module will give you an insight into architectures, protocols, standards, languages, tools and techniques; an understanding of approaches to more dynamic and mobile content; and demonstrate how you can analyse requirements, plan, design, implement and test a range of web applications. You must be familiar with basic programming concepts (conditionals, loops etc.) and writing small programs in some language. The OU level 1 module TU100 or the OU level 2 module M250 would be ideal preparation if you are not familiar with basic programming.

Computing and IT 29



Developing concurrent distributed systems (M362)


Study the theory and practice of developing concurrent distributed computing systems, learn about advanced use of Java, and examine heterogeneous and mobile systems and security.

Ebusiness technologies: foundations and practice (T320)


This module explores the driving forces behind developments in ebusiness, introducing the fundamental technologies and protocols upon which new systems and services can be built. Case studies illustrate business models and strategies behind the deployment of web services and provide insights into future developments.

Fundamentals of interaction design (M364)


Acquire practical skills and theoretical tools to analyse, design and evaluate interactive products that surround our everyday lives – from websites to drinks dispensers.

Keeping ahead in information and communication technologies (T324)


Investigate how to keep pace with rapid changes in ICT, and how to use ICT successfully in complex systems where people play a major part. The module ends by looking at socio-technical systems, and at ways of thinking about them.

NEW Software engineering (TM354)


This module gives you a realistic view of software development, exploring how software systems are designed and built, from the software engineering perspective.

Technologies for digital media (T325)


Digital technologies are transforming our experience of media. This module will enable you to understand how, and looks at related social, ethical and legal issues.

Education, childhood and youth30

Education, childhood and youthIncrease your awareness and appreciation of what it really means to grow up, learn and work in today’s rapidly changing world by studying education or childhood and youth modules.

Our modules deliver the knowledge and understanding of the theories, policies and practice which make up these subjects.

Their high-quality content and teaching build directly on our research work in education, psychology, social sciences, health and social care, and youth work.

Whether you’re a practitioner, a parent or have a more general interest, you will develop relevant skills and gain confidence. OU study opens up career and personal opportunities as there is demand for well-qualified people in education, childcare, youth and community work, research, and the voluntary sector, as well as within local, national and international policy development areas.

Education, childhood and youth are high-profile areas of social policy; our leading approach will bring you right up to date with the latest thinking, ideas and research, giving you a real edge.

Childhood and youth studies 31

OU level 1 31

OU level 2 32

OU level 3 32

Early years 33

OU level 1 33

Primary education 33

OU level 1 33

OU level 2 34

Mathematics education 34

OU level 3 34



Children and young people are our future, so it’s our collective responsibility to protect them and help them reach their full potential. As the world around us changes, how we interact with the younger generation and respond to their needs and rights is changing too.

OU level 1

NEW Introduction to childhood studies and child psychology (E102)




What influences children’s development? How is childhood changing? How important are society and culture in understanding this change? This introductory module offers a fascinating insight into the lives of children and young people. It brings together approaches from psychology, anthropology and sociology, to provide a complete account of some of the complex influences that shape children’s experiences. You will investigate topics central to the lives of children and young people, from birth to 18 years, and explore their emotional, physical, intellectual, social and cultural development. You’ll be introduced to these thought-provoking topics through audio, video and interactive online materials.

Introduction to working with young people in practice (E118)



Recommended prior study: E108

This work-based learning module focuses on your own face-to-face work with young people. It will help you to develop the skills and understanding needed to work effectively with young people and support their informal learning. The module supports you to use your practical experiences and the knowledge you have gained from previous study of our introductory OU level 1 module, Working with young people: an introduction (E108), to understand your current practice better and develop it further. You’ll need to be able to undertake work-based learning, and be working with young people aged 13–19 in a suitable setting for at least five hours a week.

Leading work with young people (E132)




This module introduces key principles and ideas concerning leadership in work with young people – particularly aged 13–19 – in areas of practice where their participation is voluntary, and the aims relate to informal education. It takes leadership to be a process of working with and through others to achieve shared objectives. It views leadership not only as linked to hierarchical position, but also as dispersed throughout the organisation, occurring at all levels – including that of the young people who are the ‘clients’ or ‘users’ of the services.

Leading work with young people: supported APEL route (EZL132)


Start: 07 Feb 2015 – register by 08 Jan 2015


This is a supported APEL (Accreditation of prior experiential learning) module for students with substantial recent experience of working with young people, and substantial knowledge of the theoretical basis of this type of work. It will widen and deepen your understanding of the policies, practices and contexts of working with young people, particularly aged 13–19. You will examine the leadership roles that practitioners adopt and the roles they play as members of teams, organisations and interagency partnerships. The module takes leadership to be a process of working with and through others to achieve shared objectives.

Working with young people: an introduction (E108)




This module introduces you to work with young people – particularly those aged 13–19 – in areas of practice where their participation is voluntary, and the aims of the work are broadly educational. You will examine the origins and scope of this work; its values and purposes; the changing contexts in which it occurs; how it is implemented; the roles and responsibilities of practitioners and policy makers; and the issues they face. You will develop a reflective stance towards your own practice and that of others. You may already work with young people, or you may be entirely new to the field.

Childhood and youth studies



Childhood (E212)




What does it mean to be a child in today’s world? Do popular images of childhood match the reality of young people’s lives? How is childhood affected by poverty, ill-health and adversity? Do children have different rights from adults, and if so why? How are modern lifestyles and technologies changing children’s relationships and identities? What part do children play in shaping their childhood? Such questions are the starting point for this cross-disciplinary introduction to childhood and youth studies, covering the age range 0–18 and including audio-visual case studies from three contrasting parts of the world.

Equality, participation and inclusion: learning from each other (E214)




This module is for anyone interested in issues of access for children and young people in diverse social and educational contexts. It supports you in engaging with differing perspectives on equality, participation and inclusion, and in developing your own perspectives. You will address the dimensions of disability, disaffection and learning difficulty in the context of wider diversity across the breadth of childhood and youth services. It asks what constitutes good participatory and inclusive practice. A range of video case studies from early years to late teens, with an emphasis on education and learning, illustrate the key themes and issues.

Leading work with young people in practice (E218)



Recommended prior study: E108 and E118

This module explores how you can use your practical experiences, and the knowledge you have gained from your OU level 1 study, to develop the practical and analytical skills needed to lead and manage work with young people. In addition, you’ll be encouraged to take a critical and reflective approach towards your work and your continuing professional development. You must meet the minimum requirement of five hours face-to-face contact with young people per week in an appropriate setting; undertake work in an additional work-based learning setting; obtain your organisation’s permission to do work-based learning; and attend a face-to-face day school (or online alternative learning experience).



Children’s literature (EA300)


A broad introduction to the vibrant field of children’s literature studies, encompassing eighteenth-century fairy tales to examples of contemporary fiction illustrating current trends.

Issues in research with children and young people (EK313)


This module explores the issues faced by people researching the experiences of young children, children and young people, using materials from the fields of education, health and social care. It will help you to develop your own research skills.

Working together for children (KE312)


Gain the skills and knowledge essential for working with children aged 0–12, focusing on listening to children, promoting children’s wellbeing and multi-agency working.

Youth: policy in practice (E318)


This online module continues the development of the critical, practical and analytical skills you need to work proactively within the youth workforce and particularly in youth work.


Early yearsThe first few years of any child’s life shape how they see the world, and have a strong influence on their future. There can be few jobs as important and challenging as caring for and educating young children.

OU level 1

The early years: developing practice (E100)




This OU level 1 module is appropriate for experienced practitioners working with children aged between birth and seven years in registered early years settings. You’ll cover a range of themes including how children develop and learn; their personal, social and emotional development; communication and language; literacy; mathematics; and their understanding of the world. You’ll learn about the early years curriculum and develop your ability to work effectively with young children, parents, colleagues and other professionals.

Primary educationTeaching assistants, classroom support staff and volunteers in primary schools make highly significant contributions to the education of children, especially those who struggle with the demands of school life and learning. This school workforce also does much to support the professional lives and decision-making of qualified teachers.

OU level 1

Supporting learning in primary schools (E111)




This OU level 1 module is appropriate for teaching and classroom assistants (paid or voluntary) working alongside teachers in primary schools, or if you’re working in a special school, hospital educational unit, or pupil referral unit where primary-aged children follow the National Curriculum. You’ll cover a range of themes including: the study of children’s learning; inclusive education; play and creativity; and English, maths and science. You’ll acquire a good knowledge of primary education, learn to work productively with teachers as team colleagues, and develop your ability to support children’s learning effectively.

Learning through enquiry in primary schools (E101)



Recommended prior study: E111

This work-based learning module is relevant to a wide range of primary school professionals who support children’s learning – teaching assistants, cover supervisors, learning mentors, volunteers and additional classroom staff. You will develop your skills as an enquirer and researcher in primary schools, increase your theoretical knowledge and reflect on your workplace practice.



Subject knowledge and professional practice in primary schools (E207)



Recommended prior study: E111 or E101

This online work-based module is for experienced teaching assistants or classroom assistants in a primary school or registered early years setting (providing for children 3–5 years). You will further develop your knowledge, skills and understanding of supporting children’s learning in mathematics, language and literacy, and science and technology by developing your own knowledge in these subjects. You will examine the curriculum in your setting, how it is planned and carried out; explore the factors that affect children’s learning; and examine the role of subject knowledge in established curriculum frameworks.

Mathematics educationIf you teach or wish to teach mathematics, the OU offers a series of modules in mathematics education to develop your knowledge, appreciation and understanding of the learning and teaching of mathematics. You will need access to a small group of learners of mathematics at an appropriate level.



Developing algebraic thinking (ME625)


Develop your understanding of how people learn and use algebra at Key Stages 2–4, and of different teaching constructs and principles.

Developing geometric thinking (ME627)


Develop your understanding of the learning of geometry at Key Stages 2–4, explore a range of different teaching approaches and develop your geometric thinking.


Developing statistical thinking (ME626)


Explore the learning of statistics and data handling at Key Stages 2–4, and investigate different teaching approaches, including the use of ICT tools.

Mathematical thinking in schools (ME620)


Develop your knowledge and understanding of the teaching of mathematics and broaden your ideas about how people learn and use mathematics. This module is the best choice with which to begin your studies at OU level 3 in mathematics education.


Engineering, design and technologyWhile the disciplines of engineering, design and technology are essentially distinct, they share characteristics such as numeracy, creativity and problem solving. Our standalone modules offer you the possibility of refreshing your current qualifications, embarking on a new phase of your education or gaining inspiration from an adjacent discipline.



OU level 1 37

OU level 2 37

OU level 3 38



OU level 1

Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century (U101)




This introductory OU level 1 module, packed with new learning innovation, will change your way of seeing and solving complex problems forever. Through a mix of academic and practical work you’ll develop an understanding of design, acquire new designing skills and build a portfolio of design projects as a strong foundation for future study or work experience. This online module looks at common principles of design and ways of thinking that lead to ideas and creative solutions. Within a specially created virtual design studio you’ll complete many hands-on activities and interact with your fellow students as you experience a completely different way of learning.

Engineering the future (T174)




This introductory OU level 1 module examines the range of human activity that is ’engineering‘, from design concepts to the manufacture of products. It introduces the context in which engineers operate – addressing such areas as product safety standards and patent law – as well as looking at current engineering practice. It considers some of the developments in engineering methods and applications that will shape the future. The module is ideal if you are considering studying engineering at higher levels and wish to acquire more specialised skills. It is also a good introduction to engineering if you simply have an interest in what it is and how it is practised in modern society.


Design essentials (T217)



Recommended prior study: U101

The world is full of designed objects of various scales from the tallest skyscrapers to products that fit in your hand. Designers have used their skills to translate ideas and needs into all of these objects around you. In this module you will learn about the essential skills and practices of designers. You will develop the ability to identify the needs of potential users, create and communicate design ideas, as well as translate ideas into detailed descriptions of designs. The knowledge and skills that you will gain can be applied in many design domains in addition to being useful in a wide range of industries.

Design for engineers (T218)



Recommended prior study: T174 or U101

People encounter designed products every day: chairs, buildings, medicines, appliances, clothes, vehicles, robots and much else – just look around you. Design is central to the creation of all these products. Designers, often working closely in teams alongside engineers and others, translate ideas or needs into useful and meaningful products. Sometimes the engineer is the designer. Knowledge of the design process is essential for successful engineering, and this module will introduce engineering students to the essential skills, knowledge and practices of design.


Engineering: mechanics, materials, design (T207)



Recommended prior study: T174 and MST124

Engineering is about extending society’s horizons by solving technical problems – from meeting basic needs for food and shelter to generating wealth by trade. Engineers prefer to see difficulties as challenges or opportunities – they appear to be solving problems, but they’re actually creating solutions: an altogether more imaginative activity. In exploring how technical solutions are created, this module combines the mechanics of solids and fluids with the structure and properties of materials. It includes aspects of engineering analysis, design, and modelling methods, using appropriate mathematical software. Analytical, communication, and learning skills are developed in a context that provides grounding for higher-level, more specialised study.



Engineering small worlds: micro and nano technologies (T356)


Examines the manufacture and operation of micro- and nano-scale devices, offering deep insights into how to work with the building-blocks of nature to create the next generation of technology.

NEW Innovation: designing for change (T317)


Addresses questions such as ‘How do successful innovations emerge?’ and also considers how, through responsible design, innovation may be directed towards ensuring a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable future.

Structural integrity: designing against failure (T357)


This engineering module covers design and assessment of components and structures under load – exploring stress analysis, materials behaviour, and the mechanics of failure.


It’s a real community.

“The variety of people is fantastic. It’s like a community. I’m over on Jersey and if you say you’re studying at the OU all these people come out of the woodwork and say “The OU! I did that.” It’s like a mini fan club, and it’s as if you know each other already even though you’ve studied different subjects.”

Lorna Hamilton


Environment and developmentThis area of study encompasses many of the most pressing questions we face in the twenty-first century. Climate change, global trade, war, cultural conflict, poverty, energy, sustainability and the challenges of international social and economic development – these are among the defining features of our times.

The exploration of these global issues, and our capacity as both citizens and professionals to meet these and related challenges, lie at the heart of our curriculum. We offer modules in environmental studies, environmental science and environmental management.



OU level 1 41

OU level 2 41

OU level 3 42



OU level 1

Environment: journeys through a changing world (U116)




Our world is changing fast – we are experiencing pressure from climate change, growing demands for finite resources and the extinction of many plants and animals. Environment: journeys through a changing world introduces you to environmental studies and the issues arising from environmental change. It shows how people are seeking positive solutions to environmental challenges where you live, in the Arctic, Africa, the Amazon and China. It also develops the key skills and concepts needed to understand our changing world. You do not need any prior environmental knowledge to study this introductory OU level 1 module, just an interest in the future of our planet.


Energy and sustainability (T213)



Recommended prior study: U116 and S104

Are fossil fuels running out? Can nuclear power, carbon capture and storage or renewable energy sources provide solutions to the problem of global warming? How can we provide clean, safe, sustainable energy supplies for the UK, and the world, despite increasing population levels and affluence? In this module you will look at the basic principles underlying the design and efficient use of energy and energy supply systems. Using a range of study materials and online activities, you will learn to use appropriate scientific and mathematical techniques applied to energy-related issues.

The Open University is a Learning Affiliate Member of the Energy Institute.

Environment: sharing a dynamic planet (DST206)



Recommended prior study: DD102 or U116

Environmental issues pose challenges. What are the biophysical and social causes of environmental change? What exactly is an environmental issue and why are they often controversial and difficult to resolve? How can we make a difference? You will address all of these questions as you explore four key global

environmental concerns – life, water, carbon, and food – through a rich and interactive set of study materials. As you do so, you will develop a distinctive way of thinking about environments and environmental issues that draws on the insights of both natural and social sciences to be at once intellectually innovative and practically relevant.

Environmental management 1 (T219)



Recommended prior study: U116

Environmental management can be thought of as managing our relationship with the environment. For all of us, this relationship is under increasing pressure. Why is environmental management vital for our sustainability? What kind of environmental management do we need now? The aim of this module is to explore systemic answers to these and related questions by introducing ideas, approaches and techniques for environmental management at individual, organisational and community levels. Recognising that our understanding of human–environment relations is changing, this module combines conventional with innovative systems approaches to environmental management.

NEW Environmental science (S206)



Recommended prior study: S104

Environmental science spans biology, chemistry, Earth science and physics, drawing them together in a holistic approach to studying the environment. You’ll investigate air, water, Earth, life and cycles and explore the processes, interactions and feedback mechanisms operating within different environments. Practical experiences, provided through multimedia interactive ‘virtual’ field trip activities and project work, allow you to develop skills and apply your learning. By the end, you will be able to make critical analyses of environmental processes and structures, e.g. landforms, soils, water flows and habitats of flora and fauna, and comment on anthropogenic influences and their likely consequences.

NEW Environmental science (SXF206)




This is a version of the module described above which includes two residential field schools.

The cost of the accommodation, meals and travel for the residential field schools is not included in the module fee.

Environment and development42

International development: making sense of a changing world (TD223)




In this interdisciplinary module you’ll cover key areas of international development. These include: different models of development; shifting power in the international system; the relationship between poverty, inequality and livelihoods; the impact of conflict and insecurity; and the role of technology and the environment. The history of development as a process of change, the power relationships in that process and the different scales at which development takes place from transnational to local, are themes running throughout the module. These themes integrate the material – using a mix of case studies, interactive activities, text and video – to provide a central narrative encouraging critical appraisal and curiosity.



Earth in crisis: environmental policy in an international context (DU311)


Investigate causes and consequences of international environmental problems and resource conflicts, including loss of biological diversity, water allocation and urbanisation – focusing particularly on climate change.

NEW Environmental management 2 (T319)


This module further develops your environmental management and systems thinking skills, reviewing and investigating complex situations, and includes a case study on London Heathrow Airport.

NEW Innovation: designing for change (T317)


Addresses questions such as ‘How do successful innovations emerge?’’ and also considers how through responsible design innovation may be directed towards ensuring a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable future.

Renewable energy (T313)


This project-based module looks at direct, indirect and non-solar energy sources. These sources are explained within the context of environmental impact, economics and future prospects.

The environmental web (U316)


Examine contemporary issues such as biodiversity and climate change, drawing on different disciplines to understand environmental changes, their consequences, and implications for action.


They were brilliant.“I was quite connected through Facebook, the forums and the University website. It was also really handy to keep in contact with my tutors. They were brilliant. I actually had the same tutor when I started as on my last module, so she knew who I was and asked how I’d got on.”

Giles Cooper

Health and social care44

Health and social careMajor changes in health and social care sectors continue to impact on staff at all levels. Challenges such as supporting people with long-term conditions, improving end-of-life care, safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, and encouraging healthier lifestyles all coexist with financial pressures and uncertainty around restructuring of services. Staff development delivered flexibly through the OU can play a crucial role in responding to these challenges – and can support staff to deliver high quality, safe and compassionate care.

Children, young people and families 49

OU level 1 49

OU level 2 49

OU level 3 50

Sport and fitness 50

OU level 1 50

OU level 2 51

OU level 3 51

We also offer a number of non-credit-bearing short courses in health and social care that may interest you. For more information see page 89.

Social care 45

OU level 1 45

OU level 2 45

OU level 3 46

Healthcare practice 47

OU level 1 47

OU level 2 47

OU level 3 47

Social work 48

OU level 1 48

OU level 2 48



The care sector is constantly changing and there are increasing demands on staff to deliver high-quality, safe and compassionate care, to develop new skills and keep up to date. If you’re involved in caring for others, whether personally or professionally, you’ll find our modules of interest. Our curriculum covers topics such as ageing, mental health, death and dying, public health and leadership and management.

OU level 1

An introduction to health and social care (K101)




This module is focused on two things. It provides a valuable introduction to learning in higher education and it also provides an authoritative overview of health and social care. Real-life case studies will take you deep into the experience of receiving care and working in care services. Whether you’re involved in care work (paid or unpaid), use services yourself, or simply have a general interest, this module will help you to build knowledge, understanding, and a range of learning skills.

NEW Perspectives in health and social care (K118)



Recommended prior study: K101

Health and social care is an important and complex topic that is seldom out of the news. Studying this module will help you get to grips with three important areas which affect us all – health and wellbeing, mental health, and ageing and later life. You’ll be introduced to some of the key concepts, theories and debates and explore a rich mixture of real-life case studies, audio-visual material and academic texts, all developed by experts drawing on cutting-edge research. An equally important focus of K118 is developing your study and employment-related skills.


Adult health, social care and wellbeing (K217)




Health and social care is everyone’s business. Whether using a service or being cared for by family or friends, we want skilled and understanding people who can work in partnership with us to meet our needs. Using online activities to explore real-life case material with up-to-date research, policy and practice, you’ll learn about how adult health and social care is organised, delivered, and experienced across a range of sectors. Whether you’re involved in paid or unpaid work, use health and social care services yourself, or simply have a general interest, this module is designed to deepen your understanding and develop your practice.

Challenging ideas in mental health (K272)




Ideas about the concept of mental health are hotly contested, and often personally and intellectually challenging. This module invites you to think differently about life’s dilemmas by considering the views of all concerned, especially people experiencing mental distress. Using a holistic framework, it explores ideas and practice in mental health – encouraging you to review your own beliefs and experiences and to challenge yourself and others on a more informed footing. The module will appeal to a wide range of people – workers in health and social care, service users/survivors, friends and families, and anyone with a general interest in this complex and challenging topic.

Social care


Death and dying (K260)




This is an exciting and revolutionary module in which you’ll engage with real issues based on the experiences of dying people, bereaved people, those who work with them, and their carers, both lay and professional. This module will be of interest for anyone who works with dying people and their families or students who want to find out more about death, dying and bereavement, and what these mean in different contexts.

Dementia care (K235)




The rising number of people with dementia and the issue of how care is delivered make this module of interest to anyone involved with dementia care. You will study the impact of this increase; the importance of an understanding of diversity; current thinking about possible causes and cures; how care is delivered in a residential setting and what it means to improve the management of care. You will also consider ethical dilemmas raised by caring for people with dementia including end-of-life decisions. Real accounts from people affected by dementia, their family members and their carers, enrich this highly interactive module.

Diverse perspectives on mental health (K225)




What causes mental distress and what can be done about it? What aspects of the external environment affect mental health? This module examines how social, environmental, economic and political factors shape and constrain our understandings and experiences of mental health and distress. It explores the wide range of diverse and frequently competing perspectives that characterise the world of mental health and looks at the impact of these perspectives on mental health practice and service provision. The module will appeal to anyone – lay or professional – who seeks greater understanding of this fascinating and complex area of service provision.

Health and illness (K213)




This module has a broad appeal to anyone with an interest in health and illness, whether it is for personal or professional reasons, and the variety of case studies that are used will encourage you to think about health beyond any traditional boundaries. You’ll examine health policy and practice relating to different models of health and illness care, including those associated with long-term conditions. You’ll also gain an insight into contemporary and emerging debates about this subject. Throughout the module you will be provided with opportunities to develop your critical thinking skills and to acquire the analytical and conceptual skills needed to link theory and practice.



Adulthood, ageing and the life course (K319)


This module explores diverse individual, environmental, policy, and practice perspectives for adults and for adulthood focusing on later life, mental health, long-term conditions, learning disability, and drug and alcohol use.

Leadership and management in health and social care (K313)


Develop the knowledge and analytical skills needed for leadership and management in health and social care, focusing on the challenges and opportunities faced in this sector.

Promoting public health: skills, perspectives and practice (K311)


Challenge your own assumptions around public health promotion policies and interventions, and gain the knowledge and confidence to move your everyday actions and practice forward.


Healthcare practiceHealth services across the UK have changed significantly over recent years and so has the healthcare support workforce. The number of healthcare assistants/healthcare support workers has grown and these staff are now working in highly complex areas and performing increasingly specialist tasks. Our modules are designed for people working in healthcare settings and will enhance your knowledge and skills in healthcare practice. You can start applying what you’ve learnt straight away.

OU level 1

Enhancing your healthcare practice (K117)


Start: 06 Sep 2014 – register by 14 Aug 2014


This online, work-based module is designed for healthcare assistants working across healthcare settings. You will start by focusing on the differing roles of members of the healthcare team and explore the importance of promoting health. Through supervised practice and studying the module materials you will have the opportunity to reflect on the context of healthcare practice and to develop your knowledge, understanding and skills to meet patient/service user needs. Your knowledge, skills and competence will be assessed through written assignments and in practice.


Extending your contribution to healthcare practice (K236)


Start: 01 Nov 2014 – register by 09 Oct 2014


This online, practice-based module is designed for healthcare assistants working across a range of healthcare settings. In this module, you will explore the opportunities and challenges you may face in promoting healthy lifestyles, in caring for people with acute and long-term conditions, and providing end-of-life care. Investigating a range of case studies will enable you to reflect on your practice and develop the knowledge, understanding and skills required to meet patients/service users’ needs and enhance your practice. Throughout the module you will apply your learning to practice where your competence will be assessed.



Exploring practice (K316)


Examine a project theme around your own practice in health or social care, develop an action plan and explore the implications for change and improvement.


Social workThe OU is one of the largest providers of social work training in the UK. Our curriculum is developed by leading academics and professionals who are actively engaged in social work, ensuring that teaching reflects current priorities. Service users and carers take an active role and their voices are heard throughout our learning materials. If you’re interested in working in this field, or returning after a career break, any of these modules would provide an ideal grounding.

OU level 1

Foundations for social work practice (KYJ113 and KZW113)




Are you interested in social work or social care? Whatever your starting point, this introductory OU level 1 module will develop your knowledge of the key roles of social work, and introduce the social work standards and codes of practice relevant to each UK nation state. It explores ideas about what social work is – using case studies with children, older people, mental-health communities, disabled children and people with learning disabilities to apply learning to practice contexts. You will also build key skills in information and communication technologies (ICT), information and digital literacy, and reflective writing. For students in England and Scotland, KYJ113 includes a 20-day practice learning opportunity under supervision of a practice verifier, which you are responsible for organising. For the Welsh version, KZW113, you will need to complete either a 20-day practice learning opportunity or an Alternative to Practice portfolio.


The law and social work in England and Wales (K270)



Recommended prior study: K101, KYJ113 or KZW113

This module examines the legal frameworks that shape and regulate social care and social work decision making in England and Wales. It considers how social work can make use of the law in a positive way and examines the value of law from the perspectives of service users and professionals. The module deals with a range of legal issues related to social care and social work practice, including children and families services; youth justice; community care; and mental health.

The law and social work in Scotland (K207)



Recommended prior study: K101 or KYJ113

This module examines the legal frameworks that shape and regulate social work decision making in Scotland. It considers how social work can make use of the law in a positive way and examines the value of law from the perspectives of service users, carers and professionals. The module deals with a range of legal issues related to social care and social work practice, including children in need and safeguarding children, criminal and youth justice, community care, housing, and the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 on practice. It also examines the dilemmas encountered in practice of working in an ethical way.


Children, young people and familiesDo you need to know more about the ideas, debates and policies that affect children across the UK today? You may feel you need to improve and expand your skills, or you may simply wish to know more about how we might improve the lives of our children and young people. Choose to study youth justice, learn about the diversity and complexity of children and young people’s lives or examine the issues in research with children and young people.

OU level 1

Foundations for effective practice in youth justice (K115)




Work in the area of youth justice is different from most work in social care in that it spans two potentially conflicting goals – to support children and young people who are ‘in trouble’ while, at the same time, addressing their troublesome behaviour. This introductory OU level 1 module will equip you with the knowledge, skills and insights that make up the foundations of effective practice in the field of youth justice. Whether you’re working (or you intend to work) as a volunteer or professional, you’ll be able to apply your learning directly, and to improve your practice and that of your agency or team.

This module relates principally to the youth justice system in England and Wales.

Working with children and young people in trouble (K116)




Working with children and young people within the youth justice system is both highly demanding and potentially very rewarding. To do this effectively and humanely you will require both a wide range of professional competencies and an ability to critically reflect on your practice. This module is designed to equip you with the basic practical skills necessary to support the needs of children and young people and address their troublesome behaviour.



Effective practice in youth justice (K208)




If you’re working in the area of youth justice, this module enables you to gain the knowledge and skills needed to work effectively in Youth Offending Teams (YOTs). Based on a reflective approach to work-based learning, its focus is squarely on developing insightful, well-informed and ethically grounded practice. You’ll also build on your key and generic learning skills, and develop your capacity as a proactive, self-directed learner.


Working with children, young people and families (K218)




Would you like to learn more about working with children, young people or families? This module is about the diversity and complexity of children and young people’s (0–18) lives. It examines their experience of the places and spaces in which they live – family, community and a range of health, education and care services. Taught primarily through online activities, you’ll develop an understanding of contemporary debates and key skills relating to safeguarding, health and wellbeing, development, disability, multi-agency working, social pedagogy, youth justice, working with parents, foster care, education, and play. You will examine practice approaches and values, policy, and legal and rights frameworks from across the UK and elsewhere in Europe.

Youth justice: theory, research and practice (K209)




This module is primarily designed for people working in youth justice and focuses on the overarching knowledge required to be an effective practitioner in this field. It explores the relationship between theory and practice, and how both of these impact on youth justice practice.





Issues in research with children and young people (EK313)


Examine the research process through studies with young children, children and young people carried out in the fields of education, health and social care.

Working together for children (KE312)


Gain the skills and knowledge essential for working with children aged 0–12, focusing on listening to children, promoting children’s wellbeing and multi-agency working.

Sport and fitnessOur sport and fitness modules are suitable for sport coaches, fitness instructors, personal trainers, and aspiring managers or teachers, including those working on a voluntary basis. You will develop a more sophisticated insight into the scientific, instructional and management principles that underpin sport and fitness leadership roles and the importance of interpersonal skills and customer care.

OU level 1

Introduction to sport, fitness and management (E112)




This OU level 1 module is for you if you have a general or professional interest in sport, recreation and fitness. It will provide you with a sound knowledge of some of the key underpinning concepts required to practise effectively within a sport or fitness setting, including: the organisation of sports/fitness provision in the UK; the health benefits of physical activity; fitness training principles; nutrition; legal and safety aspects; and customer care. You’ll be able to apply your understanding to your own participation in sport or exercise, or to careers in the field – such as exercise instruction, sports coaching or sports facility management.

Working and learning in sport and fitness (E113)




This work-based learning module will help you apply ideas from your study to sport or fitness environments. It will improve your effectiveness and awareness of professional issues in the workplace. It is aimed at health and fitness instructors, sports coaches, potential leisure managers and those supporting in voluntary sports clubs. You will develop reflective skills and a sound understanding of the key principles and values underlying leading and motivating people. These include interpersonal communication, instructional skills and customer care.



Sport and conditioning science into practice (E217)



Recommended prior study: E112 or E113

This module is aimed at sports coaches, exercise professionals and sports enthusiasts wanting to develop their scientific knowledge and observational skills in sport and exercise. By investigating and applying aspects of sports science, including physiology, movement analysis, and training and conditioning theory you will enhance your understanding of how the body works when exercising. Throughout the module, you will be considering work-related perspectives so you always come back to what matters most: applying science and theory to practice. Some optional choices will allow you to explore areas of interest in far greater depth.

Making your coaching certificate count (EXC224)



Recommended prior study: E112, E113 and E217

This module develops your practice as a coach by linking your coaching experience to knowledge of training standards, professionalism, ethics, models of learning and sector employment issues. The assessment for this module allows your Level 2 UK-accredited coaching certificate, from an established sport with a recognised National Governing Body (NGB), to count towards your OU study. If you have not obtained an appropriate certificate in the last eight years, you will need to identify and complete one in parallel with your OU studies for compulsory submission at the end of the module.

Making your exercise instruction certificate count (EXF224)



Recommended prior study: E112, E113 and E217

This module develops your practice as an instructor by linking your instructional experience to knowledge of training standards, professionalism, ethics, models of learning and sector employment issues. The assessment for this module allows your Level 2 Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) accredited exercise instruction certificate to count towards your OU study. If you have not obtained an appropriate certificate in the last eight years, you will need to identify and complete one in parallel with your OU studies for compulsory submission at the end of the module.

Sport and exercise psychology: a case study approach (E233)



Recommended prior study: E112 and/or E113

In this module you will explore common psychological issues in sport and exercise, and learn to recognise situations where psychological theory can be applied in real-life cases. Research summaries are used alongside case studies to help you engage with recent literature. You’ll cover some of the key topics in sport and exercise psychology such as: anxiety; self-confidence; concentration; group dynamics; the psychology of injury; exercise dependence; and mental skills training used by psychologists. This module is suitable if you have a general interest in sport and exercise psychology, or are working in the field in roles such as exercise instruction or sports coaching.



Exploring psychological aspects of athletic development (E313)


Are you interested in sport and exercise psychology or working in a coaching role? This module explores the psychological factors influencing the development of participants in sport.

Languages52

LanguagesLearning a language is an enjoyable and rewarding experience that can open up new opportunities at home or in a new location. We have modules for you, whatever stage you are at. You can study French, German and Spanish from beginners’ to advanced level, beginners’ and intermediate Italian, and beginners’ Chinese and Welsh. You can also develop your academic and professional communication skills in English.

If you are interested in English language studies modules, please see the Arts and humanities section on page 14.

Italian 56

OU level 1 56

Spanish 56

OU level 1 56

OU level 2 57

OU level 3 57

Welsh 57

OU level 1 57

Chinese 53

OU level 1 53

English for academic and professional communication 53

OU level 1 53

Exploring languages and cultures 54

OU level 1 54

French 54

OU level 1 54

OU level 2 54

OU level 3 54

German 55

OU level 1 55

OU level 2 55

OU level 3 55




Languages 53

ChineseThe Chinese language is spoken in China, Taiwan, Singapore and by many overseas Chinese communities in other areas of the world. It is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations.

The Chinese language is rooted in its 5000-year cultural heritage. In the past, the Chinese culture and language heavily influenced its neighbouring countries such as Japan and Korea. Today, China is a fast-growing economy set to be an influential global power in the twenty-first century. This module will equip you with the basic linguistic skills required in Mandarin to cope successfully in a Chinese-speaking environment.

OU level 1

第一步 Dì yI- bù: beginners’ Chinese (L197)




第一步 Dì yı̄ bù: beginners’ Chinese will give you the skills you need to speak and understand simple Chinese (Mandarin) in everyday contexts. No previous knowledge of Chinese is required. This introductory OU level 1 module will take you through a wide range of practical situations such as socialising, shopping and getting around. We’ll send you printed and audio materials, and you’ll have a dedicated website, all of which support independent learning. And while you’re learning the language you’ll explore aspects of Chinese society and culture, which will give you a real feel for the Chinese way of life.

English for academic and professional communicationYou may wish to develop your communication skills in English for academic or professional purposes by studying one of these modules.

OU level 1

English for academic purposes online (L185)




This completely online module aims to develop the communication skills you need for successful academic study in English in a variety of subject areas. Throughout the module, you will work with a wide range of texts from different subject areas. By exploring different subject areas you will develop the academic English that is most relevant to your study. You will use your knowledge and experience as you explore ways of reading and writing academic texts. You will also develop your academic listening and speaking skills in an online environment.

Professional communication skills for business studies (LB160)


Start: 04 Apr 2015 – register by 05 Mar 2015


Personal and corporate success in business relies on effective communication. Professional communication skills for business studies will help you acquire skills to distinguish you from your peers. This practical introductory OU level 1 module will empower you to undertake more insightful case-study analysis, write successful essays, and produce influential documents. From proposals to emails, you’ll work with a wide range of texts from business studies modules and the wider business world, deepening your subject knowledge while developing your written communication skills – helping you to succeed in the field of business studies and business in general.

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Exploring languages and culturesThis introductory OU level 1 module introduces key concepts relating to languages, language learning, plurilingualism and communication between and across cultures.

OU level 1

NEW Exploring languages and cultures (L161)




This module will help you develop intercultural skills and language awareness to support and complement what you learn about language and culture in language-specific modules. Study resources include printed books, a dedicated website with online activities and audio-visual resources, and a discussion forum. Together, they will introduce you to some of the elements that define studying modern foreign languages and English language studies.

FrenchFrench is one of the very few languages spoken on all five continents: as a first language it’s spoken in more than 24 countries, including Belgium, Canada and Switzerland, and parts of Africa and the Caribbean. Along with English, it’s also an official working language of several international bodies, including the European Union, the International Monetary Fund, the International Red Cross, and the United Nations.

Learning or improving your French with the OU will broaden your horizons and career options, and you will find out more about contemporary issues and culture in French-speaking countries.

OU level 1

Bon départ: beginners’ French (L192)




This introductory OU level 1 module is designed to give you the skills you need to speak and understand simple French in everyday contexts. It explores life in France and other French-speaking countries and introduces you to a wide range of practical situations such as travelling, shopping, working and eating out. Study resources include printed books, a dedicated website with online activities and resources and audio recordings which support independent learning. Together, they’ll give you not just language skills but a real feel for French-speaking cultures too.

Ouverture: intermediate French (L120)



Recommended prior study: L192

Ouverture: intermediate French follows on from Bon départ: beginners’ French (L192). It revises and consolidates the knowledge of French you already have and teaches more advanced language in the context of French-speaking societies and French culture. Study resources – including printed course books and online interactive activities – are carefully designed to develop the four language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. They provide clear learning objectives, guidance and model answers. This OU level 1 module also teaches study skills and language-learning strategies.


Envol: upper intermediate French (L211)




This module builds on Ouverture: intermediate French (L120), or equivalent knowledge. It will enhance your cultural knowledge and develop the skills needed to study at a higher level, as well as your practical language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. By studying a variety of authentic audio, video and printed materials from French-speaking countries, you will learn how to communicate in situations ranging from everyday conversation to putting forward your point of view in a debate. You will also improve your command of grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary acquisition. A compulsory residential school takes place in France (or you can study an online alternative).




Mises au point: advanced French (L310)


Extend your knowledge of contemporary French-speaking cultures and further develop French language skills – speaking, listening, reading and writing – as well as your academic skills in French.

Languages 55

German As the first language of more than 100 million Europeans, German is Europe’s most widely spoken first language. Germany is a significant player in the cultural, economic and political future of Europe, particularly in the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe. It is also a major investor in global markets, making German an important language of diplomacy and trade.

The ability to speak and understand German is a career asset. There is considerable demand in the international business community for people with knowledge of German at any level.

OU level 1

Rundblick: beginners’ German (L193)




This introductory OU level 1 module is designed to develop the skills you need to speak and understand simple German in everyday situations. It explores life in German-speaking countries and communities worldwide through topics relevant to adult learners such as impressions of Germany, Austria and Switzerland; travelling; lifestyles; cultural events; and technology. Study resources include printed books, a dedicated website with online activities and resources and audio recordings – which support independent learning. Together, they’ll give you not just language skills but a real feel for German-speaking countries and communities too.

Auftakt: intermediate German (L130)




Auftakt: intermediate German follows on from Rundblick: beginners’ German (L193). It revises and consolidates the knowledge of German you already have and teaches more advanced language in the context of German-speaking countries and communities. Study resources – including printed course books and online interactive activities – are carefully designed to develop the four language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. They provide clear learning objectives, guidance and model answers. This OU level 1 module also teaches study skills and language-learning strategies.


Motive: upper intermediate German (L203)




This module builds on Auftakt: intermediate German (L130), or equivalent knowledge. It will enhance your cultural knowledge and develop the skills needed to study at a higher level as well as your practical language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. By studying a variety of authentic audio, video and printed materials from German-speaking countries, you will learn how to communicate in situations ranging from everyday conversation to putting forward your point of view in a debate. You will also improve your command of grammar and vocabulary. A compulsory residential school takes place in Germany (or you can study an online alternative).




Variationen: advanced German (L313)


Extend your knowledge of contemporary German-speaking cultures and further develop German language skills – speaking, listening, reading and writing – as well as your academic skills in German.

Languages56

ItalianItaly’s long heritage in fine arts, literature and music is behind its modern-day reputation for innovation in design, fashion and technology – areas where it plays a significant and influential role in international commerce.

Learning Italian is the key to understanding more about and enjoying Italy’s rich culture.

OU level 1

Andante: beginners’ Italian (L195)




This introductory OU level 1 module is designed to give you the skills you need to speak and understand simple Italian in everyday contexts. The module takes you through a wide range of practical situations such as travelling, shopping, working and eating out in Italy. Study resources include printed books and a dedicated website with online activities, resources and audio recordings to support independent learning. Together, they’ll give you not just language skills but a real feel for Italian society and culture too.

Vivace: intermediate Italian (L150)




Vivace: intermediate Italian follows on from Andante: beginners’ Italian (L195). It revises and consolidates your knowledge of Italian and teaches more advanced language in the context of Italian society and culture. It offers insights into many aspects of everyday life in modern Italy, so you’ll have a better understanding of issues that concern Italian people. The study resources – including course books and an interactive DVD-ROM as well as a range of online activities – are carefully designed to develop your speaking, listening, reading and writing language skills. They provide clear learning objectives, guidance and model answers. This OU level 1 module also teaches study skills and language-learning strategies.

SpanishWith over 400 million people speaking it as a first language, Spanish is now the world’s fourth most-spoken language. It’s the official language of Spain and much of America. Along with English, Spanish is set to be one of the dominant languages of the future.

While learning the language, you also explore many aspects of the rich and varied Spanish speaking cultures all over the world.

OU level 1

Portales: beginners’ Spanish (L194)




This introductory OU level 1 module – Portales: beginners’ Spanish – is designed to develop the skills you need to speak and understand simple Spanish in everyday contexts. It takes you through a wide range of practical situations such as travelling, shopping, working and eating out in Spanish-speaking countries. Study resources include printed books, a dedicated website with online activities and resources and audio recordings – which support independent learning. Together, they’ll give you not just language skills but a real feel for Hispanic cultures as well.

En rumbo: intermediate Spanish (L140)




En rumbo: intermediate Spanish follows on from Portales: beginners’ Spanish (L194). It builds on your existing Spanish and teaches more advanced language in the context of Spanish and Latin American society and culture. Study resources – including printed course books and interactive online activities – are carefully designed to develop the four language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. They provide clear learning objectives, guidance and model answers. This OU level 1 module also teaches study skills and language-learning strategies.

Languages 57


Viento en popa: upper intermediate Spanish (L204)




This module builds on En rumbo: intermediate Spanish (L140), or equivalent knowledge. It will enhance your cultural knowledge and develop the skills needed to study at a higher level, as well as your practical language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. By studying a variety of authentic audio, video and printed materials from Spanish-speaking countries, you will learn how to communicate in situations ranging from everyday conversation to putting forward your point of view in a debate. You will also improve your command of grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary acquisition. A compulsory residential school takes place in Spain (or you can study an online alternative).




A buen puerto: advanced Spanish (L314)


Extend your knowledge of contemporary Spanish-speaking cultures and further develop Spanish language skills – speaking, listening, reading and writing – as well as your academic skills in Spanish.

WelshWelsh is spoken today by some 600,000 people in Wales and significant numbers of speakers outside, particularly England. The Welsh Government is promoting Wales as a bilingual nation and this is a requirement in an increasing number of jobs in Wales.

OU level 1

Croeso: beginners’ Welsh (L196)




Croeso: beginners’ Welsh will give you the skills you need to speak and understand simple Welsh in everyday contexts. No previous knowledge of Welsh is required. This introductory OU level 1 module will take you through a wide range of practical situations such as socialising, travelling and shopping, and explores aspects of Welsh society and culture. We’ll send you printed and audio materials, and you’ll have a dedicated website, all of which support independent learning. And while you’re learning the language, you’ll gain a real feel for the Welsh way of life too.

Law58

LawLaw is a fascinating subject, with a great tradition and a dynamic future. As a foundation stone of society it plays an increasingly important and visible role in virtually all areas of modern life. Social and environmental responsibilities, business operations and international codes of conduct are all determined and upheld by legal systems.

Whether you have a particular personal interest or want to know the underpinning law related to your occupation, studying a law module will develop your understanding and knowledge of the subject.

OU level 1 59

OU level 2 59

OU level 3 60


Law 59

OU level 1

An introduction to law in contemporary Scotland (W150)




This module looks at law making in contemporary Scotland. It considers the role of both the Scottish Parliament and Courts in law making, looking at the structure of the court system and the role of the judiciary. It explores the relationship between the law making power of the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments. It introduces you to some specific areas of Scots law, including the law relating to human rights and children. This module will be of particular interest to anyone needing an overview of the Scottish legal system, and will provide an excellent beginning for students who want to understand how modern Scotland works.

NEW An introduction to law (W101)




This module considers the nature and role of law. It examines the role and function of a legal system by considering why laws develop, how laws are created, interpreted and applied and what role law plays in regulating and administering justice within a society. The relationship between law, judicial reasoning, public policy and politics is also explored.

The key aspects of law making in England and Wales are covered, including the mechanisms created for the administration and enforcement of justice in these jurisdictions. The module also considers a number of fundamental legal concepts such as liability, culpability, evidence and sanctions.

The module deals principally with the law of England and Wales.

NEW Law: concepts and perspectives (W102)



Recommended prior study: W101

This module considers a range of key legal principles and concepts and the role they play in modern society. It looks at different legal systems and traditions and considers the role and place of international law. The purpose of criminal and civil justice systems is explored alongside a discussion of the concepts of criminal and civil liability. Miscarriages of justice and access to justice are also explored through a range of case studies. The concept of human rights and the international human rights frameworks are then introduced and discussed. The module concludes by exploring the relationship between law and morality.


OU level 2You must be suitably prepared for study at this level. If in doubt, see page 5 or contact our advisory staff on +44 (0)845 300 60 90

Commercial transactions: law and practice (W222)



Recommended prior study: W101 and W200

This module explores various types of commercial transactions, the role played by finance, and the forms of business organisations which can enter into commercial transactions. You’ll examine the legal regulation of the sale of goods, the supply of services, and agency, distribution and franchise agreements. In addition to gaining knowledge and understanding of this important and growing area that affects business organisations, you will develop associated legal and study skills.


Company law and practice (W223)




This module examines the increasing significance of companies in contemporary society. It addresses fundamental issues of the law affecting these organisations, including the idea that a company is a distinct ‘legal person’. The module considers the powers and duties of those involved in companies, and the consequences of a company failing to meet relevant legal standards of conduct. It will be of interest to you if you are involved in companies and wish to develop or refresh your knowledge and understanding; or if you have regular dealings with companies in your personal or professional life; or purely for academic study.


Law60

Employment law and practice (W221)




This module considers the characteristics of modern employment law relating to individuals. It looks at the characteristics of a contract of employment and issues relating to claims for breach of contract, unfair dismissal and redundancy. It also examines discrimination legislation relating to employment rights, and how the law has developed ‘family-friendly’ rights to employees. This module will be of interest if you’re seeking to develop your experience and understanding, or if you’ve taken Understanding law (W200), as it builds upon skills developed in that module.


Law: the individual and the state (W201)




This module builds on the knowledge and skills developed in Understanding law (W200) and examines a further two Foundations of Legal Knowledge: public law and criminal law. Public law considers the relationship between citizen and state; the structure of state institutions; how government action may be challenged (judicial review); the legal values that determine a citizen’s rights and duties; and an outline of civil liberties law. Criminal law considers criminal liability in the context of particular criminal offences; the requirements of specific defences; areas where criminal law is considered flawed; and proposals for reform.


Relationships, families and the law (W224)




This module examines the role of law in the context of modern relationships and family life. This includes issues such as living together, marriage, divorce and the law relating to children, and related issues of tax, family property and inheritance. You will consider the law relating to unmarried and married couples, same sex relationships and extended families (including older relatives) through a series of case studies based on real-life situations.


Understanding law (W200)



Recommended prior study: W101

This introduction to the creation and application of English law begins by asking ‘What is the law?’; teaches you to find, read, interpret and apply the law; and introduces the techniques of practical legal research. Ideal if you’re considering a legal career, it provides a brief overview of constitutional principles, criminal law, human rights, and the law of contract and tort. You will then study the terminology and sources of law, legal research and the workings of the European Union (EU) in depth. The other foundations of legal knowledge are covered by our modules W201, W300 and W301.




Law: agreements, rights and responsibilities (W300)


Examine the two Foundations of Legal Knowledge covered by the Law of Obligations – Contract Law and the Law of Tort. The module also introduces the law of restitution.

Law: ownership and trusteeship: rights and responsibilities (W301)


This module examines the Foundations of Legal Knowledge in land law, and equity and trusts, looking at a variety of issues concerning ownership and trusteeship.

Law 61

I candefinitely do this.

“I didn’t know if I could do long distance learning, so I took an Access module to see how flexible it was and how I would cope. After that I thought, ‘I can definitely do this’. It was about managing my lifestyle, my hours, my time…and it worked.”

Melody Chanakira

Mathematics and statistics62

Mathematics and statistics Mathematics and statistics play a part in almost all daily activities. They are at the heart of advances in science and technology, as well as being indispensable problem-solving and decision-making tools in many areas of life. Forecasting the weather or movements in the stock market, planning travel timetables, or calculating how much water is needed to fill a swimming pool, all rely on mathematics or statistics. Mathematical and statistical knowledge is much sought after by employers for a wide variety of jobs.

You don’t need to have studied mathematics to a high level at school to study one of our OU level 1 modules in maths. For advice on which of these modules is your best starting point, look at our MathsChoices website (mathschoices.open.ac.uk). You’ll find taster packs there too. If you have already studied some mathematics or statistics at university level, or equivalent, you may be interested in one of our more specialised modules at OU level 2 or OU level 3.

Short online module 63

OU level 1 63

Mathematics 63

OU level 1 63

OU level 2 64

OU level 3 65

Statistics 65

OU level 1 65

OU level 2 66

OU level 3 66

Mathematics education 67

OU level 3 67





Short online moduleOU level 1

The story of maths (TM190)

Credits: 10 at OU level 1 Length: 10 weeks

Start: 01 May 2014 – register by 24 Apr 2014


This 10-week online module follows the BBC Four series The story of maths presented by Professor Marcus du Sautoy. It traces the development of mathematics – from its origins in Egypt and Mesopotamia 4000 years ago to twentieth-century Europe and the US. You’ll explore mathematical ideas in an historical and cultural context that are explained in an entertaining and accessible way. The television programmes on DVD are accompanied by online and printed commentaries, and Anne Rooney’s book The Story of Mathematics. This is an excellent introduction to further study in mathematics and the sciences.

Please note: this 10-credit short module cannot be counted towards our undergraduate qualifications.

MathematicsOU study can equip you with the basic tool kit of mathematical ideas and methods, and offers specialist modules in pure and applied mathematics that build on this foundation. You’ll find that an ability to understand mathematical concepts and manipulate numbers is useful in almost any situation or job.

OU level 1Visit our MathsChoices website (mathschoices.open.ac.uk) for help on choosing your first OU level 1 module.

Discovering mathematics (MU123)




This introductory OU level 1 module provides a gentle start to the study of mathematics. It will help you to integrate mathematical ideas into your everyday thinking and build your confidence in using and learning mathematics. You’ll cover statistical, graphical, algebraic, trigonometric and numerical concepts and techniques, and be introduced to mathematical modelling. Formal calculus is not included and you are not expected to have any previous knowledge of algebra. The skills introduced will be ideal if you plan to study more mathematics modules, such as Essential mathematics 1 (MST124). It is also suitable for users of mathematics in other areas, such as computing, science, technology, social science, humanities, business and education.


Essential mathematics 1 (MST124)



Recommended prior study: MU123

This introductory module provides a broad, enjoyable introduction to university-level mathematics, but you do require some prior knowledge. It teaches you the essential ideas and techniques that underpin university-level study in mathematics and mathematical subjects such as physics, engineering and economics. You’ll study a range of fundamental topics, including calculus, vectors, matrices and complex numbers, and use mathematical software to solve problems. You’ll also develop your skills in communicating results and defining problems. This is not a module for beginners. Our MathsChoices website (mathschoices.open.ac.uk) contains quizzes, sample material and advice to help you decide if this module is right for you.

NEW Essential mathematics 2 (MST125)



Recommended prior study: MST124

Essential mathematics 2 builds on the concepts and techniques in Essential mathematics 1 (MST124) to provide a complete foundation for higher-level mathematics studies. You’ll be introduced to a broad range of enjoyable and essential topics, such as proof, differential equations, mechanics and discrete mathematics and will extend your knowledge of calculus and its applications. You’ll use mathematical software, and learn how to typeset mathematics.


Mathematical methods (MST224)



Recommended prior study: MST124

This module is designed to teach you about a variety of mathematical methods which are used in modelling through their application to solving real world problems. These methods include differential equations, linear algebra and vector calculus. You will become familiar with new mathematical skills mainly by using pencil and paper and by thinking. This module will give you a good mathematical foundation for higher-level study in economics, physics and in most mathematics modules. To study this module you should have a sound knowledge of algebra, calculus, and geometry as provided by the appropriate OU level 1 study.

NEW Mathematical methods, models and modelling (MST210)



Recommended prior study: MST124 and MST125

Solve real problems by finding out how they are transformed into mathematical models and learning the methods of solution. This module covers classical mechanical models as well as some non-mechanical models such as population dynamics; and methods including vector algebra, differential equations, calculus (including several variables and vector calculus), matrices, methods for three-dimensional problems, and numerical methods. Teaching is supported and enhanced by use of a computer algebra package. This module is essential for higher level study of applied mathematics. To study this module you’ll need a sound knowledge of mathematics as developed in Essential mathematics 1 (MST124) and Essential mathematics 2 (MST125), or equivalent.

Pure mathematics (M208)



Recommended prior study: MST124 and MST125

Pure mathematics is one of the oldest creative human activities and this module introduces its main topics. Group Theory explores sets of mathematical objects that can be combined – such as numbers, which can be added or multiplied, or rotations and reflections of a shape, which can be performed in succession. Linear Algebra explores 2- and 3-dimensional space and systems of linear equations, and develops themes arising from the links between these topics. Analysis, the foundation of calculus, covers operations such as differentiation and integration, arising from infinite limiting processes. You’ll need a sound knowledge of mathematics as developed in Essential mathematics 1 (MST124) and Essential mathematics 2 (MST125) to study this module.




Complex analysis (M337)


This module develops the theory of functions of a complex variable, emphasising their geometric properties and indicating some applications.

Graphs, networks and design (MT365)


This module is about using ideas from discrete mathematics to model problems, and representing these ideas through diagrams, showing anything from chemical bonds to transport systems.

NEW Further pure mathematics (M303)


This module explores some of the principal branches of modern mathematics: algebraic structures (groups, rings, and fields), metric spaces, number theory and cryptography.

Mathematical methods and fluid mechanics (MST326)


Increase the range of mathematical methods at your disposal, especially in advanced calculus, and apply these to the fascinating behaviour that arises in fluid mechanics.

Waves, diffusion and variational principles (MS324)


Build your understanding of waves, diffusion and variational principles by considering specific examples, learning new equation-solving techniques, and studying influential mathematicians such as Lagrange.

StatisticsGenetics, meteorology and oceanography are typical of the fields where you’ll find statisticians at work. Yet a background in statistics can take you in any number of career directions, especially in commerce, education and government.

Combining theory and practice, OU study can take you from the basics of analysing data to more advanced statistical methods, such as linear modelling and applications of probability.

Throughout business and industry, organisations rely on the work of statisticians to help in decision making about chance and risk.

We recommend that you start your statistics study with an OU level 1 module in mathematics or statistics.

OU level 1

Introducing statistics (M140)




Today, more than ever, statistics is part of our lives. From this introductory module you will learn to use basic statistical tools and quantitative methods that are useful in business, government, industry, medicine, the economy, and most academic subjects. Topics covered include: summarising data; examining relationships; randomness and sampling distributions; probability; testing hypotheses; and estimation. Using data from a range of applications, you’ll learn practical statistical techniques and fundamental principles, as well as using software and a calculator to analyse data. The skills introduced will be ideal if you plan to study more mathematics modules or if you encounter data in another subject or your daily life.



Analysing data (M248)



Recommended prior study: M140 and MST124

This module explores basic statistical concepts for analysing and interpreting data. The emphasis is on the practical side, although underlying theory is also included. MINITAB and other software supplied with the module are used to analyse data and develop your understanding of statistical concepts – use of a computer is therefore essential, and you’ll receive detailed guidance for all the computer activities. The module covers exploratory methods for data analysis, models for data, estimation, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, regression and two-variable problems. To study this module you should have mathematical competence at the level developed by Essential mathematics 1 (MST124) and statistical competence at the level developed by Introducing statistics (M140).

Practical modern statistics (M249)



Recommended prior study: M248 or M140 and MST124

The module provides an introduction to four major topics of modern applied statistics: medical statistics, time series, multivariate analysis, and Bayesian statistics. It’s ideal if you’ve already studied a general introductory statistics module and wish to broaden your knowledge of the field. The module emphasises underlying principles and practical applications rather than technical details. Use of a computer is an essential component – the module includes SPSS and WinBUGS software, which you’ll use to analyse data and develop your understanding of statistics. To study this module you should have a sound knowledge of basic mathematics as provided by the appropriate OU level 1 module, and statistical competence at the level developed by the appropriate OU level 2 study.



Applications of probability (M343)


Discover how models can describe the occurrences of events – from a gambler’s ruin or the positions of plants, to the spread of an epidemic.

Linear statistical modelling (M346)


Explore situations where a response variable depends on explanatory variables – such as how different strains of wheat compare when grown in various conditions.

Mathematical statistics (M347)


This entirely online module provides you with the mathematical underpinning for practical applications of statistical techniques and interpretation of data and statistical analyses.


Mathematics educationIf you teach or wish to teach mathematics, the OU offers a series of modules in mathematics education to develop your knowledge, appreciation and understanding of the learning and teaching of mathematics. You will need access to a small group of learners of mathematics at an appropriate level.



Developing algebraic thinking (ME625)


Develop your understanding of how people learn and use algebra at Key Stages 2–4, and of different teaching constructs and principles.

Developing geometric thinking (ME627)


Develop your understanding of the learning of geometry at Key Stages 2–4, explore a range of different teaching approaches and develop your geometric thinking.

Developing statistical thinking (ME626)


Explore the learning of statistics and data handling at Key Stages 2–4, and investigate different teaching approaches, including the use of ICT tools.

Mathematical thinking in schools (ME620)


Develop your knowledge and understanding of the teaching of mathematics and broaden your ideas about how people learn and use mathematics. This module is the best choice with which to begin your studies at OU level 3 in mathematics education.

Psychology and counselling68

Psychology and counsellingPsychology pervades all aspects of our everyday lives, which means that a basic grounding in psychology can enrich our understanding of our personal, professional and social lives. Our more general modules in psychology will appeal to those seeking to work in a diverse range of areas, as well as to those considering a qualification in psychology and wishing to explore the subject a little first. More specialist modules in autism and in counselling provide an excellent basis for those with career aspirations in these fields, as well as being fascinating modules in their own right.


OU level 1 69


OU level 1 69

OU level 2 70

OU level 3 70






Introduction to counselling (D171)


Start: 18 Oct 2014 – register by 02 Oct 2014 11 Apr 2015 – register by 26 Mar 2015


The tremendous expansion of counselling over the last 20 years reflects the changing nature of society, an increase in the number of people perceiving a need for professional help with their problems, and a growing recognition of the value of such support. This 12-week online module provides an accessible and interesting introduction to the theory and practice of counselling. While the module is primarily theoretical, it also develops some awareness of the basic skills in counselling practice. You will get a good grounding in key topics in counselling, including its cultural and historical origins; different theoretical orientations; and the vital role of the counselling relationship.


Psychology and counsellingOU level 1

NEW Investigating psychology 1 (DE100)


Start: 04 Oct 2014 – register by 11 Sep 2014 07 Feb 2015 – register by 08 Jan 2015

Recommended prior study: DD102

Drawing on a wide range of studies and some classic pieces of psychological research, this introductory module provides an accessible and engaging introduction to the study of psychology. You will explore the different ways in which psychologists investigate the human mind and behaviour, and find out how psychological research addresses real-life issues with an opportunity to conduct a psychological study of your own. You will be provided with two textbooks and access to a comprehensive website containing an online study guide, audio-visual material and interactive activities which are designed to help you develop your knowledge and skills.

Understanding the autism spectrum (SK124)




Autism is a spectrum of conditions characterised by social, communicative, sensory-motor and cognitive difficulties. The social and psychological consequences can be profound. This module provides an accessible introduction to the autistic spectrum, principles and problems of diagnosis, and biological and psychological approaches to explaining underlying causes. Approaches to care, education and therapy, and issues concerning social support, legal rights and wellbeing of individuals on the autism spectrum are explored. The module is especially relevant to educators, learning support workers and healthcare professionals; parents, siblings, care-givers and able people on the autism spectrum; and all those with an interest in the psychological and health sciences.

Please note: this 15-credit module cannot be counted towards our undergraduate qualifications.

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Child development (ED209)



Recommended prior study: DD102, DSE212

This module shows how psychological enquiry can help us to improve our understanding of the development of children and young people. It’s organised in four parts: Psychological development and early childhood introduces children’s early development from a psychological perspective; Children’s personal and social development follows development in a social context; and Cognitive and language development in children explores the development of cognitive and linguistic understanding and the developing child as an active agent. Finally, Developmental psychology in action presents areas in which developmental psychology plays a part in education, remediation, health psychology and the legal system with children of all ages.

Counselling: exploring fear and sadness (D240)


Start: 03 May 2014 – register by 10 Apr 2014 04 Oct 2014 – register by 11 Sep 2014

Recommended prior study: D171

Fear and sadness are the most common problems that people seek counselling for. This module introduces you to the ways in which they have been understood: as ‘mental health problems’; by different forms of individual therapy; and by approaches that focus on the family, the social group, or society. While the module is primarily academic, you’ll develop awareness of counselling skills, processes and techniques. The main sections of the module cover: historical developments in understanding fear and sadness; key individual counselling approaches; approaches that consider relationships and cultural aspects of human suffering; and the practice and evaluation of counselling.

Exploring psychology (DSE212)



Recommended prior study: DE100

How humans think, develop, and experience the world around us has been fascinating psychologists for over 100 years. Using a historical and biographical framework, this module introduces you to a wide range of psychological approaches, including biological, social, and cognitive psychologies. It looks at areas

such as identity, learning, memory, and language. But you won’t just learn about psychological theories, you’ll learn how to do different types of psychological research too. You’ll undertake practical work using quantitative and qualitative research methods and learn to analyse data using statistical software. All in all, Exploring psychology will give you a thorough overview of psychology, relevant to your daily life.

The science of the mind: investigating mental health (SDK228)



Recommended prior study: S104, DD102, K101 or SDK125

To what extent can we understand mental wellbeing and treat mental health conditions such as depression and dementia by focusing on the brain and its functioning? This module presents and challenges the medical model of mental health with its reliance on drug treatment, contrasting it with ideas in the field of health psychology. You will learn from case reports of those who have a mental health condition and those who care for them, as well as from relevant research studies. The module has an emphasis on understanding different approaches within psychology, as well as the nature of evidence for and against these approaches.



Cognitive psychology (DD303)


How does memory work? How do we understand language? How do we think? Examine theories, evidence, arguments and methods of cognitive psychology, neuropsychology and neuroimaging.


Social psychology: critical perspectives on self and others (DD307)


Use key social psychological theories to explore pressing issues we face in our complex, fast changing world, while developing skills of critical evaluation and argument.

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It’s worth it.“It’s a big commitment but it’s manageable. When you start the journey you’re not sure you’re going to get there but it’s worth it and it’s such a good way of furthering your own learning.”

Katie Cooper

Science72



ScienceScience is about creativity, discovery and problem solving, and offers the chance to improve our world’s future.

We live in a society that depends on science, but how many of us really understand the science behind the important issues that feature in the news? Advances in areas such as global health, the natural environment, communications, food production, and transport all depend on fresh knowledge emerging from science’s many disciplines.

Study science with the OU and you’ll enhance your understanding of the world and enrich your intellectual and personal development.

If you want to explore a science subject without committing yourself to an undergraduate qualification, some of the following modules could be of interest. Please remember that the OU level 2 and OU level 3 modules described are not intended for those new to university-level study. There are diagnostic quizzes available via the Faculty of Science’s website at www.open.ac.uk/science to help you decide whether you are ready to study for specific modules.

Earth sciences 78

OU level 2 78

OU level 3 78

Environmental science 78

OU level 2 78

OU level 3 79

Health sciences 79

OU level 1 79

OU level 2 80

OU level 3 80

Physics 81

OU level 2 81

OU level 3 81

Short modules 73

OU level 1 73

Natural sciences 74

OU level 1 74

OU level 2 75

Astronomy and planetary science 75

OU level 2 75

OU level 3 76

Biology 76

OU level 2 76

OU level 3 77

Chemistry 77

OU level 2 77

OU level 3 77

We also offer a number of non-credit-bearing short courses in science that may interest you. For more information see pages 91–92.


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Short modulesIf you are interested in learning science through a topical science area you might choose to start with one of our short modules. These enable you to try out a new area of study and improve your study skills before you commit yourself to a longer module. For most of these modules you will receive a printed study book as well as online materials.

Please note: 10-credit science short modules cannot be counted towards undergraduate qualifications.

OU level 1

Galaxies, stars and planets (S177)


Start: 04 Oct 2014 – register by 25 Sep 2014 11 Apr 2015 – register by 02 Apr 2015


This module explores the fascinating science behind the galaxies, stars and planets of the Universe. You will learn how the Sun gets its energy and how astronomers are able to observe the Sun, even into its interior. You will be introduced to the planets, their satellites and the minor bodies of the solar system. You will also meet exoplanets, i.e. planets around other stars. The latest ideas about the life cycle of stars, from birth to death, and the cosmic recycling of their components are also explored. You will also meet ideas about the expanding Universe, dark matter, dark energy, the large-scale structure of the Universe and what we know about the very early Universe, shortly after the ‘Big Bang’. Many of these topics are at the cutting edge of our understanding but are dealt with in an approachable and (largely) non-mathematical way. Finally, life beyond the Earth is considered, including its requirements and possible habitats, and the likelihood of alien life – including intelligent life.

Living without oil: chemistry for a sustainable future (S176)




Crude oil is currently our most important global source of energy. It is vital in the manufacture of many modern materials. But the world’s supply of oil is finite, its price is unstable and our reliance on oil has damaging environmental consequences. Can we sustainably fuel our transport needs with biofuels, electricity or hydrogen? Can we replace the plastics we derive from crude oil with ones made by microorganisms or plants? This introductory module explores oil’s vital role in the modern world, as a source of both energy and modern materials, and discusses the issues arising from our dependence on it, assessing some of the exciting scientific developments that could lead to sustainable alternatives to oil.

This module has been partly funded by the Wolfson Foundation in collaboration with The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Maths for science (S151)




Do you want to further your study of science but worry that you lack confidence in mathematics? Then this module could be for you. Mathematical techniques are explained, and worked examples are included throughout the module, but the main emphasis is on providing examples for you to try for yourself.

Many of the examples have a scientific flavour and detailed answers are also provided. As you work through the questions you will be able to revise the mathematical skills you already have, as well as learning and practising new ones, and your confidence in handling maths should increase. There are two online interactive assessments which give you instantaneous feedback on your answers; one can be attempted at any point during the module and provides practice for the end-of-module assessment with the same format.

You are advised not to take Maths for science as your first module.

Molecules, medicines and drugs: a chemical story (SK185)




From Hippocrates to modern times, society has sought ways of relieving pain and curing or preventing disease. From ancient wisdom to herbal remedies, there have been important discoveries resulting in the development of medicines that are commonplace today. Modern research at the molecular level constantly adds to the range of drugs available to combat ill-health. This module tells the fascinating story of the development of a variety of drugs and explores chemical strategies to minimise the risk of infection and disease.

This module has been partly funded by the Wolfson Foundation in collaboration with The Royal Society of Chemistry.

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The frozen planet (S175)




This module explains the science behind the polar regions. At any one time during the year, ice and snow cover over one-third of our planet: ice has shaped the landscapes, it determines the structure of the ecosystem and the animals that prosper, and it even drives our global climate. The module uses specially filmed material from the Frozen Planet BBC TV series to explain the underlying science and wonder of the polar world.

Volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis (S186)




This module provides an introduction to the science behind volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, including why they occur, how they are triggered and the hazards they pose. You will learn about the basic plate tectonic structure of the Earth and its relationship to the global distribution of these natural phenomena, understand the risk to humans and the environment, and the methods used to predict and monitor their occurrence and to reduce our vulnerability. Through guided activities you will learn to use international websites to obtain reports and information about recent and current events.

Natural sciencesOU level 1

Exploring science (S104)




This introductory OU level 1 module is an ideal starting point for studying the natural sciences – astronomy and planetary science; biology; chemistry, earth and environmental science; and physics. Using a blend of text and online study materials, this wide-ranging module investigates the major scientific issues affecting human society in the twenty-first century. You will explore the fundamentals of modern science and develop important scientific concepts and skills to give you a solid foundation for studying science at a higher level. You should have some basic mathematical skills and knowledge of basic science concepts before you begin.

Investigative and mathematical skills in science (S141)




Designed to follow our introductory module in science – Exploring science (S104) – this module focuses on developing your experimental, investigative and mathematical skills. You’ll gain confidence in using mathematics as a scientific tool by working through questions in a study book with worked examples. You’ll investigate weather patterns and events around the world, and develop your observational skills by studying your local weather to make your own short-term forecast. And you’ll learn key scientific skills by doing experiments at home, and working online with a small group to discuss experimental design, collect data and compare results.

Scientific investigations (S155)




This online module provides an innovative introduction to designing experiments and interpreting results. These are key scientific skills that you will learn by devising and performing experiments at home. You will not be alone in your task. Collaboration is important in science and you will work with a small group that, for part of the module, discusses experimental design, collects data and compares results.

The experiments and study materials draw on examples from the breadth of science. This is an online module within which you will use a variety of communication methods, including scheduled online forums.


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Topics in science (S142)



Recommended prior study: S104 or SDK125

In this module you will study three exciting topics in contemporary science which will provide you with a broad understanding of OU level 1 science. These topics include Human genetics and health issues, which deals with our genes – an area at the forefront of medical science, and Empire of the microbes, which explores the intriguing world of bacteria, viruses, yeast and other microscopic organisms. To allow some specialisation between studying health sciences or environmental sciences you will have a choice between Molecules, medicines and drugs, which explores drug development, infection and disease and The frozen planet, which explains the science behind the polar regions.


Analytical science: health, heritage and environments (S240)




Have you ever wondered … How are sport drug cheats caught? How many calories are there in a burger? How do pregnancy testing kits work? How old is the Earth? How do X-rays work? How are antiquities dated? How do we know our water is safe to drink? How are diseases diagnosed? This module explains how analytical scientists know the answers to these and other fascinating questions, and introduces the major concepts in analytical science. Using examples from medicine, science and the arts you will learn about the major biological, chemical and physical techniques employed in improving the quality of our lives.

Science in context (S250)




This module covers a range of interesting, contemporary issues with a scientific dimension: BSE/vCJD; near-Earth objects; water and wellbeing; climate change; genetic manipulation and nanotechnology. It deals with the underlying science and its ‘real world’ relevance. The topics are analysed in terms of four themes: communication; risk; ethical issues; and decision-making. The module will equip you to examine critically similar issues that might arise in future. You are assumed to have studied a range of scientific disciplines at OU level 1 and to have an interest in science in its broad social context.

Astronomy and planetary scienceOU level 2You must be suitably prepared for study at this level. If in doubt, see page 5 or contact our advisory staff on +44 (0)845 300 60 90.

Astronomy (S282)



Recommended prior study: S104 and MST124

This module considers the structure, origin and evolution of stars, galaxies and the universe as a whole, asking questions such as: How are stars born, and what happens when they die? How do galaxies form, and how do we know that the universe began in a ‘big bang’? This introduction to astronomy investigates the stars and their life cycles, galaxies and quasars, and the origin and evolution of the universe – and how it might continue to evolve in the future. You’ll make use of computer-based resources and can undertake some straightforward project work, based on your observations of the sky.

Planetary science and the search for life (S283)



Recommended prior study: S104 and MST124

This module tackles fundamental questions about our Solar System. How did it form and how has it evolved? Why aren’t all the planets like Earth? How and why did life arise on Earth? Has life arisen elsewhere in the Solar System or beyond, and could it be intelligent? You’ll look at the exploration of the Solar System by spacecraft; planetary processes such as volcanism and impacts; the structure of planets and their atmospheres; and asteroids, comets and meteorites. You’ll use web-based resources and electronic conferencing extensively. Although the module is intended for a wide range of people, a background in science is required.

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Practical science: physics and astronomy (SXPA288)



Recommended prior study: S104 and S155 or S141

The activities in this practical science module offer a choice of topics in physics and astronomy as diverse as the properties of electrons and the likelihood of life on other planets. Online – from the comfort of your own home – you’ll have the opportunity to use equipment ranging from a bench-top NMR spectrometer to an astronomical telescope. The module ends with a team project.



Astrophysics (S382)


Explore the astrophysics of stars and exoplanets – planets beyond our solar system – examining their properties, structure, evolution and the physical processes that occur within them. The module also includes a group project on astrophysical data analysis.

The relativistic Universe (S383)


This module will give you a good understanding of relativistic astrophysics and cosmology, including both their theoretical underpinnings and their observational consequences.

BiologyOU level 2You must be suitably prepared for study at this level. If in doubt, see page 5 or contact our advisory staff on +44 (0)845 300 60 90.

Cell biology (S294)




Cell biology explores the fascinating and diverse world of cells, from single-celled micro-organisms to the specialised cells that form complex tissues in plants and animals. It develops the key aspects of cell and molecular biology introduced in Exploring science (S104) and Introducing health sciences: a case study approach (SDK125). The origins of cells and the generation of cell diversity, as well as the common features of cellular structure and function – how they obtain energy, synthesise new molecules, communicate, proliferate and survive – are explored. There is an emphasis on the fundamental importance of cell biology in modern science, particularly in relation to cell technologies and health.

NEW The biology of survival (S295)




The biology of survival (S295) is an innovative on-screen module covering the biology and diversity of whole organisms from an evolutionary perspective. Interactions between diverse examples of cooperating and/or competing organisms, including predators and prey, are explored along with their changing environments. Various plants, animals and fungi are used to illustrate how adaptation in the physiology and behaviour of organisms contributes to survival. An important component is an investigative strand, in which you will undertake real and virtual experiments. Through this study and investigative combination, you will develop practical and analytical skills using at-home and on-screen interactive experiments to generate and analyse your own unique data sets.

The cost of accommodation, meals and travel for the optional residential field school is not included in the module fee.

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Practical science: biology and health (SXHL288)




The activities in this module explore a range of topics in biology and health sciences, from fundamental human and animal behaviour to the vital themes of genetic variation and water quality. Online – from the comfort of your own home – you’ll conduct investigations in various laboratories, in combinations of observation and experiment. The module ends with a team project.



Infectious disease and public health (SK320)


This module approaches infectious disease from several perspectives and explores the underlying biology, epidemiology, ecology and evolution of pathogens in relation to the extraordinary immune defences of their human hosts.

Molecular and cell biology (S377)


Examine the processes common to all life forms, with emphasis on animal cell biology, learning about molecular biology and cell functions, differentiation, ageing and tumorigenesis.

Signals and perception: the science of the senses (SD329)


Investigate how we interact with our environment through our senses – using concepts from biology, chemistry, physics and psychology to explore the process scientists call ‘perception’.

ChemistryOU level 2You must be suitably prepared for study at this level. If in doubt, see page 5 or contact our advisory staff on +44 (0)845 300 60 90.

NEW Chemistry: essential concepts (S215)



Recommended prior study: S104 and S141

Chemistry is fundamental to our modern world, touching all aspects of our lives: food; health; materials; energy; and our environment. Indeed, the solutions for many of the challenges facing the world will require chemistry as a key facilitating science. This highly interactive module provides a broad foundation in organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry. It explores organic compounds and their synthesis, spectroscopic analysis, the Periodic Table and the reactivity of metals and non-metals, bonding and molecular shape, thermodynamics and kinetics. The practical nature of chemistry will be emphasised throughout. There will be an optional laboratory-based residential school.

The cost of accommodation, meals and travel for the optional residential school is not included in the module fee.



Chemical change and environmental applications (S345)


Learn about the factors that cause and drive chemical reactions – from those in a car exhaust to those in the complex natural system of the atmosphere.

Drug design and synthesis (S346)


Explores the complex process involved in the discovery, design, development and synthesis of new drugs for use in healthcare and disease prevention.

Metals and life (S347)


Examine the vital role metals play in living systems and their processes – for example in respiration and photosynthesis – and consider their increasing significance in medicine.

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Earth sciencesOU level 2You must be suitably prepared for study at this level. If in doubt, see page 5 or contact our advisory staff on +44 (0)845 300 60 90.

Geology (S276)




Geology is the scientific study of the Earth, its origin, structure, processes and composition. This wide-ranging module introduces the fundamentals of geology in an exciting way, as well as the practical skills needed to understand and interpret geological features and processes. It covers five main areas: description and identification of minerals and rocks; interpretation of geological maps; the formation of igneous and metamorphic rocks and their associated structures; fossils; and sedimentary processes and environments. In addition to course texts, you’ll receive teaching materials on DVD-ROM (including a digital kit and virtual microscope) and a returnable home kit (with maps, rocks, minerals and fossils).

NEW Earth science (S209)



Recommended prior study: S104 and S141

This wide-ranging module introduces a scientific study of the Earth across the spectrum of scale, from shifting continents to the microscopic, and time from the 4.5 billion year age of the Earth to geological processes that happen in a flash. Your studies will include fossil life, erupting volcanoes, mountain building, and the record of Earth’s changing surface environments. The teaching materials will develop your practical skills using geological maps, microscopes, and many types of field data, alongside developing your general science and study skills. You’ll also learn fieldwork skills via virtual field trips or the optional four-day residential school.

The cost of accommodation, meals and travel for the optional residential school is not included in the module fee.



Oceanography (S330)


Oceans cover seventy per cent of the Earth’s surface. This module investigates their physics, chemistry and biology, and the structure of the basins that contain them.

The geological record of environmental change (S369)


Explore evidence of environmental change in the geological record, including sedimentary sequences, climatic and tectonic processes, the ‘greenhouse’ Cretaceous world, and the Ice Age.

Understanding the continents (S339)


This wide-ranging module develops your knowledge of the continents, plate-tectonic processes and related issues in depth: its theme is crustal evolution in contrasting environments.

Environmental scienceOU level 2You must be suitably prepared for study at this level. If in doubt, see page 5 or contact our advisory staff on +44 (0)845 300 60 90.

NEW Environmental science (S206)




Environmental science spans biology, chemistry, Earth science and physics, drawing them together in a holistic approach to studying the environment. You’ll investigate air, water, Earth, life and cycles and explore the processes, interactions and feedback mechanisms operating within different environments. Practical experiences provided through multimedia interactive ‘virtual’ field trip activities and project work allow you to develop skills and apply your learning. By the end, you will be able to make critical analyses of environmental processes and structures, e.g. landforms, soils, water flows and habitats of flora and fauna, and comment on anthropogenic influences and their likely consequences.

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NEW Environmental science (SXF206)




This is a version of S206 which includes two residential field schools.

The cost of the accommodation, meals and travel for the residential field schools is not included in the module fee.



Ecosystems (S396)


Explore the interactions between organisms and their environment that together form an ecosystem – from simple microbial communities to entire rainforests, and even the Earth itself.

The environmental web (U316)


Examine contemporary issues such as biodiversity and climate change, drawing on different disciplines to understand environmental changes, their consequences, and implications for action.

Health sciencesOU level 1

Introducing health sciences: a case study approach (SDK125)




This introductory OU level 1 module explores the scientific and social aspects of disease and disability in a global context through seven case studies: water and health in an overcrowded world; pain; alcohol; screening for breast cancer; chronic lung disease; trauma and accidents; and visual impairment. Each case study integrates the biological, chemical, and physical sciences with psychology, health statistics, and social studies to illuminate underlying causes and personal and societal consequences. You’ll develop skills in: evaluating evidence; understanding and using key scientific terms and concepts; handling numbers; and interpreting graphs and tables. You’ll also learn to study using ICT – including interactive DVDs, internet and online resources.

Topics in health sciences (SK143)



Recommended prior study: SDK125

This module gives an overview of two medical conditions that present a major global health problem; cardiovascular disease and cancer. Many of us will encounter these medical conditions either through professional involvement in health, or through affected family members or friends. Your study of cardiovascular diseases will develop your understanding of heart and circulatory diseases, and the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system. Cancers result from defects in cell proliferation, so you’ll study the properties of cells, how they divide and how tumours are formed and spread. Both topics consider risk factors and methods of detection, treatment and prevention worldwide.

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Understanding cardiovascular diseases (SK121)


Start: 20 Sep 2014 – register by 28 Aug 2014


This module provides an introductory overview of the diseases of the heart and circulation, and the anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system. You’ll study risk factors and patterns and methods of prevention of these diseases in a global context. The module text, case studies, and multimedia illustrate the characteristic symptoms and pathology of peripheral vascular and coronary heart disease; their diagnosis using a variety of techniques; and subsequent medical, surgical and lifestyle management. The module will appeal to patients, health care workers, people working in professions allied to medicine, and those with a general interest in the subject.


Understanding the autism spectrum (SK124)




Autism is a spectrum of conditions characterised by social, communicative, sensory-motor and cognitive difficulties. The social and psychological consequences can be profound. This module provides an accessible introduction to the autistic spectrum, principles and problems of diagnosis, and biological and psychological approaches to explaining underlying causes. Approaches to care, education and therapy, and issues concerning social support, legal rights and wellbeing of individuals on the autism spectrum are explored. The module is especially relevant to educators, learning support workers and healthcare professionals; parents, siblings, care-givers and able people on the autism spectrum; and all those with an interest in the psychological and health sciences.



Human biology (SK277)



Recommended prior study: SDK125, S104 or K101

This module presents human biology in a way that connects it directly with health and disease. It starts with the concept of a healthy body and explores the mechanisms that enable it to

maintain its integrity. Although you’ll deal with the physiology of each body system separately, the overall emphasis is on interaction and coordination. You’ll acquire sufficient background to appreciate how systems can fail and which medical interventions can be successful. The module will suit science students – especially those with a biology background; anyone interested in health; or people working in health and social care or other professions allied to medicine.

The science of the mind: investigating mental health (SDK228)



Recommended prior study: S104, DD102, K101 or SDK125

To what extent can we understand mental wellbeing and treat mental health conditions such as depression and dementia by focusing on the brain and its functioning? This module presents and challenges the medical model of mental health with its reliance on drug treatment, contrasting it with ideas in the field of health psychology. You will learn from case reports of those who have a mental health condition and those who care for them, as well as from relevant research studies. The module has an emphasis on understanding different approaches within psychology, as well as the nature of evidence for and against these approaches.



Infectious disease and public health (SK320)


This module approaches infectious disease from several perspectives and explores the underlying biology, epidemiology, ecology and evolution of pathogens in relation to the extraordinary immune defences of their human hosts.

Signals and perception: the science of the senses (SD329)


Investigate how we interact with our environment through our senses – using concepts from biology, chemistry, physics and psychology to explore the process scientists call ‘perception’.

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PhysicsOU level 2You must be suitably prepared for study at this level. If in doubt, see page 5 or contact our advisory staff on +44 (0)845 300 60 90.

Practical science: physics and astronomy (SXPA288)




The activities in this practical science module offer a choice of topics in physics and astronomy as diverse as the properties of electrons and the likelihood of life on other planets. Online – from the comfort of your own home – you’ll have the opportunity to use equipment ranging from a bench-top NMR spectrometer to an astronomical telescope. The module ends with a team project.

The physical world (S207)



Recommended prior study: S151 or MST124 and S104

If you intend to take only one module in physics, it should be this one. It will give you an essential view of the whole subject. Physics is perhaps the most exciting intellectual adventure of our age – discoveries being made now will change your life, and learning physics will change the way you think about the world. This wide-ranging introduction to physics and its applications covers classical mechanics; thermal physics and fluids; fields, waves and electromagnetism; relativity; and quantum physics (including solids, atoms, nuclei and particles) – setting many of them in their historical context so that you can appreciate the evolution of the subject.



Electromagnetism (SMT359)


Explore the electromagnetic fields and radiation that pervade the world around you, their encapsulation in Maxwell’s equations, and how they explain dozens of interesting phenomena.

The quantum world (SM358)


Explore the fundamental laws of modern physics and how mathematics is used to state and apply them, including physical principles, mathematical techniques and quantum theory.

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Social sciencesThe social sciences curriculum offered by the OU is vibrant and topical. You can study modules that specialise in the various disciplines of the social sciences, including criminology, economics, geography, politics and social policy.

We also offer a number of innovative interdisciplinary modules based on the perspectives of a number of disciplines that provide you with a wide contextual understanding of social problems. Whichever module you choose you will be equipped with skills and knowledge that will be of value to your personal development and career.

Geography 85

OU level 2 85

OU level 3 85

International studies 86

OU level 2 86

OU level 3 86

Politics 86

OU level 2 86

OU level 3 86

Social policy 87

OU level 2 87

OU level 3 87


OU level 1 83

Social sciences 83

OU level 1 83

OU level 2 83

OU level 3 83

Criminology 84

OU level 2 84

OU level 3 84

Economics 84

OU level 1 84

OU level 2 84

OU level 3 85




Social sciences 83


The uses of social science (DD206)




Making use of a blend of learning technologies, this interdisciplinary module investigates how social science is used to make sense of everyday dilemmas such as sustaining relationships, making a living, finding a place to live, being part of a community, or making one’s voice heard. The module explores how social scientists use evidence and data, theories and explanations, and norms and values to make sense of social life. By studying this module you will develop the practical skills and intellectual resources required to analyse the ways in which social science can be used both to understand and to shape our social lives.



Making social worlds (DD308)


Explore how we operate in social worlds and how social experience is shaped and made meaningful. Topics include immigration, medicine, family, money and reality television.


Contemporary Wales (D172)


Start: 30 Aug 2014 – register by 15 Aug 2014


Are you interested in the culture, society, economy and politics of Wales? This 12-week online module explores what is distinctive about Wales and Welsh identity. It will extend your understanding of core aspects of contemporary Wales by applying social sciences concepts. You will explore divisions within Wales and the ways in which connections are made across these differences. By the end of the module you will have a thorough understanding of a changing nation and you will be equipped with the skills that you will need for further study in the social sciences, such as interpreting data and connecting data with social science argument.


Social sciencesThousands of students take social sciences modules with the OU each year. The appeal is broad because the many subjects that come under the social sciences umbrella provide fascinating insights into everyday life in our communities, families and workplaces.

OU level 1This OU level 1 module offers a broad introduction to social sciences and provides you with the skills and knowledge needed to progress successfully to study at OU levels 2 and 3.

NEW Introducing the social sciences (DD102)




This introductory OU level 1 module provides an ideal introduction to the social sciences – psychology, social policy and criminology, geography and environment, politics and international studies, economics and sociology. You’ll explore a wide range of topics which shape the nature of contemporary UK society; from questions of identity, inequalities and differences to consumerism and environment, and issues of social order, disorder and governance. Using a blend of text, audio, video and online materials, you’ll be equipped with a range of skills for independent study and for your personal and working life.

Social sciences84

CriminologyCrime and the fear of crime are two of the biggest challenges of modern society. From the actions of petty thieves to the threats of terrorist organisations, crime affects us all to a greater or lesser extent.

But why are some actions defined as criminal or anti-social, while others are not? And who defines them? Criminology looks not only at crime, but at punishment too, questioning the effectiveness of imprisonment and rehabilitation.

You can learn more about various aspects of crime and the criminal justice system through a range of OU modules. You may want to study these for general interest, as useful background for your job, or count the credits you earn towards an OU certificate, diploma or degree.


Welfare, crime and society (DD208)




This module examines the relationships between the worlds of social welfare and crime control. It focuses on policy interventions and responses in the UK and around the world to issues such as anti-social behaviour, poverty, discrimination, hate crimes, child labour, health and disease, families, slums, ghettos and gated communities. Using multi-media teaching materials, the module is organised by four conceptual themes – surveillance, social justice, security and community. It will equip you with the skills you need to select and evaluate evidence in relation to social science arguments and social policy.



Crime and justice (DD301)


Explores crime, disorder and justice in local and global contexts and examines how these concerns are continually redefined by global economic, social and political change.

EconomicsBecause economics directly relates to everyday life it’s a fascinating subject to study.

OU modules take you from the basic theories and principles, through to more in-depth debate and insight into key issues, such as who wins and loses from globalisation, and ask whether continued economic growth is compatible with environment protection.

OU level 1

You and your money: personal finance in context (DB123)




Are you interested in making more informed decisions about your personal finances? You and your money is a practical module that will develop your financial skills and improve your understanding of the constantly changing social and economic environment in which financial decisions are made. You’ll explore questions such as: Why do people borrow so much? How can I plan for my retirement? By the end of this introductory OU level 1 module, you’ll have a detailed understanding of some key personal finance issues that affect people’s lives, and the skills and knowledge needed to improve your own financial capability.


Personal investment in an uncertain world (DB234)



Recommended prior study: DB123

Why, where and how should I invest? How are these decisions affected by economic uncertainty? What is the relationship between risk and return? These are some of the questions addressed in Personal investment in an uncertain world. Investment planning requires financial decisions about the allocation of resources in a world of uncertainties that affect the value of pensions, shares and bonds. You’ll learn how to understand the sources of uncertainty, the way that financial service providers adapt to it and how individuals form personal strategies to manage it.

Social sciences 85

Running the economy (DD209)



Recommended prior study: DD102 or DB123

This module responds to the need to understand the problems of running the national and global economy after the outbreak of a major economic crisis. It begins with macroeconomics, which looks at how economies work from a global and integrated perspective. It then moves to microeconomics, which looks at the behaviour of people, firms and governments. This combined analysis allows you to explore how policy affects and is affected by the economy and its members. Through the use of a simulator of the economy, you will be able to play the role of an economic analyst who needs to make policy choices.



Doing economics: people, markets and policy (DD309)


Examine the various economic theories that explain people’s behaviour in households, businesses and governments and make critical judgements of which alternative best serves which purpose.

GeographyGeography goes far beyond locations and landscapes. From climate change and cultural differences to politics and populations, geography’s diversity is its strength and makes it one of the most stimulating subjects you can study.

Geography at the OU will answer many of your most searching questions about how our complex world is changing. You’ll understand more about how places develop a distinctive character, why places are meaningful to people, and how the processes of globalisation influence places in a variety of ways across the world.


Living in a globalised world (DD205)




It is commonplace now to say that the world has gone global. Whenever we buy food and clothes, listen to music, or watch the news, we can see how different parts of the world, often thousands of miles apart, are connected together. And with these multiple and various connections comes a sense of the world as being a complex and exciting place. This module will help you to understand that complexity, giving you some key geographical concepts which help to make sense of the processes and patterns shaping our globalised world.



Earth in crisis: environmental policy in an international context (DU311)


Investigate causes and consequences of international environmental problems and resource conflicts, including loss of biological diversity, water allocation and urbanisation – focusing particularly on climate change.

Social sciences86

International studiesInternational studies allows you to explore the myriad relationships between nations, companies, cultures and individuals that extend across regions and the globe, and some of the most pressing global problems we face today.

At the OU, international studies has a particular emphasis on development and the issues and problems facing developing countries. It allows you to analyse how changing patterns of development and the rise of new powerful states in the developing world are reshaping the international system in which we all live.


International development: making sense of a changing world (TD223)




In this interdisciplinary module you’ll cover key areas of international development. These include: different models of development; shifting power in the international system; the relationship between poverty, inequality and livelihoods; the impact of conflict and insecurity; and the role of technology and the environment. The history of development as a process of change, the power relationships in that process and the different scales at which development takes place from transnational to local, are themes running throughout the module. These themes integrate the material – using a mix of case studies, interactive activities, text and video – to provide a central narrative encouraging critical appraisal and curiosity.



NEW International relations: continuity and change in global politics (DD313)


Investigate the contemporary political and other changes that are reshaping the international system and learn about key theories and ideas needed to analyse international relations.

PoliticsPolitics plays a crucial part in our lives. Our rights as citizens, the development of the European Union, and the outcome of a global ‘war’ against terrorism all depend on government policy.

Your OU studies will help you understand more about some of the biggest political challenges and changes in modern society, and how decisions are made, implemented and regulated.


Power, dissent, equality: understanding contemporary politics (DD203)




Tumultuous events such as 9/11 and the war in Iraq have reminded people how vital – and sometimes how deadly – the world of politics can be. Even at the very local level, the everyday politics of schools, hospitals, petitioning and local council debate affects people’s lives. This module invites you into the world of politics in a fresh and accessible way, using a wide variety of case studies drawn from the UK and beyond. It sheds light on the inner workings of power, decision making and protest, and it covers politics from parliament to the street, and the politics of ideas as well as institutions.



Living political ideas (DD306)


This exciting module considers the ways in which political ideas ‘live’, demonstrating their relevance for understanding contemporary issues in national and world politics.

Social sciences 8787

Social policySetting social policy is all about how we as a society decide who receives support, what form it takes, and who delivers it to the individuals who are thought to be vulnerable and in need. Should it be the state, the market, charities or families?

As an OU student studying social policy you’ll explore a variety of issues that are defined as social problems and learn how governments tackle them. You’ll appreciate how issues like disability, race and sexuality influence the development of social policies and welfare practices. From a career perspective, you’ll find your studies will be of particular value if you’re involved in, or plan to work in the criminal justice system, health care, housing, local government, public services, social welfare, or the voluntary sector.


Welfare, crime and society (DD208)




This module examines the relationships between the worlds of social welfare and crime control. It focuses on policy interventions and responses in the UK and around the world to issues such as anti-social behaviour, poverty, discrimination, hate crimes, child labour, health and disease, families, slums, ghettos and gated communities. Using multi-media teaching materials, the module is organised by four conceptual themes – surveillance, social justice, security and community. It will equip you with the skills you need to select and evaluate evidence in relation to social science arguments and social policy.



Personal lives and social policy (DD305)


Explore the processes by which individuals shape and are shaped by policy making and welfare practices through four themes – sexualities, care, work and citizenship.

Non-credit-bearing short courses88

Non-credit-bearing short coursesThese short, online courses are ideal if you aren’t looking for academic recognition (credit) or a qualification but want to learn informally about a subject for personal or professional development.


General health and social care 89

Clinical leadership 89

Science 91

There’s more onlineTo find out more about a short course that interests you and to register, go to www.openuniversity.co.uk/short-courses and enter the code into the search box.


This symbol indicates that a short course is available to be studied by students resident outside the European Union, see page 95 for more information.


Health and social careGeneral health and social careThese short courses focus on improving care and practice in health and social care. Whether you receive care or provide care, OU short courses play a valuable role in supporting high-quality care – in sharing good practice, addressing culture change and improving confidence.

These short courses offer:

• High-quality learning which you can apply right from the start.

• Strong focus on improving practice, quality of care and service user experience.

• Flexibility and accessibility – you can study whenever you want, wherever you have access to a computer or mobile device – and you don’t have to be away from work or caring responsibilities.

These courses are not formally assessed and they do not provide credits towards an Open University qualification. For details of formally assessed credit-bearing modules in health and social care, see pages 44–51.

Improving dementia care (KG002)

Credits: This is a non-credit-bearing course

Start: Anytime

This 50-hour non-accredited, self-directed short online course is aimed at anyone with an interest in, or responsibility for, the care of people with dementia. You will develop an understanding of: the medical and physiological dimensions of dementia including symptoms, changes in the brain and medication; the experience of dementia in relation to memory, identity and social relationships; care needs and person-centred care; the impact of the design of the physical environment; decision making, capacity, consent and risk; and how organisational culture shapes care quality. You will receive a certificate of participation upon completion.

Improving diabetes management (KG003)


Start: Anytime

This course provides an introduction to the medical, psychological and social dimensions of diabetes. You will learn about the parts of the body and physiological processes involved in diabetes. This 55-hour non-accredited online course covers diagnosis and treatment as well as day-to-day management and monitoring for complications. You will also study diabetes within the context of the everyday life of the person with the condition. Living well with diabetes, as well as the potential social and psychological impact, is also considered. This course has been designed with a wide range of people in mind: people with diabetes, carers, lay educators and a variety of health care practitioners, including clinical support workers.

Improving end-of-life care (KG001)


Start: Anytime

This 40-hour multimedia online course was developed with support from NHS organisations to support and develop staff in improving end-of-life care for adults. It covers different understandings of and support for ‘a good death’, effective communication, grief and bereavement, and ethics in end-of-life care. The course will support you in building your understanding of end-of-life care by working step-by-step through audio and video accounts from practice and written case studies, as well as accessible discussions of up-to-date research and theory. It addresses all key themes in the national end-of-life care strategy and has been developed to be accessible and relevant to as many people as possible regardless of educational background.

Improving health and wellbeing (KG004)


Start: Anytime

All health and social care practitioners have a role in supporting others to improve their health and wellbeing. While the Making Every Contact Count initiative is one example of this approach, all practitioners are expected to promote health as part of their role. This 40-hour non-accredited online course uses interactive teaching material and case studies to explain how nutrition, exercise, alcohol, smoking and stress are influenced by individual factors, family dynamics, locality and wider society. Biological, psychological and social issues are considered. Discussions of lifestyle and social change connect your study to public health concerns.

Clinical leadershipOur continuing professional development Clinical Leadership programme, aimed at clinicians and health professionals, has been developed with BMJ Learning to help you develop the skills you need. It offers relevant and practical training that is grounded in your clinical practice.

Short courses in the programme are delivered online and require 25 or 50 hours of study time. You can fit your studies around your busy schedule and, as our courses develop your work-based skills, you can apply your learning straight away.

Successful completion of specified courses from the programme, together with the assessment modules, will enable you to achieve the Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Leadership (K04). For more information, click www.openuniversity.co.uk/pg and type “K04” into the search box.

Continued on page 90.


Introduction to clinical leadership (BG014)


Start: Anytime

This 25-hour course reviews the challenges faced by clinicians following recent developments in health service policy. You will review the implications that these developments have on the kind of clinical leadership that is required in order to improve quality and effectiveness. By completing a work-based activity in which you analyse the kinds of leadership required of you, you will then focus on priorities for your future development as a clinical leader.

Developing yourself for clinical leadership (BG015)


Start: Anytime

This 25-hour course is a self-contained introduction to leadership behaviours and skills for clinicians, the second in a series of continuing professional development (CPD) courses on various aspects of clinical leadership. Whereas the first course Introduction to clinical leadership (BG014) focuses on the range of areas where clinicians are now expected to demonstrate leadership; this course explores the kinds of personal characteristics and abilities relevant to carrying these out. It invites you to develop a personal leadership style that plays to your own preferences and strengths.

Developing and strengthening clinical teams (BG016)


Start: Anytime

This 25-hour online course is a self-contained introduction to working in clinical teams and the issues involved in improving teamworking and service performance. This is the third in the Clinical Leadership series. To obtain the maximum benefit, before studying this course you should have completed the first two courses in the series: Introduction to clinical leadership (BG014) and Developing yourself for clinical leadership (BG015). However, this course can also be usefully studied on its own.

The NHS: structure, decision making and your service (BG017)


Start: Anytime

This 25-hour online course examines some of the wider NHS structures, systems of governance and decision-making processes that shape the way clinical services are resourced, supported and held to account. To obtain the maximum benefit, you should previously have completed three 25-hour online courses, entitled Introduction to clinical leadership (BG014), Developing yourself for clinical leadership (BG015) and Developing and strengthening clinical teams (BG016). However, this course can also be usefully studied on its own.

Quality improvement: identifying opportunities (BG018)


Start: Anytime

This 50-hour online course is a self-contained introduction to issues and approaches relevant to assessing the quality of health services at the level of an individual service, practice or department, with a view to identifying how to improve service quality. To obtain the maximum benefit, you should previously have completed the first two courses in the series, Introduction to clinical leadership (BG014) and Developing yourself for clinical leadership (BG015). However, this course can also be usefully studied on its own.

Lean thinking: improving service effectiveness (BG019)


Start: Anytime

This 50-hour online course focuses on understanding the detailed organisation of the delivery of a healthcare service, both at the level of clinical practice and in terms of the whole patient journey, and will help clinicians understand how activities can be organised more effectively. For maximum benefit this course should be studied in sequence with other courses in the Clinical Leadership suite. However, it can also be usefully studied on its own.


ScienceIf you’d like to learn more about a topic in science that interests you without the need to submit any assessments, then the following short courses in our Learn about science series may be for you. These courses offer 80–100 hours of online structured learning that includes interactive exercises, self-test questions and a quiz to support your learning and provide feedback. You will also be able to ask for advice from a subject expert and discuss the course with other students using online forums. At the end of your studies, you will be able to download your own ‘Statement of Participation’ that will provide evidence of your engagement with the course.

These courses are not formally assessed and they do not provide credits towards an Open University qualification. They are derived from some of our highly successful 10-credit science short modules, see pages 73–74.

Learn about galaxies, stars and planets (SG077)


Start: Anytime

Develop your understanding of a wide range of topics in astronomy by exploring the fascinating science behind the galaxies, stars and planets of the Universe. The course covers the exploration of our Solar System; the discovery of planets orbiting other stars; the birth, life and violent death of stars; and the creation of the Universe itself. This is a non-credit-bearing version of Galaxies, stars and planets (S177), see page 73.

Learn about living without oil (SG076)


Start: Anytime

Crude oil is currently our most important global source of energy. This course explores oil’s vital role in the modern world and assesses some of the exciting scientific developments that could lead to sustainable alternatives to oil. This is a non-credit-bearing version of Living without oil: chemistry for a sustainable future (S176), see page 73.

This course has been partly funded by the Wolfson Foundation in collaboration with The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Learn about nuclear energy (STG074)


Start: Anytime

Nuclear energy is back in the news as governments around the world increasingly commit to building new nuclear reactors. Ranging from fission to fusion, this course explores the scientific and technological background to nuclear energy, the biological effects of radiation and the cost of producing electricity.

Learn about sport: the science behind the medals (SG072)


Start: Anytime

This online course investigates a variety of sporting phenomena associated with the Olympic Games – including track and field, swimming, diving, and cycling – and the scientific concepts that athletes need to understand if they are to compete at this elite level.

Learn about the frozen planet (SG075)


Start: Anytime

This course is about the science of the frozen planet. It is about the physical controls on the shape and character of our planet over millions of years through to the climate we experience today. You will investigate the different environmental niches where wildlife flourishes, and the strategies some species have developed to exploit them. You will discover the influence of humans on the environment and the motivations and discoveries of the early polar explorers. The poles are justifiably important but also vulnerable and so, throughout the course, you will learn about their current management and fate in the near future.

This is a non-credit-bearing version of The frozen planet (S175), see page 74.


Learn about plants and people (SG073)


Start: Anytime

Explore the crucial role that plants play in the everyday lives of all of us. Plants and their products are important not just as staple foods but also increasingly as biofuels, bioplastics and medicines, and even for catching criminals and in combating climate change.

Learn about the weather (SG089)


Start: Anytime

The weather arises from physical processes within the atmosphere as it responds to the rotation of the Earth and the heating effect of the Sun. In this course you will discover how these processes determine the weather, how they vary depending on location and time of the year and the extent to which they can be forecast. You will also consider some of the ways in which typical variations in the weather and extreme weather events affect a wide range of human activities.

Learn about human genetics and health issues (SKG095)


Start: Anytime

This course examines DNA, how genes function, genetic diseases, the Human Genome Project and some of the biological, medical and ethical issues surrounding research into genes: for example, how knowledge of our genes has the potential to revolutionise our ability to change the genetic fates of individuals. The course will equip you with sufficient background to understand these issues and to engage with discussions presented in newspapers and popular scientific journals.

Learn about microbes (SG071)


Start: Anytime

Explore the intriguing world of bacteria, viruses, and other microscopic organisms – an empire of creatures that extends into every facet of human life and the environment. This course provides an introduction to microbes, explaining their importance in disease and environmental issues and their role in making and spoiling food.

Learn about molecules, medicines and drugs (SKG085)


Start: Anytime

After a brief introduction which discusses the development and testing of drugs within a social and economic setting, the course explores the discovery and development of a range of drugs and medicines that relieve pain, effect cures and alleviate the symptoms of ill-health. By studying this course you’ll learn how drugs interact with and affect their target areas in the human body.

This is a non-credit-bearing version of Molecules, medicines and drugs: a chemical story (SK185), see page 73.

This course has been partly funded by the Wolfson Foundation in collaboration with The Royal Society of Chemistry.


I have recommended it and I’m sure I will again.

“It looks amazing on your CV. You have to be so self-directed and I think employers are aware of that. It’s not the same as going to a traditional kind of university where you are shepherded through the whole way. It shows something more than ticking boxes; it shows more drive. So I have recommended it and I’m sure I will again.”

Annette Murphy

94

How to apply

Contact points for advice and registrationClick www.openuniversity.co.uk/modules or call:

• England, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and BFPO addresses outside the UK and all other countries: +44 (0)845 300 60 90.

• Northern Ireland: 028 9032 3722.

• Republic of Ireland: (01)6785399 or +44 28 9032 3722.

When to applyTo be sure of a place on your chosen module, register as early as you can. Registration close dates are on our website at www.openuniversity.co.uk/modules, or you can call us for further information.

You should register well in advance of the closing date if you wish to apply for financial support (see opposite).

Entry and study requirementsThere are no formal academic entry requirements for most of our undergraduate modules. However, even if there are no entry requirements, you need to ensure that you are sufficiently prepared for the level of study you have chosen. The descriptions at www.openuniversity.co.uk/modules will tell you more about our study requirements.

Computers and elearningYou’ll need a computer and regular and reliable access to the internet in order to study with us.

English for learningOur modules are taught in English, so you will be asked if you are a competent user of the English language and able to study at higher education level. If you’re not sure, help and guidance are available at www.openuniversity.co.uk/englishlanguage.

Becoming an Open University student

Fees and finance

The arrangements for the funding of higher education are different across the four nations of the UK and internationally. The fees and funding available to you are based on where you are ordinarily resident.

How much will it cost?To find the fee for the module you’re interested in, please see the separate fees leaflet inserted into this prospectus or click www.openuniversity.co.uk/modules.

Ways to payYou can pay your fees either upfront, by credit/debit card or by bank transfer, or by monthly instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA). For more information about paying by instalments, see opposite.

Financial support (UK students only)For more information about financial support, speak to an adviser on 0845 300 60 90.

Financial support (England)There is currently no financial support available to new students in England wishing to study modules on a standalone basis.

However, if you have an annual household income of less than £25,000 and are new to higher education, you may be eligible for a free place on one of our Access modules if you study the module as an additional preparatory stage towards an OU qualification.

Financial support (Northern Ireland)There is currently no financial support available to new students in Northern Ireland wishing to study modules on a standalone basis.


Additional financial support is available for students who are studying modules worth 30 credits or more as part of a qualification.

Becoming an Open University student 95

Financial support (Scotland)Depending on your income and your course of study, you could be eligible to apply for a Part-Time Fee Grant, Individual Learning Account, a free place on an Access module or for help to pay for study-related expenses:

Part-Time Fee Grant – if your personal income is £25,000 or less a year, or you’re on certain benefits, you can apply once each year to have your module fees paid if you are studying between 30–119 credits a year. You will need to have completed your fee grant application by the final enrolment date of your module.

Skills Development Scotland Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) – these are for people who are 16 or over and living in Scotland. If you have an income of £22,000 a year or less, or you are on benefits, you may be eligible to get up to £200 towards the costs of learning or training which you can use towards the fees of certain OU modules, including those under 30 credits. You must ensure that your ILA application is completed by the final enrolment date of the module you wish to study.

Access modules – if you’re new to the OU, with little or no experience of higher education and have a personal income of £25,000 or less, you may be eligible for a free place on one of our Access modules.

Discretionary funds – means tested, discretionary support is available to help pay for study-related costs such as travel, childcare and internet access.

Financial support (Wales)There is currently no financial support available to new students in Wales wishing to study modules on a standalone basis.


Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA)UK, European Economic Area and Switzerland students can defer or spread the cost of their tuition fees with a loan from Open University Student Budget Accounts Ltd (OUSBA). With OUSBA you can:

Pay by instalments – OUSBA pays your full fee at registration and you repay the loan in monthly instalments. Currently, interest is charged at 5.0 per cent (APR 5.1 per cent).

Register now, pay later – OUSBA pays your full fee direct to us. You repay OUSBA interest-free and in full just before your module starts.

Find out more at www.openuniversity.co.uk/ousba

OU gift vouchersOU vouchers make an inspiring present, ideal if you’re looking for an unusual gift for someone special. Or ask family and friends to support your own study by buying vouchers for special occasions. To buy or redeem vouchers, click www.openuniversity.co.uk/gift-vouchers.

SponsorshipIf you’re studying for vocational reasons your employer may be willing to pay part or all of your fees. Call our Student Registration & Enquiry Service on +44 (0)845 300 60 90 for further information and advice.

If you have a disability

When you register for a module we’ll ask you whether you have a disability, health condition, mental-health disability or specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia) that might affect your studies or examinations. If you do, we’ll direct you to more detailed information about the services we offer. For information and advice about all services for students with disabilities, call our Student Registration & Enquiry Service on +44 (0)845 300 60 90.

Studying outside the UK

ResidenceMost modules are open only to residents of the countries/territories listed below. Some modules, however, are available for worldwide study. Where this is the case, you will see this symbol alongside the module descriptions in this prospectus.

Aland Islands1, Andorra1, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Channel Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Isle of Man, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein1, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco1, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, San Marino1, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City State1.

1Examination centres not available in these locations.

Tuition outside the UKTutorial support will usually be provided by online forums or email.

Becoming an Open University student96

ExaminationsNot all modules have an examination. For those that do, there is at least one established examination centre in each country listed on page 95. An additional fee will apply if you do not sit your exam at an established examination centre.

For more information about studying outside of the UK, please contact the applicable OU office (see back cover).

What else you should know

Equality and diversityWe are committed to fulfilling our vision of a fair and just society. We are creating an inclusive university community and a society where people are treated with dignity and respect, where inequalities are challenged and where we anticipate and respond positively to different needs and circumstances so that everyone is able to achieve their potential. For more information, see our equality scheme on our Equality and diversity website: www.openuniversity.co.uk/equality.

Open University Students’ Association (OUSA)You automatically become a member unless you choose to opt out – for more information, click www.ousa.org.uk.

Students under the age of 16Very exceptionally, the University will consider applications from particularly gifted students who are under the age of 16. Applicants will be invited for an informal interview with their parent/guardian either at their nearest OU office or by telephone. Acceptance will be at the discretion of the University.

Our statements of serviceWe are committed to working together as a community of learners and to developing our students through high quality teaching, learning and services. Our Essential documents website www.openuniversity.co.uk/essential-documents provides more detailed information about what you can expect from us and what we expect from you.

Data protectionWe record your personal information when you contact us and use this to manage registration, study, examination and other services. When you register, we’ll tell you more about how we process and use your personal information.

Recording phone callsWe may record our phone calls with you to make sure that we’ve carried out your instructions correctly and to help us improve our services through staff training.

Ordering other prospectusesThis prospectus is one of a series of publications. If you would like to find out more about our other study opportunities, please order one of the prospectuses listed below:

Undergraduate ProspectusGetting started with The Open University

Open University Access Module CertificatesIntroductory modules to build your confidence

Subject-specific prospectusesFor undergraduate studyLanguages Prospectus

Psychology and Counselling Prospectus

Social Sciences Prospectus

For undergraduate and postgraduate studyArts and Humanities Prospectus

Business and Management Prospectus

Computing and IT Prospectus

Education, Childhood and Youth Prospectus

Engineering, Design and Technology Prospectus

Environment and Development Prospectus

Health and Social Care Prospectus

Law Prospectus

Mathematics and Statistics Prospectus

Science Prospectus

To download or order a printed prospectus:Click www.openuniversity.co.uk/prospectus

Call +44 (0)845 300 60 90

97

IndexModule title Code Page

Access

Arts and languages Access module Y031 8

People, work and society Access module Y032 8

Science, technology and maths Access module

Y033 8

Arts and humanities

OU level 1

Exploring languages and cultures L161 14

The arts past and present AA100 11

Voices, texts and material culture A105 11

OU level 2Creative writing A215 15

Exploring art and visual culture A226 12

Exploring history: medieval to modern 1400–1900

A200 16

Exploring philosophy A222 18

Exploring the classical world A219 13

From Enlightenment to Romanticism c.1780–1830

A207 11

Inside music A224 17

Introducing religions A217 19

Medicine and society in Europe 1500–1930 A218 16

Reading and studying literature A230 15

Reading classical Greek: language and literature

A275 13

The art history residential school AXR272 12

The technology of music TA212 17

Understanding global heritage AD281 11

World archaeology A251 13

Worlds of English U214 14

OU level 3Advanced creative writing A363 15

Art of the twentieth century AA318 12

Children’s literature EA300 15

Continuing classical Latin A397 13

Empire: 1492–1975 A326 16

English grammar in context E303 14

Europe 1914–1989: war, peace, modernity A327 16

From composition to performance: musicians at work

AA302 17

Key questions in philosophy A333 18

Myth in the Greek and Roman worlds A330 13

Renaissance art reconsidered AA315 12

Shakespeare: text and performance AA306 15

The art of English E301 14

The nineteenth-century novel AA316 15

20th century literature: texts and debates A300 15

Why is religion controversial? A332 19

Business and management

OU level 1An introduction to business studies B120 22

An introduction to retail management and marketing

B122 22

Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting

B190 21

Introduction to financial services BD131 21

Management practice B123 23

Professional communication skills for business studies

LB160 23

Working and learning: developing effective performance at work

BU130 24

OU level 2Business functions in context B203 23

Business organisations and their environments

B201 23

Financial accounting B291 21

Making it happen! Leadership, influence and change

B204 25

Making it happen! Leadership, influence and change in retailing

BXA204 25

Management accounting B292 22

Personal investment in an uncertain world DB234 22

OU level 3Advanced management accounting B392 22

Investigating entrepreneurial opportunities B322 23

Making sense of strategy B301 23

Managing across organisational and cultural boundaries

B325 24

Managing 1: organisations and people B628 25

Managing 1: organisations and people – online version

BZX628 25

Managing 2: marketing and finance B629 25

Managing 2: marketing and finance – online version

BZX629 25

Managing 3: the integration challenge B690 25

Marketing and society B324 24

Index98

Computing and IT

OU level 1My digital life TU100 27

Technologies in practice TM129 27

OU level 2Algorithms, data structures and computability

M269 27

Cisco networking (CCNA) T216 27

Communication and information technologies T215 28

Designing applications with Visual Basic MT264 28

IT project and service management M258 28

Object-oriented Java programming M250 28

Software development with Java M256 28

Web technologies TT284 28

OU level 3Developing concurrent distributed systems M362 29

Ebusiness technologies: foundations and practice

T320 29

Fundamentals of interaction design M364 29

Keeping ahead in information and communication technologies

T324 29

Software engineering TM354 29

Technologies for digital media T325 29

Education, childhood and youth

OU level 1Introduction to childhood studies and child psychology

E102 31

Introduction to working with young people in practice

E118 31

Leading work with young people E132 31

Leading work with young people: Supported APEL route

EZL132 31

Learning through enquiry in primary schools E101 33

Supporting learning in primary schools E111 33

The early years: developing practice E100 33

Working with young people: an introduction E108 31

OU level 2Childhood E212 32

Equality, participation and inclusion: learning from each other

E214 32

Leading work with young people in practice E218 32

Subject knowledge and professional practice in primary schools

E207 34

OU level 3Children’s literature EA300 32

Developing algebraic thinking ME625 34

Developing geometric thinking ME627 34

Developing statistical thinking ME626 35

Issues in research with children and young people

EK313 32

Mathematical thinking in schools ME620 35

Working together for children KE312 32

Youth: policy in practice E318 32

Engineering, design and technology

OU level 1Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century

U101 37

Engineering the future T174 37

OU level 2Design essentials T217 37

Design for engineers T218 37

Engineering: mechanics, materials, design T207 38

OU level 3Engineering small worlds: micro and nano technologies

T356 38

Innovation: designing for change T317 38

Structural integrity: designing against failure T357 38

Environment and development

OU level 1Environment: journeys through a changing world

U116 41

OU level 2Energy and sustainability T213 41

Environment: sharing a dynamic planet DST206 41

Environmental management 1 T219 41

Environmental science S206 41

Environmental science SXF206 41

International development: making sense of a changing world

TD223 42

OU level 3Earth in crisis: environmental policy in an international context

DU311 42

Environmental management 2 T319 42

Innovation: designing for change T317 42

Renewable energy T313 42

The environmental web U316 42

99

Health and social care

OU level 1An introduction to health and social care K101 45

Enhancing your healthcare practice K117 47

Foundations for effective practice in youth justice

K115 49

Foundations for social work practice KYJ113/KZW113

48

Introduction to sport, fitness and management

E112 50

Perspectives in health and social care K118 45

Working with children and young people in trouble

K116 49

Working and learning in sport and fitness E113 50

OU level 2Adult health, social care and wellbeing K217 45

Challenging ideas in mental health K272 45

Death and dying K260 46

Dementia care K235 46

Diverse perspectives on mental health K225 46

Effective practice in youth justice K208 49

Extending your contribution to healthcare practice

K236 47

Health and illness K213 46

Making your coaching certificate count EXC224 51

Making your exercise instruction certificate count

EXF224 51

Sport and conditioning science into practice E217 51

Sport and exercise psychology: a case study approach

E233 51

The law and social work in England and Wales

K270 48

The law and social work in Scotland K207 48

Working with children, young people and families

K218 49

Youth justice: theory, research and practice K209 49

OU level 3Adulthood, ageing and the life course K319 46

Exploring practice K316 47

Exploring psychological aspects of athletic development

E313 51

Issues in research with children and young people

EK313 50

Leadership and management in health and social care

K313 46

Promoting public health: skills, perspectives and practice

K311 46

Working together for children KE312 50

Languages

OU level 1Andante: beginners’ Italian L195 56

Auftakt: intermediate German L130 55

第一步 Dì yI- bù: beginners’ Chinese L197 53

Bon depart: beginners’ French L192 54

Croeso: beginners’ Welsh L196 57

English for academic purposes online L185 53

En rumbo: intermediate Spanish L140 56

Exploring languages and cultures L161 54

Ouverture: intermediate French L120 54

Portales: beginners’ Spanish L194 56

Professional communication skills for business studies

LB160 53

Rundblick: beginners’ German L193 55

Vivace: intermediate Italian L150 56

OU level 2Envol: upper intermediate French L211 54

Motive: upper intermediate German L203 55

Viento en popa: upper intermediate Spanish L204 57

OU level 3A buen puerto: advanced Spanish L314 57

Mises au point: advanced French L310 54

Variationen: advanced German L313 55

Law

OU level 1An introduction to law in contemporary Scotland

W150 59

An introduction to law W101 59

Law: concepts and perspectives W102 59

OU level 2Commercial transactions: law and practice W222 59

Company law and practice W223 59

Employment law and practice W221 60

Law: the individual and the state W201 60

Relationships, families and the law W224 60

Understanding law W200 60

OU level 3Law: agreements, rights and responsibilities W300 60

Law: ownership and trusteeship: rights and responsibilities

W301 60

Index

Index100

Mathematics and statistics

OU level 1Discovering mathematics MU123 63

Essential mathematics 1 MST124 64

Essential mathematics 2 MST125 64

Introducing statistics M140 65

The story of maths TM190 63

OU level 2Analysing data M248 66

Mathematical methods MST224 64

Mathematical methods, models and modelling

MST210 64

Practical modern statistics M249 66

Pure mathematics M208 64

OU level 3Applications of probability M343 66

Complex analysis M337 65

Developing algebraic thinking ME625 67

Developing geometric thinking ME627 67

Developing statistical thinking ME626 67

Further pure mathematics M303 65

Graphs, networks and design MT365 65

Linear statistical modeling M346 66

Mathematical methods and fluid mechanics MST326 65

Mathematical statistics M347 66

Mathematical thinking in schools ME620 67

Waves, diffusion and variational principles MS324 65

Psychology and counselling

OU level 1Introduction to counseling D171 69

Investigating psychology 1 DE100 69

Understanding the autism spectrum SK124 69

OU level 2Child development ED209 70

Counselling: exploring fear and sadness D240 70

Exploring psychology DSE212 70

The science of the mind: investigating mental health

SDK228 70

OU level 3Cognitive psychology DD303 70

Social psychology: critical perspectives on self and others

DD307 70

Science

OU level 1Exploring science S104 74

Galaxies, stars and planets S177 73

Introducing health sciences: a case study approach

SDK125 79

Investigative and mathematical skills in science

S141 74

Living without oil: chemistry for a sustainable future

S176 73

Maths for science S151 73

Molecules, medicines and drugs: a chemical story

SK185 73

Scientific investigations S155 74

The frozen planet S175 74

Topics in health sciences SK143 79

Topics in science S142 75

Understanding cardiovascular diseases SK121 80

Understanding the autism spectrum SK124 80

Volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis S186 74

OU level 2Analytical science: health, heritage and environments

S240 75

Astronomy S282 75

Cell biology S294 76

Chemistry: essential concepts S215 77

Earth science S209 78

Environmental science S206 78

Environmental science SXF206 79

Geology S276 78

Human biology SK277 80

Planetary science and the search for life S283 75

Practical science: biology and health SXHL288 77

Practical science: physics and astronomy SXPA288 76

Science in context S250 75

The biology of survival S295 76

The physical world S207 81

The science of the mind: investigating mental health

SDK228 80

101

OU level 3Astrophysics S382 76

Chemical change and environmental applications

S345 77

Drug design and synthesis S346 77

Ecosystems S396 79

Electromagnetism SMT359 81

Infectious disease and public health SK320 77

Metals and life S347 77

Molecular and cell biology S377 77

Oceanography S330 78

Signals and perception: the science of the senses

SD329 77

The environmental web U316 79

The geological record of environmental change

S369 78

The quantum world SM358 81

The relativistic Universe S383 76

Understanding the continents S339 78

Social sciences

OU level 1Contemporary Wales D172 83

Introducing the social sciences DD102 83

You and your money: personal finance in context

DB123 84

OU level 2International development: making sense of a changing world

TD223 86

Living in a globalised world DD205 85

Power, dissent, equality: understanding contemporary politics

DD203 86

Personal investment in an uncertain world DB234 84

Running the economy DD209 85

The uses of social science DD206 83

Welfare, crime and society DD208 84/87

OU level 3Crime and justice DD301 84

Doing economics: people, markets and policy

DD309 85

Earth in crisis: environmental policy in an international context

DU311 85

International relations: continuity and change in global politics

DD313 86

Living political ideas DD306 86

Making social worlds DD308 83

Personal lives and social policy DD305 87

Non-credit-bearing short coursesDeveloping and strengthening clinical teams BG016 90

Developing yourself for clinical leadership BG015 90

Improving dementia care KG002 89

Improving diabetes management KG003 89

Improving end-of-life care KG001 89

Improving health and wellbeing KG004 89

Introduction to clinical leadership BG014 90

Lean thinking: improving service effectiveness

BG019 90

Learn about galaxies, stars and planets SG077 91

Learn about human genetics and health issues

SKG095 92

Learn about living without oil SG076 91

Learn about microbes SG071 92

Learn about molecules, medicines and drugs

SKG085 92

Learn about nuclear energy STG074 91

Learn about plants and people SG073 92

Learn about sport: the science behind the medals

SG072 91

Learn about the frozen planet SG075 91

Learn about the weather SG089 92

Quality improvement: identifying opportunities

BG018 90

The NHS: structure, decision making and your service

BG017 90

Index

Social sciences102

Any questions about studying with us?

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While we have done everything possible to make sure the information in this publication is accurate, it may change due to regulations or policy, or because of financial or other reasons.

Printed by Belmont Press.

SUP 035590

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Other formats are available on request.

Undergraduate Module Fees2014/2015

Our feesThe fees for all the modules described in the Undergraduate Modules Prospectus are listed here. For your chosen module, look for the module code given at the top of the module description in the prospectus and then use it to find the fees overleaf.

Fees for our non-credit-bearing short courses (pages 88–92) can be found on our website at www.openuniversity.co.uk/short-courses.

All prices shown are in UK pounds sterling.

How to payWe have several ways to help you pay your fees – please see page 94 of the Undergraduate Modules Prospectus.

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We’ll use the exchange rate which applies on the day we process your registration agreement, except for payments in euros, which are subject to a monthly exchange rate.

KeyOther – includes all countries outside the UK and Republic of Ireland where we accept students, see page 95 for more information.

Module code

Start dates England (£)

N. Ireland (£) Scotland (£)

Wales (£)

Republic of Ireland

(£)

Other (£)

A105 04 Oct 2014 31 Jan 2015

2632 2632

775 775

2632 2632

2632 2632

A200 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A207 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A215 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A217 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A218 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A219 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A222 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A224 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A226 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A230 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A251 01 Nov 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

A275 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A300 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A326 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A327 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A330 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A332 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A333 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A363 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

A397 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

AA100 04 Oct 2014 31 Jan 2015

2632 2632

775 775

2632 2632

2632 2632

AA302 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

AA306 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

AA315 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

AA316 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

AA318 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

AD281 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

AXR272* 17 May 2014 16 May 2015

641 658

670 690

641 658

641 658

B120 04 Oct 2014 11 Apr 2015

1316 1316

505 505

1316 1316

1316 1316

B122 04 Oct 2014 16 May 2015

1316 1316

505 505

1316 1316

1316 1316

B123 04 Oct 2014 11 Apr 2015

1316 1316

505 505

1316 1316

1316 1316

B190 01 May 2014 01 Aug 2014 01 Nov 2014 01 Feb 2015 01 May 2015

427 439 439 439 439

360 370 370 370 370

427 439 439 439 439

427 439 439 439 439

B201 04 Oct 2014 2632 1015 2632 2632

B203 04 Oct 2014 2632 1015 2632 2632

B204 04 Oct 2014 2632 1015 2632 2632

B291 04 Oct 201411 Apr 2015

13161316

915915

13161316

13161316

B292 04 Oct 2014 11 Apr 2015

1316 1316

915 915

1316 1316

1316 1316

B301 04 Oct 2014 2632 1015 2632 2632

B322 04 Oct 2014 1316 570 1316 1316

B324 01 May 201411 Apr 2015

12811316

555570

12811316

12811316

B325 01 May 201411 Apr 2015

12811316

555570

12811316

12811316

B392 04 Oct 2014 1316 570 1316 1316

B628 01 May 2014 04 Oct 2014 11 Apr 2015

128113161316

890915915

128113161316

128113161316

B629 01 May 201404 Oct 201411 Apr 2015

128113161316

890915915

128113161316

128113161316

B690* 01 May 201404 Oct 201511 Apr 2015

427439439

700720720

427439439

427439439

BD131 01 May 201401 Aug 201401 Nov 201401 Feb 201501 May 2015

427439439439439

270275275275275

427439439439439

427439439439439

BU130 04 Oct 201411 Apr 2015

13161316

505505

13161316

13161316

BXA204 04 Oct 2014 2632 1015 2632 2632

BZX628 01 May 201404 Oct 201411 Apr 2015

128113161316

890915915

128113161316

128113161316

BZX629 01 May 201404 Oct 201411 Apr 2015

128113161316

890915915

128113161316

128113161316

D171 18 Oct 201411 Apr 2015

658658

290290

658658

658658

D172 30 Aug 2014 658 290 658 658

D240 03 May 201404 Oct 2014

12811316

430440

12811316

12811316

DB123 04 Oct 201407 Feb 2015

13161316

440440

13161316

13161316

DB234 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

DD102 04 Oct 201407 Feb 2015

26322632

775775

26322632

26322632

DD203 04 Oct 201407 Feb 2015

26322632

775775

26322632

26322632

DD205 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

DD206 04 Oct 2014 07 Feb 2015

26322632

775775

26322632

26322632

DD208 04 Oct 201407 Feb 2015

26322632

775775

26322632

26322632

DD209 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

DD301 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

DD303* 31 Jan 2015 2632 1290 2632 2632

DD305 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

DD306 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

DD307 04 Oct 2014 2632 850 2632 2632

DD308 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

DD309 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

DD313 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

DE100 04 Oct 201407 Feb 2015

26322632

775775

26322632

26322632

DSE212 04 Oct 201407 Feb 2015

26322632

850850

26322632

26322632

DST206 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

DU311 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

E100 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

E101 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

E102 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

E108 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

E111 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

E112 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

E113 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

E118 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

E132 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

E207 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

E212 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

E214 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

E217 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

E218 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

E233 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

E301 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

E303 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

E313 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

E318 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

EA300 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

ED209 04 Oct 2014 2632 850 2632 2632

EK313 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

EXC224 07 Feb 2015 1316 440 1316 1316

EXF224 07 Feb 2015 1316 440 1316 1316

EZL132 07 Feb 2015 1316 440 1316 1316

K101 11 Oct 201431 Jan 2015

26322632

775775

26322632

26322632

K115 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 – –

K116 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 – –

K117 06 Sep 2014 2632 1990 2632 2632

K118 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

K207 31 Jan 2015 2632 1015 – –

K208 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 – –

K209 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 – –

K213 04 Oct 2014 2632 850 2632 2632

K217 04 Oct 2014 2632 850 2632 2632

K218 04 Oct 2014 2632 850 2632 2632

K225 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

K235 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

K236 01 Nov 2014 2632 1990 2632 2632

K260 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

K270 04 Oct 2014 2632 1015 2632 2632

K272 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

K311 04 Oct 2014 2632 850 2632 2632

K313 04 Oct 2014 2632 850 2632 2632

K316 04 Oct 2014 2632 915 2632 2632

K319 04 Oct 2014 2632 850 2632 2632

KE312 04 Oct 2014 2632 850 2632 2632

KYJ113 31 Jan 2015 2632 1310 2632 2632

KZW113 31 Jan 2015 2632 1420 – –

L120 04 Oct 2014 1316 535 1316 1316

L130 04 Oct 2014 1316 535 1316 1316

L140 04 Oct 2014 1316 535 1316 1316

L150 04 Oct 2014 1316 535 1316 1316

L161 04 Oct 2014 1316 535 1316 1316

L185 04 Oct 2014 1316 535 1316 1316

L192 04 Oct 2014 1316 535 1316 1316

L193 04 Oct 2014 1316 535 1316 1316

L194 04 Oct 2014 1316 535 1316 1316

L195 04 Oct 2014 1316 535 1316 1316

L196 04 Oct 2014 1316 535 1316 1316

L197 04 Oct 2014 1316 535 1316 1316

L203* 04 Oct 2014 2632 1290 2632 2632

L204* 04 Oct 2014 2632 1290 2632 2632

L211* 04 Oct 2014 2632 1290 2632 2632

L310 07 Feb 2015 2632 945 2632 2632

L313 07 Feb 2015 2632 945 2632 2632

L314 07 Feb 2015 2632 945 2632 2632

LB160 04 Apr 2015 1316 535 1316 1316

M140 04 Oct 201431 Jan 2015

13161316

440440

13161316

13161316

M208 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

M248 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

M249 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

M250 04 Oct 2014 1316 505 1316 1316

M256 31 Jan 2015 1316 505 1316 1316

M258 04 Oct 2014 1316 505 1316 1316

M269 04 Oct 2014 1316 505 1316 1316

M303 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

M337 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

M343 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

M346 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

M347 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

M362 07 Feb 2015 1316 505 1316 1316

M364 04 Oct 2014 1316 505 1316 1316

ME620 04 Oct 2014 1316 570 1316 1316

ME625 28 Mar 2015 1316 570 1316 1316

ME626 28 Mar 2015 1316 570 1316 1316

ME627 04 Oct 2014 1316 570 1316 1316

MS324 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

MST124 04 Oct 201431 Jan 2015

13161316

440440

13161316

13161316

MST125 4 Oct 201431 Jan 2015

13161316

440440

13161316

13161316

MST210 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

MST224 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

MST326 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

MT264 04 Oct 2014 1316 505 1316 1316

MT365 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

MU123 04 Oct 201431 Jan 2015

13161316

440440

13161316

13161316

S104 11 Oct 201431 Jan 2015

26322632

775775

26322632

26322632

S141 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

S142 31 Jan 2015 1316 440 1316 1316

S151 04 Oct 201411 Apr 2015

439 439

190190

439439

439439

S155 01 Oct 2014 439 230 439 439

S175 04 Oct 201411 Apr 2015

439439

190190

439439

439439

S176 04 Oct 201411 Apr 2015

439439

190190

439439

439439

S177 04 Oct 201411 Apr 2015

439439

190190

439439

439439

S186 04 Oct 201411 Apr 2015

439439

190190

439439

439439

S206 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

S207 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

S209** 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

S215** 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

S240 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

S250 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

S276 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

S282 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

S283 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

S294 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

S295** 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

S330 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

S339 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

S345 03 May 2014 02 May 2015

854877

315325

854877

854877

S346 25 Oct 2014 877 325 877 877

S347 25 Oct 2014 877 325 877 877

S369 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

S377 07 Feb 2015 1316 440 1316 1316

S382 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

S383 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

S396 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

SD329 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

SDK125 04 Oct 201431 Jan 2015

13161316

440440

13161316

13161316

SDK228 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

SK121 20 Sep 2014 658 290 658 658

SK124 01 Nov 2014 658 290 658 658

SK143 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

SK185 04 Oct 201411 Apr 2015

439439

190190

439439

439439

SK277 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

SK320 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

SM358 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

SMT359 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

SXF206** 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

SXHL288 04 Oct 2014 1316 570 1316 1316

SXPA288 04 Oct 2014 1316 570 1316 1316

T174 04 Oct 201431 Jan 2015

13161316

440440

13161316

13161316

T207 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

T213 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

T215 04 Oct 2014 2632 850 2632 2632

T216 04 Oct 2014 2632 1015 2632 2632

T217 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

T218 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

T219 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

T313 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

T317 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

T319 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

T320 04 Oct 2014 1316 505 1316 1316

T324 04 Oct 2014 1316 505 1316 1316

T325 04 Oct 2014 1316 505 1316 1316

T356 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

T357 04 Oct 2014 1316 440 1316 1316

TA212 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

TD223 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

TM129 04 Oct 201431 Jan 2015

13161316

505505

13161316

13161316

TM190 01 May 2014 427 225 427 427

TM354 04 Oct 2014 1316 505 1316 1316

TT284 04 Oct 2014 1316 505 1316 1316

TU100 04 Oct 201431 Jan 2015

26322632

850850

26322632

26322632

U101 04 Oct 201431 Jan 2015

26322632

775775

26322632

26322632

U116 04 Oct 201431 Jan 2015

26322632

775775

26322632

26322632

U214 04 Oct 2014 2632 775 2632 2632

U316 31 Jan 2015 2632 775 2632 2632

W101 04 Oct 2014 2632 915 2632 2632

W102 04 Oct 2014 2632 915 2632 2632

W150 04 Oct 2014 658 210 658 658

W200 04 Oct 2014 2632 2355 2632 2632

W201 04 Oct 2014 2632 2355 2632 2632

W221 04 Oct 2014 1316 1180 1316 1316

W222 04 Oct 2014 1316 1180 1316 1316

W223 04 Oct 2014 1316 1180 1316 1316

W224 04 Oct 2014 1316 1180 1316 1316

W300 04 Oct 201431 Jan 2015

26322632

23552355

26322632

26322632

W301 04 Oct 201431 Jan 2015

26322632

23552355

26322632

26322632

Y031 04 Oct 2014 31 Jan 2015

660

660

225225

–

–

––

Y032 04 Oct 2014 31 Jan 2015

660660

225

225

–

–

––

Y033 04 Oct 2014 31 Jan 2015

660660

225225

––

––

* Depending on where you live, there may be an additional fee for residential school accommodation and meals.

** Residential school accommodation, meals and travel is not included in the fee.

While we have done everything possible to make sure the information in this price list is accurate, it may change due to regulations or policy or because of financial or other reasons.

Student Registration & Enquiry Service, The Open University, PO Box 197, Milton Keynes, MK7 6BJ.

www.openuniversity.co.uk/modules SUP 035608

undergraduate modules prospectus - open university · on the first pages of this prospectus you...

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