HSC7003 Equality and Diversity for Human Services Level HE7 Module Guide 2024/2025 Trimester 1

HSC7003 Module Description 

The purpose of this module is to critically appraise issues around social justice, equality and inequality in society with a focus on your specific disciplinary areas (Early Years, Health and Social Care, Youth and Community Studies). Areas of difference such as gender, disability, race, class and identity will be explored – these come together to present an exploration of the diverse needs and experiences of individuals you will work within your different professional areas. The module will also examine policies and strategies that are proposed and adopted to handle issues of difference in community, care and educational settings.

Learning and Teaching: Campus Plus 

This module is delivered over 12 weeks/sessions using a Campus Plus blended learning approach. This involves timetabled face-to-face campus-based and online sessions. You are also expected to carry out your own independent study including research and assessment activities. 

In weeks 11 and 12, tutorials will take place which will provide you with the opportunity to discuss your progress on the module and receive feedback on assessments.  This may be face-to-face or online as arranged.

If you are unable to attend or engage in a scheduled session due to factors outside your control, you are expected to inform your tutor and complete any activities set before the next session.

Graduate Attributes

Graduate attributes are the personal qualities and skills which the University of Bolton community values, and which a student is expected to develop during their time at the University. Graduate attributes act as a point of reference for a student’s personal development and support the articulation of employability and transferable skills.

Attributes for postgraduate students (GAME+) are encompassed under five themes:

• Influence and impact
• Critical self-management
• Creativity and innovation
• Professional identity
• Skills mastery

This module seeks to develop and assess critical self-management and creativity and innovation through critical reflection on personal behaviours, attitudes and beliefs in relation to professional practice and the diverse groups we work with within this, including creative and innovative consideration of ways in which potential barriers within this may be overcome.

Learning Outcomes and Assessments

Assessment Deadlines

Assignment Brief:

Learning Outcomes Assessed: 

LO1:  Critically analyse the impact of difference on identity
LO2:  Synthesise key issues relating to relevant areas of difference
LO3:  Critically analyse of issues around justice, equality and inequality in society
LO4: Critically evaluate the impact of national/international policies and strategies with regards to difference and social justice, and consider relevant recommendations

Assessment Task:

You will construct a portfolio of evidence made up of four reflections on class sessions of your choice to address the Learning outcomes above:

• You will participate in in-class discussions and seminars which will be used to formulate the portfolio contents
• You will demonstrate a theoretical understanding of equality and diversity through consideration of key theory and links with practice
• You will be asked to consider diverse opinions around the causes and consequences of inequality within modern society

Declaration: At the end of the assessment you should also include a declaration of any software tools including Generative AI (GAI) applications that you used in developing and completing the assessment. 

Minimum Secondary Research Source Requirements: 

Level HE7 - It is expected that the Reference List will contain between fifteen to twenty sources. As a MINIMUM the Reference List should include four refereed academic journals and five academic books.

Specific Assessment Criteria/Marking Scheme: 

Distinction (70% and above): 
Students will provide an excellent and critically reflective consideration of issues of equality and diversity within their specific practice area with use of thoughtful and creative practical examples to support this. Students will apply theory to practice in a sophisticated way to consider diverse experiences in society including well justified recommendations in relation to policy/practice. Extensive research demonstrating use of a wide range of current secondary research sources will be evident. Academic style and referencing technique will be excellent.  

Merit (60-69%): 
Students will provide a critically reflective consideration of issues of equality and diversity with links to their practice area and use of relevant practical examples with evidence of creativity to support this. Students will apply theory to practice in a well fitting way to consider diverse experiences in society including justified recommendations in relation to policy/practice. Research demonstrating use of a wide range of current secondary research sources will be evident. Academic style and referencing technique will be good.  

Pass (50-59%): 
Students will provide a reflective consideration of issues of equality and diversity with links to their practice area and use of relevant examples with some evidence of creativity to support this. Students will apply theory to practice in a fitting way to consider diverse experiences in society including relevant recommendations in relation to policy/practice. Research demonstrating use of a range of current secondary research sources will be evident. Academic style and referencing technique will be fair.  

Fail (49% and below): Students who do not meet the requirements of a pass grade will not successfully complete the assessment activity.

(Also see Section 15: General Assessment Criteria for Written Assessments)