HND Public Services

Academic entry criteria – UCAS tariff:
You must have achieved at least 48 UCAS points or have extensive, relevant work experience.

GCSE/Level 2 Maths and English is preferred.

Accreditation of prior learning:
If you have achieved a qualification such as a HNC, or have gained credit at another higher education provider, you may be able to enter the course at Level 5.

For further information, please contact the College’s admissions team on admissions@sunderlandcollege.ac.uk,

Teaching:
You will be taught through a combination of lectures and practical sessions. In addition, you will have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor.

Class sizes are usually around 15-20 learners (much smaller than University class sizes).

Independent learning:
When not attending lectures, practical sessions or other timetabled session you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research, preparing coursework assignment and presentations, and preparing for examinations.

Your independent learning is supported by a range of facilities, including the Learning Resource Centre and your college virtual learning environment (Office 365).

Academic support:
Our HE Academic Support Tutor provides help in the following areas:
- Study skills (including reading, writing, note-taking and presentation skills)
- Written English (including punctuation and grammatical accuracy)
- Academic writing (including how to reference)
- Research skills (in conjunction with the learning centres)
- Critical thinking and understanding arguments
- Revision, assessment and examination skills (including time management)

Teaching staff:
You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes senior lecturers with extensive experience in teaching a range of public services areas, and professional practitioners with industry experience ranging from the police to the Armed Forces.

Our teaching is informed by the relevant practice with the sector and 100% of our lecturers have a teaching qualification.

Assessment:
The course provides you with opportunities to test your understanding of the subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module normally contains at least one piece of practice or ‘formative’ assessment for which you receive feedback from your tutor.

There are formal or ‘summative’ assessments at the end of each module.

Assessment methods include academic essays, presentations, professional discussions, academic posters and demonstrations. The grades from formal assessment count towards your module mark.

The approximate percentage of the course assessed by coursework is as follows:

Year 1 -
- 100% coursework

Year 2 -
-100% coursework

Feedback:
You will receive feedback on all practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback on examination performance is available upon request form the module tutor. Feedback is intended to help you learn and you are encouraged to discuss it with your module tutor.

We aim to provide you with feedback within 15 working days of hand-in (practice assessments) and 15 working days of hand-in (formal coursework assessment).

The course will include a number of master classes, visits and guest sessions from key public services employers and employees.

This qualification aims to equip you with the necessary skills, knowledge and behaviour necessary in a variety of higher level and higher paid public service roles.

This course aims to equip you with the necessary skills, knowledge and behaviour necessary in a variety of public service roles. Your course is sequenced to allow you to progressively develop skills, knowledge and behaviours pertaining to a career in a variety of roles in the public services.

Units:
This unit map provides a list of the modules that make up your course. Each unit is worth a specified number of credits. You must take unit worth a total of 120 credits at each level of the course.

Our teaching is informed by current practice and units may change periodically to reflect developments in the sector. The units available on the course are as follows:

Year 1 for full time students Level 4 -

Semester 1 -
- Unit 1: Organisational Structure and Culture - 15 credits
- Unit 2: Mental Health and Wellbeing - 15 credits
- Unit 7: Law and Legal Systems - 15 credits
- Unit 27: Psychology of Behaviour - 15 credits

Semester 2 -
- Unit 3: Equality, Diversity and Fair Treatment - 15 credits
- Unit 4: Public Services in Contemporary Society (Pearson set) - 15 credits
- Unit 16: Training for Fitness and Health - 15 credits
- Unit 12: Responding to Emergencies - 15 credits

Year 2 for full time students Level 5:

Semester 1 -
- Unit 29: Research Project (Pearson set) – 30 credits
- Unit 30: Reflective Professional Practice - 15 credits
- Unit 45: Training , Coaching and Mentoring Techniques - 15 credits
- Unit 34: Theories of Crime - 15 credits

Semester 2 -
- Unit 29: Research Project (Pearson set) – 30 credits
- Unit 38: Blue Light Collaboration - 15 credits
- Unit 39: Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Health - 15 credits

All units are compulsory on HND Public Services at Sunderland College.

Pearson