You’ll start by learning what the social sciences are and how they can help you make sense of everyday life. In the first two introductory weeks, you’ll explore examples of travel, transport and movement. These topics introduce key ideas about inequality and interconnection that run throughout the module. You’ll then move on to four blocks of study, each focusing on different aspects of the social world.
Block 1: Individuals and people
Block 1 starts from your own experience of the social world. You’ll explore identity, social categorisation, power, privilege and disadvantage, as well as how people connect with others and with the environment. By looking at individuals and social groups, you’ll begin to draw connections between personal experiences and the wider structures that shape your world.
Block 2: Relationships with others
In Block 2, you’ll explore the relationships that matter in everyday life, including those with friends and family. By looking closely at how relationships are formed and maintained, you’ll examine how cultures and communities shape social interaction. You’ll explore relationships as sources of care, support and belonging, while also considering how they can reflect inequality and power shaped by wider societal forces.
Block 3: Societies and states
In Block 3, you’ll explore how societies are organised and governed. You’ll look at how power operates, how laws are created and enforced, and how social order is maintained. Alongside these ideas, you’ll reflect on your own experiences to see how personal lives are always connected to wider social and political worlds.
Block 4: Connected worlds
Block 4 brings together ideas from across the module by examining how different parts of your world are connected. You’ll explore how countries and communities depend on one another, from shared natural resources such as water to cultural and social activities that bring people together. You’ll also consider how these forms of interconnection create both global challenges and new possibilities for people, communities and societies.
By studying this module, you'll learn about what the social sciences are, how to think like a social scientist and the ways that this can help you to understand the everyday world in which you live.
You will also gain confidence and skills in:
The module is relevant to a wide range of jobs in the public, voluntary, community and commercial sectors. Many of the skills you'll develop are relevant to any job. These skills include managing your time, communicating effectively, and reflecting on your own contributions, skills, and learning. You’ll also develop skills such as problem-solving and the effective use of evidence, which are directly relevant to jobs that value critical thinking.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
You'll be provided with two textbooks and have access to a module website which includes:
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
D112 is a compulsory module in our:
D112 is an option module in our:
You and your world: introducing the social sciences starts twice a year – in February and October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026 and February 2027. We expect it to start for the last time in February 2038.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
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There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your income is not more than £25,000 or you receive a qualifying benefit, you might be eligible for help with some of these costs after your module has started.
There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.
If your personal income is £25,000 or less, or you’re on certain benefits, you could qualify for a grant and OU top-up funding to cover 100% of your course fees. Apply online at the same time as you register on your module.
For more information on how to apply, visit our Part-Time Fee Grants for students in Scotland page.
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Read more about Open University Student Budget Accounts (OUSBA).
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Over 30,000 employers have used the OU to develop staff so far. If the module you’ve chosen is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could approach your employer to see if they will sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees.
You can pay part or all of your tuition fees upfront with a debit or credit card when you register for each module.
We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron.
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may wish to pay part of your tuition fee with a debit card and pay the remainder in instalments through an Open University Student Budget Account (OUSBA).
We know that sometimes you may want to combine payment options. For example, you may get support from your employer to pay part of your tuition fee and pay the remainder by credit or debit card.
For more information about combining payment options, contact an adviser.
Please note: your permanent address/domicile will affect your fee status and, therefore, the fees you are charged and any financial support available to you. The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
