Program and structure

Multidisciplinarity is the main advantage of the Bachelor’s degree in Human and Social Sciences. The value of this degree lies in the diversity of possible courses it offers. The Bachelor’s in Human and Social Sciences aims to introduce its students to a wide range of fields. It offers a rich, multi-faceted programme comprising general courses, specific courses, ‘tool’ courses and language courses.

General courses enable students to acquire knowledge and skills in a wide range of fields, such as management, economics, psychology, philosophy, history and law. These are essentially theoretical courses, although some are accompanied by practical work when required by the discipline.

Specific courses cover political science, sociology, anthropology, journalism, communication, human resources management and more. The approach here is geared in particular towards the completion of personal assignments.

For example, as part of our journalism courses, UMONS Radio (YouFM) welcomes our students in the Information-Communication option to put them into practice in real-life situations.

Several students have also been selected to spend two years working on a project linked to Mons 2015, at Radio RTBF Mons.

In human resource management, practical experience is also encouraged through an introduction to team management, which involves final-year students supervising teams of ^first-year students. This approach is also part of the success support measures put in place in ^1st year.

This training is complemented by an approach to the fundamental tools needed in any discipline: computer science and statistics, as well as tools for research in the human sciences (survey methods, observation methodologies, etc.). Numerous practical assignments are organised for these courses, to illustrate the material and make it easier to assimilate.

Finally, as far as languages are concerned, English and a second foreign language of your choice (Dutch or Spanish) are part of the curriculum. The challenge here is to provide a means of opening to the outside world, with courses focused primarily on developing communicative skills.

In addition, as part of the English course, a trip is organised every year for final-year students. Dublin, Edinburgh and Manchester are some of the English-speaking destinations where students have been to perfect their English and to strengthen and seal the links that have united them for the last three years. An unforgettable experience!

A choice of four options

The entire programme consists of a core curriculum, with four options starting in the 2nd block:

• Information-Communication
• Political Science
• Sociology and Anthropology
• HR Management.

You choose your option after the first year, when you have already been exposed to these various disciplines.

To help students make their choice, a specific information session is organised at the end of the first year and is attended by both students who are further along in their course and former students.

Breakdown of Credits

Credits repartition

Access conditions

The conditions for admission to the Bachelor in Human Social Sciences programme are those applied to undergraduate studies.

These studies are open to holders of one of the following qualifications:

• The Certificat d'Enseignement Secondaire Supérieur (CESS) awarded by an establishment of the French Community.
• A qualification deemed equivalent to the CESS.
• Proof of passing the university entrance exam.

These conditions are set out in the UMONS General Study Regulations 2023-2024 (RGE).

Teaching profile

The teaching profile presents the institutional training profile expected at the end of the cycle (Bachelor's, Master's, etc.). It is described in terms of learning outcomes, i.e. what the student should know, understand and be able to achieve at the end of a learning activity, a teaching unit or a study cycle. Learning outcomes are defined in terms of knowledge, skills and attitudes.

On completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Master knowledge from various fields in the human and social sciences.
• Political Science Option: Master the fundamentals of political science
• Sociology and Anthropology option: Master the fundamentals of sociology and anthropology
• Information-communication option: Mastering fundamental knowledge in the field of information-communication
• Human Resources Management option: Master fundamental knowledge in the field of human resource management.
• Master knowledge from human and social sciences disciplines
• Master the principles and methodologies of the scientific approach applicable to disciplines in the human and social sciences
• Collect, analyse and interpret empirical data on human and social science issues in a relevant manner
• Communicate clearly, in a structured and reasoned manner, on issues specific to human and social science disciplines
• Put into practice language skills in English and at least one language other than French
• Activate cross-disciplinary skills such as analytical and critical thinking, rigour, autonomy and teamwork.

For more information, consult the teaching profile for this course of study below.

Opportunities

Careers in Human and Social Sciences

The many Master’s degrees available with a Bachelor's degree in Human and Social Sciences open the door to a wide range of career opportunities.

• In transitions and social innovations (METIS) :
  Jobs dealing with situations requiring social innovations, in the local, regional, federal and European public sectors, as well as in the parastatal, voluntary, non-profit, NGO and business sectors.
• In the field of information and communication:
  Broadcast and print journalists, press officers (ministerial offices, media personalities, etc.), public relations officers, publishing, advertising and marketing, events and corporate communications, library managers, documentalists.
• In economic and social policy:
  Manager of a department in a public company or in the private sector, managerial civil servant in a federal, regional or local administration (province, municipality, inter-municipality, CPAS).
• In sociology and anthropology:
  Positions in public administrations or in the private sector in the social sector (local authorities, CPAS, Forem, consultancy firms, etc.), as a manager in an NGO dealing with international cooperation or development aid (Red Cross, Amnesty International, etc.), university careers and careers in the voluntary sector.
• In political science:
  All occupations linked to political and social life (parties, trade unions, employers, political cabinets), management positions at municipal, regional, community, provincial, Belgian federal and European levels, public services, public administrations, NGOs, international organisations, diplomacy.
• In human resource management:
  Personnel manager in public or private companies, human resources consultant, recruiter.
• In population and development sciences:
  Manager of development aid or international cooperation projects (European Commission, World Bank, NGOs, international organisations, etc.)
• In criminology:
  Criminologist in the police force, prison governor, positions in prevention services, in the voluntary sector, in the private or public sector.
• In cultural management:
  Manager of a cultural institution (museums, theatres, concert or performance halls, etc.), organiser of cultural events (exhibitions, festivals, concerts, etc.).
• In performing arts:
  Show or film producer, director, press critic, manager of a cultural institution