This course focuses on understanding the social and economic forces shaping our world. Crucially, it combines this with a rigorous training in the highly valued quantitative techniques and data analysis skills needed to examine them. You will study at least three social science disciplines including sociology and economics. Teaching will be delivered through lectures, seminars allowing in-depth discussion, computer laboratory classes analyzing a range of different social science data, group working, and through UCL's virtual learning environment. You will be trained in specialist quantitative skills, which are in short supply in the labour market and are highly rewarded in a range of professions including government, academia, journalism, financial analysis and marketing. Assessment is through a mix of examinations, practical exercises, essays, individual and group presentations and a dissertation in the final year of study. The UCL Q-Step Centre was set up in the UK as part of a £19.5 million programme to combat the shortage of quantitative skills in the social sciences. You will have access to summer courses, 6-week paid internships, specialist training, workshops and conferences, personal tutoring throughout the programme. Having a quantitative degree will increase your job opportunities as quantitative skills are in short supply. Professions include government departments, academia, journalism, financial analysis and marketing. The breadth and depth of the social science subjects and the methodological training of this degree also equips students will for Master's or PhD study.