Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Sociology

Sociology is about exploring the building blocks of society. It’s the study of the connections that bind things together: families, organisations, cultures and social groups.

The BSc Sociology degree will provide students with a deep understanding of how societies are created and how they change over time. Throughout the course, students will learn how educational attainment, ethnicity, gender and geography not only play a part in people’s place in society, but shape their perception of it as well.

Students will be offered a wide range of modules so they can specialise in their specific, sociological interests. Students could explore issues through the context of race and ethnicity, power and politics, culture and communication, or all of the above.

The course is taught with a strong practical approach, enabling students to apply their lived and everyday experiences to key issues. The University of Roehampton will foster students' critical thinking skills, and offer opportunities for students to develop valuable, hands-on skills for their career, as they analyse the world through focus groups, interviews and surveys.

Students will develop a strong sociological foundation by understanding the broad range of subject areas that act as building blocks for society, as well as the concept of social change. Students will also have a wide choice of optional modules allowing them to specialise further and explore topics such as intimacy and the self, contemporary urban life, the sociology of childhood and migration, diversity and transnationalism.

Building on the knowledge and practical skills they have developed on the course, students will undertake independent study or participate in a supervised research project.

Students will also focus on the construction of social surveys and the subsequent analysis of results, providing them with an excellent grasp of indispensable skills in contemporary sociology.

The teaching staff are leading academics and experts in their field, and are dedicated to developing students' knowledge of what shapes society, considering issues such as politics, inequality, religion, the environment, human rights, family, identity and the economy. Students will be part of a school driven by innovative research and benefit from the University of Roehampton's excellent national and international links.

The University of Roehampton’s Professor Mark McCormack teaches on the BSc Sociology degree and is also the author of a high-profile text book Discovering Sociology, used by degree students throughout the UK. Professor McCormack is just one of many thought leaders teaching on the course, and his work is often cited in the press, shaping debate on a national and international scale.

There has never been a more important time to understand how societies are changing and evolving at rapid pace. The BSc Sociology degree will broaden students' horizons, equipping them with all the tools they need to analyse an ever-changing world.

This course offers all students the option of a one-year paid work placement, to boost students' employability even further. If students choose this route, they will take the placement following year two of the course, and then return to complete their degree.