Program Overview

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Sociology

Course Fact File

• Code: MASC
• Duration: 1 Year Full-time, 2 Years Part-time
• Teaching Mode: Full-time
• Qualifications: MA
• NFQ Level: Level 9
• Closing Date: Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.
• Non-EU Closing Date: Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.
• Start Date: 8 September 2025

Course Outline

Sociology is concerned with the study of the modern world, how it came into being, and the challenges and crises that it faces at local, national, and global levels.

Our MA in Sociology at UCC will provide you with an opportunity to study advanced sociological concepts and methods, and put your research interests into practice by enabling you to conduct your own sustained research project.

The course is divided into two main components; preparatory modules and a research project. There are core modules in theory and methods and elective modules covering topics like populism and the far-right, violence and conflict, the environment and climate change, gender and sexuality, borders and migration, amongst many other pressing and relevant issues impacting our world today.

Programme Requirements

The MA Sociology programme comprises 90 credits in total: 20 credits of core modules, 30 credits of elective modules, and a Dissertation in Sociology (SC6615) worth 40 credits.

Core Modules (20 credits)

• SC6608 Social and Sociological Theory (10 credits)
• SC6614 Sociological Methodology (10 credits)

For a list of the most up-to-date modules, including all the elective modules available this academic year, please follow this link to the Academic Programme Catalogue.

Course Content

There are a number of common themes and concerns across the modules offered:

• A strong focus on power, the powerful, powerlessness, and marginalization.
• Human rights and violence, whether that violence is self-directed, directed at others, or directed at the natural world.
• The negative and often unanticipated costs that our economic and technological systems are now having on our world and societies.
• An examination of where, or in fact if, there are grounds for hope and optimism to be found in the massive social transformations of the 21st century.

The capstone of the masters is an advanced research project that students can undertake on a topic of their own choosing. One of the advantages of the MA in Sociology is that students have a wide degree of latitude to pursue their own research interests and goals in their dissertation. All students will be assigned an academic supervisor who will work closely with them on developing their ideas and their project, from the second semester onwards. To aid in their professional development, students are supported in writing up their research dissertation and presenting their work in a variety of forms of communication valued in academia and the wider research landscape. These include a concise dissertation of 8-10,000 words, (the length of an academic journal article or book chapter), a book review, a public-facing output such as a report, blog or podcast and a conference-style presentation delivered at the department at the end of the year.

While challenging, the dissertation is rewarding, and provides a springboard for future work in research, whether at a university, government department, NGO or private enterprise.

Over the past few years, students have conducted MA dissertation research on topics ranging from activism to sex-work to #metoo, from mental health crises and resilience to clickbait and social media. We encourage students who undertake strong dissertation research to publish their work in academic journals and public-facing outlets. With an experienced faculty working on cutting-edge research and a collegial, inclusive, and vibrant community, UCC offers an invaluable opportunity to graduates of the MA in Sociology to shape their future careers and make a difference.

Part-time Option (24 months)

In Year 1 students complete two 10-credit core modules and two elective 10-credit modules. In Year 2, students select one optional 10-credit module (not previously taken in year 1) and complete the Dissertation in Sociology (40 Credits).

Course Practicalities

In teaching periods 1 and 2, you will have a mandatory two-hour graduate seminar on theory/methodology. Mandatory seminars are generally timetabled on Tuesday afternoons after 4 pm. The timetabling of optional seminars changes from year to year but most are scheduled between 9 am and 5 pm Monday to Friday. Some seminars are run on a weekly basis while others are run using a one-day workshop format.

Assessment

Assessment is conducted through the grading of five graduate module papers. The word limit for the Social Theory paper is 5,000. The word limit for all other papers including Methodology is 5,000. These marks are combined with the student’s grades on their final thesis (PART B) in order to determine an overall result.

Who teaches this course

This course is taught by lecturers and professors in the Department of Sociology at UCC. Our department is highly ranked for the quality of its research and teaching and staff have won national teaching awards. All staff are research active and our modules are constantly being revised and updated to incorporate the latest research in their areas. We are a small unit that places a strong emphasis on academic rigour, and also on approachability and friendliness.

Broadly speaking, our research interests fall into the following areas:

• Sociology of Deviance and Violence
• Environment, Sustainability, and Climate Change
• Gender, Sexuality, Identity, and Feminism
• Health/Medical Sociology, Social Media and Technology
• Human Rights, Borders, and Migration
• Sociological Theory and Methods, Historical Sociology

Why Choose This Course

Previous students have praised the course for its engaging discussions, comprehensive lecture content, and friendly lecturing staff.

Requirements

Applicants must have obtained a minimum of a Second Class Honours Grade I in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or equivalent, in sociology, law, politics, psychology, history, applied social studies, anthropology, geography, economics, the study of religions, media studies, communication, government, public policy, criminal justice, environment and planning, criminology, European studies, women studies, early childhood studies, cultural studies, political studies, international relations or another subject relevant to the study of Sociology.

Applicants who hold a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) will also be considered under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) subject to a written expression of interest and/or interview acceptable to the department selection committee.

For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.

International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

Fees and Costs

Postgraduate EU and International Fees 2025/2026

See our Postgraduate EU and Non-EU (International) Fee Schedule for the latest information.

Deposits

If your course requires a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second-semester fee payment in January.

Fee payment

Fees are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration and the balance usually by the end of January.

How To Apply

1. Check dates
2. Gather documents
3. Apply online

Additional Requirements (All Applicants)

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process. This will include the following:

• You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held.
• Describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.
• Briefly describe a research proposal that may form the basis of your thesis.
• Submit a copy of a short analytical/critical/report writing sample or essay (1,000 words approx.)

The closing date for non-EU applications is Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.