Program Overview

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Sociology BA

Course Overview

The BA Sociology degree is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of sociological theories, concepts, and methods. The course explores the importance of identity, difference, and diversity in society, and how these factors shape our experiences and interactions.

Key Features

• Ranked 7th for social policy and 10th for criminology in the UK in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
• Tailor your degree to your career aspirations through a wide range of optional modules
• Study abroad opportunities in locations such as the Netherlands, Singapore, or the USA
• Gain real experience as part of our placements scheme
• Diverse career options - our graduates develop successful careers across the private, public, and charitable sectors, including local government
• Award-winning teaching - teaching often recognised by awards such as the University Chancellor's Award for teaching quality

Course Structure

The course is divided into three years, with each year consisting of a combination of core and optional modules.

Year One

• Identity in Popular Culture
• Investigating Social Worlds
• Social Science Uncovered 1
• Social Science Uncovered 2
• Society, Health, Tech, and Environment
• Understanding Contemporary Society

Year Two

• Classical Sociological Theory
• Contemporary Sociological Theory
• Research Design and Practice (Qualitative Methods)
• Research Design and Practice (Quantitative Methods)
• Optional modules, including:
  • China Beyond the Headlines
  • Controversy: Experts, Post-Truth, and Fake News
  • Crime Stories: Crime, Justice, and the Media
  • Drugs, Substances, and Addiction
  • Police, Policing, and the Police
  • Prisons and Society
  • Rehabilitation, Risk, and Desistance
  • Social Inequalities: Causes, Patterns, and Change
  • #Sociology: Identity, Self, and Other in a Digital Age
  • The Body, the Self, and Others
  • Understanding Religion in Contemporary Society
  • Youth Crime and Justice

Year Three

• Dissertation
• Optional modules, including:
  • Analysing Public Policy
  • Contemporary Developments in Welfare Policy
  • Crimes and Harms of the Powerful
  • Cults and New Religious Movements: Power, Belief, and Conflict
  • Cyber Crime
  • Education and Society
  • Exploring Social and Cultural Life Through Films
  • Gender, the Family, and Social Policy
  • Human Trafficking
  • Migration and Transnationalism
  • Sensory Criminology
  • Southern Criminology: Decolonising the Study of Crime and Justice
  • Survey Design and Analysis
  • The City and Its People
  • Victimology
  • War and State Violence

Assessment

Assessment methods include:

• Coursework
• Essays
• Examinations
• Presentations
• Dissertation

Careers

Graduates of the BA Sociology degree can pursue a wide range of careers, including:

• Criminal justice
• Healthcare
• Welfare
• Education
• Journalism
• Public relations
• Marketing
• IT

Tuition Fees

• £9,535 per year (UK undergraduate students)
• £23,000 per year (international students)

Additional Costs

• Students will need a device to access digital resources and participate in online learning activities.
• Students may need to purchase additional materials, such as books or equipment, for certain modules.

Study Abroad

The university offers study abroad opportunities in locations such as the Netherlands, Singapore, or the USA.

Placements

The university offers a placements scheme, which provides students with the opportunity to gain real-world experience in a relevant field.

Language Study

Students can choose to study a language as part of their degree, which can enhance their career prospects and provide a unique perspective on the world.

Campus

The university's University Park Campus is a beautiful and sustainable campus, covering 300 acres of green spaces, wildlife, period buildings, and modern facilities.