Sociology BA(Hons)

Course structure

The Sociology BA(Hons) is designed to integrate theory, research skills and specialist knowledge. You'll learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars and workshops, and receive tutorial support in person and by email. Often you will be working towards your assessment in class in a collaborative and supportive environment. We value inclusivity and aim to support all students whatever their learning styles or needs.

Assessment methods vary for each module. However all are, coursework focussed, and include the opportunity to write essays and book reviews, deliver presentations, create posters, vlogs and blogs, and develop case studies. On some modules we offer a choice of assessment type.

You have the opportunity to do a voluntary work placement in Year 2 and also to enrol on our international exchange programme, which allows you to study in Spain or Sweden for a part of your degree.

In the third year you will complete your dissertation. This can involve doing your own research, using methods such as questionnaires, interviews, or participant observation, or be literature-based. 

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up-to-date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you will be told about any new developments through our applicant portal.

Year 1

Your first year will engage you in the debates that underpin sociology as a discipline, in a way that is stimulating whether you have studied the subject before or not. You will also be sensitised to issues of social inequality and be familiarised with the research methods necessary to investigate such issues.

You will also get a behind the scenes look at how sociology is done.

Modules

Core modules

• Sociological Imaginations

  This module will introduce you to contemporary ‘sociological imaginations’ of the social world and will give you the opportunity to apply sociological theories and concepts to contemporary topics. You'll develop your ability to think sociologically, by first understanding key sociological concepts and then exploring how these are applied in contemporary sociological research examples.

• Foundations of Sociology

  This module will equip you with an understanding of traditional sociological theory and its applications today. You'll be introduced to the foundations of sociology including key thinkers, key debates, and main theoretical perspectives.

  The module will examine the development of classical ideas and the continued relevance for different sociological perspectives throughout the twentieth century. Recent challenges to traditional sociological theory will also be examined and assessed.

• Sociology Live: Interrogating Current Social Problems

  This module offers a dynamic introduction to sociology as a ‘live’ discipline. It draws on ‘live’ social issues to explore the construction of social problems and examines how sociology is ‘done’ by offering unique insight into the working practices of our resident sociologists as they confront real life problems. You will contribute to the current ‘live’ debates of sociology by producing your own sociological accounts of the world in non-traditional forms, for example podcasts, blogs, vlogs or zines.

• Contemporary Social Inequalities

  This module will provide you with the theoretical and conceptual tools to confront normative/normalising explanations of difference and inequality. You'll understand the ways that ‘differences’ and inequalities are formed and their consequences for everyday lived realities.

• Introduction to Research Methods

  The module introduces you to the range of research methods used in the social sciences and will enable you to develop the skills necessary to collect and analyse both quantitative and qualitative data.

Options*

• Developmental Psychology

  The module will introduce you to key theories and topics in child development and lifespan development. You'll examine issues from infancy through middle-childhood to adulthood to explore how people develop through time. The module provides an historical, biological, social and cultural context for studying child development, and life-span development to help you frame the theoretical perspectives presented.

• Theories of Crime

  On this module you will examine criminological theories from an historical perspective, and gain an understanding of the political, social and cultural context in which different theories were developed, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of their current application.

• Social Policy: Needs and Problems

  On this module you will gain the necessary theoretical tools to critically engage with the concepts of human needs and social problems, including concepts such as human rights and social construction. You'll explore themes that will allow you to grow your understanding of current social problems and the relationship to these to human needs.

• Foundations in World Politics

  This module will introduce you to a critical historical perspective on the modern international political system. You will examine how the peoples and governments of the world came to be linked through a global system by reviewing some major events and processes of international history. By taking a long view of modern politics you'll place world politics in its historical context. The key topics explored include the origins of the international political system, imperial expansion, conflict, global governance, controversy and historiography.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Year 2

In the second year, you will critically engage with contemporary sociological theories and gain practical research experience in preparation for your third year dissertation.

You will also begin to tailor your degree to your own interests through option modules. Option modules include the opportunity to undertake a voluntary work placement with a local organisation and put your skills and knowledge into practice.

Core modules

• Theorising the Social World
• Sociology and the Life Course
• Researching Social and Cultural Life

Options*

• Culture, Media and Identities
• Global Cultures
• Sociology Skills
• Community Engagement: Theory into Practice
• Mobilisations, Movements and Protest
• Gender and Power

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Final year

The final year enables you to explore areas of sociological interest and research within the school.

You'll be able to specialise in subjects that really interest you, perhaps with a view to a career pathway. For each Sociology Topic module, you will apply concepts and theories learned during your studies to a specific area, analyse research material and reach your own conclusions.

Topics vary each year, but might typically include childhood, sexuality, death, class, ‘race’, human rights, outer space, parenting, utopia, and education.

Modules

• Dissertation
• Sociology Topic 1
• Sociology Topic 2
• Sociology Topic 3
• Sociology Topic 4

Volunteering 

Volunteering is a great opportunity to develop your vocational skills and gain practical work experience while contributing to the wider community. Our award-winning Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP) can pair you up with a local organisation and find a volunteering placement that is right for you.

The optional Community Engagement module in year 2 allows you to incorporate volunteering in your degree programme. It involves 30 to 50 hours of work with a not-for-profit or community organisation that reflects your academic interests and career aspirations.

Previous students have had volunteering roles including:

• activity volunteer for CCHF All About Kids
• centre volunteer for the Centre for Ecotherapy
• communication supporter for Connect
• listening and support volunteer for the Samaritans
• support volunteer for the MS Society
• volunteer for Fresh Start
• volunteer befriender for the Alzheimer's Society.

CUPP is an award-winning project that aims to tackle disadvantage and promote sustainable development through partnership with local organisations

Staff profile

You will meet many lecturers during your studies but most sociology teaching is delivered by the core team below, and you will get to know them well.

Dr Natalie Pitimson
Sociology BA(Hons) Course Leader and Principal Lecturer in Sociology

Dr James Ormrod
Principal Lecturer in Sociology and Sociology Subject Lead 

Dr Stephen Brown
Senior Lecturer in Sociology

Dr Neil Curry
Senior Lecturer in Sociology

Dr Kyla Ellis-Sloan
Senior Lecturer in Sociology 

Dr Laura Harvey
Senior Lecturer in Sociology

Dr Sarah Leaney
Senior Lecturer in Sociology

Dr Kanwal Mand
Senior Lecturer in Sociology

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visas and immigration advice

Course fees

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Applied Social Science are listed here.

• For some assessments you may be required to print large format posters for presentations at a cost of £5–£10 per poster.
• Most coursework submissions are electronic but you may wish to print notes and should budget up to £100 for printing.
• Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £100 to buy your own copies.
• Some courses include an optional placement module for which students will need to cover the costs of travel to and from the placement and DBS checks as required.
• For the Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counselling PGDip and Psychotherapeutic Psychodynamic Counselling PGDip, the following course-related costs are not included in the tuition fee:
  • Supervision fees: £1,170 for each full year. Estimated based on £45 per hour with fortnightly meetings. In some agencies, supervision will be provided at no cost. Where students have to pay, the cost will only begin when supervision begins.
  • Personal counselling/therapy: £2,000–£2,800 over the course. Estimated based on £40 per hour.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2020–21.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Local area

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Falmer campus