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The first year

In the first year, Single Honours students take four units in Sociology and two further units from a subject of interest to you which complements Sociology’s focus.  These open units are chosen during your first week on campus.  Joint Honours students choose three of the four Sociology units (one must be Thinking Sociologically) and three units from their other subject.

Social Identities and Divisions provides an introduction to the substance of sociology, addressing how social identities such as gender and ethnicity influence daily activities in contemporary society.  It is assessed by exam.

Key Social Thinkers introduces students to the classical theories of sociology and investigates the significance they still have for understanding modern society.  It is assessed by exam.

Doing Social Research and Thinking Sociologically introduce students to the ideas and practices of engaging with sociological work.  They aim to develop critical skills and are geared towards helping students begin their ‘careers’ as sociologists, discussing what makes the sociological perspective important and raising key theoretical and methodological issues over what counts as sociological evidence.  Both units are assessed by coursework.

All four first year units presume no prior knowledge of sociology and students from other programmes and disciplines may take them as open units.