Sociology

In this module, you’ll get to grips with the diversity of India as a nation. You will explore politics, society, economy and culture. You 'll consider the fascinating history of India. The moving perceptions of India over time, and its changing relationship with the global context today.  You will engage with ethnographic material. To gain understanding of the everyday lives of India’s citizens and wider diaspora through explorations of:

• work
• labour
• migration
• religion
• politics and sociality.  

As you learn about:

• intimacy
• gender
• sexuality
• ethnicity
• caste
• class
• and identity 

on an interpersonal level, you will gain a deeper understanding of these issues.  
At a structural level, you will tackle issues of social, cultural and economic transformation in the context of:

• cultural practices
• religious influences
• capitalist development
• political change
• neoliberalism
• post colonialism
• and forms of protest or conflict.

What are rituals, and why do we perform them? In this module, you’ll explore the key role of rituals in society. You’ll look at various human communities as you consider the origins of ritual, and its different definitions. You’ll gain valuable critical skills as you explore key anthropological concepts, including:

• rites of passage
• liminality
• anti-structure
• communities

We often stereotype ritual as exotic, and about religion. However, you’ll enrich your perspective as you explore ritual in non-religious contexts. You’ll look at ritual within:

• politics and power relations
• social identities
• social traditions

In this module, you’ll examine the human relationships and layouts of the world’s great cities - from the nineteenth century to today. You’ll gain valuable critical skills as you analyse the trends likely to shape such cities in the future. And you’ll consider people and place as inseparable, exploring the relationship between human societies and the physical cities they live in.

• find solutions to key questions of crime and justice
• find solutions to problems in current practice
• explore how these solutions can inform future research.

• practitioners
• policy-makers
• politicians

How do nations and states come about? In this module, you’ll explore European societies, and their foundations - social and political. You’ll examine the processes of nation and state-building. And you’ll get to grips with the relationship between state, market and society. 

You’ll explore European approaches to citizenship and capitalism. You’ll consider the future of Europe. And you’ll use a historical, comparative perspective to evaluate how Europe might respond to current social and political challenges.

Do you remember how you felt as a child? In this module, we’ll explore the world of children, and how our ideas about childhood have changed through time. You’ll consider the impact of different models of socialisation on children. And you’ll explore the factors - cultural, structural and experimental - which develop a child’s identity.  We’ll make strong use of life and history material.

In this module, you’ll have the chance to carry out a work placement closely linked to your Sociology course.

You’ll have help from your module leader to find a placement that meets your needs, and which will support your learning. With a carefully chosen placement, you’ll build on the skills and knowledge you’ve already gained in Year 1, and you’ll also gain vital skills for the workplace, like time management, communication and team-working.

During and after your placement, you’ll:

• create a placement portfolio, including a learning journal
• craft a CV showing your experience
• produce a policy brief or policy analysis paper.

This is your opportunity to work or study in another country, so you can experience a different culture from the UK. You’ll be able to apply and test your knowledge and skills in new contexts that will significantly develop your employability profile.

Choosing this module will allow you to exhibit the development of self-management and working or studying in unfamiliar contexts, alongside practising cross-cultural communication and interpersonal skills.

You will receive support and guidance to help you find a place in an available higher education partner institution, or to find a work placement for your year abroad. This year abroad module lasts for one academic year and is taken after the conclusion of your second year of study, once you’ve completed all your level 5 studies. Your year abroad is not credit-bearing.

The opportunity can be approached in 2 different ways. Please see your options below: 
 

In this module, you’ll develop key critical skills as you explore the democratic challenges facing Russia. Contemporary Russia has undergone enormous social, political and economic transformation since the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.You’ll gain a strong grounding in the key issues of this diverse, multi-ethnic state. You’ll look at core themes, such as:

• regime dynamics and trajectory

• the role of informal relations

• corruption and governance problems

• war and militarism

• Identity politics.

You can attend a non-UK higher education institution for a full academic year. You’ll be able to choose modules in your own subject or in a subject you consider would benefit your overall course of study. You may choose to deepen your knowledge of your degree subject or enhance it by developing complementary skills.

By studying in an international university you’ll progress your interpersonal skills through cross-cultural communication with fellow students and tutors, building lasting relationships. Also you’ll further develop your study skills as you focus on your selected areas of interest to you - while developing and progressing an international study experience that will add significance to your CV.

Undertake a work placement or work-related project based on your interests and existing skills. You will create an initial learning contract that shows clearly how your proposed placement or project will link with your academic and/or professional aims.

This pathway helps you to have full control over what your work-related learning looks like. You will advance your skills in a practical setting, gain first-hand experience in a work environment, and begin to create your professional network. Also, taking initiative of your learning in such a way will mean that you will stand out when you apply for jobs after graduation.
 

In this module, you’ll develop key critical skills as you explore the democratic challenges facing Russia. Contemporary Russia has undergone enormous social, political and economic transformation since the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.You’ll gain a strong grounding in the key issues of this diverse, multi-ethnic state. You’ll look at core themes, such as:

• regime dynamics and trajectory
• the role of informal relations
• corruption and governance problems
• war and militarism
• and identity politics.

What shapes our racial identities? How do they play out in everyday life, alongside gender, class and age?

In this module, you’ll gain a strong understanding of identities and differences in current western societies. You’ll explore postcolonial theories of Self and Otherness. And you’ll gain key analytical skills, as you investigate the relevance of these theories to diverse societies today.

How do we view health and illness in society today? In this module, you’ll dig into key debates on health and illness, focusing on theoretical perspectives and real-life experiences. You’ll gain key analytical skills as you engage with ethical debates around decision making in health and illness.

As you investigate health and illness, you’ll use both lay perspectives and medical knowledge to inform your understanding. You’ll also consider:

• concepts of lifestyle and risk
• the centrality of the body in modern debates
• the medicalisation of everyday life, death and dying. 

You’ll learn how our understanding of health and illness is affected by:

• circumstances
• gendered experiences
• social class
• culture
• race
• age.

In this module, you’ll explore the sociology of youth and young adulthood. You’ll learn about how young people’s experiences of youth are affected by social and economic factors, like housing or austerity measures. You’ll understand theoretical perspectives that will help you develop a critical understanding of youth and young adulthood. 

You’ll look at topics like: 

• sexual and romantic relationships in young adulthood 
• work, changing employment opportunities and insecure futures
• passages to adulthood: ethnic and racial diversity in the transition to adulthood
• Youth im/mobilities: ‘waithood’, delayed adulthood and migration    
• Youth activism. 

In this module, you’ll get to grips with the central problems of social theory. You’ll develop key analytical skills, as you analyse the pressing debates and concepts in classical and modern sociological theory. 

We’ll consider key concepts and theories, socially and intellectually. And you’ll explore the relevance of these theories to everyday life. 

Why do people move across the world? In this module, you’ll use real examples to examine migration, and its key concepts. You’ll explore political and economic issues, as well as climate change, to understand why millions of people move across nations. You’ll analyse the consequences of migration on migrants’ countries of origin, and the places they move to.

You’ll focus mainly on migrants who move countries for work. You’ll look at the role of states in regulating labour migration, and other factors in the movement of people. You’ll gain critical knowledge of land-based and sea-based migrants, and the factors that drive migration. And you’ll understand international migration in terms of development, economic and cultural factors. You’ll also look at the rights of migrants in migration policy.

You'll start with an investigation of the classic texts from Critical Theory and Science and Technology Studies. You'll then consider the wider cultural and political implications of new digital technologies. 

You'll engage with classical and contemporary sociological analyses of technology. You'll look at the new technologies that influence our daily lives and behaviours. You'll explore how these new technologies impact us as social beings.

• prisoners
• prison staff
• wider society. 

In this module, we’ll investigate intimacy today. We’ll explore:

• gender
• identities
• relationships
• family lives.

Social changes have transformed our intimate relationships and arrangements in the home. However, tensions and contradictions still affect gender roles, and what we see as ‘appropriate’. In this module, you’ll gain key knowledge of the complexity and diversity of intimacy today. 

In this module, you’ll explore the changing relationship between anthropology, and international development (the idea that different countries have different levels of development). You’ll gain a strong grounding in international development. You’ll gain key analytical skills as you dive into debates on the relationship between anthropology and development. You’ll explore key issues for anthropologists working in international development, including:

• gender relations
• environmental issues
• health
• youth
• religion.

You’ll compare ideas and practices in international development. You’ll look at approaches to social policy, inequality and well-being in the UK. And you disrupt the lines we draw between North and South, developed and underdeveloped, or advanced and emerging economies and societies.

This module gives you a great chance to do self-directed study on a topic in Sociology that fascinates you. You’ll have guidance from a tutor, but the direction you take is up to you. Your study could involve fieldwork investigations, or analysis of fieldwork investigations. If you’d like to gain work experience linked to the topic you’re interested in, you could try a work placement. Or you could carry out independent, library-based research.

Whatever kind of study you choose, you’ll gain excellent project management skills from planning and setting goals to working independently and managing your time.