Sociology BSc Hons with study abroad

at Northumbria University

The programme gives you the skills to explore the many ways that people live in contemporary societies probing the nature of power, identities, cultures and change that characterise our lives.

You will explore the theories, research and debates in the discipline giving you the tools and creativity to investigate the pressing issues of our time – belonging, inequality, mobilities solidarity, climate change and how class, sexualities, ‘race’ and gender are woven into everyday life. You will be trained to think clearly and critically about the social world – skills highly valued by employers.

There are a wide range of option modules to choose from that reflect the diverse research interests of the sociology team such as the environment, employment, education and youth, families, consumption, international development, media, activism and happiness/wellbeing.

The sociology modules have a diverse range of assessments such as essays, blogs, presentations and critical reviews. We provide a range of assessment feedback, support groups and one-to-one sessions with your tutor to help support your progress through the course.

Examples of innovative learning on the programme include the use of ‘photo elicitation’ research techniques in the first year module,‘biography identity and everyday life’. For their assessment students conduct a qualitative interview into a person’s biography guided by photographs of respondents. In the core second year module, Activism and Advocacy,students helped devise with staff some of the topics and activities during the semester.For example, students interviewed local environmental activists (from charity, Urban Green Newcastle), exploring the development of green spaces in local communities and their significance for wellbeing, and investigating volunteering opportunities with these sorts of charities.

There are study abroad opportunities at Northumbria’s Amsterdam Campus and through partnerships with other universities around the world. Sociology students are also eligible for work experience placements organised by the university.

Our students have undertaken a range of placements as part of dissertation projects with local charities and organisations exploring homelessness, poverty and disadvantage in the North East of England. There are also some paid internships for students that offer short placements with local research projects exploring issues such as wellbeing, education, community development and digital cultures. Our extensive links with charities and organisation in the North East also enable us to help students with volunteering opportunities whilst at university.

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

Year one

• CR4012 -Real World Research 1 (Core,20 Credits)
• SO4002 -Global transformations (Core,20 Credits)
• SO4003 -Thinking Sociologically 1 (Core,20 Credits)
• SO4004 -Thinking Sociologically 2 (Core,20 Credits)
• SO4006 -Social Problems: Myths and Realities (Core,20 Credits)
• SO4008 -Biography, Sociology and Everyday Life (Core,20 Credits)
• YC5001 -Academic Language Skills for Humanities and Social Sciences (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Year two

• AD5019 -Social Sciences Study Abroad (60 credit) (Optional,60 Credits)
• SO5002 -Sociology and Social Inequalities (Core,20 Credits)
• SO5003 -Contemporary Social Theory (Core,20 Credits)
• SO5009 -Sex and Gender in Society (Optional,20 Credits)
• SO5011 -Real World Research 2 (Core,20 Credits)
• SO5012 -Growing Up: Youth and Education (Optional,20 Credits)
• SO5013 -Families and Households: Value, Place and Culture (Optional,20 Credits)
• SO5014 -Activism and Advocacy (Optional,20 Credits)
• SO5016 -Live Project: Sociology in Action (Core,20 Credits)
• YC5001 -Academic Language Skills for Humanities and Social Sciences (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Year three

• AD5017 -Social Sciences Work Placement Year (Optional,120 Credits)
• AD5018 -Social Sciences Study Abroad Year (Optional,120 Credits)
• AT5004 -Year in International Business (This is made up of modules studied in Newcastle (Semester 1) & Amsterdam (Semester 2) (Optional,120 Credits)
• AT5007 -Year in International Multidisciplinary Innovation (4 modules studied in Amsterdam (Semester 1) & Newcastle (Semester 2) (Optional,120 Credits)

Year four

• CR6009 -Work Experience Dissertation (Optional,40 Credits)
• SO6002 -Social Sciences Dissertation (Optional,40 Credits)
• SO6004 -Radical Ideas in Sociology (Core,20 Credits)
• SO6007 -Workers and 'Chavs': The British Working Class (Optional,20 Credits)
• SO6008 -Making Sense of Happiness and Wellbeing (Optional,20 Credits)
• SO6010 -Modern crises: surviving pandemics, climate change and food insecurity in an era of inequality (Optional,20 Credits)
• SO6011 -Gender, Violence and Abuse (Optional,20 Credits)
• SO6012 -Bodies in Social Worlds (Optional,20 Credits)
• YC5001 -Academic Language Skills for Humanities and Social Sciences (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Entry Requirements 2022/23

Standard Entry

120 UCAS Tariff points

From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.

Subject Requirements:

There are no specific subject requirements for this course.

GCSE Requirements:

Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.

Additional Requirements:

There are no additional requirements for this course.

International Qualifications:

We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.

English Language Requirements:

International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).

Fees and Funding 2022/23 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1: £9,250

* The maximum tuition fee that we are permitted to charge for UK students is set by government. Tuition fees may increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, these are subject to government regulations and in line with inflation.

EU Fee in Year 1: £16,500

International Fee in Year 1: £16,500

Through this course you will develop a range of skills and attributes which will help you develop into an active agent of social change. You will develop a sociological imagination which allows you to critically link individual actions to social structures. You will critically evaluate evidence and theory in order to challenge your own ideas, justify your arguments and evaluate those of others.  You will apply appropriate theory and research methods to complex real world problems.  You will be trained in a range of forms of effective communication formats which address diverse audiences. Consequently you will graduate prepared for employment in a number of fields that require a sophisticated, critical and questioning understanding of the workings of society. Our graduates go on to work in the public and not-for-profit sectors including central government, the police, the prison system, community safety and education.