BSc (Hons) International Relations and Sociology

**Aston University is The Guardian's 'University of the Year' 2020.****Course outline**As a student on the BSc (Hons) International Relations and Sociology course, you’ll explore the major political and social issues faced by governments across the world. You will develop a knowledge and understanding of the international state system, the structure and purpose of international organisations and the roles played by international institutions, other intergovernmental organisations, multinational corporations and NGOs.On the sociology strand of the course, you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of social processes, organisational dynamics and inter-group relationships. We explore the social constraints we encounter in our everyday lives and how they are reinforced by class, race, religion and gender. To understand how these issues perpetuate existing inequalities and unequal life chances, we analyse how politics is intertwined with the profit-making aims pursued by big corporations and how their combined interests dominate our social imaginations. When learning about contemporary topics such as inequality, racism, health, migration, sexuality, identity, education, the media, crime and climate change, you will be taught by experts in these fields.Important strengths of the programme include its focus on key contemporary issues in international relations and policy, such as global economic change and the environment as well as international comparisons of government policies. During the final year, you will explore more specialised topics through the completion of an individual research dissertation and a range of modules covering topics such as the international relations of East Asia, US foreign policy, and the international relations between post-Soviet Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.**Key benefits**- As part of your degree you’ll have the option to undertake a professional placement year, gaining valuable practical experience that employers demand.- 95 per cent of students studying international relations courses at Aston agreed that they had been able to contact staff when they need to (National Student Survey, 2020).- 100 per cent of students studying sociology courses at Aston said that staff are good at explaining things (National Student Survey, 2020).- Employed Aston sociology graduates earn £4,000 (23 per cent) more than the UK average, one year after graduation (Longitudinal Education Outcomes, 2020).