BA (Hons) Sociology and Social Policy

Do you want to understand better how society works? Are you keen to know more about the purpose, processes and outcomes of social welfare, both here and abroad? Why and how do people break the law? How can the criminal justice system define this and how do we police, prosecute and punish people? Our courses look at the nature of social change, social differentiation, the construction and definition of social problems and the maintenance of social order as well as broader questions of process and policy. And we offer an international and comparative approach covering topics that analyse society and welfare issues in various countries. We have particular expertise covering Scotland, the UK, the European Union, Western and Central Europe, Australasia, North America and Latin America. In your first two years you will take three subjects each semester. One of these is a core subject for your degree, but you can choose the other two from Faculties across the University. For example, you could take Sociology with English or another language, Social Policy with Marketing or Criminology with Law. The key benefits of this system are that you can change the emphasis of your degree as you progress, change from full-time to part-time if you need to, change your degree subject(s) and not until midway through your second year do you need to decide what your final degree subject(s) will be. Many of our students go on to complete Combined Degrees with subject such as Law, History, Education, Politics, Philosophy, Business Studies, Spanish, Computing Science and Psychology. The core modules for Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology students in the first two years – Social Differentiation, Social Problems, Understanding Social Policy and Development of Social Theory – provide a coherent and cumulative introduction to key concerns. In Years 3 and 4, you will specialise in your chosen area. As well as taking core modules you will chose from a list of optional modules. For Sociology and Social Policy students, these include: Sociology of Childhood; Race and Ethnicity; Sociology of Development; Ageing, Society and Social Policy; Urban Society; Housing Policy; and Addiction: Policy and Practice. Criminology students can choose from a range of modules including: global networks and crime; Women, Crime and Society; Punishment and Society; and Crimes of the Powerful. Over the course of Years 3 and 4, you will also have the opportunity to develop practical research skills through two intensive core courses on qualitative and quantitative research skills, as well as the opportunity to undertake your own research dissertation. Completing your dissertation provides you with highly valued transferable skills. Examples of recent dissertation topics include: Sectarianism in Scottish Society, Understanding Binge Drinking, the Criminalisation of Muslims in Britain, Body Image, Obesity, Anti-social Behaviour Orders, Young Female Bullying and Violence, and the Impact of Adoption on Personal Identity.