University of Sunderland

Sociology

* Exceptions may apply.  Please see Fees and Finance for further information.

Introduction

The University of Sunderland has a growing reputation for teaching and research excellence. With other organisations in the City, it is helping to nurture the skills and resources that have transformed Sunderland in recent years.

Whether you want to build upon your previous studies or boost you career opportunities, the University of Sunderland can offer you a programme that will pave the way for success in your chosen field.

The University of Sunderland is one of the most dynamic institutions of higher education in Northern England. We currently have around 15,000 students. This course was originally validated as a degree programme in 1993, and since then has been successful in maintaining student demand and in retaining students on the programme. This has been achieved as a result of the Sociology Team's close attention to quality issues and the delivery of a well-structured curriculum - comprising core and option modules that provide students with the opportunity to develop key graduate, transferable and discipline skills.

Sociology at Sunderland examines the most important issues facing our society today, for example, social exclusion, race, disability, gender and social class divisions. We offer you a solid grounding in all the major social theories and the methods of sociological investigations. You will develop a critical understanding of society not just here in Britain, but across the globe. You will acquire knowledge and experience in social research techniques, and have the opportunity to pursue specialist knowledge in the areas of sociology that interest you most.

You can supplement your core studies with an exciting range of specialist options that get to the heart of what it is like to live in the 21st Century.

This part-time programme leads to BA (Hons) Sociology, with the option of leaving the programme with Certificates or Diplomas of Education after completing levels 1 and 2 respectively.

The aim of the programme is to provide high quality education to its students. The University has for some time been committed to the principles of lifelong learning and to extending participation in higher education to social groups which have previously been under represented. The BA (Hons) Sociology has been active in recruiting students who have not followed the route of traditional entry requirement (such as A Level), and recognises that life and employment skills also prepare students of all ages to engage with higher education.

The programme recognises that student retention is dependent upon the provision of a coherent learning experience and on the provision of effective student support. The programme team has endeavoured to develop good quality student support as well as engaging students in a curriculum and programme which is both attainable and demanding.

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Course Content

Level 1
Core Modules:

• Introduction to Sociology
• Social Problems
• Exploring Social Research

Level 2
Core Modules:

• Social Theory of Industrial
• SocietySocial Research Projects

Plus options from the following:

• Social Policy
• Globalisation and Poverty
• Sex, Families and the Construction of Personal Lives
• The Medicalisation of Normality and Abnormality
• Issues in Criminology
• Gender, Diversity and Society
  

Level 3
Core Modules:

• Modern Social Theory
• Sociology Dissertation

Options including:

• Health, Illness and the Social Body
• Youth Questions and Society
• Disability and Society
• Gender, Sex and Identity
• Ageing Society
• Power and Wealth in Global Society
• Punishment and Society
• Re-imagining Crime and Criminology
• Ideas and Images of Gender

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Entry Requirements

Our typical offer is 220 points from a minimum of 2 A Levels/AVCEs or equivalent (e.g. 1 x AVCE double award).

We accept a maximum of 20 points from Level 3 Key Skills.

We also require three passes at GCSE Grade C or above which must include Mathematics and English Language or a minimum of Level 2 Key Skills in Communication and Application of Number.

Access Course: We would require successful completion of a Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education Access programme and that you would have a minimum of GCSE Grade C Mathematics and English Language (or have obtained the equivalent as part of your course).

Scottish Highers: Our typical offer is for 220 points.

Irish Leaving Certificate: Our typical offer is for 220 points.

Mature Applicants: We adopt a flexible approach to mature applicants. Applicants must be able to demonstrate evidence of ability to study.

Direct Entry to Level 2/3: If you wish to be considered for direct entry to Level 2/3 please call the Helpline on (0191) 515 3000.

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Fees and Finance

The fees for this course are as specified in the table at the top of the page.

Please note that different fees apply to students studying for "Equivalent or Lower Qualifications" (ELQs). For more information about ELQs, please see the page Information for applicants who already have an HE Qualification.

For information about University scholarships and bursaries please see the page Fees and Finance.

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Teaching and Assessment

The diversity of teaching, learning and assessment methods used on the programme enables students to develop as autonomous learners able to pursue areas of sociological specialism and to increase skills of group work and co-operation. The teaching and learning strategy and the content of the core modules is structured to ensure that the student takes progressively more responsibility for their own learning, a process which culminates in their completing the BA (Hons) Sociology dissertation.

We seek to enhance key academic skills by providing students with extra support in these areas at all levels. The study skills include the presentation of ideas, referencing, the construction of bibliographies, the gathering of information, the identification of legitimate sources of information and using evidence to support arguments. The Sociology Team considers these to be important graduate, discipline and transferable skills. We use lectures, seminars, tutorials and workshops to help you learn. We monitor your progress through essays, examinations, projects, student-led seminars and presentations.

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Work Experience

The content of the programme reflects the interests and research strengths of the University's staff.

We are actively engaged as researchers, commentators and investigators on many aspects of society and its problems, as well as sociology itself.

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Career Opportunities

You can expect to develop an impressive range of academic and practical skills that will boost your employability. For example, you will become skilled in different forms of presentation, information technology, time management, group working, and organisation and evaluation of data.

Recent graduates in Sociology have moved into careers in management, industry, civil service departments, education and international institutions, as well as taking further academic and social research degrees.

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Supplemental Information

Sociology at Sunderland gives you the opportunity to analyse and explain the most important issues in society, both in the UK and internationally. If you are keen to explore globalisation and poverty, the ageing society, power and wealth, gender, diversity and much more, then this is the programme for you.

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Facilities

Sudent Support and Guidance
During the course of the academic year, level tutors guide and assist students in making decisions about modules choices and the 'study-route' options that are available within Sociology. Where necessary, students are advised of the services available to them and will be referred to the appropriate staff.

The Programme Team has been willing to listen to the ideas of students and staff in order to build on good practice and as a result, a number of innovations have been introduced to the way in which student support in provided.

These have come about as a result of ideas from both staff and students. For example, the first-year induction programme now offers Internet training in order to prepare students to communicate with staff via email and via the Sociology at Sunderland web page.

The Department assigns a member of academic staff to be a support worker for disabled students who might experience difficulties when studying and going through assessment.

*World Class Web/Design Tools*
The University of Sunderland has made a significant investment in providing students with access to the latest releases of Adobe products.

Selected PCs within the St Peter's and Murray Libraries have been pre-loaded with the Creative Suite 4 (CS4) Adobe Design Premium Suite for your exclusive use.

CS4 Creative includes key products such as Indesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver as well as Photoshop and a range of many others.

Further information is available from:

http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/creativesuite/design/

For information regarding locations of PC or Macs within your own faculty that have access to Adobe products please contact your Faculty IT Support.

If you are interested in purchasing Adobe products for your own PC/Mac Adobe offer significant savings for student purchases via any of its approved re-sellers.

Please visit:

http://www.student-software.co.uk/

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Related Courses

• Sociology - Combined Subjects (Major, Dual and Minor)
• Sociology
• Sociology

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