BA (Honours) Sociology
Three years full-time
UCAS code • L300
Location • Collegiate Campus
Subject area • Sociology and politics
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Watch videos explaining some of the benefits of studying sociology at Sheffield Hallam.
At a glance
Develop core knowledge and skills in the field of sociology before specialising in areas which interest you. You can boost your career potential by taking a work placement in sectors such as health and education or gain international experience on an academic exchange at universities in Hong Kong, North America and Europe.
Key points
• Examine current events on a course that stays up to date with what’s happening in the world.
• Study a wide range of sociological topics looking at both individual perspectives and social structures.
• Benefit from a strong focus on your future employability throughout the degree.
• Gain valuable experience with a subject specific work placement or study abroad.
What is sociology?
Sociology explores people’s actions and beliefs and how society and culture influence these. It also looks at how people interact with each other and the impact they have on the society around them.
This course
What does society mean to you? How do we go about studying it? On this degree you examine sociological explanations and ask how they can be applied to the real world around us. You develop your analytical and research skills to enable you to ask questions which produce robust evidence for understanding the nature of societies and the factors shaping social change.
You learn the core knowledge and skills of sociology in year one. Then in year two, you begin to specialise your knowledge according to your career path and interests. You choose optional modules as well as focusing on work-related or work-based learning. At this point you can choose to take a supervised work placement in one of our partner organisations such as health, education, justice and the voluntary sectors.
You also have the option to go on an eight week exchange to a partner university in a range of international destinations such as New York, The Hague and Hong Kong. This is a great opportunity to broaden your academic knowledge and to experience living in another country.
In your third year you continue to specialise through your module choice and by completing a dissertation. The dissertation allows you to select a topic which you are passionate about. With a supervisor, you develop a research question and an individual programme of work.
Throughout the course we help you to focus on your future career and to develop the skills you need for the workplace. You are assigned to a tutor group of students who meet regularly with a personal academic and professional support tutor throughout each year of your studies. This group and your tutor provide enormous support and encouragement as you make the transition to university life.
Key areas of study
Key areas include • culture, media and consumption • crime and deviance • social inequality (social class, gender, race and ethnicity, sexuality) • sociology of the body • social change and the global society • childhood, the family and old age • health, illness and disability • education • work and employment • self and social identities • social science research methods.
Some of our students last year did dissertations on topics which included • changing support services for teenage mothers • music and its impact on young people's identities • the influence of the media on male body image • young people and knife crime • parent’s perceptions of sex education in schools.
Find out more about BA (Honours) Sociology
Related courses
You apply for this course through UCAS.
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees and funding see www.shu.ac.uk/study/ug/fees-and-funding
2013/14 academic year
Typically £10,680 a year
2014/15 academic year
Typically £11,250 a year
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees, scholarships and bursaries see www.shu.ac.uk/international/fees
• essays • projects • individual and group presentations • dissertation • examination
Key Information Set 
Mr Alan McGauley, principal lecturer - part 1 (1:02)
Alan McGauley provides a general introduction to studying sociology with us. He describes what you study, with particular emphasis on some of our sociological greats, and how you can develop your own particular interests. Alan talks about how the sociology degrees explores theories and integrates practice, to ensure you develop key skills to help you in employment.
Mr Alan McGauley, principal lecturer - part 2 (0:55)
Alan McGauley discusses some of the key opportunities available to sociology students studying with us, including international placements and exchanges as well as employer links.
