BA in Sociology
Queen's University Belfast - Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Key Information
Campus location
Belfast, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
3 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
GBP 18,800 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
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* England, Scotland or Wales: £9,250 | Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland: £4,710 | EU Other and International: £18,800
Introduction
Sociology is a scientific discipline concerned with the explanation of social life and human behaviour. It equips students with the skills to understand the breadth of social practice, ranging from the global (including power and politics, conflict and peace processes, security, the digital world, climate change, racism and social justice) to individual experiences (such as the body, intimacy, emotions, identity, beliefs and mental health). Through theoretical tools and methodological techniques, Sociology at Queen’s provides students with a unique way of interacting with the world as critical and engaged citizens.
Sociology Degree Highlights
Sociology at Queen's launched a brand new Single Honours degree in September 2018, which includes a Sociological Cinema series.
Global Opportunities
We have a solid tradition of students undertaking Study Abroad through Erasmus schemes (with universities in Barcelona, Lund in Sweden, Paris, Aix en Provence in France, Munich and Dusseldorf in Germany, Rotterdam and Nijemegen in the Netherlands, Jyvaskyla in Finland) as well as visiting international students who take Sociology modules, particularly those connected to research expertise for which Queen’s is renowned (e.g. Conflict Transformation and Social justice, Childhood, Public Health etc.).
Internationally Renowned Experts
The Sociology programme meets the highest standard in Ireland and the UK for undergraduate training in research methods and their application. We are one of only 15 Q-Step Centres in the UK.
Sociology is taught by a group of internationally recognised sociologists who specialise in areas such as family, childhood, religion and conflict.
We offer a high-quality, supportive, student-centred learning experience in a top Russell Group University, as evidenced by our excellent NSS student satisfaction rates.
We are a research-intensive university, which means that what you are taught is directly linked to the latest discoveries and innovations. Our programme directly relates to the university’s strategic research priorities, for example, the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security & Justice.
Student Experience
The Lockheed Prizes are awarded annually to students for the Bachelor of Arts degrees taking a single major or joint subjects in Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work.
You will be assigned a personal tutor during induction. This member of the academic staff will provide one-to-one support and mentoring throughout your studies at Queen’s.
We offer a peer-mentoring scheme for Sociology students, with the support of staff and the Centre for Educational Development.
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Admissions
Curriculum
The Sociology team’s diverse research interests translate into an exciting and dynamic programme, with opportunities to study a range of subjects, such as:
- Intimacy, families and gender
- Conflict, deviance, violence and peacebuilding
- Emotions and Politics, from Trump to Brexit
- Environmental security
- Ethnicity, race and racism
- Health, illness and care
- Inequalities, poverty and social exclusion
- Religion and extremism
- Research methods and data skills (quantitative and qualitative)
Stage 1 Core Modules
In the first year, you will learn to think sociologically and explore the sociological imagination using up-to-date research, from studies on Facebook to romance and dating. Our key module Digital Society allows students to critically reflect on the role of technology in our daily lives, from surveillance to “Big Data”.
- Rethinking Sociology
- The Sociological Imagination
- Introducing Social Policy
- Digital Society
Stage 1 Optional Modules
- Introducing Criminology
- Crime and Society
- Visualising the Social World
- Themes and Issues in Social Policy
- Comparative Politics
- Issues in Contemporary Politics
Stage 2 Core Modules
In the second year, you will be introduced to classical and contemporary theories and develop proficiency in quantitative and qualitative research methods. You will gain skills in using the most widely used software, for example, SPSS and NVivo. We take advantage of ARK, a key resource situated in the School, and use their wide range of attitudinal surveys, often commissioned by government and key NI organisations. This allows students to apply their research skills training to contemporary issues using the latest survey data.
- The Power of Social Theory
- Quantitative Research Skills
- Social Inequalities and Diversity
- Qualitative Research Skills
Stage 2 Optional Modules
- Northern Ireland: Conflict, Identity, Peace
- Welfare in Theory and Practice
- Questions for an Ageing World
- Theory Counts
- Gender and Migration
- Sociology of Conflict and Peace Processes
Stage 3 Core Modules
In the final year, students design and undertake their own research projects under the guidance of a dedicated supervisor. This allows students to develop their own research question on a topic of their own selection, building on their studies. We encourage students to partner with community organisations to ensure that their research has a direct and often immediate impact where it is needed. As well as the development of specialist subject knowledge, the final year project provides key transferable skills, including independent project management and problem-solving. A key aspect of the final year is the ability to choose from the specialist Sociology options, reflecting the team’s research interests.
- Research Project and Dissertation
Stage 3 Optional Modules
- Religion: Death or Revival
- Norms and Social Change
- Emotion, Power, and Politics: The Political Sociology of Emotions, Trump, Brexit, and Populism
- Modern Families: Intimate and Personal Relationships
- Disability and Society
- Contemporary Irish Society
- The Sociology of Protest and Revolution
- The cultural politics of memory from a global perspective
- Modelling the Social World
- Social Identity: Difference and Inequalities
The Optional Q-Step Exit Pathway
Students who wish to benefit from specialist training in quantitative research can undertake a series of dedicated social science research modules over the course of their degree studies. Successful completion of 80 CATS credits of advanced quantitative research training (four modules) in level 2 and level 3 will receive the enhancement of BSc “with Quantitative Methods” added to the name of the degree awarded.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Career Development
Opportunity to develop substantive knowledge and research skills through collaboration in Northern Ireland’s vibrant community sector, including field trips, summer work placements, internship opportunities, guest lectures and workshops.
Your degree in Sociology will equip you with a range of transferable skills that are highly sought in a wide variety of fields in the contemporary jobs market. Sociology graduates are found in a range of occupations, including management, communication, marketing, sales, retail, journalism, media research and publishing, youth and community work, charities and the voluntary sector, healthcare, social and civil services, and education. Sociology is also a good fit for a variety of careers in business: it develops the ability to gather and evaluate evidence, engage in critical analysis, and understand and explain complex problems and situations.
Employment Links
Our graduates have worked for organisations beyond and within Northern Ireland, such as:
- Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)
- Belfast Child
- Johnsons Solicitors
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Lloyds Banking Group
- Barnardos
- Northern Ireland Housing Executive