Sociology

Course summary

Sociology is the analysis of human societies making it an interesting and relevant course to study. This course will encourage you to develop analytical and evaluative skills and question aspects of society that you may have previously taken for granted. If you have an enquiring mind, an interest in current social issues and a willingness to explore a variety of explanations of the world around you, then Sociology is the subject for you. Sociologists are most interested in the causes and consequences of social behaviour, such as crime or discrimination. Sociology will provide you with an understanding of the impact of the socialisation process on behaviour, culture, roles, and identity, with a reference to gender, class, age and ethnicity. You will gain an understanding of topic areas such as family, education, crime and deviance and social inequalities, including workplace inequality (studying theories of class, ethnicity, age, and gender). You will develop a thorough understanding of sociological research methodology and gain knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methods of research and practical and ethical issues in the research process. You will also develop an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of a range of research techniques including surveys, interviews, and various types of observations.