Sociology

Course summary

Sociologists use theories and research to explain the everyday social experiences that shape and influence our lives. Studying Sociology will give you an understanding of the societies in which we live, study and work. Topic 1: Education and Sociological Methods: The study of our educational system; role and function; reasons for variation in outcome by class, gender, and ethnicity; relationships in schools; pupil identity and subcultures; the significance of educational policies. Topic 2: Topics in Sociology: Health and Illness: The sociological study of health and illness; social construction of health, body-image, inequalities in health chances, nature and social distribution of illness; role of medicine and medical professionals. Topic 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods: The study of the sociological perspectives; differences in crime and deviance owing to gender, age, class, ethnicity and location; global crime; human rights and state crimes, crime control, prevention and punishment and the role of the criminal justice system and the sociological explanations for suicide. Students also study key debates in Sociology such as: Are we living in a postmodern world? Is Sociology a science? Is Sociology value-free? Topic 4: The Relationship between Rich and Poor Nations in the World: The study of the sociological perspectives and arguments of: the concept of development; globalisation; aid and trade; the role of transnational corporations, aid agencies and international agencies; development in relation to: war and conflict, the environment, industrialisation, education, health, gender, population change.