Sociology [with Foundation Year]

Discover how humans shape and are shaped by the world they live in, and prepare for careers in policymaking, community development or social change.

Explore what shapes societies and individual lives, the relations that connect individuals, groups and institutions within societies and the ones that divide them. You’ll look at the work of classical sociologists, and discover how sociology is changing in response to contemporary global issues like race, media and the digital age.

You’ll also study social research methods and learn to apply them to your own work, researching, pitching and evaluating an idea that could make a positive contribution to society.

Why ARU?

• Join a course that scored 93% for ‘Freedom of students to express ideas, opinions and beliefs’ in the National Student Survey 2024

• Specialise with optional modules including intoxicants and society, global feminisms, cybercrime, ‘woke’ wars, and digital methods

• Conduct your own research, gaining practical experience and insight into different approaches

• Learn from expert sociologists - our sociology research was awarded 'world-leading' impact in the Research Excellence Framework 2021

• Take an optional placement year in a governmental organisation, NGO, charity or social enterprise – wherever suits your career aims

Careers

Our Sociology degree will equip you with transferable skills in independent, creative, critical and analytical thinking, and research methods like interviewing, group discussions, and statistical analysis.

You’ll have the chance to conduct your own community or workplace research, gaining valuable practical experience and insight into different approaches to social issues.

Our optional modules will allow you to focus on your own career goals, with topics including cybercrime, ‘woke’ wars, the impact of alcohol on society, modern media, violence, and feminism.

Course Modules

Year 1

• Foundation in Humanities, English, Media, Social Sciences and Education

Year 2

• A Sociological Conversation

• Global Affairs

• Media, Society and Crime

• Digital Society

• Into ARU

Year 3

• Critical Social Thought: Knowledge, Power and Division

• Mobilities and Migration

• Researching Society and Culture

• Ruskin Module (15 credits)

• Digital Methods *

• Cybercrime and Policing *

• Violence and Confrontation *

• Contemporary Issues in Work and Society *

• Woke Wars *

• Intoxicants and Intoxication *

• Spirituality, Religion and the Secular *

• Violence, Gender and Victimisation *

• Bridging Cultures *

• Anglia Language Programme (15 credits) *

• Professional Placement *

Year 4

• Social Change and Social Policy

• Undergraduate Major Project

• Research Communication

• Global Feminisms

• Gender and Sexuality in Britain: 1880-2000 *

• From Workhouses to Universal Credit: The Past, Present and Future of the British Welfare State *

• Youth, Crime and Aggression *

• Key Paradigms 3: International and Global Perspectives in Education *

• Criminology and Policing in Policy and Practice *

• The Making of Modern Media *

• Environment, Nature and Society *

• Exploitation, Trafficking and Sexual Violence *

• Anglia Language Programme (15 credits) *

*optional

You’ll show your progress through methods including portfolios, essays, case study analysis, podcasts, and presentations to help you develop the confidence to demonstrate your sociological knowledge in multiple ways.