Search
Sociology – (B.Sc.)
Brunel University
School of Social Sciences| Application Deadline: | as early as possible | ||
| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 3,857 - ≈ € 11,431 (non-EEA) | ||
| Location: | London / United Kingdom / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 36 months | Start Date: | September |
| Educational Form: |
| ||
| Education Variants: |
| ||
| Credits (ECTS): | 360 | ||
| Languages: | English | ||
Location of Brunel University
Sociologists are concerned with developing theories that explain the changing nature of social behaviour in their own and other societies. The kinds of question with which they are concerned are: what is society? How and why is it changing? What are the opportunities for future change and development?
The earliest sociologists tried to understand the major issues of their time - poverty, unemployment, social conflict, and the social and economic consequences of rapid and profound industrial and economic change. Sociologists today continue to examine how such social issues are redefined by contemporary processes of individualisation, globalisation and the rapid growth of new forms of communication.
Within this broad framework, a central theme of Sociology at Brunel is the study of the development of techno-cultural phenomena such as science, technology, and environmental issues which straddle traditional conceptual distinctions between the social, the natural, the technical and the material.
Among the more specific interests of Brunel sociologists are, for example, the social construction of science and technology, social theory, celebrity culture, the influence the media, environmental risk, feminist virtual society, media regulation, and language and social interaction. These various interests strongly reflect the options available in the third level of the course.
This degree is designed for highly motivated students with a keen interest in all aspects of human behaviour and society. You will develop specific skills in the practical methods associated with sociology and will explore in-depth major issues and approaches within this and related disciplines. This is a broad-based degree which enables students to specialise in areas which particularly fascinate them.
Careers
Sociologists are in increasing demand in many sectors in social welfare and policy, in local government and administration, in medicine, in education and research, and in industry. If you are thinking of a career in any of these fields, it may also be possible to select work experience in these areas.
There are also openings available in business, particularly marketing and advertising, management, media, and recruitment. Knowledge and understanding of statistics and research skills are particularly useful assets in the job market. Sociology students can be found in a diverse range of careers, including computing, consultancy, lobbying, teaching, campaigning and fundraising, to name just a few.
Transferable skills
We aim to produce graduates who will have a number of skills that are key to the contemporary employment market:
* A solid training in the skills, methods and perspectives relevant to thinking critically about contemporary social processes;
* An ability to relate the discipline of sociology to real world problems and concerns in such a way as to facilitate and enhance critical social practice;
* A grounding in the new information and communications technologies.
Contents
This course provides a stimulating and wide-ranging introduction to the theories, methods and findings of sociology and social theory, and offers opportunities for specialisation in particular areas, such as health and illness, deviance, the sociology of the environment, social theory and philosophy, the media and culture, race and gender, and the sociology of science and knowledge.
Level 1 will introduce you to the main themes in the social sciences.
Typical modules:
* Media, Culture and Society
* Introduction to Social and Cultural Research
* Introduction to Social Enquiry
* Introduction to Sociology
* Globalisation
* Individual and Social Processes
At Level 2, you will take modules in sociological theory, methods and contemporary social institutions. You can also follow modules chosen from the other social sciences.
Typical modules:
* Research in Practice
* Social Divisions
* Work and Society
* Sociology of Everyday Life: Issues in contemporary culture
Plus 40 credits from:
* Media, Culture and Representation
* Global Communication
* Ethnography of the Contemporary World
* Sex and Gender
At Level 3, you choose a variety of options including sociology of risk and the environment, children and social competence, and celebrities, representation and power.
Typical modules:
* City Lives: Bodies, Spaces and Interaction
* Television Studies
* Comedy, Culture and the Media
* Understanding Audiences
* Crime, Deviance and Addiction
* Health and the New Politics of Protest
* The Age of New Media
Teaching and LearningOur approach
We pursue excellence in both teaching and research. Our aim is to produce degree programmes which combine innovative and classical teaching methods with leading-edge research, and which recognise the value of practical work experience in the learning process. We take great pride in both the quality of teaching and the extensive pastoral care of our students.
Staff expertise
All members of the academic staff are actively engaged in research and many have international reputations in their field. Their innovative findings feed into your courses to ensure that teaching is up-to-date. We have an unusually strong concentration of sociologists who specialise in the study of issues related to science, technology and the environment.
How will I be taught?
The course is taught through a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical laboratory sessions and small group projects.
Lectures - Most modules involve one or two hours of lectures a week. These provide a broad overview of key concepts and ideas relating to your course and provide you with a framework from which to carry out more in depth study.
Seminars - These relatively small groups (3-15 students) are used to discuss the content of lectures and issues arising from the modules. Seminars are often student-led. You can use seminars to clarify your own ideas in an atmosphere of discussion and debate.
Laboratory/research work - All students take part in practical modules. In the first year you will experience the similarities and contrasts between methods of enquiry used in psychology, sociology and social anthropology. The investigative methods used in projects include observation, interviewing, questionnaire design, psychological testing, experimentation and more specific research techniques. As you progress through the course, direction by staff over the design and implementation of projects is reduced.
One-to-one - You will get one-to-one supervision on your final year dissertation and at all levels you will have a personal tutor who is available to discuss personal and academic problems. When you go on placement, you will also be allocated a work placement tutor who will monitor your progress and provide further support if you need it. Lecturers are usually available to answer particular queries outside of scheduled hours - either in one-to-one tutorials or by email.
AssessmentLevel 1 does not count towards your final degree mark but you must pass this level to continue with your course. Level 2 is worth a third - Level 3 is worth the rest. The final year dissertation is worth a third of Level 3 marks.
Methods of assessment vary and depend on which modules you select. Some courses are assessed on coursework only, some by (seen or unseen) examination only, and some by a combination of the two.
IELTS
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test.
Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.
Take testRequirements
UCAS Tariff - 300 points, from:
* GCE A and AS-level Tariff points typically from 3 A-levels together with either 1 AS-level or Extended Project Qualification (typical offer BCC plus a C in either an AS or EPQ). General Studies/Critical Thinking accepted.
* Irish Tariff points from 5 subjects.
* Scottish Tariff points from 3 Advanced Highers plus 1 Higher.
* Advanced Diploma Tariff points in Society, Health and Development, including an A-level for Additional and Specialist Learning.
* BTEC ND DDM in a related subject.
* IB Diploma 31 points.
* Access Pass, including at least 50% of units with Merit or Distinction.
For all of the above, 5 GCSEs or equivalent at Grade C or above are also required, to include English.
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | High School diploma |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Language Proficiency
| IELTS Band: | 6.5 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): | Grade C (Score: 60) |
| TOEFL Paper-based: | 580 |
| TOEFL Internet-based: | 92 |
Ask a Question
You can contact Course Enquiries to ask a question about Sociology at Brunel University.
Relevant Links
Contact
Contact Brunel University
Using the form on this page, you can directly ask questions to the contactpersons at the university.
Fill out your contact information and message. The information you fill out in this form will be sent directly to the university. They will reply to you on the e-mail address you provide here.
Explain your academic background in the message; the more sophisticated your e-mail, the better the answer.
BachelorsPortal.eu cannot take any responsibility for the answering of contacts or for the content of their replies.
BachelorsPortal.eu - Finds the Bachelors for you!