Undergraduate 2013

A place to inspire you / An approach to challenge you


Sociology

Key facts
Start year: 2013
Location: Canterbury
Award/s: BA (Hons)
Type: Full-time and part-time
Options: Year abroad

Sociology provides ways of making sense of a world undergoing unprecedented social change and uncertainty. It aims to explain the origins, formation and development of modern societies. Sociological research is devoted to understanding the conditions that govern our experience of everyday life as well as the structures that determine the overall character of a society.

The programme at Kent is designed to provide students with an understanding of core traditions and contemporary developments in sociological thinking and research. It also features a range of specialist areas such as race and ethnic identity, risk and society, sociological approaches to violence, terrorism and society, new media technologies, the sociology of health, sex, gender and socialisation, the sociology of work and the sociology of embodiment. We also offer the opportunity to study Sociology with a year abroad in Europe (Holland, Spain, Italy or Finland), or Hong Kong.

Sociology teaching at Kent was described by national assessors during their most recent visit as ‘very impressive'. The School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research has the highest national research rating available. You are taught by some of the leading academics in the field.

Modules

Stage 1

You take one core module, plus a language if relevant, and a choice of options.

Core modules
  • Fundamentals of Sociology
  • Sociology of Everyday Life
  • Language module (for Italian programmes)
Options

A wide range of modules drawn from the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Stage 2/3

You take three core modules, a language if relevant, and a choice of options.

Core modules
  • Concepts and Theories in Sociology
  • Social Research Methods
Options
  • The Care and Protection of Children
  • Childhood, Society and Children's Rights
  • Crime, Media and Culture
  • Criminal Justice in Modern Britain: Development, Issues and Politics
  • Cultures of Embodiment
  • Drugs, Culture and Control
  • Education, Training and Social Policy
  • Gender, Crime and Criminal Justice
  • Gender, Work and the Family: Exploring the Work Life Balance
  • Health, Illness and Medicine
  • The Information Society and Digital Culture
  • Issues in Social Care
  • Popular Culture, Media and Society
  • Poverty, Inequality and Social Security
  • Racism
  • Reproductive Health Policy in Britain
  • Risk and Society
  • The Social Politics of Food
  • Sociological Perspectives on Violence
  • Sociology Dissertaion
  • Sociology of Crime and Deviance
  • The Sociology of Work
  • Terrorism and Modern Society
  • Youth and Crime

Please note: The programme is under review and may differ in certain details from the one outlined here.

Year abroad

In our Sociology with a year abroad programmes, you spend the third year of a four-year programme studying at one of our partner universities in Italy, Finland, Spain or Hong Kong.

Teaching and assessment

On average, you have four hours of lectures and up to four hours of seminars each week. We also run a tutorial scheme in which students are supervised on a one-to-one basis or in small groups. Most modules also involve individual study using library resources and, where relevant, computer assisted learning packages. If you are taking modules involving computing or learning a language, you have additional workshop time.

Most Sociology modules are assessed by a variety of methods, including examination and coursework, each of which counts for 50% of the final mark. The dissertation, usually done at Stage 3, is assessed without examination. Marks from Stages 2 and 3 and for your year abroad all count towards your final degree result. Stage 1 results do not count towards the final mark, but entry to Stage 2 depends on passing Stage 1.

Entry requirements

Passing the Kent IFP with an overall average of 60% guarantees you entry onto the first year of this degree programme.

Not sure? How about...
  • Anthropology
  • Psychology
  • Social Policy
  • Social Sciences

    • Offer levels

    ABB at A level or IB Diploma 33 points or IB Diploma with 16 points at Higher.

    The School is committed to widening participation and has a long and successful tradition of admitting mature students. We welcome applications from students on accredited Access courses.

    Required subjects

    L373: GCSE or AS level in a related modern language.

    CL83: GCSE Mathematics grade C.

    LL13: GCSE Mathematics grade A; if taken A level Economics or Business Studies grade B.

    Careers

    Through your study you gain many of the transferable skills essential for success in the graduate employment market. These include planning and organisation, the ability to work independently and in groups, to lead and to support others, and to analyse complex information and make it accessible to non-specialist readers.

    Our graduates go into a variety of areas such as marketing, recruitment consultancy, the Prison Service, teaching, banking and financial services, and further study.

    For more information on the services Kent provides to improve your employment prospects, visit www.kent.ac.uk/employability

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    Last Updated: 08/11/2011