Sociology

Sociology is one of the most broad-ranging, interesting and eye-opening subjects
you could possibly take at university.
Really, what's at the heart of Sociology is an attempt to understand how society is organised
and also how it is experienced by different social groups.
So, it really focuses on social life, social change
and the causes and consequences of these changes within society.
When students come to do a BA Sociology at Sunderland,
what we do is give them grounding in theory and methods.
So they run right the way through the programmes at the three levels.
But, what we also do after the first year, is we have what we call strands or pathways
through the degree:
health and the body, sociology of the family and identity,
sociology of crime, globalisation and social change and gender and culture.
Sunderland is the ideal place to study Sociology, to study contemporary changes within society,
as the economic and social trends and changes
that we've seen in recent decades in the North East, in Sunderland in particular,
reflect some of the broader changes we've seen in the society such as the industrialisation,
such as the move to the service economy,
and this put us in a really good position as sociologists
to reflect opon issues such as gender, employment, community, identity, within the local context.
Employability is really a good question for sociologists.
Our students go on to do lots of different things; quite a few of them go on to do
further education at postgraduate level,
either in taught MAs or MPhils and Doctorate programmes
and quite a few of our students go into related or practice-related degrees,
so, Social Work or Probation or Teaching.
We also have students who work in policy and research departments in Local Authorities;
they work in voluntary sector organisations, either as practitioners,
or, again, in research, evaluation work,
and I think our students really get such a good range of transferable skills.
I think you get quite a lot out of the course.
Sociology itself teaches you about diversity and things like that,
but there are also the practical modules like the Research and things
which does help you a lot when you move on into the workplace.
Well, I got a first class degree in my Sociology, and that obviously opens a lot of doors
in terms of getting a job in the future, and, it's interesting that
I can work in the field - Sociology is huge
- so, there are a lot of opportunities for the future.
Entry requirement typically for Sociology at Sunderland
is 220 points, from a minimum of 2 A Levels,
however we are willing to offer applicants interviews
for those of them who do not have these qualifications,
and we are willing to consider other equivalent qualifications, as well as life experiences.
We also ask that students, most importantly, bring with them an open and enquiring mind
and a willingness to study social issues in an in-depth manner.
I am working at the University of Sunderland now in Disability Services;
and I first became interested in Sociology and Disability.
At University I actually did my dissertation in Disability.
The staff are really committed to providing the support that students need
to get the best degree they can, that's our goal.
And so, whether that's in terms of how we group teach,
or in terms of individual, not just in academic support, but pastoral support,
we're very keen to make sure that students get
what they need to get the best degree that they can get.
I think being at the University in Sunderland overall was fantastic.
The staff, the other students and the subject itself,
everything together just made my time at the University great!