BA

Sociology

Key Facts

L300

  • UCAS Tariff

    120 - 96

  • Course duration

    3 years

Further details on entry requirements

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The BA Sociology degree at Aberystwyth University will train you to develop a critical awareness of and engagement with the social world. By studying this course, you will develop a thorough grounding in the conceptual and theoretical approaches that have been employed by sociologists to study the world around us. You will also develop your ability to analyse social phenomena through training in the collection, analysis and presentation of sociological data. 

Some of the distinctive aspects of Aberystwyth’s approach to Sociology include: 

  • emphasising the value and significance of a field-based approach to Sociology, with field exercises being integrated into lecture modules, and a dedicated Field-Based Sociology module in year 2
  • integrating more applied perspectives into the teaching that we undertake on key themes and concepts in Sociology to demonstrate its real-world significance (and, in doing so, help with the employability of our Sociology graduates)
  • drawing on our research strengths and to ensure that students are exposed to cutting-edge theoretical and empirical understandings of the social world.

Course Overview

A degree in BA Sociology at Aberystwyth will allow you to:

  • be able to critically evaluate ideas, concepts and approaches across the whole of the subject and within particular branches of Sociology 
  • be able to carry out independent research, applying a range of skills in relation to data collection, analysis and presentation; have developed a range of skills and be able to apply them to a variety of Sociological issues
  • be able to recognize that your learning experience has been positively reinforced by exposure to research
  • be able to evaluate your own performance in a range of learning contexts and under different modes of assessment 
  • be able to work independently, in a team and with a social awareness of the contribution made by scholarship and applied research in their discipline to social policy 
  • have the necessary skills and awareness to seek employment in a variety of professional careers or to begin postgraduate research and study.
Our Staff

Department of Geography and Earth Science: lecturers are all qualified to PhD level or working towards a PhD.

Modules September start - 2023

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Conflict and Change: the making of urban and rural spaces GS10220 20
Key Concepts in Sociology GS16120 20
Place and Identity GS14220 20
Researching the Social World GS17120 20
Understanding Sameness and Difference GS15120 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Conceptual and Historical Issues in Psychology PS11820 20
Globalization and Global Development IP12520 20
Living in a Dangerous World GS10020 20
Studying Media FM10620 20

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Human Geography and Sociology Research Design and Fieldwork Skills GS21520 20
Introduction to Social Theory GS25020 20
Quantitative Data Analysis GS23810 10
Researching People and Place GS20510 10
Understanding (in)equality and (in)justice GS24220 20

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Advertising FM21920 20
Placing Culture GS22920 20
Placing Politics GS23020 20

Core

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Everyday Social Worlds GS33320 20
Sociology Dissertation GS31240 40

Options

Module Name Module Code Credit Value
Contemporary Global Migration GS39120 20
Gender and the Media FM38320 20
Geographies of the Global Countryside GS36820 20
Memory Cultures: heritage, identity and power GS37920 20
Modern British Landscapes GS36220 20
The psychosocial century GS30020 20
Urban Risk and Environmental Resilience GS37520 20

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

The study of Sociology provides a solid foundation for you to consider a wide range of careers including the media, social work, international development, community engagement, and the civil service to name a few. Nowadays, employers are seeking graduates who possess various skills which include the ability to think analytically and laterally. The BA in Sociology degree provides you with a breadth and flexibility of skills which is why Sociology graduates nationally are attractive to employers. 

Sociology graduates have progressed on to: 

  • criminology
  • the Police Force
  • health and social care 
  • social work 
  • social policy (including public housing, social work, local government administration and the voluntary sector) 
  • management 
  • journalism
  • public relations 
  • teaching 
  • research. 

Opportunities whilst studying at Aberystwyth: 

Work Experience/ Year In Industry 

The University operates the Year In Industry scheme. You will have assistance from our Careers Team. Check out their website and see where former students have gone. 

International Opportunities 

The Department has also established Exchange Programmes with the University of Bergen, the University of Oulu, Finland, and the University Centre in Svalbard, giving students the unique experience of studying in one of the world’s most extreme environments. We also have strong links with a number of universities in North America, where students can complete their second year of study. In recent years, our Exchange coordinator has overseen placements at Purdue University (Indiana), the University of Alabama, the University of Georgia, the University of Montana and the University of Ottawa in Canada.

Teaching & Learning

During your first year of your course, you will be introduced to the main concepts, themes and perspectives of Sociology which include: 

  • key concepts and theoretical approaches that have been and are developing within Sociology
  • the relationships between individuals, groups and social structures
  • social diversity and inequalities
  • the role of culturally organised processes in life 
  • processes underpinning social change
  • the distinctive character of Sociology in relation to other forms of understanding, such as its relation to other disciplines and to everyday explanations 
  • the relationship between analysis of evidence and sociological arguments.

During your second and third year, the teaching will focus on: 

  • core knowledge and understanding modules to develop your capacities relating to your first year modules
  • a range of qualitative, quantitative and digital data sources, research strategies and methods of data collection and analysis 
  • the importance of ethical issues in all forms of sociological data collection, analysis and argumentation 
  • practical classes and fieldwork exercises.

During the duration of this course you will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical classes and fieldwork. Your assessments will depend on the modules that you select, however you may be assessed through the following: Examinations; Practical classes; Fieldwork; Coursework; Dissertation.

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff 120 - 96

A Levels BBB-CCC

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4):
English or Welsh

BTEC National Diploma:
DDM-MMM

International Baccalaureate:
30-26

European Baccalaureate:
75%-65% overall

English Language Requirements:
See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course.
Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.

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