History and Sociology

History and sociology is a combination that develops what the sociologist C Wright Mills called the sociological imagination: the capacity to see how individual experience is shaped by larger historical forces and social structures. History provides the chronological depth and the discipline of working with evidence about the past, developing the ability to understand change over time and to contextualise the present by understanding what came before it. Sociology provides the analytical frameworks for understanding contemporary social structures, inequalities, institutions, and cultural dynamics.

Together they make you a more complete thinker about human experience in both its historical and social dimensions.

At the University of Aberdeen this four-year full-time programme combines wide and deep study of all aspects of human activity in the past with a rigorous sociological engagement with how the societies we live in shape us as individuals. You will explore historical subjects across different periods and regions alongside the major theoretical traditions of sociology, from Durkheim and Weber to contemporary debates about globalisation, identity, and inequality. The degree includes a year abroad, broadening your intellectual perspective and your experience of different academic traditions.

The typical entry tariff of 168 points reflects the strong academic standard expected of students at Aberdeen.

You will develop research skills, the ability to evaluate evidence from historical and contemporary sources, critical writing, and the analytical thinking that both disciplines demand.

Graduates pursue careers in education, journalism, social research, public administration, policy, the voluntary sector, heritage, and the civil service. Postgraduate study in sociology, modern history, social policy, or social research methods is a natural continuation for those wanting to specialise further.