Sociology and Politics

Sociology and Politics is a degree that examines two of the most fundamental aspects of human collective life: how societies are structured, how they reproduce themselves and how they change, and how power is organised, exercised and contested through political processes and institutions. Sociology gives you the theoretical and empirical tools to understand social phenomena, from how identities are formed and how inequalities are sustained, to how communities are held together and how social change is driven. Politics focuses this through the lens of formal and informal power, examining how political systems work, how ideologies shape policy and how citizens and states interact.

At Aberystwyth University, this full-time three-year programme develops critical awareness of the social world through a grounding in sociological theory and method, while exploring political influences on social norms and formations. The distinctive field-based approach to sociology at Aberystwyth ensures that theoretical frameworks are always applied to real-world phenomena, and the political dimension of the degree provides important context for understanding how social structures and political processes shape each other. You will develop research skills in both qualitative and quantitative social science methods, and build the analytical and argumentative capabilities that the social sciences demand.

Sociology and Politics graduates go on to careers in the civil service, local government, policy research, journalism, social work, community development, human resources, the voluntary sector, trade unions and international development. The combination of sociological understanding and political analysis is particularly valuable in roles that involve understanding and engaging with diverse communities and navigating complex institutional environments. Postgraduate study in sociology, politics, social policy or related fields provides a route to more specialist roles in academic research, policy analysis and public service leadership.