Sociology

Sociology is the discipline that examines how societies are organised, how they change, and how social structures shape the lives of individuals and communities. It asks why inequalities persist, how institutions sustain or challenge them, how culture and identity are formed, and what forces drive social transformation. Sociology is a discipline with both intellectual depth and practical relevance: the questions it asks about power, welfare, justice, and community are precisely the questions that animate policy, public service, and advocacy.

At Edge Hill University, this three-year full-time programme engages you with the sociological tradition, from the foundational thinking of Durkheim, Weber, and Marx through to contemporary debates about globalisation, intersectionality, digital society, and environmental change. You will study research methods both quantitative and qualitative, developing the ability to design and carry out sociological investigation and to evaluate evidence critically. The programme engages with social policy, education, health, crime, and the sociology of culture, giving you a broad understanding of how social forces shape different institutional domains.

The programme includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and work placement opportunities, meaning you will gain professional experience and an international perspective before you graduate. These opportunities are particularly valuable for sociology students, placing your academic understanding in direct contact with the social institutions and organisations you have been studying.

You will develop strong analytical, research, and communication skills, and the capacity to bring rigorous sociological thinking to complex social problems.

Graduates go on to careers in social research, public policy, social work, community development, education, health services, journalism, the voluntary sector, and public administration. The analytical skills sociology develops are valued across a wide range of professional contexts. Postgraduate study in sociology, social policy, social work, or public health is a well-supported route.