Sociology

Sociology is the scientific study of society, examining how human beings live together in groups, how social institutions are organised and maintained, how inequalities arise and persist, and how culture, norms, and power shape individual behaviour and collective life. It is a discipline with a long tradition of intellectual ambition, from the founding questions of Durkheim, Marx, and Weber about the nature of modern industrial societies to contemporary debates about globalisation, digital culture, inequality, and social change. Sociology teaches you to step back from the obvious and the taken-for-granted, to ask how things came to be as they are, and to imagine how they might be different.

At the University of Roehampton, this programme is offered with a foundation year, making it a four-year degree in total, with a sandwich placement year and a work placement also available. The foundation year provides a supported and structured entry into higher education, particularly valuable for students returning to study or approaching university from a non-traditional background. As you move through the degree, you will engage with sociological theory and research methods, the sociology of education, health, crime, family and relationships, race and ethnicity, gender, and digital culture, developing both conceptual frameworks for understanding society and practical skills in social research.

Roehampton's location in London provides access to a hugely diverse city that is itself a rich subject of sociological study.

Graduates from sociology at Roehampton go on to careers in social research, the civil service, policy organisations, health and social care, education, community development, journalism, NGOs, and the voluntary sector. The sandwich placement and work placement elements provide professional experience that complements the academic preparation. Some graduates continue to postgraduate study in sociology, social policy, social work, or research methods.

The analytical and communication skills a sociology degree develops are broadly valued across many professional contexts.