Sociology with Data Science

Sociology with data science is a discipline that brings together the analytical tools of contemporary data science and the sociological insight needed to apply them meaningfully to questions about society, inequality, and human behaviour. Sociology has always been concerned with understanding patterns in social life, and the emergence of large-scale digital data, combined with new computational methods for analysing it, has opened up new possibilities for sociological research that this degree is designed to develop.

At the University of Essex, which has a strong tradition in both sociology and quantitative social science, you will study the core areas of sociological theory and empirical research alongside programming, data analysis, and the statistical methods that data science employs. You will explore how data science methods can help answer social science questions: how do we analyse large social datasets? How do we understand patterns of inequality through digital data?

How do algorithmic systems reproduce or challenge existing social structures? The programme equips you to engage with these questions both critically and technically, combining sociological insight with analytical and programming skills. The typical entry tariff is 104 UCAS points.

Graduates of sociology with data science are well placed for careers in social research, data analysis in the public and voluntary sectors, policy evaluation, journalism, and any role that requires combining an understanding of social dynamics with the capacity to work with quantitative evidence. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in sociology, social research methods, data science, or public policy, building on the distinctive combination the undergraduate degree develops.