Which Sociology course is right for you?

Looking at studying a sociology related course? You’ve come to the right place, as we’ve got several to choose from that cover a wide range of specialisms. Read on to find out more about each course and decide which one will fit you best.

Sociology

Key Modules:

• Sociological Perspectives
• Current Issues in Sociology
• Self, Identity and Society

Our Sociology degree is a practical course that is driven by the fact that sociology as a discipline helps us to make sense of the world around us. There is an emphasis on not just reading about sociology, but also doing sociology.

Being such an extensive topic, the Sociology course covers aspects of inequality, social hierarchies, power relationships, and much more as in your final year you are able to choose two modules to further specialise your studies in. Not only this, but your second year of study will consist of an optional, semester long placement that allows you to experience real life, practice-based work within the sociological sector. A fun fact about BCU is that we are home to the UK’s first Centre for Brexit Studies, which you’ll be able to take advantage of if you so wish to focus your sociological studies that way.

Our sociology graduates have gone into a variety of different careers, including publishing, governmental roles, marketing, youth work, and many more.

Sociology and Criminology

Key Modules:

• Crime, Punishment and Society
• Contemporary Social Theory
• Gender and Crime

The inclusion of criminology into this particular course allows you to learn about and understand crime in a sociological sense and relate it to wider society. You will be examining patterns between crime, inequality, social hierarchies, and more to form your own research and ideologies.

The course offers a range of opportunities to visit places relevant to your degree. If you decide to take our Rehabilitation, Reintegration, Re-entry and Therapeutic Communities module, you will take a visit to HMP Grendon, Britain’s only therapeutic prison community, where you can engage in a debate with the prisoners. Alongside this, there are plenty of guest speakers that come in to share their knowledge and hold workshops.

The Sociology and Criminology course shares its first year of study with the Sociology course, meaning that you can decide to transfer to either course if you wish.

Black Studies

Key Modules:

•         Researching Black Lives
•         Black Intellectual Thought
•         Blackness in Britain

BCU is the home of Europe’s first Black Studies degree, so you know you’ll be studying in the heart of a cutting-edge and forward-thinking environment. The course prides itself on fostering innovative teaching, that addresses contemporary and historical black culture and politics, alongside sociological elements.

The aim of Black Studies is to make a true impact on society, by using the theory and practices you learn during your time on the course and contextualising them into real life scenarios. You will primarily be learning from black scholars, activists, and communities, encountering a wide range of viewpoints, and becoming connected with projects and organisations outside of the University.

In case you were wondering what career you can go into with a Black Studies degree, there are plenty of options. The degree sets you up to work in a range of sectors, including private, public, and voluntary, and work in careers such as community development, higher education, governmental work, human resources, and many more.

Black Studies (Criminal Justice)

Key Modules:

• Black Arts Movement
• Researching Black Lives and Experiences
• Race and Crime

Black Studies is an extremely important topic that discusses the perspectives and experiences of black individuals and puts them in the heart of higher education. Just like the Black Studies degree, Black Studies in Criminal Justice follows a similar structure but focusing on one of the most significant problems and talking points within the black community. In your second year, some of your modules are taken from the Criminology course, to ensure a greater understanding of the basis of crime and allowing you to apply it to your own case studies.

For those interested in working in criminal justice the issue of race and racism is one of the most important given the inequalities in the system. The aim is for this degree to provide essential learning that can be applied to future careers in the sector.