Introduction
Delve beneath the surface of everyday life and modern societies and prepare for careers including community development, policy making and social care with our Sociology degree in Cambridge.
On this degree you will explore what shapes societies individual lives, the relations that connect individuals, groups and institutions within societies and those that the divide them. As a BA (Hons) Sociology student at ARU, you’ll look at the work of classical sociologists, such as Weber and Marx, and contemporary issues such as individualism and global communication and how they are changing human behaviour.
You’ll be able to specialise in areas that interest you too – such as the impact of intoxicants on societies, cybercrime, social control, sport or nature and society – through our range of optional modules.
We have a supportive community of staff and students at ARU and our Sociology course ranked second in the UK for student satisfaction (The Complete University Guide 2020). It also scored 94% for ‘academic support’ in the National Student Survey 2019.
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Throughout your BA (Hons) Sociology degree, you’ll learn from sociologists who specialise in social policy and theory and undertake research into a wide range of sociological issues including 'race' and ethnicity, urban sociology, delinquency and disorder, the sociology of sport, notions of belonging, governance, moral regulation, social constructions of alcohol, gender-based violence, social justice, and social relations in marginalised communities.
You’ll also prepare for your future career, with the opportunity to conduct your own community or workplace research, gaining valuable practical experience and insight into different approaches to social issues. You’ll consider how you can apply this understanding by researching, pitching and evaluating an idea that could potentially make a positive contribution to society. You can also take an optional placement year; this might be in a governmental organisation, NGO, charity or social enterprise – wherever your own interests lead you.
You could enhance your CV further by studying abroad for a semester, with funding on offer to help cover the cost.
Once you’ve graduated, you might choose to develop your skills with one of our Masters degrees, such as MA Sociology.
Facilities and showcase
Hands-on learning
All our BA (Hons) Sociology students have the opportunity to:
- go on field trips in the UK and overseas
- study abroad for a semester, with funding available to help cover the cost
- choose from a range of optional modules and pursue their own areas of interest.
Outstanding student support
Join our student community in Cambridge and:
- benefit from award-winning learning facilities, including extensive library and IT resources
- learn from expert staff who will guide your research interests and career development
- access support, should you need it, with study skills, careers advice, health and wellbeing, and more.
Take a closer look
Our Creative Showcase shines a spotlight on what makes ARU creative and cultural – our spaces, places and people. Find out more about our community, the difference we make, the stories we tell, and the things that inspire us.
Meanwhile, Present is an exhibition that you curate for yourself. Explore the work of our graduating students in this eye-catching virtual degree show.
Careers
Our BA (Hons) Sociology degree will equip you with skills in independent, creative, critical and analytical thinking. Previous students have gone on to careers in journalism and the media, business administration and management, health management, the civil service, teaching, social care, social research, the police, prison and probation services.
Specialist modules in years 2 and 3 will help you tailor the course towards your career goals.
Whichever path you follow, you can be sure you’re graduating with the knowledge, skills and abilities that employers need. They help us review what we teach and how we teach it – and they offer hands-on, practical opportunities to learn through work-based projects, internships or placements.
You could also learn more about sociology, develop a specialism or start an exciting career in research with our MA Sociology. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.
4 years with placement
In your final year, you’ll study the social origins, causes, context and consequences of racism. You’ll explore how scientific knowledge and developments affect ideas and debates in sociology, as well as the future of society and the discipline of sociology itself. You’ll also conduct an independent research project on a relevant topic from inception to completion, with guidance from an appropriate member of academic staff.
You might choose to learn about the youth justice system in England and Wales by exploring its tensions and contradictions, evaluating the competing theories explaining youth crime and youth culture, and finding out about the most recent developments and key innovations in the field.
You could find out how social media facilitates political activism, protest and campaigning, but can also be misused by bad actors for political ends. You’ll also have the chance to develop an understanding of the relationship between sport, processes of globalisation and the sphere of international politics, covering topics such as racism in sport and the history and politics of FIFA.
You might opt to broaden your knowledge of history and political, sociological and philosophical schools of thought. You could find out about the varieties of feminist ideas, debates, practices and activisms. You might explore scholarly ideas about the concept of ‘evil’ and ask whether this concept helps or hinders our understanding of current issues including war and terrorism. You could choose to learn how religious, biological, social and sociological understandings of sex and sexuality have been, and are still, used to prescribe and regulate people’s sexuality and sexual behaviour.
My name is Kavisha Prince Anthony, and I always had a dream of studying abroad. Thankfully, that dream came to life since I applied to the Study Advisor. I was able to receive my visa within four days. I also had some visa refusals in the past; I had about six UK visa refusals in the past, but thankfully, it was not an issue since the Study Advisor was able to make things work this time. I highly recommend Study Advisor for your dreams of going abroad, whether it be the UK or any other European country there is.