SociologyBSc (Hons)

Constructing Modern Societies

This module introduces students to fundamental and essential concepts and theories of sociological thought and practice. It does this by exploring foundational thinkers and ideas of sociology, both in the historical context of their development and contemporary applications. The discipline of sociology is often said to be a discussion of modern times (Giddens), but what is meant by ‘modern’ and 'modernity’? What are the various transformations referred to by these terms and how have they shaped our current society, locally and globally? By inquiring into these and related questions students will be provided with a grounding in the key processes of modernity that informed and continue to influence contemporary life. Insofar as the discipline of sociology itself emerged through the investigation of these processes, students will also be introduced to canonical figures, theories and concepts of sociology.

Introducing Social Policy

This module aims to give the student a solid understanding of what social policy is, and of what its links to sociology are. This module highlights key social policy concerns, such as housing, poverty, education, health care and disability, and it also introduces the student to the four pillars of welfare provision. This module also scrutinises different ideological approaches to (the) welfare (state). In order to do this, a historical overview of social policy is given, starting from WWII. This module also highlights some of the challenges facing and shaping social policy today. Finally, it equips the student with practical knowledge of where they can find reputable sources when investigating social policy.

Introduction to Sociology of Youth

Introduction to Sociology of Youth is an interdisciplinary module designed for Sociology and Youth Sstudies students who want to develop a critical understanding of young people’s lives within their wider social, economic and political contexts. Throughout the module, you will explore how “youth” is socially constructed and how young people’s experiences are shaped by power, inequality and social change.

You will be introduced to key classical and contemporary sociological theories of youth, enabling you to analyse how structures such as class, gender, race, ethnicity, disability and sexuality shape young people’s identities, opportunities and lived experiences. You will examine how these factors intersect, producing uneven outcomes and reinforcing patterns of advantage and disadvantage across different groups of young people.

A core focus of the module is understanding the root causes of issues commonly affecting young people and a range of communities. You will critically explore topics such as inequality, unemployment and precarious work, mental health, housing insecurity and experiences of marginalisation. Rather than locating these issues at the level of individual behaviour, you will develop a structural perspective that highlights the role of social institutions, public policy and dominant cultural narratives.

The module also incorporates principles of anti-oppressive practice. You will be encouraged to reflect on power, privilege and discrimination, and to consider how sociological knowledge can be used to challenge oppression and promote social justice in work with and alongside young people. You will engage with examples of youth agency, resistance and collective action, recognising young people as active social actors.

By the end of the module, you will have developed strong critical and analytical skills and a solid sociological foundation for further study or practice in youth work, education, social policy and related fields.

Aims of the module:

• to develop a sociological understanding of youth by enabling you to critically examine how “youth” is socially constructed and shaped by wider social, economic and political “forces;”
• to build knowledge of inequality and social structures by helping you analyse how class, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexuality and their intersections influence young people’s identities, life chances and experiences;
• to enable critical analysis of contemporary issues affecting young people by encouraging you to identify and evaluate the structural and institutional root causes of issues such as educational inequality, precarity, criminalisation, mental health and housing insecurity;
• to develop skills in anti-oppressive and socially just thinking by supporting you to critically reflect on power, privilege and discrimination, and to apply sociological insights to challenge oppressive practices and narratives about young people; and,
• to strengthen analytical, reflective and applied skills by enabling you to use sociological theory and evidence to understand youth agency, resistance and collective action, and to inform future study or practice in youth work, education, social policy and related fields.

Protest, Justice and Social Change

This module addresses the question of how societies change and who changes them. It focuses on the concepts of social history such as progress, development, and social evolution. It also addresses the ongoing debate of whether change is driven by individual agency or larger societal structures. In addition, the course examines the role of ideas and ideologies in shaping social change, focusing on concepts like freedom, equality, and justice. It discusses real world examples of social protests like anti-war, women's rights, and pro-life movements, as well as the study of how these movements – like the civil rights movement, Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, and Extinction Rebellion – form and spread. Lastly, the course covers the topic of revolutions and their impact on society by examining past revolutions – from the French Revolution to the Arab Spring – and the factors that contribute to their success or failure.

Researching Social Life

This module provides the foundation for an explicit, clear focus on social research throughout Sociology and related degrees, in addition to supporting you to acquire understanding of and skills in academic literacy. Some methodological principles and perspectives for effective social research are explained and also illustrated through exploration of research case studies. It will additionally provide experience in using the vast array of text, visual and statistical primary documentary sources and their interpretation for research. Research as a process will be examined including main empirical research approaches, the formulation and development of research questions and social, ethical and political contexts of research practice.

Social Divisions

This module introduces the students to social divisions, focussing on the UK in general, and on England and London in particular. This module scrutinises some of the regular patterns of division in society, and the advantages, disadvantages, and inequality that these divisions may lead to. The concept of ‘stratification’ is used to discover the hierarchical order of some of the social groupings, such as gender, sexuality, ‘race’/ethnicity, (dis)ability and social class. The module explores the inequalities amongst these social groupings on many levels, such as education, health, wealth and housing.

Sociological Imagination

This module will provide you with the necessary intellectual skills for developing your sociological imagination. Week by week you will encounter a range of important insights into the social world that will enable you to identify, apply and evaluate sociological approaches, concepts and debates relating to the everyday situations.

The overall aim of the module is to allow you to see how sociology requires that we make the familiar world appear strange in order to see the workings of society below surface appearances. ‘Sociological Imagination’ will provide you with an introduction to constructing sociological arguments, thinking critically and assessing sociological evidence. The module discussions will allow you to explore a range of applications of sociological insights and theories in order to move beyond common-sense interpretations of society and to understand why ‘personal troubles’ must be grasped in relation to ‘public issues’.

Each week the module visits core sociological contexts including social class, inequality and exclusion; the city and urban sociology; power and surveillance; gender and bodies; popular culture and the arts; unconscious social forces; and religion and spirituality.

Sociological Perspectives on Youth Transitions

Sociological Perspectives on Youth Transitions invites you to explore how young people’s transitions into adulthood are shaped by social factors. You will examine youth transitions as complex, diverse, non‑linear and dynamic processes, rather than as fixed or universal pathways. The module encourages you to develop an open‑minded and critical understanding of life courses, paying close attention to the social contexts in which young people live their lives.

Throughout the module, you will engage closely with key sociological theories and literature on youth, identity, and inequality. You will develop the tools needed to critically analyse research on young people’s experiences, while reflecting on how structures such as class, gender, ethnicity, and other forms of inequality influence transitions to adulthood. In doing so, you will be encouraged to approach sociological, youth research with compassion, inclusion, and a commitment to social justice, in line with the University’s Education for Social Justice Framework.

This module is designed for students in Youth Studies and Sociology, and is also highly relevant if you are interested in sociology of the life course, as well as professional roles such as youth/family support/community development worker, youth justice officer, social researcher or related professions.

You will learn to understand young people and the challenges they face by situating their experiences within wider social structures, equipping you with valuable analytical, critical and applied skills for both academic and professional contexts.

The module aims to:

1. enable you to understand youth transitions into adulthood as socially shaped, complex and non‑linear processes, informed by sociological perspectives on inequality, structure and agency;
2. develop your ability to critically engage with sociological theories and research on youth, identity and life courses, and to apply these perspectives to contemporary social contexts;
3. support you in analysing how social, economic, cultural and political structures shape young people’s experiences, opportunities and challenges across diverse life domains;
4. encourage you to approach the study of youth with compassion, inclusion and a commitment to social justice, drawing on anti‑discriminatory and anti‑oppressive frameworks;
5. foster reflexive thinking by enabling you to critically examine your own assumptions, values and positionality in relation to young people’s lives and transitions;
6. equip you with conceptual and analytical tools relevant to academic study and applied fields, including youth work and related professions, by situating young people’s lived experiences within wider structures of inequality.

Extension of Knowledge Module

Extension of Knowledge modules allow you to broaden your academic experience by choosing modules that sit outside your core discipline. This opportunity allows you to explore subjects that align with your other interests or will help you to develop additional skills to enhance your degree pathway and employability prospects.

Please note there is no guarantee that all of these modules will be currently available and where a module is listed in both Autumn and Spring it may only be offered in one semester. Please click on the individual module code to check availability. If your programme allows you to choose 2 EoK modules they will appear in Evision as XK0000 and XK0002.

Extension of knowledge modules are available to students whose courses list this type of module as an option. It is also available to Study Abroad students.

Please find below a list of the currently available Extension of Knowledge Modules from which to select your choice.
Autumn Semester Spring Semester
Level 4 Level 4

BC4056 Professional Studies

CY4070 Introduction to Laboratory Skills

LT4059 Music Publishing
CY4080 Laboratory Techniques with Data Handling

Level 5 Level 5

GI5063 Politics of the Middle East

GI5067 Contemporary US Politics

GI5071 Sustainability and Environmental Justice

MN5W50 Creating a Winning Business 1
SJ5053 Scripting Performance for Screen
SJ5079 Styling and Journalism

SM5052 Youth Culture and the Media

SJ5072 Stardom and Performance

SM5063 Social Media Strategies

SS5068 Disability and Inclusion

SS5095 Transnational Communities

GI5071 Sustainability and Environmental Justice

LT5078 Sustainability, Business and Responsibility

MN5W50 Creating a Winning Business 1
SC5051 Youth, Crime and Violence
SM5051 Crime and the Media
SS5K70 Becoming a Teacher

SS5085 Resistance, Creativity and Joy in the Capital

Level 6 Level 6

CU6051 Artificial Intelligence
GI6065 Latin American Politics

SC6051 Serious and Serial Offenders
SS6063 Religion and the State

SS6080 Gender & Education

SS6085 Diverse London

FE6052 Personal Finance

GI6064 African Politics

TR6K51 Interpreting Skills
LT6051 Artist and Repertoire
SC6052 Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism
SS6054 Human Rights and Conflict
SS6058 Housing Issues & Housing Solution

YEAR LONG (15 credits) - the following modules can only be taken if you are not already taking (or planning on taking) a Work Based Learning module from your course

Level 5

WL5W50 Empowering London: Working within the Community

Level 6

WL6W50 Empowering London: Working within the Community

Qualitative Social Research

This module will analyse the use and challenges of qualitative research in sociology. It will start with the wide exploration of the theoretical underpinnings of qualitative research, including its strengths and limitations, as well as the various qualitative research methods. Further, this module will analyse the main skill set essential for a qualitative researcher, as well as the potential difficulties that might occur, i.e. bias. The last part of this module will look at NVivo, the practical tool for qualitative data analysis.

Quantitative Social Research

This module analyses the research process in relation to quantitative methodologies from the formulation of a research problem through appropriate collection and analysis of data to the writing-up of results in the form of a research report. The module sets out the research contexts in which this methodology is appropriate and discusses the skills and limitations associated with surveys as an important research method in sociology. At the same time, the module introduces students to British Social attitudes as one of the main quantitative data sets on social attitudes in the UK.

Self and Society

This module introduces you to key sociological approaches used to explore and explain the concept of ‘self’. Through an examination of the works of influential 20th-century sociologists, as Mead and Goffman on the social construction and presentation of self, and Marx and Parsons on the structural constraints shaping identity, you will gain a deep understanding of how sociological theory illuminates the relationship between individual agency and societal forces.

The module will also consider contemporary debates about the ‘project’ of self and identity, asking how much freedom individuals have in crafting their identities. These discussions will be grounded in real-world situations, encouraging you to reflect on the social and cultural factors influencing the ways we ‘become’ who we are.
By the end of the module, you will develop a critical perspective on the tensions between agency and structure. You will understand the major sociological theories on the construction and constraints of the self. You will critically evaluate the relevance of classical sociological theories for understanding contemporary debates about identity. You will apply sociological concepts to current social phenomena related to the formation of self and identity.

Sociology and Current Affairs

In this module you will learn to apply a range of contemporary social theories and concepts to the understanding of current affairs. The module will provide you with the conceptual tools to critically assess representations of social groups and events in virtual and print media and other portrayals of contemporary social life, political events, and social issues. The module will allow you to develop a conceptual toolkit drawn from semiotics, phenomenology, post-structuralism, among others, to explore representations of difference and power and to appreciate how they acquire ‘newsworthiness’. You will learn how to view current affairs – ranging from coverage of debates on global poverty and social exclusion to migration and terrorism – through a sociological lens in order to look beyond the spectacle or apparent banality of the news.

The module will contribute to the development of your practical skills in critical analysis by exploring [a] the way that social issues are represented for public consumption; and [b] the value of applying social theory to achieve in-depth interpretations of events and roles of social actors. In an age of multiple media platforms, the ‘quick news fix’ of social media, and the proliferation of fake news, ‘Sociology and Current Affairs’ will encourage you to develop and use innovative and imaginative approaches to gain and communicate better understandings of the complexity of the world around us.

Understanding Gender and Sexuality

This module introduces students to the key concepts and theories relating to the social construction of gender and sexuality and their application to a range of social sectors and issues in the UK and abroad. This module addresses the ways in which gender and sexuality are both constitutive of the social and are established through social structures, institutions and interactions. Drawing on intersectional approach, this module will explain the ways in which theories of gender and sexuality inform the sociological study of the family, work, health, education, crime, the welfare state and politics, media and the body. To this end, the approach to gender and sexual discrimination and inequalities will be made in connection to other forms of social identity, including class, race and ethnicity.

The aims of the module are to:

• Introduce and critically analyse key concepts in the sociological theories of gender and sexuality;
• Understand how the notions of gender and sexuality impact all levels of social structures, social relations and social identities;
• Address the intersections between gender, sexuality and other forms of social identity and difference, including class, race, ethnicity.
• Consider the conceptual framework for the persistence of discrimination and inequalities on the basis of gender and sexual orientation.

Understanding Racism and Ethnicity

Accusations of racism and ethnic discrimination are seemingly everywhere, in the workplace, in the streets, in everyday interactions. You will wonder what is exactly meant by racism and ethnicity, whether this are beliefs about racial and ethnic subordination or it is rather found in social interactions. This module addresses various theories of racism and ethnic discrimination, and critically assess the challenges revolving around the political and social hostile environment against racialised minorities in specific, socio-political contexts in the UK. This module goes beyond the Eurocentric ideas that have dominated sociological thinking and will apply more-diverse and -inclusive theoretical frameworks to the interconnectedness among issues of race, ethnicity, social class, gender, age, drawing on the principles of social justice and empowerment.

Aims. This module will provide key skills and knowledge that will enable you to:

• Analyse critically key concepts including racism and ethnicity as well anti-racism, multiculturalism, Islamophobia in order to develop an awareness of their contested nature.
• Look at these issues in the hostile environment against racialised groups, exploring the meanings ascribed to these terms, historical origins and key examples where these issues have been or remain important in shaping contemporary British society.
• Consider the impact of racist and ethnic discrimination on specific groups, including women, religious and ethnic groups.

Conversations in Sociological Thought

This module addresses the decolonial encounter in contemporary sociology. Following an initial revisiting of the foundations of social theory, the module invites you to critically explore sociology ‘beyond the Western Canon’ and its roots in Eurocentrism to develop a decolonised sociological imagination. The aim of the module is to develop an ongoing conversation in contemporary social thought rather than viewing contesting perspectives as an insurmountable challenge. In short, you will explore the perceived limits of Eurocentrism and assess the need to rethink the basis of sociology’s conceptual knowledge and vocabulary.

You will reconsider enduring sociological problems such as ‘alienation’ and ‘anomie’ alongside the work of theorists such as Frantz Fanon and other postcolonial writers; explore the biopolitical disciplining of the social body via a conversation between the ideas of Michel Foucault and Achille Mbembe; assess the continued relevance of Simone de Beauvoir’s feminist theory compared to the critical intersectionality of Patricia Hill Collins.

‘Conversations in Sociological Thought’ will enable you to reassess the value of the Eurocentric traditions of sociology by addressing critical questions at the core of classical and contemporary social thought through a reflexive exploration of intersubjectivity, bodily practice, race, and gender in the contexts of past and contemporary social experience.

Extension of Knowledge Module

Extension of Knowledge modules allow you to broaden your academic experience by choosing modules that sit outside your core discipline. This opportunity allows you to explore subjects that align with your other interests or will help you to develop additional skills to enhance your degree pathway and employability prospects.

Please note there is no guarantee that all of these modules will be currently available and where a module is listed in both Autumn and Spring it may only be offered in one semester. Please click on the individual module code to check availability. If your programme allows you to choose 2 EoK modules they will appear in Evision as XK0000 and XK0002.

Extension of knowledge modules are available to students whose courses list this type of module as an option. It is also available to Study Abroad students.

Please find below a list of the currently available Extension of Knowledge Modules from which to select your choice.
Autumn Semester Spring Semester
Level 4 Level 4

BC4056 Professional Studies

CY4070 Introduction to Laboratory Skills

LT4059 Music Publishing
CY4080 Laboratory Techniques with Data Handling

Level 5 Level 5

GI5063 Politics of the Middle East

GI5067 Contemporary US Politics

GI5071 Sustainability and Environmental Justice

MN5W50 Creating a Winning Business 1
SJ5053 Scripting Performance for Screen
SJ5079 Styling and Journalism

SM5052 Youth Culture and the Media

SJ5072 Stardom and Performance

SM5063 Social Media Strategies

SS5068 Disability and Inclusion

SS5095 Transnational Communities

GI5071 Sustainability and Environmental Justice

LT5078 Sustainability, Business and Responsibility

MN5W50 Creating a Winning Business 1
SC5051 Youth, Crime and Violence
SM5051 Crime and the Media
SS5K70 Becoming a Teacher

SS5085 Resistance, Creativity and Joy in the Capital

Level 6 Level 6

CU6051 Artificial Intelligence
GI6065 Latin American Politics

SC6051 Serious and Serial Offenders
SS6063 Religion and the State

SS6080 Gender & Education

SS6085 Diverse London

FE6052 Personal Finance

GI6064 African Politics

TR6K51 Interpreting Skills
LT6051 Artist and Repertoire
SC6052 Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism
SS6054 Human Rights and Conflict
SS6058 Housing Issues & Housing Solution

YEAR LONG (15 credits) - the following modules can only be taken if you are not already taking (or planning on taking) a Work Based Learning module from your course

Level 5

WL5W50 Empowering London: Working within the Community

Level 6

WL6W50 Empowering London: Working within the Community

Human Rights and Conflict

You will develop an understanding of the international human rights framework and consider debates and theories challenging this framework (including a critical assessment of the concept and implementation of the universality of human rights). The module will enable you to evaluate various international conventions on the protection of human rights, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The module will examine violations of human rights in the light of various social and political contexts across the world and gain an understanding of how human rights applies in specific contexts; how such violations impact societies, communities and individuals; and how individuals and organisations work for justice in such harrowing circumstances. In addition, the module will explore issues surrounding cases of historic injustice relating to human rights abuses and atrocities committed in conflicts.

Living Theory

In this module we will explore and apply important theories and concepts in contemporary social theory for the purpose of enhancing our understanding of the world we live in. Through the work of contemporary social thinkers, the module will examine and test out the ways in which social theories and concepts are ‘live’ – not dead or irrelevant abstractions of little consequence, but a living and crucial part of how people understand reality and navigate its vicissitudes. This will support your learning in other modules, and post-university, by deepening your understanding of key theoretical frameworks for analysing social phenomena and enhancing your ability to apply them.

Religion and the State

This module will provide students with an opportunity to engage with contemporary debates on the relationship between religion and the state and sources of religious intolerance. Students will be required to critically examine the ideas of the classic and contemporary social scientists on religion and explore the application of their ideas to an ever-changing world. Overall, the aim of the module is to develop the students’ capacity to utilise social scientific concepts and perspectives in their analyses of religion in contemporary society. The disciplinary focus of the module will, initially, be the sociology of religion. The application of a range of social scientific approach will also be introduced - historical, political, economic and social psychological approaches.

By the end of this module, you will:

1. Engage critically with key debates on the relationship between religion and the state, and with contemporary discussions surrounding religious tolerance and intolerance.
2. Examine and evaluate the contributions of classic and contemporary social theorists to the sociological understanding of religion.
3. Apply social scientific concepts and perspectives to the analysis of religion in contemporary societies.
4. Develop a multidisciplinary awareness by exploring historical, political, economic, and social psychological approaches to the study of religion.
5. Enhance your capacity for independent and critical thought in interpreting the role and significance of religion in an ever-changing social world.

Sociology Dissertation

This module provides the opportunity to design and complete an independent piece of sociological research. You will consolidate and extend the theoretical, methodological, and analytical skills developed throughout your degree by applying them to a topic of your own choosing. The module supports you in managing a substantial research project, from formulating a question to producing a well-structured and critically informed dissertation.
By the end of this module, you will:
1. Identify and refine a research area or theme suitable for independent sociological enquiry.
2. Apply theoretical understanding and empirical knowledge gained in your course of study to design and conduct an original investigation.
3. Develop and demonstrate competence in undertaking a focused literature search and producing a critical review of relevant academic sources.
4. Engage in critical analysis of your chosen topic, paying particular attention to its theoretical foundations and methodological implications.
5. Produce a well-presented dissertation that meets academic conventions, demonstrates coherent argumentation, and integrates documented sources appropriately.

Empowering London: Working within the Community

This unique module will provide insight into key urban issues affecting London (which are additionally relevant to other large cities around the UK and the wider world) before applying your academic knowledge in a practical setting.

You will undertake 50 hours of hands-on work experience with a London community focused organisation, tackling real-world challenges such as inequality, crime, health disparities, and climate change. Along the way, you’ll develop professional skills and reflect on your personal and professional growth to assist you to reach your graduate career goals.

Support is provided to help secure suitable placements which can be remote or in-person.

The module supports the University’s Empowering London initiative and promotes inclusive, ethical practice.

The module aims to enable you to:
● Effectively express and understand your current skills and abilities in relation to your career values and goals
● Practically apply the knowledge gained through your course programme to a work/neighbourhood environment
● Make a positive contribution to the challenges of current social and economic issues facing the University’s local communities and consider these from national and global perspectives
● Gaining unique insight of current challenges facing cities in the areas of social wealth; the environment; discrimination; health; poverty and deprivation and crime and partner with community institution to design potential solutions
● Gain understanding and direct experience of the graduate level skills, knowledge and insights required for inclusive practice and problem resolution within institutions to enable you to become an inclusive leader in society
● Recognise your personal and professional development through your work based practice and how to apply the experience and knowledge gain to your future goals

Please note:
● Students will be contacted prior to the semester to provide support in securing a Placement in good time.
● Students are responsible for applying for opportunities and to engage with the Module Team/Employer Engagement and Placements Team to assist them.
● The suitability of any opportunities will be assessed by the Module Team/Employer Engagement and Placements Team and all placements must meet Health and Safety requirements for Higher Education Placements.
● Students on a Student Visa must ensure their placement meets UKVI monitoring requirements. This includes:
• Prior approval of placement dates and hours by the Module Leader.
• Submission of timesheets signed by a line manager/supervisor.
• Ongoing engagement with the Module Leader and the International Student Support Team.