Sociology
Discover how humans shape and are shaped by the world they live in, and prepare for careers in policymaking, community development or social change.
On this degree you'll explore what shapes societies and 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, Du Bois and Marx, while adopting a decolonial approach to understand how sociology as a discipline is changing to respond to global issues. Through the study and application of social research methods viz., interviewing, group discussions, statistical analysis, etc., you will acquire transferable skills to take with you into a wide range of careers.
Study at an award-winning university
We were named Times Higher Education University of the Year 2023. We've also been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework – a reflection of the outstanding education we offer our students.
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Form an applied and decolonial sociological understanding of how humans shape and are shaped by the world they live in.
Course options
Key facts
Modules are subject to change and availability, and may vary by location. If you have the choice of optional modules, these are indicated with a *.
- A Sociological Conversation
- Global Affairs
- Media, Society and Crime
- Digital Society
- Into ARU
- Critical Social Thought: Knowledge, Power and Division
- Mobilities and Migration
- Researching Society and Culture
- Ruskin Module (15 credits)
- Digital Methods *
- Cybercrime and Policing *
- Violence and Confrontation *
- Contemporary Issues in Work and Society *
- Woke Wars *
- Intoxicants and Intoxication *
- Spirituality, Religion and the Secular *
- Violence, Gender and Victimisation *
- Bridging Cultures *
- Anglia Language Programme (15 credits) *
- Professional Placement *
- Social Change and Social Policy
- Undergraduate Major Project
- Research Communication
- Global Feminisms
- Gender and Sexuality in Britain: 1880-2000 *
- From Workhouses to Universal Credit: The Past, Present and Future of the British Welfare State *
- Youth, Crime and Aggression *
- Key Paradigms 3: International and Global Perspectives in Education *
- Criminology and Policing in Policy and Practice *
- The Making of Modern Media *
- Environment, Nature and Society *
- Exploitation, Trafficking and Sexual Violence *
- Anglia Language Programme (15 credits) *
To prepare you for university study, you can take a foundation year at the start of this course. Find out more about foundation years.
- Foundation in Humanities, English, Media, Social Sciences and Education
You can choose to take an optional placement year as part of this course. Placements typically happen in Year 3, and your course will take four years overall. Find out more about placement years.
- Work Placement - Humanities and Social Sciences
Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.
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Dr Mirna GuhaDeputy Head of School
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Rachel RyderDirector of Studies
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Dr Liz BradburySenior Lecturer
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Dr Shaun Le BoutillierAssessment and Feedback Practice Lead
Student experience
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Convinced by a college trip to ARU - BA (Hons) Sociology student Amy Noakes talks about what convinced her to study at ARU, and why she loves studying sociology with us.
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Pints replaced by alcopops - Dr Rachel Ryder explains how, following the emergence of rave in the 1980s, traditional pubs had to adapt to attract young drinkers, creating a whole new drinking culture.
Facilities
Join our student community and benefit from award-winning learning facilities, including extensive library and IT resources. You can access support, should you need it, with study skills, careers advice, health and wellbeing, and more.
You’ll have the opportunity to go on field trips in the UK and overseas and study abroad for a semester with funding available to help cover the cost.
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 with topics including cybercrime, drinking cultures, health, violence, feminism, and sport.
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.
Employability and personal career development
Informed by employers, our courses support an integrated approach to employability. You’ll have opportunities to develop the skills and abilities they are looking for and gain a deeper understanding of how your academic learning relates to the world of work through Live Briefs and Ruskin Modules. Organisations such as Soroptimist have provided live briefs for our past students, giving them a taste of professional life.
You will need to dedicate time outside of your course to develop your employability, through placements, internships or volunteering or through our partner scheme Students at the Heart of Knowledge Exchange (SHoKE). You can evidence this experience on your CV and talk about it in interviews to give you that all important edge.
Our Employability and Careers Service offers a range of expert advice and support to build your unique professional profile, including tailored career appointments, advice on writing your CV, and help to complete job applications. You’ll have 24/7 access to the Careers Centre, our comprehensive online digital resource, which empowers you to start building a Personal Career Development Plan from the very start. Design your future at ARU.
Entry Requirements
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Fees and Paying for University
Apply for Sociology
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UK students, apply through Clearing for a September 2025 start
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