Changes to Sociology degree offer more diversity, depth and breadth of study

Students at the University of Northampton can keep up to speed with pressing and contemporary social issues ahead of their UK peers thanks to an overhaul of a degree programme.

The Ba Sociology course has undergone a ‘makeover’, with sections of the programme being re-shaped to offer new modules that are a first of their kind in the UK.

Changes to the curriculum for existing students include:

• Sociology of the Future: This looks at how we would like society to be and how we would organise this. This module is only offered at University of Northampton
• Sociology of Death: Presented in contrast to the ‘Sociology of Life’, students look at what we do as a society about death
• Your Sociological Agenda: This module allows students to look at what career they want to go into after graduating and preparing them with job market research, CV writing and preparing them for interviews
• International Field Module: This allows students to travel abroad to engage in research in a different language and/or culture. An optional module for other Sociology degree courses, this is compulsory at Northampton. This year’s location is Rome.

All sociology students at Northampton have the opportunity to bolster their studies with invaluable work placements, a voluntary option at other UK Universities but a compulsory part of the course here.

Sociology graduate Maria Monaghan, who hails from Liverpool and lives in Luton, juggled studying with the being a single mother of three.

Maria, who gained a first class joint honours degree in Sociology and Business Entrepreneurship, praised the course at Northampton for the progressive modules and a fully supportive teaching style: “The department have been more than encouraging, they really go the extra mile to help develop and support students.

“The diversity, depth and breadth of what is covered on the course is incredible. It allows students to explore many different areas of interest and get them ready for the rest of their lives. This was a life-changing course in more ways than one.”

Subject lead for Sociology and Criminology at University of Northampton Dr Athanasia Chalari added: “Sociology is about open-mindedness and being evaluative, stepping back and seeing relatively small things from a big perspective.

“Our course changes allow students at this University to take Sociology a step or two beyond what is offered elsewhere in the UK.”

Find out more about studying Sociology at University of Northampton.

Read here for more information about the Sociology Joint Honours courses at Northampton.