Course summary

Our BA (Hons) Sociology degree is a radical and practical course; theoretically driven and empirically informed, as well as locally situated and globally focused. The discipline of Sociology helps us to make sense of the world and our place within it. Studying Sociology at Birmingham City University is about not reading sociology but doing sociology, allowing you to explore and question social norms and discover the complex issues behind your everyday routines and social practices in a range of spatial contexts, applying what you learn to your own lived experiences. You will examine patterns and processes of inequality, the structure and dynamics of social hierarchies and power relations and ask why and how people shape their identities and the tensions and conflicts that these processes create. Through the School of Social Sciences’ Birmingham 2029 project, you will have the chance to explore such themes of sociology within the city of Birmingham, an urban context that hosts diverse communities perfect for sociological examination. The School of Social Sciences has links with local public and third sector organisations that will help you make professional contacts and be able to apply your studies to future career prospects when taking part in voluntary work or on placement. Employability is at the heart of our BA (Hons) Sociology programme, with placement opportunities embedded through the course of the degree. Coming to study Sociology at Birmingham City University affords you with a wealth of academic and employability opportunities, locally and globally aligned, to develop the skills needed to not only achieve successful graduate employment but also to contribute, as an agent of change, to thinking through and tackling some of the pressing social issues of contemporary society. Professional Placement Year This course offers a professional placement year. This allows you to spend a whole year with an employer, between the second and third years of your degree, and is a great way to find out more about your chosen career. Some students even return to the same employers after completing their studies. The University will draw on its extensive network of local, regional and national employers to support you in finding a suitable placement to complement your chosen area of study. If you do not find a suitable placement, you will be automatically transferred back to the standard, non-placement version of the course. Please note that fees are payable during your placement year, equivalent to 20% of the total full-time course fee for that year (£1,850 for UK students).