Course summary

On our BA History and Sociology, you are encouraged to explore the ways in which the two disciplines influence and inform one another. As a student of history, you discover both the early modern and modern periods, and explore challenging questions concerning the impact of political, social and cultural change on individuals, social groups, and regions. As a sociologist, you investigate what connects people with each other, as well as what divides them. We consider every aspect of our daily lives, from how we relate to politicians, celebrities and friends, to how we define ourselves, our families, and others. You study a wide-range of topics and specialisms, including colonialism, inequality, culture, identity, citizenship, multiculturalism and human rights. Our Department of History has developed a strong research and teaching profile, with the majority of our research rated as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ (REF 2014). We also have strong links with the Essex Record Office, which is one of the best county record offices in the UK. Our students love us too: 92% of our history students expressed overall satisfaction with their course (NSS 2020). Our Department of Sociology is Top 10 in the UK for research quality (REF 2014) and the majority of its research is rated as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. We are also ranked among the top 50 departments in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2020)