Course summary

If you are someone who is deeply curious about the world around you, and perhaps wants to explore ways to solve the important problems faced by society, then you might already be a sociologist. Sociology asks the big questions, for example those about racism, sexism, social class, culture, politics and the media. It objectively examines how societies change and what prompts these shifts. It also looks into various aspects of our lives: our work, our education, our relationships, our identities, in addition to the media we consume and the things we buy. Sociologists are also increasingly interested in the internet and the role it has in our lives: why are we addicted to our mobile phones, why do we post things on social media and what does the future hold when we have all this knowledge in our pockets? Ultimately, we want to identify solutions to the problems faced by society and then work towards changing the world for the better. Sociology is critical, engaging, interesting and, more often than not, fun. At University Centre Peterborough you will be introduced to the core concepts that shape the discipline and the key tools with which to undertake social analysis and research. You will ponder all these big sociological questions while developing as a social scientist who is capable of formulating research questions and investigating them on your own. This research will help you gain an insight into the city and the wider region - the problems and challenges it faces and the ingenuity and energy with which it meets these. Finally you will hone in on your future career path testing your interests and skills working with local organisations and building your professional network for when you graduate. You will have the opportunity to undertake live research projects with a range of local partners and undertake research that makes a significant difference to people’s lives. This will enable you to graduate not just with a good degree but a range of real world experiences which will enable you to progress onto your desired career. The courses at University Centre Peterborough are studied in smaller class sizes compared with other universities, a typical class size is under 30 students.