Course summary
This programme is designed to prepare you to successfully undertake postgraduate study at MPhil and PhD level, or to become an independent/career social researcher. It has Economic and Social Research Council 1+3 Recognition status and has been specifically constructed for you if you intend to undertake professional and/or academic research in sociology, social policy and criminology. It provides an excellent broad-based practical grounding in research techniques. You are introduced to the principles of research design and strategy, as well as qualitative and quantitative data-analysis and presentation. Practical skills are developed through task-based activity. Why Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology? Our work makes a tangible difference to society Our research over the past five years has led to changes in criminal justice policy and procedure, changes in the way that public bodies are audited, and has led to the establishment of best practice in the evaluation of large-scale arts and cultural programmes. An exciting study experience Whether economic or cultural inequalities, the dangers of our online lifestyles, the definitions and consequences of crime or the social dimensions associated with problems such as health, we aim to give our students an exciting study experience in order to better understand what it means to be social, where society might be heading and what we can do to contribute to all our social futures.
Modules
Compulsory modules: The politics and practices of social research; philosophy of social science. Optional modules: Health, lifecourse and society; gender, the body and identity; gender and crime; the risk society: crime, security and public policy; culture, economy and cities; understanding society using quantitative methods; using Foucault’s methods; focus groups; critical discourse analysis; visual data, visual analysis; ethnomethodology and conversation analysis; participatory action research; ethnographic studies of science and technology; narrative interviewing; interviewing; doing ethical research; researching private companies; using freedom of information requests in research; observation.
How to apply
International applicants
International qualifications Applications from international students are welcome. International qualifications will be evaluated in line with the National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) guidelines. English language qualifications All applicants must have reached a minimum required standard of English language and are required to provide evidence of this. Qualifications accepted by the University can be found on our International webpages. Please see www.liv.ac.uk/international for English Language requirements specific to your country. If you meet the academic requirements of the course but do not have the required level of English Language, it is possible for you to come and study at the University on one of our Pre-sessional EAP programmes. Please see the English Language Centre website for further information about these programmes; www.liv.ac.uk/english-language-centre/pre-sessional-english-courses/. If you require additional English Language training during your study, the University is able to provide tuition and arrange IELTS tests through its English Language Centre, details of which are available at www.liverpool.ac.uk/english-language-centre.
Entry requirements
Students commencing the MA in Social Research Methods will have either a first degree or a Masters degree in the Social Sciences or related areas. A good first degree (of 2:1 or first class) is normally required, although experience and/or strong supporting references may justify entry with a lower grade. Those with non-social science back grounds may also be considered if their experience and references suggest support for this. Applications from international students are welcome. International qualifications will be evaluated in line with the National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) guidelines.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
Provider information
University of Liverpool
The Foundation Building
765 Brownlow Hill
Liverpool
L69 7ZX