Sociology [with Foundation Year] BA (Hons)

Anglia Ruskin University

Delve beneath the surface of everyday life and modern societies and prepare for careers including community development, policy making and social care with our Sociology degree in Cambridge.

On this degree you'll explore what shapes societies and individual lives, the relations that connect individuals, groups and institutions within societies and those that the divide them. As a BA (Hons) Sociology student at ARU, you’ll look at the work of classical sociologists, such as Weber and Marx, and contemporary issues such as individualism and global communication and how they are changing human behaviour.

You’ll be able to specialise in areas that interest you too – such as the impact of intoxicants on societies, cybercrime, social control, sport or nature and society – through our range of optional modules.

Our Sociology courses ranked 18th in the UK in the Guardian University Guide 2024.

We have a supportive community of staff and students at ARU. Throughout your BA (Hons) Sociology degree, you’ll learn from sociologists who specialise in social policy and theory and undertake research into a wide range of sociological issues including 'race' and ethnicity, urban sociology, delinquency and disorder, the sociology of sport, notions of belonging, governance, moral regulation, social constructions of alcohol, gender-based violence, social justice, and social relations in marginalised communities.

You’ll also prepare for your future career, with the opportunity to conduct your own community or workplace research, gaining valuable practical experience and insight into different approaches to social issues. You’ll consider how you can apply this understanding by researching, pitching and evaluating an idea that could potentially make a positive contribution to society. You can also take an optional placement year; this might be in a governmental organisation, NGO, charity or social enterprise – wherever your own interests lead you.

You could enhance your CV further by studying abroad for a semester, with funding on offer to help cover the cost.

Once you’ve graduated, you might choose to develop your skills with one of our Masters degrees, such as MA Sociology.

The impact of our Sociology research achieved 'world-leading' in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.

Hands-on learning

All our BA (Hons) Sociology students have the opportunity to:

• go on field trips in the UK and overseas
• study abroad for a semester, with funding available to help cover the cost
• choose from a range of optional modules and pursue their own areas of interest.

Careers

Our BA (Hons) Sociology degree will equip you with skills in independent, creative, critical and analytical thinking. Previous students have gone on to careers in journalism and the media, business administration and management, health management, the civil service, teaching, social care, social research, the police, prison and probation services.

Specialist modules in years 2 and 3 will help you tailor the course towards your career goals with topics including cybercrime, drinking cultures, health, violence, feminism, and sport.

Whichever path you follow, you can be sure you’re graduating with the knowledge, skills and abilities that employers need. They help us review what we teach and how we teach it – and can offer you hands-on, practical opportunities to learn through work-based projects, internships or placements. Organisations such as Soroptimist have also provided live briefs for our past students, giving them a taste of professional life.

You could also learn more about sociology, develop a specialism or start an exciting career in research with our MA Sociology. Take advantage of our Alumni Scholarship and get 20% off your fees.