Combined Honours Programmes
Sociology (Professional Development) (Major, Joint or Minor)
Campus: Docklands
Why Study Sociology (Professional Development) as part of a Combined Honours Degree?
The BSc Sociology (Professional Development) programme provides a professional route through Sociology. The programme takes students through a critical exploration of social processes, especially social issues and problems. We think about how they and the people experiencing them have been regarded over the years and all of the different approaches which have been used. Students are encouraged to pursue particular areas of interest in Health Studies, Education, Psychosocial Studies, Criminology, Information Technology and Social Policy, as well as developing their personal and professional abilities through the employability and research skills stream.
This programme:
- Is grounded in a Sociological understanding of the world, which uses ideas such as class, race, gender and society in order to make sense of the world around us, and our place within it
- Provides students with a highly developed set of skills in core areas such as I.T, interpersonal skills, effectively investigating processes and organisations, working with data, making effective presentations orally and in writing, researching the job market and learning how to prepare a C.V. and do a good interview, and understanding of statistical data and its (mis)uses
- Offers an exceptionally wide range of options reflecting the applied settings in which sociologists and policy makers work, including Health Studies, Criminology, Education and community enterprise and organisational development
- Studies individuals, organisations, structures, processes, how social problems are thought about in every day life and in social institutions such as governments, and how we have attempted to deal with such issues over time
- Studying is done in an active way, and involves making case studies, visiting welfare agency and making a report, drawing up an inter-generational map; writing a dummy briefing document for a government minister and so on
- Is a lively, innovative and exciting programme for anyone wanting to make a contribution to the society in which they live
What will I study?
This programme provides an excellent grounding in social policy, welfare, and ways of thinking about social change and social problems. We look in turn at the UK, the European Union, and the post colonial, global context. There is a strong emphasis on research, skills, and employability.
It is possible for students to follow particular trails through the programme. The only constraint is that of 'pre-requisites'. A pre-requisite is a module which you must take before you can take the next one - pre-requisites indicate a sequence of modules. However, not all modules have pre-requisites. In the first year induction, we will help you by letting you know more about which modules you can take, in which order. Before coming along to the Induction, you should give some thought to whether you wish to specialise in a particular sequence, which would mean that you need to alert a tutor, and ensure that they will check for you if you need to do a particular module at Level 1, i.e. if there is an especially defined pre-requisite, so that you can then follow-up at Levels 2 and 3 with the rest of the sequence of modules, should you wish to.
• At Level 1 you might choose to take the option Poverty Inequality and International development, followed by possibly a module on Citizenship in Education or Information Technology and the Economy in the Semester B of the first year. These modules are linked by considering the global contexts of everyday life, and issues of inequality and justice from different perspectives. These could be built on in the second year, for example by a module exploring refugees and migration, or perhaps human rights. You may choose other complementary modules later such as the global contexts of health - and also consider doing your research project exploring the international dimension. Certainly, your third year compulsory module Social Policy in a Post Colonial Context would support you in making this choice.
• You may find a string of modules at levels 2 and 3 which explore mental health attractive - you might lead into these in a variety of ways, perhaps by taking health modules, but also by taking citizenship and human rights modules.
• Another trail which we uniquely offer is that in working in East London , and using East London as an environment from which we can learn so much. In the first year, you are required to take Researching East London as a compulsory module. Following this, various modules pick up some of its themes, including the Fundraising module at Level 2, and the Organising People, Resources and Power module, as well as Health in East London at level 3. Certainly, a careful choice of research project, possibly undertaking a piece of research which is of use to a local organisation, would provide excellent insight and experience of working within a particular organisational context - and would give you some valuable contacts to!
• A different kind of trail is also available through thinking more about the skills provision. Several modules would boost the professional development dimension, including Health Promotion and Health Management modules, the counselling module from psychosocial studies, and the Information Technology sequence of modules. All of these provide insight and experience which can be taken to an organisation, and can be built upon through career development and progression in due course.
Which modules will I study?
You can view a full guide to the modules you have to study as part of your chosen pathway, along with a full range of option modules available by viewing the Single & Combined Honours Programmes Guide for Sociology (Professional Development)
Can I study a Combined Honours Programme as a Part-time degree?
All our Combined Honours Programmes can be studied on a Part-time or Full-time basis. As a Part-time student, you will study the same degree programme, but at a slower pace. You will study up to 4 modules per year (instead of 6 as a full-time student).
What career opportunities are open to me if I study Sociology (Professional Development) ?
This programme provides students with the means to successfully apply for and get a wide range of jobs in the public, voluntary, community sectors, networks, quangos and charities; to enter postgraduate courses which qualify for particular professions such as Social Work or Teacher Training; and opens horizons in terms of the mid term career capability, since this programme will introduce you to a range of sectors and different kinds of work, for example information technology, which you could choose to build upon at a later date.
Five years after you have graduated, you may find yourself in a leadership role working in urban regeneration, preparing a bid, running your own organization, working with groups with particular needs such as mental health or ageing communities, running a school, or even running part of a university! You may find that your life has called you in new directions, exploring arts and health in communities, working with systems and data in a large organization, participating in local or even national politics. Degrees of this kind appeal to people who are looking for socially relevant, useful programmes of study, and who want to make an effective contribution, whether this is to an international organization, and/or to their own family and community.
Popular Combinations with Sociology (Professional Development) are
- Computer Networks with Sociology (Professional Development) (G4L3 - BSc/MCpv)
- Creative & Professional Writing/Sociology (Professional Development) (WL83 - Mod/PEPV)
- Human Resource Management/Sociology (Professional Development) (NL63 - Mod/DFPV)
- Sociology (Professional Development) with Law (L3M1 - BSc/PVid)
- Sociology (Professional Development) with Music Culture (L3W3 - BSc/PVpq)
- Sociology (Professional Development)/Psychosocial Studies (LC38 - Mod/PVPT)
What can I combine with Sociology (Professional Development) ?
We have over 5000 different combinations and you can choose from over 75 pathways. Please visit the Combined Honours Programmes page for a full list
Please note that the timetabling for this pathway is currently under review and some combinations may require evening attendance. Please check with the School of Combined Honours for further details.
Entry Requirements
240 UCAS tariff points (including two passes at A2 level) plus GCSE English grade C or above.
How do I apply?
If you wish to study with us full-time from September, you will need to make your application via UCAS (www.ucas.ac.uk).
If you wish to study with us part-time you can obtain an application form from our admissions department study@uel.ac.uk or apply on-line.
Other Sociology (Professional Development) programmes available
For further information on the range of Sociology programmes available at UEL, please visit the School page (link to school page).
Contact Us
If you would like to speak to someone about a Combined Honours Programme, please contact the School of Combined Honours
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