Sociology

Sociology is the systematic study of human society, examining how people organise their collective lives, how social structures emerge and change, and how forces such as class, race, gender, religion, and economic organisation shape individual experience and opportunity. It is a discipline that takes nothing for granted about the social world, asking instead how apparently natural arrangements are constructed, how inequalities are maintained, and how social change comes about. These are questions that matter in every sphere of public and private life, and sociology equips you with the conceptual tools and empirical methods to address them rigorously.

At Teesside University, this part-time programme develops the academic skills, knowledge, and understanding needed for successful study in sociology and related social science fields. You will build your ability to search for and critically evaluate evidence, think analytically, and communicate your ideas clearly in writing and in discussion. The programme develops personal and transferable skills that are valued across a wide range of careers, including information retrieval, critical thinking, note-taking and summarising, presentation, collaborative working, and digital learning.

Part-time study makes the programme accessible to those who are balancing education with work, caring responsibilities, or other commitments.

Sociology graduates go on to careers in social research, policy analysis, social work, community development, education, public health, journalism, human resources, local government, voluntary sector organisations, and the civil service. The critical thinking and research skills the discipline develops are valued wherever complex social phenomena need to be understood and communicated. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in sociology, criminology, social policy, social work, or public health, developing specialist expertise that supports careers in research, practice, or policy.

The discipline's breadth means that what you study at Teesside will remain relevant across a lifetime of social and professional change.