Sociology
Sociology is the systematic study of society, from the intimate dynamics of families and communities to the vast structures of global capitalism and state power. It examines how social life is organised, how inequalities of class, race, gender, and disability are produced and reproduced, how institutions shape individual behaviour and opportunity, and how collective action can transform the social world. Sociology does not treat the way things are as natural or inevitable, but asks how they came to be and what forces sustain them, making it one of the most critically engaged disciplines in the social sciences.
At the University of Newcastle you will study this three-year full-time degree, which includes a sandwich year, a year abroad, and a placement. This combination of international and professional experience makes Newcastle's sociology degree exceptionally rich in terms of real-world engagement. The sandwich year gives you extended professional experience in a research, policy, voluntary sector, or other relevant organisation, the year abroad exposes you to different social contexts and sociological traditions, and the placement adds a further layer of professional development.
Across the programme you will study sociological theory from classical foundations to contemporary debates, research methods in quantitative and qualitative traditions, and substantive areas including inequalities, health, urban life, race, migration, culture, and social change. The typical entry tariff is 152 points.
Sociology graduates from Newcastle are well prepared for careers in social research, policy analysis, the civil service, local government, public health, the voluntary sector, journalism, education, social work, and human resources. The sandwich year and placement experience strengthen graduate employability considerably. Further study in sociology, social policy, criminology, public health, or a related discipline is a route taken by those who wish to deepen their expertise or pursue research and academic careers.