SOCIOLOGY (INCLUDING CRIMINOLOGY) UNDERGRADUATE SUBJECT BROCHURE 2018
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KEY INFORMATION AND ENTRY REQUIREMENTS UCAS CODE
TYPICAL OFFER
L300/L302
AAB-ABB; IB: 34-32
L303/L304
AAB-ABB; IB: 34-32
M900/M901
AAA-ABB; IB: 36-32
Philosophy and Sociology/with Study Abroad^
VL53/VL5H
AAB-ABB; IB: 34-32
Politics and Sociology/with Study Abroad^
LLH2/LL23
AAA-ABB; IB: 36-32
BA Single Honours
Sociology/with Study Abroad^ BSc Single Honours
Sociology/with Study Abroad^ Criminology/with Study Abroad
^
Combined Honours
Sociology and Anthropology/with Study Abroad
^
L3L6/L3L7
AAB-ABB; IB: 34-32
Sociology and Criminology/with Study Abroad^
LM39/LMH9
AAB-ABB; IB: 34-32
Sociology and Modern Languages (Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish)
LR03
AAA-ABB; IB: 36-32
Flexible Combined Honours/with Study Abroad^/ with Work Abroad/with UK Work Experience
Y004/Y006/ Y008/Y007
A*AA-AAB; IB: 38-34
We make every effort to ensure that entry requirements are up-to-date in our printed literature. However, because brochures are produced well in advance, our entry requirements and offers may be subject to change.
For details of language requirements for entry onto Combined Honours with Modern Languages programmes please visit our website: www.exeter.ac.uk/ug/languages MODERN LANGUAGES ENTRY DATA
For up-to-date details regarding entry requirements and programme specifics, please see our Sociology pages at www.exeter.ac.uk/ug/sociology We strongly advise that you check this before attending an Open Day or making your application. Some programmes require prior study of specific subjects and may also have minimum grade requirements at GCSE or equivalent, particularly in English Language and/or Mathematics.
Applying to study Combined Honours with Modern Languages When applying to Sociology Combined Honours degrees with Modern Languages you will need to indicate under ‘further details’ in the ‘choices’ section of the application the language you wish to study using the codes in the entry data table. Please note you may choose only one language. For further information on completing your UCAS form, please visit www.ucas.com ^
SUBJECT
CODE
French
Fren
Chinese
Chin
German
Germ
Italian
Ital
Portuguese
Port
Russian
Russ
Spanish
Span
International students The University recognises a wide range of international qualifications as well as A levels and the International Baccalaureate. You can find further information about academic and English language entry requirements at www.exeter.ac.uk/ug/international
for details about Study Abroad please see www.exeter.ac.uk/ug/sociology
Applying For information on the application, decision, offer and confirmation process, please visit www.exeter.ac.uk/ug/applications
STREATHAM CAMPUS, EXETER Website: www.exeter.ac.uk/ug/sociology Email: [email protected] Phone: +44 (0)1392 723192
SOCIOLOGY
(INCLUDING CRIMINOLOGY) 2nd for Sociology in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017 9th in the UK for world leading and internationally recognised research1 Work experience bursaries of up to £2,000 for BSc Single Honours students taking applied research training2 Distinctive interdisciplinary approach with philosophers, sociologists and anthropologists working together in teaching and research Sociology is a fascinating subject providing a critical understanding of all aspects of society and social life. By studying Sociology you will develop an understanding of the contemporary world, human behaviour and the forces shaping society. You will examine social, political, historical, cultural and economic issues and study topics as diverse as class and social inequality, health and disability, globalisation, crime, countercultures, family life, gender, and the development of cities. Sociology is particularly concerned with social transformation and explores how societies are formed, develop and may change in the future. At Exeter we have a distinctive focus on cultural sociology and offer modules on topics such as the sociology of music, culture, science and technology, health, and crime. We also have significant expertise in anthropology with modules covering issues such as addiction and human/animal interactions. The research conducted by our academics in criminology has attracted substantial funding grants, such as Dr Katharine Boyd’s grant from the College of Policing and HEFCE, for the Exeter Policing, Evidence and Research Translation (ExPERT)
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project. Working with University colleagues and Devon and Cornwall Police, she and colleagues at the University are training officers in conducting and evaluating research about the forms of policing that work best. Our Criminology programme builds on our research strength and interests in policing, prisons and probation but also combines them with interests and strengths in international conflict; war and crime; and transitional justice and human rights. Your degree will provide you with the insight into contemporary society, as well as practical and transferable skills sought after by major employers and relevant to a variety of careers in the private, public and third sectors including business, journalism, marketing, social research, teaching, retailing, human resources, overseas development, government and the civil service. Sociology and Criminology are taught and studied in the department of Sociology, Philosophy and Anthropology. Each aims to answer fundamental questions about our past, present and future. The close relationship between these three subjects is indicative of the interdisciplinary nature of the department in which sociology can
Research Excellence Framework 2014 based on the percentage of research categorised as 4* and 3* value of bursary depends on length of placement
be studied either as Single Honours, or in combination with several other arts and social science subjects, including philosophy and anthropology. The department is small, ambitious and highly successful, and you will benefit from a friendly atmosphere and exposure to the latest inspirational advances in social science research. Research interests of our academic staff span across a spectrum of topics in sociology, anthropology and philosophy. Our research was ranked 9th in the UK for world-leading and internationally excellent research in the Research Excellence Framework 20141 and is particularly noted for the contributions it makes to the sociology and anthropology of culture (science and technology, religion, the arts, sport and the military) and the sociology of knowledge and social theory. As an undergraduate you will benefit from this research culture as your lecturers will be contributing to current debates, giving you access to the latest thinking and resources. Our undergraduates have established a departmental student society which meets several times a year and organises a seminar series with members of staff to provide an arena outside the formal teaching structure in which staff and students can discuss sociological issues.
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DEGREE PROGRAMMES Our undergraduate degree programmes provide an overview of very different types of societies and enable you to study aspects of these societies in depth. We will help you become an independent learner and develop sociologically informed judgements. Our programmes are demanding and encourage initiative and open-mindedness, ensuring that you will be well equipped with a range of academic, personal and professional skills. You will develop the ability to undertake independent research and work to deadlines; digest, select and organise material for written work and oral presentations; critically reflect on and evaluate your own and others’ work; understand, assimilate and evaluate complex arguments and ideas; work with others as part of a team; and to think and write clearly about broad themes. In your core modules you’ll learn to use logical and systematic methods of analysis to reveal patterns of social action. These will include qualitative research methods such as conducting interviews, focus groups and visual analysis; learning how to design your own research projects; and obtaining an overview of the use and interpretation of quantitative data. Each year, depending on your degree programme, you may elect to take options outside of your programme, for example: to develop skills attractive to employers such as language proficiency; to examine an issue you’ve covered in one of your Sociology modules from a different disciplinary perspective; or to widen your horizons and challenge yourself intellectually. Sociology can be studied in combination with other subjects in a range of Combined Honours degree programmes or as a Single Honours degree.
How your degree is structured Degrees are divided into core and optional modules, giving you the flexibility to structure your degree according to your specific interests. Individual modules are worth 15 or 30 credits each and full-time undergraduates need to take 120 credits in each year. Within Sociology, in addition to the core modules, you can choose from an extensive range of options in all three years, a few examples of which are shown later in this brochure. For up-to-date details of all our programmes and modules, please check www.exeter.ac.uk/ ug/sociology 2
Single Honours Our flexible Single Honours programme gives you the opportunity to study for a BA or BSc depending on your particular interests. Our BSc pathway is particularly suitable if you are interested in developing a career in the public sector, policy development, or any research-based career such as journalism that relies on detailed proficiency in research and analysis skills. Our highly popular BA programme has a strong focus on cultural sociology, and will equip you with a range of transferable skills and knowledge suitable for a broad spectrum of careers.
BA Sociology This degree is designed to introduce you to the sociological ways of investigating the world in which we live. Core modules cover the history and development of sociological theory and the skills and techniques employed in sociological research. You will also develop a critical understanding of the rise and transformation of modern societies, with a particular focus on the last three decades, considering issues such as globalisation, work and class. Year 1 The first year provides the foundational knowledge and theoretical framework for your degree. You will learn how sociologists study human society and the challenges they face by examining the work of sociologists on topics as diverse as crime, mental illness, and work. You will also develop skills in formulating and debating an argument, for example through project work examining the social significance of material objects. Year 2 You will be required to take compulsory modules in theory and method which build upon the first year and are intended to equip you with the expertise to take specialist options during your degree. You’ll be able to choose from a wide range of Sociology options covering topics as diverse as consumption, music, health, gender and media. Year 3 The centre-point of the final year is the compulsory dissertation. This provides you with the opportunity to explore an area of interest and to demonstrate what you have learnt over the previous three years. In addition, you will take up to three other specialist modules to create a programme of work which reflects your interests.
BSc Sociology This programme is specially designed to help you develop an understanding of how societies, institutions and practices came into being, how they work and might change in the future. Concerned with social transformation, the programme will develop an insight into the major challenges facing contemporary society with a particular focus on crime and deviance. You will learn a variety of techniques used in sociological research including observation, field work, focus groups and the use of quantitative data. Offered under the Q-Step programme, this degree also includes elements of quantitative data analysis, helping you to develop skills that are highly sought after by employers. Year 1 Your first year will give you an excellent grounding in the theories and application of sociology with a particular focus on the issues facing the contemporary world such as social inequality, crime, deviance, migration, and globalisation. Year 2 In your second year, you will develop the skills used by sociologists to understand how societies operate. In addition to gaining hands-on experience of designing your own research project and collating primary evidence, you will practise the techniques used in ethnography and explore case studies on topics as varied as social media and the British independent music scene. You will also be able to choose from a wide range of options covering issues such as childhood, addiction, gender, consumerism, the Holocaust and immigration. Year 3 The centre-point of the final year is the compulsory dissertation which may draw on empirical data or your own original fieldwork. This provides you with the opportunity to explore an area of interest and to demonstrate what you have learned over the previous three years. In addition, you’ll take up to three other specialist modules to create a programme of work which reflects your interests.
BSc Criminology Criminology aims to provide systematic understanding of the historical patterning of crime, the causes of criminal behaviour and its consequences, as well as policy response. The interdisciplinary make-up
of the BSc in Criminology at Exeter is rooted in sociological approaches, but also offers the potential to combine these perspectives on crime and deviance with those from historical, political, and other disciplinary studies. Offered under the prestigious Q-Step programme, this degree will train you in applied research and data analysis skills which will help you investigate the nature of crime, for example by analysing crime survey data or the types of information used to inform intelligence-led policing. The aim is to provide you with a full range of social science research skills that will enable you to engage with the nature and complexity of social life, deviance and crime, graduating with specific technical skills sought by employers. The programme is particularly suitable if you are interested in developing a career in the criminal justice system, policy development, non-governmental organisations or any research-based career such as journalism or social research. You will benefit from the opportunity of a work placement supported by a bursary of up to ÂŁ2,000 and have access to specialist training resources. The work placement is designed to give you an opportunity to put in to practice the skills that you are learning on this programme, as well as experience data analysis tools and techniques being used in the real world, you can choose from a wide variety of placements locally, nationally and in Europe; from public sector organisations to industry to NGOs. The work placement is not compulsory but we would strongly encourage you to participate as it will enhance your academic learning, give you practical experience and start building your networks with potential employers.
Combined Honours BA Philosophy and Sociology Studying philosophy and sociology brings to life the range of intellectual thought and social diversity associated with important contemporary issues. The two disciplines complement each other in the understanding of human life. You will take the core modules in sociology and philosophy in order to gain the foundations of these two disciplines. This programme will enable you to learn and apply analytical philosophical skills to the study of a variety of older and newer sociological questions, as well as many contemporary social processes.
Full details of Philosophy modules can be found at www.exeter.ac.uk/ug/philosophy
BA Politics and Sociology Students on this programme take the core modules in politics and sociology in order to gain the foundations of these two disciplines. Opportunities for studying optional modules are also available and you will be free to take any module on either side of the programme which interests you. In the final year, you will take a dissertation in either sociology or politics, depending on your own area of interest. Full details of Politics modules can be found at www.exeter.ac.uk/ug/politics
BA Sociology and Anthropology By studying anthropology alongside sociology, you can fully explore how relevant the discipline is for the study of our globalised world. Anthropology’s comparative outlook and concern with cultural difference complements sociologists’ interests in the formation of social groups and the role of shared understanding in coordinating the actions of their members. Anthropology traditionally focused on the study of small-scale and pre-industrial societies, but increasingly it has applied its distinctive insights to the problems of modern living. Anthropologists today are as interested in the practices of multinational companies and the impact of natural resource exploitation on local communities as in the rituals and ceremonies of native Amazonians. Studying anthropology with sociology will equip you with a full range of critical analytical perspectives as well as research methods to start your own exploration of the nature and complexity of human social life. You will study core modules from both disciplines, and be able to choose from an excitingly diverse array of optional modules in your second and final years as well as undertaking a dissertation focused on either discipline. Full details about Anthropology can be found at www.exeter.ac.uk/ug/anthropology
BSc Sociology and Criminology By studying sociology and criminology, you will investigate the causes of criminal behaviour as well as its consequences for victims and for society as a whole. You will pay particular attention to the role of criminal justice organisations in defining and responding to crime as a social problem. The interdisciplinary nature of the programme will give you sociological, historical, political and psychological perspectives for understanding and responding to crime
and deviance. You will explore theoretical, empirical and methodological issues associated with sociology and other fields of social research and develop skills in critical analysis. Optional modules will cover issues as diverse as forensic science, war crimes, ethics, addiction, and human rights. Full details of this programme can be found at www.exeter.ac.uk/ug/sociology
BA Sociology and Modern Languages (Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish) This four-year degree allows you to combine the history of intellectual thought on profound and challenging problems, or the social diversity associated with important contemporary issues, with one of a number of modern languages. It is a four year programme, with the third year spent studying abroad developing your language skills. Sociology will give you an understanding of the contemporary world, human behaviour and the forces shaping society. You will examine social, political, historical, cultural and economic issues and study topics as diverse as class and social inequality, health and disability, globalisation, crime, countercultures, family life, gender and the development of cities. Your Modern Language core module will enable you to develop strong skills in spoken and written language, while the cultural modules will offer you a deeper understanding of the literature, history and culture of societies. You will receive an excellent researchinspired education in a supportive, responsive environment from expert academics who are passionate about their subjects. By the end of your degree, you will have acquired a diverse and valuable set of skills employers seek across a wide range of professions. Full details of the Modern Languages modules can be found at www.exeter.ac.uk/ ug/languages
Flexible Combined Honours Our innovative Combined Honours scheme enables you to combine modules from a number of different fields of study not otherwise available through an existing Combined Honours programme. You can combine Sociology with up to two other subjects from an extensive list of subjects. Throughout your degree you will be given regular support to help you choose the most appropriate pathway for you. Further information and the full list of available subjects can be found at www.exeter.ac.uk/ ug/flexible 3
LEARNING AND TEACHING We convey sociology as a dynamic and self-questioning mode of social scientific inquiry, in order to impart knowledge and understanding of the nature, development and structure of contemporary societies, and give an in-depth focus on the core features of those societies. We encourage independent study and assist the development of sociologically informed critical judgement. The nature of university learning, especially in the arts and social sciences, involves a lot of self-directed study and research. As well as traditional lectures, seminars, and tutorials, led by internationally respected academics at the forefront of research, you’ll be encouraged to use your initiative by organising study groups, taking advantage of online and traditional learning resources, and managing your own workload and time.
Contact hours You should expect around 10 contact hours per week in your first year and will need to plan additional hours of private study per module. Your total workload should average about 40 hours per week during term time. You will have regular tutorials where you will meet to discuss oral and written assignments with your tutor, together with a small group of other students. These personal contacts are very important in developing staff-student relations and for getting to know your fellow students. Our programmes help to develop skills and understanding so that you can take increasing responsibility for your learning in more specialised seminar-based modules. You’ll be expected to develop good organisational and time management skills and we will help you acquire further employability skills (eg, proficiencies in communication, research, presentation and IT). Our modules are designed to train you to gather, select and organise material from a variety of sources and evaluate its significance. We stress the importance of working flexibly and creatively with others, engaging in rational debate, and exercising independent thought and judgement.
Innovative teaching We constantly introduce new methods of learning and teaching, including the use of interactive approaches through our virtual learning environment, where you can access detailed information about modules and learning outcomes, and interact via discussion forums. The Student-Staff Liaison Committee gives you the chance to discuss and review the 4
degree programmes, including existing and planned module content, through regular meetings with departmental staff.
Research-inspired teaching You will have the opportunity to work closely with academic staff who are at the cutting-edge of research and academic debate and you will benefit from an innovative curriculum inspired by leading research. All staff teach third year options which are linked to their own interests which include the study of culture, social media, consumption, music, science and technology, sport and the armed forces.
Academic support All students have a personal tutor who is available for advice and support throughout your studies. There are also a number of services on campus where you can get advice and information, including the Students’ Guild Advice Unit. You can find more information about all the services in the University’s undergraduate prospectus or online at www.exeter.ac.uk/undergraduate
For further details about study abroad please check the International Office website at www.exeter.ac.uk/international/ studyabroad/outbound
Assessment We use diverse methods of assessment to support our emphasis on presentation, teamwork and projects/dissertations, as well as essay writing and exams. The ratio of assessment by coursework to assessment by exam varies according to which modules you take, but on average is about 50:50. Your first year doesn’t count towards your final degree classification, but you do have to pass it in order to progress. If you study a three-year programme, assessments in the final two years both count towards your classification, and if you study a four-year programme, then the final three years all contribute. For full details of the assessment criteria for each module, check the undergraduate section of our website at www.exeter.ac.uk/ ug/sociology
Study Abroad
Exeter Q-Step Centre
Studying for your degree at Exeter gives you the exciting possibility of spending up to one year abroad. Last year, almost 500 Exeter students studied at one of our partner universities, which are in more than 40 countries around the world. You could learn a new language and experience different cultures, become more self-confident and widen your circle of friends. You could get the chance to specialise in areas that are not available at Exeter, and when it comes to a career, your skills and knowledge of another country will prove invaluable to many employers. This of course applies equally to overseas students coming to study abroad at Exeter.
Demand in industry and government for workers with quantitative skills is increasing. The growing reliance on and availability of open data, coupled with the phenomenal growth in social media data use, makes it essential that today’s social science graduates are equipped with the skills to manage, analyse and interpret data.
If you take Sociology with a modern language, you will normally spend your third year abroad. Please check the Modern Languages website for further details at www.exeter.ac.uk/ug/languages For our other degree programmes, you may study for half a year at a partner institution in Europe, North America or Australia or follow a four-year ‘with Study Abroad’ programme. You may apply directly for the four-year programmes or transfer from another programme once you are at Exeter. Full details of these schemes and of our partner institutions can be found on our website at www.exeter.ac.uk/socialsciences/ undergraduate/studyabroad
The Exeter Q-Step Centre builds on the core disciplines of Sociology, Criminology, and Politics and International Relations to increase the number of students undertaking quantitative methods training in social science degree programmes. Research skills training, work placements and practical experience prepare students for further study and equips them with the skills they need to succeed in the jobs market. For students who are interested in quantitative methods but not taking a Q-Step BSc programme, we also offer a Proficiency in Applied Data Analysis. Students successfully passing a minimum of 60 credits of data analysis modules (45 compulsory and 15 optional) may have the words ‘with Proficiency in Applied Data Analysis’ added to their degree title. For further information, please visit our website: www.exeter.ac.uk/ socialsciences/q-step
CAREERS Your degree will provide you with the insight into contemporary society, as well as practical and transferable skills sought after by major employers and relevant to a wide range of careers in the private, public and third sectors including business, journalism, marketing, social research, teaching, retailing, human resources, overseas development, government and the Civil Service. You will receive an excellent all-round education, where you will learn to understand other people’s points of view, to communicate your own position clearly and to argue effectively. You will develop a range of practical skills relating to the collation, analysis and presentation of information, which form the basis of many careers and build personal skills such as working effectively, independently and within a team. Our programmes are demanding and encourage initiative and openmindedness, helping to ensure that you will be well equipped with a range of
academic, personal and professional skills, all of which will prepare you for future employment or research in a wide variety of fields. Many of our graduates choose to follow their degree with employment or further study in people-focused fields, whereas others choose to use their skills in business or public sector administration. Our careers service offers a variety of schemes which encourage you to participate in employability-related workshops, skills events, volunteering and employment which will contribute to your career decision-making skills and success in the employment market. Exeter has an excellent reputation with graduate recruiters and our students and graduates compete very successfully in the employment market. Many employers target the University when recruiting new graduates. For further information about what the careers service at Exeter offers, please visit www.exeter.ac.uk/ug/careers
Examples of the destinations of our recent graduates: Occupations Student Support Worker // Sales Manager // Marketing Assistant // Graduate Library Trainee // Audit Assistant // Legal Service Manager // Secondary School Teacher
Employers National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy // Scholastic // Bodleian Libraries // National Skills Academy // KPMG
Examples of further study followed by our graduates: MRes and PhD (ESRC studentship) University of Leeds
MSc Research Methods, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
MA Gender Studies, University College London
MA Philosophy and Sociology of Science, University of Exeter
MA International Relations, University of Exeter
Graduate Diploma in Law, College of Law, Guildford
MA Marketing, Business School, University of Exeter
I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer in Exeter and worked as an intern for a Charity in London called Citizens UK; I am currently looking to build a team in Exeter to focus on similar campaigns. This will all help me to improve my career prospects after graduation as employers now look forquote? extra-curricular activities as well as a degree to find an applicant who already has transferable skills and has shown a hunger to get experience. Immediately after graduating, I can see myself helping one of my friends to build her social enterprise, which helps young people to find work experience, activities and casual work. In the future I would like to go into Corporate Social Responsibility or Human Resources – a job which gives me room to implement and test some of my own ideas, taking pride in my work, giving back to the community, and ensuring I have a job which is worthwhile and rewarding! James Pitts, BSc Sociology and Criminology
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MODULES
KEY C
= Core
= Opti
onal
Please note that the availability of all modules is subject to timetabling constraints, and that not all modules are available every year. The modules detailed below are just examples of those offered recently. For up-to-date details of all our programmes and modules, please check www.exeter.ac.uk/ug/sociology
BA Philosophy and Sociology
BA Politics and Sociology
BA Sociology and a Modern Language
c
Globalisation
Imagining Social Worlds: Artefacts
c
c
Immigration in Western Societies
Introduction to Social Analysis: Classical Social Theory
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
Introduction to Social Analysis: Contemporary Social Theory
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
Introduction to Social Anthropology
c
Contemporary Society – Themes and Perspectives
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
Contemporary Society – Fields and Case Studies
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
Social Issues: Crime and Deviance Parts 1 and 2
c
c
c
Introduction to Social Data
Police and Policing
c c
Data Analysis in Social Science
c c
Sociology of Art and Culture
First year modules in any subject
International Criminal Justice
BSc Criminology
c
BSc Sociology
Imagining Social Worlds: Texts
Module Name
BA Sociology
BSc Sociology and Criminology
The only compulsory module in Year 3 is the dissertation, unless you are studying the BSc Criminology where one of your optional modules must be a Q-Step module chosen from a list. All other modules are optional, and may be taken in either Year 2 or Year 3.
BA Sociology and Anthropology
Year 1 Modules
Year 2 and 3 Optional Modules Module Name
Disability and Society On Violence Media in Society Ethnomusicology Introduction to Terrorism Studies The Holocaust and Society Consumption Gender and Society Addiction
Health and Illness in Contemporary Society Part 1: Medicine and Social Control Health and Illness in Contemporary Society Part 1: Bodies in Society
Into the Field
c
Theoretical Sociology
c c c
c
c c c
Quantitative Data Analysis in Social Science II
c
c
Knowing the Social World
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BA Sociology and a Modern Language
BA Politics and Sociology
BA Philosophy and Sociology
BSc Criminology
BSc Sociology and Criminology
BSc Sociology
Ethnography Now
Statistical Methods for Social Data
BA Sociology and Anthropology
Module Name
BA Sociology
Year 2 Modules
c c c
c
c c c
c
c
Taking modules outside of your programme Depending on your programme you may take up to 30 credits in another subject (subject to academic approval and timetabling), for instance a language or business module, to develop career-related skills or widen your intellectual horizons. If you achieve at least 60 credits in a language via our Foreign Language Centre you may be able to have the words ‘with proficiency in’ and the language added to your degree title. Further details about the FLC can be found at www.exeter.ac.uk/flc
Year 1 core modules
Year 2 core modules
Imagining Social Worlds 1 and 2: Texts and Artefacts
Ethnography Now
Ethnography provides a means of exploring the ways in which people live, experience and think about their lives, particularly the networks of interaction and meaning they create and inhabit. This module will provide you with an appreciation of the kinds of topics and social issues that ethnographers work on in contemporary culture.
Into the Field
This module introduces you to methods of fieldwork-based inquiry that are strongly featured within the qualitative traditions of sociology and anthropology. The module focuses on learning through practical experimentation and involves the design of your own research project which will help prepare you for your dissertation.
Knowing the Social World
This module explores and provides hands-on experience of a variety of approaches to sociological research such as interview skills, participant observation, and sensory analysis.
Theoretical Sociology
You will survey a variety of perspectives in social theory. Topics can broadly be grouped under two headings, though inter-relations between the two will be explored: general understandings of social relations and processes (such as ethnomethodology and actor-network theory); and big ideas about the shape of contemporary society.
Quantitative Data Analysis in Social Science II
A good understanding of data collection, analysis and interpretation is essential for much empirical research, and is becoming increasingly relevant for the competitive professional world. This module will provide students with knowledge of a wide range of quantitative analytical techniques. Using a combination of lectures, practical demonstrations and practical assignments, this module adopts a “hands-on” approach.
These modules involve the systematic study of selected problems and questions in sociological research, with a focus on ethnographic and qualitative research. You will learn how artefacts can have different meanings and symbolism to different people, societies, times and cultures, and work in teams to construct and present your own hypotheses about the sociological significance of everyday objects.
Introduction to Social Analysis: Classical Social Theory and Contemporary Social Theory
You will be introduced to the core ideas, theoretical perspectives, methods of investigation and analysis that are distinctive to sociology and cognate disciplines. You will be asking what kind of knowledge of social phenomena it is possible to attain and how far such knowledge can be considered ‘scientific’ or ‘objective’, as well as how these issues have been discussed by key social theorists.
Introduction to Social Anthropology
This module introduces the methods and perspectives of social anthropology and engages you in the study of a diversity of societies and cultures. You will encounter a range of ethnographic and theoretical readings and you will be encouraged to develop an anthropological perspective of your own as well as solid research skills, and to think critically and analytically about key questions and problems in studying the worlds of other people and our own.
Contemporary Society – Themes and Perspectives and Fields and Case Studies
These modules complement the other first year modules by concentrating primarily on the subject matter of sociology. You will develop a critical understanding of the rise and transformation of modern societies from the 18th century to the present day, with a particular focus on the last three decades.
Social Issues: Crime and Deviance Parts 1 and 2
You will study crime and criminals, including the causes of criminal behaviour and its consequences for victims and for society as a whole. We pay attention to the role of society in defining and responding to crime as a social problem, and you will explore terrains which are often contested and develop a critical appreciation of the perspectives and methodological principles underpinning them.
Introduction to Social Data
This introductory first-year module covers key concepts in quantitative design and data collection as a basis for understanding such social phenomena. It introduces you to the core statistical ideas that underlie quantitative research and the software packages which are used to produce analyses. It teaches you to think critically about quantitative studies, not only examining how this data is created, but how it can be used in social contexts.
Year 3 core module Dissertation
The dissertation gives you the opportunity to display your own abilities in researching and communicating your ideas in relation to a topic which really interests you. You may draw on empirical data gathered from library research or you own fieldwork.
Year 2 and 3 optional modules Globalisation
This module looks at the impact globalisation has had on contemporary society and asks whether we are living in a globalised world. After exploring different ways of understanding globalisation historically and theoretically, you will examine various case studies like the media, migration and terrorism, and their implications for identity and culture.
Immigration in Western Societies
The aim of this module is to introduce you to the study of ethnic minorities in Western countries based on the analysis of quantitative data, and to provide you with analytical tools required to reach evidence-based conclusions about immigrants and immigration in a comparative perspective.
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MODULES CONTINUED Media in Society
Introduces you to the ways sociologists, anthropologists and cultural theorists have conceptualised media in Western society. With the use of specific examples, the module examines key issues in traditional and new media, and provides you with a basis to contextualise and critically appraise social change and collective and individual experiences.
Police and Policing
This module will introduce you to some of the key theoretical perspectives, critical issues and perennial debates in the study of the police, with a particular focus on policing in England and Wales. We will use a mixture of contemporary case studies and topical issues to examine key concepts, including the role of the police, police discretion, the use of force, police accountability and plural policing.
On Violence
This module addresses three key questions: what is violence? How can we understand why it takes place? What can be done to reduce social harms? A broad range of violence is considered, including violence taking place in inter-personal communications, organisational behaviour, political governance, economic relations, and physical conflict.
Disability and Society
Ethnomusicology
You will consider music’s consequences for social structure and social experience; consider some of the classic and current approaches within the sociology of music; and exemplify these approaches with reference to empirical studies in music sociology.
Whilst commonly thought of as medical in nature, disability is a social topic that provides surprising insights into a range of sociological topics. You will look across cultures at how normality and deviance are understood, produced and controlled, and examine questions of social inclusion and exclusion, independence and dependence, and the constructedness of both disability and ability.
Culture and Perception
Introduction to Terrorism Studies
You will learn about the history of political and religiously-motivated violence, the subjective and debated definition of terrorism, as well as rates and trends of terrorism.
What is reality and how do we come to perceive reality in everyday life? This module considers reality as we represent, perceive and experience it through cultural mediators. We investigate realities as situated practices, drawing on and drawing together many things – technologies and objects, people, gestures, meanings, and media.
The Holocaust and Society
This module investigates the nature and causes of the Nazi Holocaust and stimulates reflection on the continuing significance of this momentous event for our understanding of human nature and social organisation. The module draws on theories, methodologies and concepts from sociology, social psychology, historical explanation and moral philosophy.
Sociology of Art and Culture
You will learn how cultural issues can be investigated sociologically, explore sociological viewpoints on the nature of artistic creation and other forms of cultural activity and analyse how the terms ‘art’ and ‘popular culture’ are used in different social contexts.
Health and Illness in Contemporary Society Parts 1 and 2
You will critically analyse current academic theories on health, illness and society. Taking an interdisciplinary approach and drawing on texts from medical sociology, health psychology and cultural theory, you will consider why ‘health’ has become a key social value in contemporary western society. You’ll cover the social patterning of ill-health in terms of health inequalities, as well as considering the collective practices of medicine within formal and informal healthcare.
International Criminal Justice
This module is an introduction to comparative criminology and the nature and extent of crime cross-nationally. You will learn about similarities and differences in crime patterns, and responding to crime between and among countries around the world.
Consumption
The module will introduce key theories of consumerism and consumer culture, connecting theorists’ ideas to contemporary and historical social patterns. We will look at characteristic features of consumerism such as advertising, examine different sites and spaces of consumption such as the mall, the corner shop and mail order catalogues, and study major fields of consumption, namely food, fashion, and cars.
Gender and Society
We will consider gender as a social and cultural construction and evaluate the contribution gender studies make to sociology more generally. The module focuses in particular on cultural and non-cognitive dimensions of gender and places emphasis on gender and sexuality in daily life.
Addiction
What do we mean by ‘addiction’? In this module, you will critically analyse the concepts, practices and policy surrounding addiction, dependence, drug use and treatment in contemporary society.
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ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER Top 1% of universities worldwide (Times Higher Education) 9th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017 Six months after graduation, 94% of our first degree graduates were in employment or further study (HESA 2014/15)
Our teaching is inspired by our research, 98% of which is of international quality (2014 Research Excellence Framework) We have 21,000 students from 181 countries, and they are the most satisfied in the Russell Group (NSS)
VISIT US TO FIND OUT MORE Open Days
You can register your interest now for our Open Days and receive priority access to book your place*; visit www.exeter.ac.uk/ opendays * Pre-registration guarantees priority access to the booking system and is not an absolute guarantee of a place at any of our Open Days. Booking is essential and is on a firstcome, first-served basis.
Exeter campuses:
Campus Tours
We run Campus Tours at the Streatham Campus each weekday during term time. You will be shown round by a current student, who will give you a first-hand account of what it’s like to live and study at Exeter. Phone: +44 (0)1392 724043 Email: [email protected]
Friday 2 June 2017 Saturday 3 June 2017 Saturday 2 September 2017
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This document forms part of the University’s Undergraduate Prospectus. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in the Prospectus is correct at the time of going to print. The University will endeavour to deliver programmes and other services in accordance with the descriptions provided on the website and in this prospectus. The University reserves the right to make variations to programme content, entry requirements and methods of delivery and to discontinue, merge or combine programmes, both before and after a student’s admission to the University. Full terms and conditions can be found at www.exeter.ac.uk/undergraduate/applications/disclaimer
2017CAMS048
www.exeter.ac.uk/ug/sociology