Sociology with Foundation Year BA (Hons)

On this BA Sociology you will explore the most compelling and important aspects of our lives as social beings. You will examine social processes and their influence and impact on individuals, groups, societies, institutions and states, so that you understand more about the contemporary world and its inheritances.<br/><br/><strong>Why choose this course?</strong><br/><br/><br/>• This BA Sociology helps you develop a wealth of analytical skills and encourages the kind of rigorous, critical thought that can be easily transferred to other settings after your degree.<br/><br/><br/><br/>• It offers you insights from leading academics in the field, as well as encouraging you to think independently in confronting the social realities of the contemporary period.<br/><br/><br/><br/>• It benefits from close links to our wider academic community exploring the connections between the psyche and the social world.<br/><br/><br/><br/>• You can choose from two different pathways to allow you to specialise further. You can also choose option modules to focus on your career prospects.<br/><br/><br/><br/><strong>What you will learn</strong><br/><br/>This course equips you with the ideas and concepts needed to analyse contemporary societies and to confront and understand the most challenging social and ethical questions of our time. We provide you with theories and case studies that help you to make sense of the complexity of societies across time and geographical space.<br/><br/>You will examine the relationships between social worlds, politics and identity, exploring questions about inequalities, race, migration, human rights, trauma and mental health.<br/><br/>You will learn to make sense of the connections between social relations and social change, politics and power; institutions, civil society and public life; and sociological ways of understanding identity, experience and belonging.<br/><br/><strong>How you will learn</strong><br/><br/>You will be able to choose between two different pathways:<br/><br/><br/>• Global Sociology<br/><br/><br/><br/>• Science and Society<br/><br/><br/><br/>Teaching is through lectures, seminars, online resources and activities, and site visits.<br/><br/>This course is available to study full- or part-time. You can also choose your own timetable for the core/compulsory modules <strong>selecting whether to study them in the daytime or in the evening</strong>.<br/><br/><strong>Foundation Year</strong><br/><br/>If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didnt achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. <br/><br/><strong>Highlights</strong><br/><br/><br/>• Birkbecks innovative, creative and interdisciplinary sociology course will help you become a competent, critical and responsible student of the social world and the psychological and social forces that shape individuals.<br/><br/><br/><br/>• Follow your interests and choose to specialise in communication, geography, history, politics, psychosocial studies, social anthropology or social policy.<br/><br/><br/><br/>• Ours is a vibrant research culture, powered by a shared passion for learning and intellectual engagement among our academics and students.<br/><br/><br/><br/><strong>Careers and employability</strong><br/><br/>On successfully completing this BA Sociology you will have gained an array of valuable transferable skills, including:<br/><br/><br/>- the ability to work effectively as part of a team<br/><br/><br/>- high-level oral and written communication in English<br/><br/><br/>- research<br/><br/><br/>- evaluating and assessing types of information<br/><br/><br/>- the ability to present yourself and an argument.<br/><br/><br/>Graduates can pursue career paths in local or national government, education, social work or research. Possible professions include:<br/><br/><br/>- charity officer<br/><br/><br/>- journalist<br/><br/><br/>- social researcher<br/><br/><br/>- further education lecturer.<br/><br/><br/>We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.