History and Sociology

Explore inequalities, power, and pressing social problems, and develop the skills, insight and ambition to not just understand the complexities of modern societies but to intervene in them. Combine this with studying History in a city and county with a strong historical heritage.

KEY FEATURES OF THE COURSE


• Combining two subjects boosts your employability and gives you the opportunity to develop knowledge and expertise in two subject areas, making you a more versatile graduate



• Build your own study pathway to match your career aspirations, focusing on themes like crime and justice, youth cultures, politics and social justice, or security and terrorism – or a combination of these



• Undertake fieldwork at historical locations ranging from country houses to industrial cities



• Real-world research projects enable you to translate theory into practice, supported by our enthusiastic and supportive teaching team



• Develop an impressive set of critical, theoretical and transferable skills which will give you a real advantage in securing a graduate career.



HOW YOU’LL LEARN:

You’ll learn through a mix of:


- lectures


- tutorials


- seminars


- workshops


- multimedia presentations


- online collaboration


- guest lectures


- class debates


- study visits


- co-curricular learning


We are determined to keep things fresh and interesting and involve projects that include the close reading of music videos, the design of your own conspiracy theory, the production of wikis and an extended final year piece of research in which you showcase your sociological interest in a topic of your choice.

YOUR CAREER:

As both History and Sociology deliver such a broad spectrum of skills and insights, it is no surprise to find our graduates excelling in a wide variety of careers where critical thinking, analytical know-how and research abilities are valued.

Our graduates have used their degree to become teachers, lecturers, social workers, probation officers, civil servants, social researchers, business owners, marketeers, counsellors, charity workers, and community officers as well as working in museums, archives, libraries and the heritage sector – to name but a few roles. They have also found work in retail management, public relations, banking, welfare advice, accountancy and systems analysis.

STUDY OPTIONS:

On the Joint Honours programme, there are different pathways of study available. You can often study both subjects equally or choose to major in a subject. Please view the course page on our website for more information on pathways.

Based solely on more than 24,000 student reviews, we were named Uni Compare's University of the Year 2027, and voted 1st in the UK for employability and 2nd in the UK for course quality. Not only that, but 97% of students would recommend the University of Derby*, which we can offer you industry-relevant teaching, state-of-the-art study spaces, multi-award-winning accommodation, and a welcoming, inclusive community.

*Uni Compare 2027