Psychology and Sociology

Be inspired by experts at the forefront of the profession and you'll hone your skills in our exceptional hi-tech facilities. Get straight to the heart of the debate about issues which are shaping our society today and gain a stepping stone to a richly rewarding career and a future as an actively engaged citizen.

KEY FEATURES OF THE COURSE

Boost your employability

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.

Study fascinating subjects

Studying Psychology and Sociology opens doors to a wide range of careers where you can have a real impact on society. We encourage you to think critically and ethically about social trends, developments and controversies. You will find yourself discussing highly topical issues such as social inequality, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, globalisation, the impact of the digital era, the sociology of childhood and youth, the cult of celebrity, social movements and political engagement, marginal beliefs and the influence of conspiracy theories.

Accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS)

This course is accredited by the BPS if you choose to major in Psychology and complete the credit-bearing modules. This shows we have met BPS standards for delivering a high-standard of psychology education and student development. This accreditation means you can apply for BPS student membership, offering you networking opportunities, discounts, access to academic journals, events and e-learning.

Specialist facilities

Our Psychology and Sociology facilities are used for both teaching and research. They include computing labs with specialist software for designing experiments and research. You'll use a range of psychological recording equipment such as the latest eye-tracker equipment for analysing eye movement and our Babylab for ethical research with babies and young children. We also have well-resourced lecture theatres, seminar rooms and social learning spaces.

Our Sociology facilities are based at One Friar Gate Square. Offering the perfect environment for innovative and engaging teaching, it includes well-resourced lecture theatres, seminar rooms and social learning spaces.

You will learn from lecturers at the forefront of psychological research.

You will be taught by expert staff who are conducting influential studies into areas of psychology such as mental health and wellbeing, compassion and mindfulness, autism and maths anxiety.

HOW YOU’LL LEARN

You will learn from lecturers and tutors who have a wealth of knowledge and experience, and are carrying out research designed to offer fresh perspectives on significant issues at every stage of life. Your lecturers bring their latest thinking to your studies. And, in some cases, you’ll have opportunities to get involved in research projects yourself. You will learn through lectures, seminars, multimedia presentations, online collaboration, guest lectures and class debates. Quality inspectors have commended us for being “at the forefront of technology-enhanced learning” in Psychology.

YOUR CAREER

Psychology and Sociology opens doors to many different sectors and professions - anywhere an understanding of people is valued - so your career options will be broad. Our Psychology and Sociology graduates have gone on to successful roles in: psychological/scientific/clinical research, mental health support and management, occupational/educational/forensic/clinical psychology, probation, human resources, health services, therapeutic care, and charity leadership.

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