Overview

Understanding why people cooperate, migrate and form the social ties they do takes both psychological insight and sociological perspective. The BA (Hons) Sociology with Social Psychology at the University of Essex builds thorough grounding in both fields, taught by award-winning scholars within the Department of Sociology and Criminology, whose research spans topics from big data and human rights to the policing of sex work. Students develop strong qualitative and quantitative research skills, with direct links to the Institute for Social and Economic Research and the UK Data Archive, home to national datasets such as the British Crime Survey. The course suits students curious about how individuals and societies function, with the option to pursue a specialised quantitative methods pathway or a supervised dissertation on a topic of personal interest.

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What You'll Learn

• Social psychology, psychoanalysis and social interaction

• Psychology and the science of human behaviour

• The sociology of migration, religious belief and multinational corporations

• Social tensions, interactions and networks shaping everyday life

• Sociological research methods, including survey design and interview techniques

• Quantitative analysis, from basic statistics through to big data

• Identity, family and self-definition within a social context

• A supervised dissertation on a topic connecting to live issues and debates

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyse how individuals, groups and cultures behave and interact, drawing on both sociological and social psychological theory. They will be equipped to apply qualitative and quantitative research methods, from survey design to statistical and big data analysis, to real social questions. Through a supervised dissertation, students will develop the ability to conduct original research connecting academic theory to live social issues and debates. Graduates will leave with strong analytical, research and communication skills, well suited to careers across government, NGOs, social work, market research, project management and a wide range of other people-focused professions.