BA (Hons) Sociology at Anglia Ruskin University

Discover how humans shape and are shaped by the world they live in, and prepare for careers in policymaking, community development or social change. Explore what shapes societies and individual lives, the relations that connect individuals, groups and institutions within societies and the ones that divide them. You’ll look at the work of classical sociologists, and discover how sociology is changing in response to contemporary global issues like race, media and the digital age.

Duration: 3 years; 4 years with placement  |  Study mode: full-time (placement year available)  |  Intake: September 2027  |  Location: Chelmsford, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

In Year 1 you’ll learn about foundational and current knowledge and research in sociology, including what connects and divides individuals, groups and institutions, and how sociology helps us understand the past and predict the future. In Year 2 you’ll explore theories from key sociological thinkers and what they tell us about modern societies, as well as looking at how migration and schooling systems affect society and individuals. Year 1: A Sociological Conversation, Global Affairs, Media, Society and Crime, Digital Society. Year 2: Critical Social Thought: Knowledge, Power and Division, Mobilities and Migration, Researching Society and Culture, Ruskin Module; options include Digital Methods, Cybercrime and Policing, Violence and Confrontation, Contemporary Issues in Work and Society. Year 3: Social Change and Social Policy, Undergraduate Major Project, Research Communication, Global Feminisms; options include Gender and Sexuality in Britain: 1880-2000, From Workhouses to Universal Credit: The Past, Present and Future of the British Welfare State, Youth, Crime and Aggression, Key Paradigms 3: International and Global Perspectives in Education.

Career pathways

Studying sociology at ARU has allowed me to see the world in a different perspective, and given me the ability to critically analyse theories and concepts. Our Sociology degree will equip you with transferable skills in independent, creative, critical and analytical thinking, and research methods like interviewing, group discussions, and statistical analysis.

Official programme page