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Sociology

September 2023

The Aims of the BA Sociology degree scheme are:

To develop a broad and deep understanding of Sociology, its content, methods and philosophy;

To provide a structured programme of delivery that is academically rigorous and meets current and future benchmarking requirements;

To encourage selected specialist knowledge and understanding through research-led Level 3 optional modules in those areas where DGES, and other relevant departments at AU, have expertise;

To produce graduates with a wide range of analytical, critical and technical abilities within Sociology;

To develop powers of critical, analytic thinking and logical argument;

To develop competence in a range of subject-specific and transferable skills including literacy, numeracy, computer literacy, problem setting and problem solving, research skills, report writing, and fieldwork skills;

To encourage independent study and thought, enquiring minds, and a commitment to personal scholarship of the highest standard.

On completion of the BA Sociology degree programme students should:

be able to critically evaluate ideas, concepts and approaches across the whole of the subject and within particular branches of Sociology;

be able to carry out independent research, applying a range of skills in relation to data collection, analysis and presentation;

have developed a range of skills and be able to apply them to a variety of Sociological issues;

be able to recognize that their learning experience has been positively reinforced by exposure to research;

be able to evaluate their own performance in a range of learning contexts and under different modes of assessment;

be able to work independently, in a team and with a social awareness of the contribution made by scholarship and applied research in their discipline to social policy;

have the necessary skills and awareness to seek employment in a variety of professional careers or to begin postgraduate research and study.

Knowledge and understanding of:

• A1 ​key concepts and theoretical approaches that have been and are developing within Sociology​

• A2 ​the relationships between individuals, groups and social structures​

• A3 ​social diversity and inequalities​

• A4 ​the role of culturally organised processes in social life​

• A5 ​processes underpinning social change​

• A6 the distinctive character of Sociology in relation to other forms of understanding, such as its relation to other disciplines and to everyday explanations

• A7 the relationship between analysis of evidence and sociological arguments

• A8 a range of qualitative, quantitative and digital data sources, research strategies and methods of data collection and analysis

• A9 the importance of ethical issues in all forms of sociological data collection, analysis and argumentation

Learning and Teaching

​​At year 1, student development towards learning outcomes A1 – A7 is promoted via the core BA Sociology module programme, delivered through a combination of lectures and small classes, supported by independent study and reading by students. Issues relating to learning outcomes A8 and A9 are addressed through in years 2 and 3. The option modules designated as part of the BA Sociology degree scheme will also allow students to develop their knowledge and understanding of learning outcomes A2-A5.

​At years 2 and 3, the teaching programme consists of four elements. (i) Core Knowledge and Understanding Modules in year 2 develop student capacities relating to outcomes A1 to A7 through lectures supported by independent study and reading by students. (ii) Core Skills Modules at year 2 promote learning outcomes A7 to A9 through a combination of lectures, practical classes and field classes, variously supported by fieldwork exercises, group or individual exercise-based assignments and independent reading as appropriate. Field classes will also allow the students to understand how many of the themes learnt in A1-A5 operate in the real world. (iii) Optional modules taken at year 2 and year 3 and delivered through lectures and seminars supported by independent study and reading, contribute to student development towards some or all of outcomes A1 to A5 (iv) Small group teaching in year 2 cover themes relating to outcomes A1 to A9. Independent research undertaken by students towards their Dissertation may also contribute towards the development of knowledge relating to some or all of outcomes A1 to A9.​

Assessment Strategies and Methods

At year 1, student capacities relating to learning outcomes A1 to A7 are assessed through unseen examination essays, unseen short-answer examinations, exercise-based coursework assignments and project work.

At years 2 and 3, student capacities relating to learning outcomes A1 to A9 may be variously assessed as appropriate through assignments, the Dissertation project, fieldwork assignments, oral presentations, coursework essays, project essays, seminar presentations, and seen, unseen and freetime examination essays.

10.2.1 Intellectual Skills

• B1 the ability to formulate and investigate questions

• B2 ​competence in using major theoretical perspectives and concepts​

• B3 ​the capacity to identify, assess and analyse sources of evidence​

• B4 ​the ability to identify a range of qualitative and quantitative data sources​

• B5 ​the ability to identify a range of research strategies and methods and to comment on their relative advantages and disadvantages​

• B6 the ability to plan and conduct research using quantitative and qualitative data sources

• B7 the ability to understand and apply best ethical practice in sociological enquiry

• B8 the ability to recognise the relevance of knowledge to social, public and civic policy

Learning and Teaching

Student development towards outcomes B1 to B8 is primarily promoted through small group teaching associated with the core Sociology modules (years 1-2), practical classes and field classes (year 2), and one-to-one tutoring for the Dissertation project (year 3). Learning is supported through small-group, practical and field exercises. The application of these skills in the context of specific areas of Sociological enquiry is demonstrated through lectures for core and optional modules at years 1, 2 and 3.

Assessment Strategies and Methods

Assessment of student capacities in relation to outcomes B1 to B8 are central to criteria employed in the evaluation of a range of assessment forms employed at all three levels of the degree scheme but particularly in years 2 and 3. These include assignments, coursework essays, practical exercises, fieldwork projects, project essays, seminar and oral presentations, the Dissertation (independent research project) and seen, unseen and free-time examination

10.2.2 Professional practical skills / Discipline Specific Skills

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:

• C1 ability to formulate and investigate sociologically informed questions

• C2 ​competence in using major theoretical perspectives and concepts in Sociology, and their application to social life​

• C3 ​the capacity to identify, assess and analyse sources of evidence in building a sociological argument​

• C4 ​the ability to identify a range of qualitative and quantitative data sources, across different modalities (visual, oral, material or digital) of relevance to sociological enquiry​

• C5 ​the ability to identify a range of research strategies and methods and to comment on their relative advantages and disadvantages for sociological research​

• C6 the ability to plan and conduct sociological research using quantitative and qualitative data sources whether using secondary analysis of previous research, naturally occurring data or gathering new data

• C7 the ability to understand and apply best ethical practice in sociological enquiry

• C8 the ability to recognise the relevance of sociological knowledge to social, public and civic policy

Learning and Teaching

​Student development towards outcomes C1 to C8 is primarily promoted through small group teaching associated with the core Sociology modules (years 1-2), practical classes and field classes (year 2), and one-to-one tutoring for the Dissertation project (year 3). Learning is supported through small-group, practical and field exercises. The application of these skills in the context of specific areas of Sociological enquiry is demonstrated through lectures for core and optional modules at years 1, 2 and 3

Assessment Methods and Strategies

Assessment of student capacities in relation to outcomes C1 to C8 are central to criteria employed in the evaluation of a range of assessment forms employed at all three levels of the degree scheme but particularly in years 2 and 3. These include assignments, coursework essays, practical exercises, fieldwork projects, project essays, seminar and oral presentations, the Dissertation (independent research project) and seen, unseen and free-time examination

10.3 Transferable/key skills

By the end of their programme, all students are expected to be able to demonstrate:

• D1 ​judging and evaluating evidence​

• D2 ​statistical techniques for interpreting and analysing numerical data​

• D3 ​appreciating the complexity and diversity of social contexts​

• D4 ​assessing the merits of competing theories and explanations​

• D5 ​gathering, retrieving, and synthesising information​

• D6 making reasoned and evidenced arguments

• D7 interpreting evidence (numerical, visual, spoken and written)

• D8 reflecting on their own accumulation of knowledge

• D9 being reflexive about assumptions and the social processes and structures shaping forms of knowledge

• D10 recognising forms of prejudice and abuses of power; developing arguments and evidence to challenge these

Learning and Teaching

​​The programme aims to promote, develop and nurture students’ awareness of and competence in these key transferable skills, many of which students will already possess in a greater or lesser degree. Some of these skills are integral to teaching and learning activities across the programme (D1, D3, D4, D6, D7, D9, D10). Others are developed through specific modules and learning activities, including fieldwork, practical classes and exercises (D1, D2, D4, D5). Most significantly, small group teaching associated with the Sociology core modules specifically addresses a number of these skills.​

Assessment Strategies and Methods

Assessment of student capacities in relation to the above outcomes is central to criteria employed in the evaluation of a range of assessment forms employed at all three levels of the degree scheme. These include assignments, coursework essays, practical exercises, fieldwork projects, project essays, the Dissertation, and seen, unseen and free-time examination essays. In addition, a number of the above skills are explicitly assessed at various points during the programme through a range of methods, including the Dissertation project (D1, D2, D5), reports on fieldwork group project (D1, D2, D5), fieldwork exercises (D1, D5), and practical exercises.