Geography and Sociology

Year 1 encourages you to think sociologically, discovering key concepts and debates within the subject and examining the formation and emergence of modern societies. Geography modules will focus on processes of urban change by focusing on Leeds itself, and examine the key themes in human geography through practical classes and tutorials. Optional modules will allow you to learn about the methods and techniques of social research or examine aspects of society’s relationship with the natural environment.

This provides the foundation for the following year, when you’ll explore the important thinkers and traditions in the history of sociology and learn more about some of the major ideas and themes in human geography. You’ll develop your research skills with an additional module in one of your subjects – you choose which. From there you’ll start to gain specialist knowledge in your chosen areas through a selection of optional modules, focusing on topics from disability studies to development geographies, or from drugs to service planning.

In your final year, you’ll research a sociological topic of your choice in depth to complete your dissertation, working with your academic supervisor. Around this you’ll choose further optional modules examining issues such as class division, migration, health geographies, sex work or protest movements.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Modules Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Local to Global: Geographies of a Changing World (Joint Honours) 20 credits
• People, Place and Politics (Joint Honours) 20 credits
• Studying in a Digital Age (Environment) 5 credits
• Sociology of Modern Societies 20 credits
• Formations of Modernity 20 credits

Optional modules

• Nature, Society and Environment 20 credits
• Understanding and Researching the City 20 credits
• Understanding and Researching Contemporary Society 20 credits

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Central Problems in Sociology 20 credits

Optional modules

• Career Skills in Geography 10 credits
• Political and Development Geographies 20 credits
• Service analysis and planning 20 credits
• Geographies of Economies 20 credits
• Geographies of Economies (international and discovery students) 10 credits
• Helsinki: urban growth and sustainability 20 credits
• Montpellier: urban and rural development 20 credits
• Belgrade: urban and social geographies of a Balkan city 20 credits
• The Making of the Modern City 20 credits
• The Making of the Modern City: European and Colonial Capitals 10 credits
• The Making of the Modern City: In Search of Utopia 10 credits
• Citizenship and Identity: Comparative Perspectives 20 credits
• Living within limits: natural resource management for sustainable development 20 credits
• Political and Development Geographies: The shaping of the world 10 credits
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