Philosophy and Sociology BA

Please note: You will take 120 credits of modules in each year of study. The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2020. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.

Every degree programme at the University is divided into 120 credits of study for each year of the programme. In the first year of a Joint Honours programme, you will study 60 credits in each subject as you learn the core elements of the disciplines. We recognise that students on Joint Honours programmes might come to favour one subject slightly more than another. To account for this, we have added more flexibility into the second and final years of our programmes. In the second year, you can stick with the 60-60 split between the two subjects or shift to a 80-40 credit weighting, effectively a major/ minor combination. You can either go back to 60-60 in the final year, maintain the same 80-40 split or reverse the major and the minor and go to a 40-80 weighting.

Philosophy compulsory modules

• Problems of Philosophy (20)
• The Philosopher's Toolkit (20)

Detailed descriptions of Year 1 compulsory modules

You will also take 20 credits of optional modules

Sociology compulsory modules

• The Sociological Imagination (20)
• Social Research I (20)
• Introduction to Social Divisions (20)

Philosophy

• 80 credits - No compulsory modules, only optional modules
• 60 credits - No compulsory modules, only optional modules
• 40 credits - No compulsory modules, only optional modules

Sociology compulsory modules

• Modern Sociology Theory (20)
• Social Research II (20)

Optional module examples:

• Self and Society
• Media and Society
• Global Societies
• Disability and Social Policy
• Comparative Social Policy
• Managing Health and Social Care
• Terror, Threat and Security
• Punishment in a Global Context
• Global Education: Issues, Opportunities, Futures
• Education, Policy and Social Justice
• Housing and Communities

You can apply to study abroad for a year in an approved university around the world. If you achieve a grade of 2.1 or above in your first year then you will be invited to apply for a Year Abroad in your second year. If your application is successful, you will go abroad in your third year and return to us for your final year. Find out more.

Philosophy compulsory modules

• 80 credits - Philosophical Project (20 or 40)
• 60 credits - Philosophical Project (20 or 40)
• 40 credits - No compulsory modules, only optional modules

Detailed description of Final Year compulsory module

You will also take your remaining Philosophy credits in optional modules

Sociology compulsory modules

• 80 credits - Dissertation (40) and Contemporary Social Theory (20)
• 60 credits - Dissertation (40 - if not taken in Philosophy) and Contemporary Social Theory (20)
• 40 credits - Contemporary Social Theory (20)

Optional module examples:

• Political Sociology
• Technology and Society
• 'Freedom', Control and Critique
• Sociology of Success and Fame
• Sociology of Film
• Migration and Super Diversity
• Your Money and Your Life
• Harmful Societies
• Sociology of Personal Life
• Divided Publics
• Doing or Not Doing God? Religion, Policy and Politics
• Crime and the City
• Sociology of Health and Illness
• Children as Citizens
• Gender and Education
• Quantitave Analysis I and Quantitave Analysis II
• Prospects for Social Policy in the UK
• Professional Development Module