Sociology with Quantitative Methods

Bachelor's degree

In Belfast City

£ 9,250 + VAT

Description

  • Type

    Bachelor's degree

  • Location

    Belfast city (Northern Ireland)

  • Duration

    3 Years

  • Start date

    Different dates available

Overview Sociology is often described as 'the science of society': it explains how societies work, which is often different from how people think they work. One way of understanding social trends is to count people, activities and events, and societies are now awash with data on every aspect of people's lives. Sociologists need to become specialists in making sense of this data. Queen's is one of only fifteen universities across the UK that have been funded* as part of Q-Step initiative to promote a step-change in undergraduate quantitative social science training. The initiative trains students to analyse social data through the delivery of specialist undergraduate programmes, including new courses, work placements and pathways to postgraduate study. The BSc in Sociology with Quantitative Methods degree combines the curiosity of social inquiry with the quantitative skills required to collect and analyse social data. The degree is a key component of the Queen's Q-Step Centre as it helps to address the critical shortage of quantitatively-skilled social science graduates. The need for such graduates is evidenced in the British Academy's position paper 'Society Counts' which argues that "Well-rounded graduates, equipped with core quantitative skills, are vital if the UK is to retain its status as a world leader in research and higher education, rebuild its economy, and provide citizens with the means to understand, analyse and criticise data”. Q-Step aims to improve the confidence and skills of social science undergraduates in mathematics and statistics and allow them to apply these skills to the analysis of social issues and social inquiry. *Funded by ESRC, Nuffield Foundation and HEFCE Why Queen's?Unique Opportunity: Queen’s is one of only a small group of universities in the UK which, through being part of the Nuffield Foundation/Economic and...

Facilities

Location

Start date

Belfast City (County Antrim)
See map
University Road, BT7 1NN

Start date

Different dates availableEnrolment now open

About this course

Entry Requirements   Selection Criteria In addition to the entrance requirements below, it is essential that you read the How We Choose Our Students pdf prior to submitting your UCAS application. Entrance Requirements A-level:
BBB including Mathematics OR
BBC + AS-level Mathematics grade B OR
ABB + GCSE Mathematics grade B Irish Leaving Certificate: 
H3H3H3H3H4H4/H3H3H3H3H3 including Higher Level H3 in Mathematics
OR
H3H3H3H3H3H3/H2H3H3H3H3 and Ordinary Level grade O3 in Mathematics International Students For information on international...

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Subjects

  • Sociology
  • Social Science
  • Teaching
  • School
  • Project
  • Staff
  • Statistics
  • Quality
  • Quality Training

Course programme

Course Content (including module information)

Students will receive training in both their substantive discipline (Sociology) and in quantitative research design, methods and analysis.

In Level 1, students are introduced to important sociological debates, theories and issues. Students will also undertake modules in project design, data collection strategies in the analysis and visualisation of social data.

  • Understanding Society
  • Introducing Social Policy
  • Visualising the Social World
  • Sociological Imagination
  • Digital Society
  • Researching the Social World

In Level 2, students will undertake further research training, and statistical data analysis, as well as enhancing their knowledge of Sociology and its application to the contemporary world.

  • Development of Social Theory
  • Qualitative Research Skills
  • Theory Counts
  • Comparative Social Inequalities
  • The Social Construction of Statistics
  • Social Identity: Differences and Inequalities

In Level 3, students undertake their own quantitative research study under the supervision of Q-Step Centre staff utilising extensive regional, national and international data resources. Modules offer opportunities to further develop their sociological and transferable skills.

  • Sociology of Childhood
  • Research Project and Dissertation (full year module)
  • Researching Change across the Life Course
  • Contemporary Irish Society
  • Comparing the Local and the Global

Assessment & Feedback

Assessment (general): The way in which you are assessed will vary according to the Learning Objectives of each module. Some modules are assessed solely through project work or written assignments. Others are assessed through a combination of coursework and end of semester examinations. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first year induction.

Feedback (general): As students progress through their course at Queen’s they will receive general and specific feedback about their work from a variety of sources including lecturers, module co-ordinators, placement supervisors, personal tutors, advisers of study and peers. University students are expected to engage with reflective practice and to use this approach to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:

  • Feedback provided via formal written comments and marks relating to work that you, as an individual or as part of a group, have submitted.
  • Face to face comment. This may include occasions when you make use of the lecturers’ advertised “office hours” to help you to address a specific query.
  • Placement employer comments or references.
  • Online or emailed comment.
  • General comments or question and answer opportunities at the end of a lecture, seminar or tutorial.
  • Pre-submission advice regarding the standards you should aim for and common pitfalls to avoid. In some instances, this may be provided in the form of model answers or exemplars which you can review in your own time.
  • Feedback and outcomes from practical classes.
  • Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.

Once you have reviewed your feedback, you will be encouraged to identify and implement further improvements to the quality of your work.

Learning and Teaching

At Queen’s, we aim to deliver a high quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable student to achieve their full academic potential.

Sociology and Quantitative Methods students at Queen’s are taught in a dynamic academic environment in a School rated as one of the leading departments in the discipline in the United Kingdom. The School is located in a recently renovated building, with state of the art learning facilities, together with a dedicated School student common room.

The BSc (Honours) in Sociology with Quantitative Methods provides a range of learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, develop attributes and perspectives that will equip them for life and work in a global society and make use of innovative technologies and a world class library that enhances their development as independent, lifelong learners. Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

  • Lectures: Lectures provide introductory information about new topics as a starting point for further self-directed private study/reading. Lectures also provide opportunities to ask questions, gain some feedback and advice on assessments (normally delivered in large groups to all year group peers).
  • Seminars/tutorials: Significant amounts of teaching are carried out in small groups (typically 10-20 students). These provide significant opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess your own progress and understanding with the support of peers. You should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups.
  • Flexible teaching space: The course utilises the flexible teaching space within Queen’s to facilitate computer based practical skills labs. Here students have opportunities to work individually and in groups on practical projects developing hands on experience analysing, visualising and presenting social data.
  • Self-directed study: This is an important part of life as a Queen’s student when important private reading, engagement with e-learning resources, reflection on feedback to date and assignment research and preparation work is carried out.
  • E-Learning technologies: Information associated with lectures and assignments is often communicated via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Queen’s Online. A range of e-learning experiences are also embedded in the degree through, for example, online discussion forums, research methods modules involving statistics, additional learning resources, online readings, and opportunities to use IT programmes in project- based work.
  • Supervised projects: In final year, you will be expected to carry out a significant piece of research on a topic or practical methodology that you have chosen. You will receive support from a supervisor who will guide you in terms of how to carry out your research and will provide feedback to you on a one-to-one basis and via email throughout the two semesters.
  • Personal Tutor: Undergraduates are allocated a Personal Tutor from their first day at the university. The Personal Tutor is available to meet with them and to give advice throughout their time at Queen’s, in support of their academic development and to act as an important point of contact with the School.
  • Peer Mentoring: We offer a peer mentoring scheme for our students, which sees specially- trained second and third year students, under the guidance of staff and the Centre for Educational Development, help first year students settle into life at Queen’s through social events, small group or one-to-one informal support and learning skills workshops.
  • Work-Related learning/Field Trips/Study Tours: Study visits and field trips are integrated into several of our option modules. The purpose of these tours is to help students apply their learning to the real-work context and to exercise critical thinking and interpretation. Back in the classroom, students undertake a number of group-based tasks in workshops focused on the field trip and present their findings to classmates.
  • Study abroad opportunities: Students have the opportunity to spend some time studying in one of our linked universities. For example, this can take the form of a semester’s study in Sweden (Lünd) (for which credits are transferred back to your degree here in Queen’s) or an intensive two week international study school in Spain (Barcelona).
  • Prizes: The highest achieving students in Sociology are awarded the annual Lockheed Prize. We also support our students entering essays to the annual Undergraduate Awards, for which one of our students received a prize in the Social Science category in 2011.

Additional information

Career Prospects Sociology graduates work in a wide range of occupations, including the media, civil service, research, teaching, business, commerce, marketing and management. Some graduates build on the degree by undertaking postgraduate training in fields such as social work, law, social science research and teaching. Tailored careers advice and study guidance is available to all students throughout their time at Queen’s. There is a recognised shortage of social scientists trained in quantitative methods to meet the demand from employers across...

Sociology with Quantitative Methods

£ 9,250 + VAT