BA Sociology and Anthropology

ANT1000: Introduction to Social Anthropology

This module will introduce you to the methods and perspectives of socio/cultural anthropology. You will encounter a range of classic and contemporary ethnographic case studies, gaining a foundational knowledge of anthropological theory and concepts. The module will help you to question cultural assumptions and think critically about the questions and challenges anthropologists encounter when studying the social world. You will have the opportunity to apply anthropological theories to contemporary problems and to develop an understanding of the role of ethnographic fieldwork in social science research. Although the focus is on the study of human cultural diversity and social organisation, we will also consider the historical processes and colonial legacies that have shaped the discipline.

This module aims to provide foundational knowledge of anthropological theory and concepts, and learn how to think critically and analytically about key questions and problems in studying the diverse worlds that human beings inhabit. It will require you to start to learn about ethnographic methods, which are increasingly used in a variety of organisational and professional contexts, including the practical and ethical dilemmas that researchers often face.

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SOC1000: Contemporary Society: Themes, Perspectives and Case Studies

In this module you will study the subject matter of sociology. Looking at various concepts, theoretical perspectives and research areas, you will consider key sociological terms and their relevance to explaining contemporary social phenomena. The module encourages you to develop a critical understanding of the rise and transformation of modern societies from the 18th century to the present day, with a particular focus on the last three decades. Different foci will serve as mini-introductions to many of the optional modules in years 2 and 3. The module has no pre-requisites or co-requisites required. This module is suitable for non-specialist students and interdisciplinary pathways.

This module is intended to help you develop a critical understanding of the transformation of modern societies from Enlightenment to the present day. The module aims to inspire a genuine engagement with topical research and scholarship by introducing you to sociological ways of seeing and explaining the modern world. It familiarises you with diverse sociological perspectives and specialist fields, connecting them to general socio-historical developments.

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SOC1001: Social Analysis

The module will introduce you to a range of sociologically significant contemporary phenomena and the ways in which social scientists study them. Both theoretical and empirical sociological work will be explored to understand the kind of questions social scientists ask, as well as the answers they provide, in their analysis of the social world. You will learn about social inequality and poverty and the ways to measure and analyse them. You will examine gender differences, immigration, ageing and other widely discussed issues. The main focus of the module is on the sociological perspectives, but we will also explore ideas and approaches from other social sciences.

The main aim of this module is to introduce you to the main areas, concepts and approaches in sociology and in other social sciences. You will be equipped with the conceptual and methodological toolkit required for researching a range of sociologically relevant issues. You will also gain an understanding of the substantive areas where social analysis skills can be applied.

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SPA1000: Imagining Social Worlds

Sociologists and anthropologists are primarily concerned with understanding the human condition. To do this, they conduct research which enable them to explore the lives, experiences, and world views of their human subjects. In this module you will receive training in academic study skills. You will become familiar with a wide range of research methods used to imagine the social worlds of the 'others' they have studied. You will systematically study the texts which social researchers produce to learn about these methods. You will also learn practical skills in conducting qualitative research interviews and how to critically engage with quantitative research evidence. There are no pre-requisites to this module.

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ANT2000: Current Debates in Anthropology

This course will delineate some recent trajectories in anthropological theory. Over the course of the year we are going to explore some of the current directions in which anthropological thought appears to be moving; but this is a joint adventure, because unlike the history of anthropological thought, contemporary debates shift and change as we speak. The course will introduce you to some of the most contemporary approaches to anthropological thought. We will explore how theoretical approaches within and outside of the discipline shape contemporary anthropological thinking. In so doing we will trace how theory becomes embedded within ethnography to examine contemporary social issues.

The primary aim of the module is to build on your existing knowledge of anthropological theory, and introduce you to a body of concepts and approaches developed by practitioners of this dynamic subject in response to conducting fieldwork in a changing world. The module also aims to equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to enable you to understand and evaluate the differing views expressed by established anthropologists in relation to key theoretical debates. Through constructive seminar discussions you will also be empowered to feel confident in utilising anthropological theory as a tool for analysing your own research.

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SOC2005: Theoretical Sociology

This module will introduce you to a variety of perspectives in both classical and modern social theory. Topics can broadly be grouped under two headings, though inter-relations between the two will be explored: general understandings of social relations and processes (such as ethno-methodology and actor-network theory); and big ideas about the shape of contemporary society (such as Lyotard's ideas about postmodernity and Foucault's ideas about on discipline). You will have the opportunity to think about how to apply theory in order to better understand your own experiences, as well as the world around you. You should have completed core first-year modules in sociology or anthropology before taking this module.

In this course, you will be introduced to a wide range of theoretical texts in social theory, classical and modern, and will develop an ability to read such texts closely. However, you will also be encouraged to think critically about the nature and purpose of social theorizing—to ask what the point of abstract theory is, and what theory is good for. We will then examine a range of theoretical perspectives and substantive topics that can be used to deepen our understanding of the social nature of personal and everyday experiences—of ourselves, and of others in our society and around the world. In assignments and exams, you will be expected to illustrate and extend the ideas they encounter, using concrete examples from their own lives and surroundings.

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SPA2000: Knowing the Social World

Knowing how to pay attention to social life in a formalised way is at the heart of social science research. This can involve core principles from research methods, but research is also a creative and craft skill which is best learned through practice. This module draws together ideas from sociology, anthropology, and empirical philosophy to explore primarily qualitative and basic quantitative approaches to knowing the social world for the undergraduate researcher. You will consider techniques including interviewing, participant observation, unobtrusive and oblique measures, focus groups, survey methods, online methods, critical statistics, and social media as a research tool. The module will provide you with an appreciation of the kinds of topics and social issues that sociologists, anthropologists and criminologists work on in contemporary culture. You will have the opportunity to acquire hands-on research experience, designing a research proposal, implementing an empirical pilot study and analysing your own data. You will also consider how practices of describing social data do not only describe but contribute to what we know, and can know, about social reality. You will learn the essential knowledge and skills needed to conduct an empirical research study and be asked to reflect upon the advantages and disadvantages of different methods and approaches to research.

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SOC2009: Deviance: Interdisciplinary Perspectives

This module draws on theoretical concepts and perspectives taken from a range of disciplines to explore the cultural dimensions of deviance as it is performed, constructed, understood and (re)presented across various historical and contemporary contexts and settings. Rather than framing deviance as first and foremost a social and individual problem, you will focus instead on the universal significance and autonomy of deviance as first and foremost a cultural phenomenon.

The core analytical questions underpinning this module are as follows: What can we learn about human societies and behaviour by exploring the cultural, structures, dynamics and autonomy of deviance? What does it mean that deviance is culturally universal at the same time as taking a wide range of historically and socially particular forms? What can this tell us about the organisation of and changes to human social life both historically and in the present day?

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SOC2024: Power and Domination

Many social theorists place power relations at the core of their analysis of society. Their goal is to make explicit those relations, understand their influence on society at large, and highlight the experiences of oppression they give rise to. In doing so, they equip us with the conceptual tools required for understanding how power manifests itself and how processes of marginalisation and discrimination operate in society, with the intention of moving towards social justice and, at times, even imagining a world stripped of structures of domination. In this module you will discuss a broad range of theoretical approaches, each offering both a different emphasis on power and the structures of domination associated with it and a different set of conceptual tools for engaging critically with the world around us.

The module aims to provide you with an in-depth knowledge of different social critiques, especially the conceptual tools each offers and the similarities and differences between them. You will be encouraged to engage critically with those approaches and reflect on their relevance to contemporary society. This module will equip you with the conceptual means to grapple with power and domination in intersectional terms, and identify, for yourself, what steps might be needed for bringing about social justice.

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SOC2037: Pharmaceutical Cultures

'There's a pill for everything': Pharmaceutical products are taken by millions of people in the UK and around the world. Pharmaceuticals such as birth control pills and antidepressants have come to assume an increasingly prominent place in everyday life. This module will provide an opportunity for you to think about how the individual act of taking a tablet is embedded within a series of global formations and processes. You will explore how medications taken by consumers in the UK are connected to global dynamics—for example, such drugs are often the products of transnational corporations, tested in clinical trials outsourced to developing countries; and marketed globally through promotional campaigns, internet discussion groups and online pharmacies. You will also consider the range of uses (and abuses) of pharmaceutical products outside the medical sphere; from recreational use to cognitive enhancement.

This module is suitable for anyone interested in the social science of medicine, health and illness. Its interdisciplinary approach will appeal to students in sociology, psychology, anthropology, medicine/health sciences, law and other social sciences, as well as wider university disciplines.

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SOC2039: Sociology of Family and Gender

This module will focus on recent trends in family and living arrangements in post-industrial societies amid changing family policies and gender norms. You will learn about the social organisation of production and reproduction, including the gendered division of labour and the underlying factors that shape it. You will also learn about the relationship between the gendered division of labour and family and fertility behaviours and different policy approaches to 'family-work balance'. You will be introduced to both quantitative and qualitative studies on this topic.

The aim of this module is to provide you with a better understanding of the interplay between family patterns, social context and gender norms and to enable you to address related policy questions, e.g.: Why do women in some countries are more likely to drop out of the labour market after having children than in others? How come that European countries with higher female employment rates also demonstrate higher fertility levels? Do more egalitarian couples have higher union stability? Or, do assisted reproductive technologies promote gender equality?

The module will include class discussions and four 'book clubs' to facilitate critical engagement with the studied material.

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SOC2087: Disability and Society

Disability - while commonly thought of as medical in nature - is a social topic that provides surprising insights into a range of sociological topics, from social institutions to social identities, to the ethically contentious (e.g., many issues in the realm of reproduction and end of life) to the highly topical (e.g. are the obese disabled? should schools be inclusive?). In this module you will examine disability in its historical context, and the rise - and social and cultural impacts - of critical disability politics. You will look across cultures at how normality and deviance are understood, produced and controlled, and at what shapes the varieties of disability-related experiences of people across the world. You will examine questions of social inclusion and exclusion, independence and dependence, and the constructedness of both disability and ability. The course considers the changing social context and meanings of disability rather than analysing in detail specific disabilities, although particular disabilities may be focused on in the course of investigating issues such as stigma or independence.

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SOC2105: Contemporary Capitalism, Critique and Resistance

The concept of 'capitalism' is extensively used in the social scientific literature. It has, too, re-emerged recently within public and political discourse, across the political spectrum. While it aims to capture a particular way of organising economic life or 'mode of production,' it has also been used to capture a range of phenomena of a social, political and cultural character. In this module, we shall study how contemporary capitalism operates by investigating the distinctive relationship between the economic, political, social, cultural and environmental spheres underpinning it. We will engage critically with that relationship, in order to understand the motivations behind contemporary resistance movements, such as the Global Justice Movement and Occupy, and reflect on whether this latest capitalist stage marks the 'end of history' or offers fresh opportunities for large-scale transformations. This module is suitable for non-specialist students and will appeal to students from a broad range of disciplines beyond those of the SPA department, such as Economics, Business and Management and Politics.

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SOC2115: Deception

This module addresses a number of questions: What is deception? How can we understand the social reasons for its existence and prevalence? How does deception underpin criminal and deviant activities? Can deception be justified? You will study the patterning of deception within social institutions, including its causes and consequences. You will learn to understand it from varied academic perspectives as well as to critically appreciate the methodologies for determining its occurrence and frequency. A deliberately broad range of forms of deception will be considered, including deception within art, science, war, business, and entertainment.

This module is suitable for students on interdisciplinary pathways.

Deception aims to enhance your ability to think independently, express your ideas through written and oral arguments, and respond to other people's views in a seminar environment. It also exposes you to an issue that is challenging and controversial in many ways, and cross-disciplinary by nature. Deception aims to:

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SOC2122: Digital Society

In this module, we will explore the social context that has led to the widespread diffusion of digital technology, Internet networks and information systems, and the ways in which everyday life and the organisation and structures of society have been changing in association with these and other developments, and the rising prominence of data and algorithms (and associated rankings, scores and classifications) as devices of social organisation, representation and action. These are key topics of our time and their importance can be appreciated by looking at the range of society-adjectives that scholars have coined to capture some of the most salient aspects: blackbox society, search engine society, database society, surveillance society, platform society, audit society, information society, control society, and others.

We will explore key works in the social studies of digital technology and information, and the arising challenges for digital sociology and social science scholarship. You will read key critical works, discuss harms and opportunities of contemporary developments in seminar discussions and case studies, and will take part in exercises of speculative systems design to try and imagine a better future. This module is suitable for non-specialists and interdisciplinary pathways.

This module aims to:

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HAS3999: Study Abroad

The Study Abroad programme enables you to undertake a year-long study placement at a partner university outside of the UK, as part of your degree programme.

This module serves as the administrative mechanism for recording the Study Abroad assessment results of students within the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS). Students participating in the Study Abroad programme and based in a HASS department (except for the Law School, the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, Modern Languages, and the School of Education) will be registered on this module during their Study Abroad placement year.

The Study Abroad programme widens the range of modules available to you during Stage 3 of your degree programme; enables you to broaden your academic horizons by studying in a different learning culture and (where relevant and appropriate) in languages other than English; and aims to promote resilience, independence, cultural awareness, and communication skills.

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HAS3998: Employment Experience

This module allows you to undertake and to learn from an extended work placement during the third year of a four year “with Employment Experience” programme. You will use one or more work placements to gain skills that equip you to work in the employment market and to improve your knowledge of the work environment. You are encouraged to think about the intercultural competence and the employability skills that you acquire during your year.

To progress to this module, you will have secured a suitable placement for a minimum of 26 weeks.

Having developed the skills necessary to find relevant roles and apply for roles in the graduate labour market, this is an invaluable opportunity to develop work-related skills and experience that will further enhance your success in the graduate labour market and support your future career choices.

During your placement year you will be supported by the Module Convenor and Placement Team.

The module assessment structure provides opportunity and support for you to evaluate your skills and achievements using personal development techniques.  You will also write an Employer Report to showpiece the culmination of your academic and business skills.

This module aims to:

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ANT3040: Anthropology Dissertation

The aim of the dissertation is to give you the opportunity to display your abilities in the collection, organization, analysis and communication of original research material. With help and guidance from members of the academic staff, you will develop an appropriate research question, which you will pursue in independent research (this can be empirical or library based research). In addition to consolidating your research skills, you will gain in-depth knowledge of a particular topic corresponding to your personal interests. This is a unique opportunity to carry out a major piece of independent research and to explore and present anthropological arguments in relation to empirical data gained through library research and/or fieldwork.

In order to take this module you should have gained good knowledge of theoretical and methodological issues in anthropology acquired through participation in Year 1 and Year 2 anthropology core modules.

This module will be comprised of independent research and supportive seminars in which you can present and discuss your research with peers and members of staff. You will gain strong research and presentation skills in addition to specific knowledge on a chosen topic. You will develop and present a major piece of academic writing grounded in empirical research, which will be invaluable in any professional environment where research skills are required.

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SOC3040: Dissertation

The aim of the dissertation is to give you the opportunity to display your abilities in the collection, organization, analysis and communication of original research material. With help and guidance from members of the academic staff, you will develop an appropriate research question, which you will pursue in independent research (this can be empirical or library based research). In addition to consolidating your research skills, you will gain in-depth knowledge of a particular topic corresponding to your personal interests. This is a unique opportunity to carry out a major piece of independent research and to explore and present anthropological arguments in relation to empirical data gained through library research and/or fieldwork.

In order to take this module you should have gained good knowledge of theoretical and methodological issues in anthropology acquired through participation in Year 1 and Year 2 anthropology core modules.

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