Sociology (with Foundation Year)

Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Building Academic Skills and Engagement (BASE)

  In this module, you'll develop the academic, digital, and transferable skills required for success at university and beyond. You'll explore the key principles of independent learning, research, academic writing, and communication within the social sciences. 
  
  You'll exercise skills in how to read critically, write effectively, manage your time, and engage with evidence and argument. You'll also have access to university support services to build confidence, independence, and a sense of academic belonging. 

• Observing Oxford

  You'll experience the first of three hands-on, experiential modules that form the supportive backbone of your studies. By conducting real-world sociological research in the heart of Oxford, you'll bring the sociological imagination to life, ease your transition into university, and discover what it truly means to be a sociologist. Beyond the classroom, you’ll dive deep into your own values, strengths, and aspirations to craft a personalised action plan that maximises every opportunity inside and outside the curriculum. Through this blend of active learning and reflection, you won't just build self-belief and resilience—you’ll master the vital attributes, competencies, technologies, and skills (ACTS) designed to empower your studies and launch your future career.

• Social Differences and Divisions

  Race, class, gender and sexuality - how do these things affect us and our social relations today? In this module, you’ll explore the factors which divide human societies, and how sociologists make sense of the world. 

  You’ll explore the connections between individuals, groups and social institutions. You’ll dive into pressing debates. And you’ll engage with core areas of social analysis, such as:

  • gender relations
  • class divisions
  • race/ethnicity
  • sexuality

  You'll explore the urgent issues facing society, including diversity and inequality. You’ll understand social context and processes. And you’ll develop a strong awareness of our world today.

• Foundations of Social Theory

  In this module, you’ll explore the key themes of social theory. You’ll investigate the works of  influential sociological theorists, including Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. And you'll investigate how their work has shaped sociology and its different traditions.

  You'll immerse yourself in current debates, developments and approaches to social theory. And you'll explore how these affect our social relations today.

• Contemporary Societies: Structure and Change

  In this module, you’ll investigate the changing face of society. You’ll explore how markets and welfare states have transformed over time. You’ll discover how states, economies and societies interact with each other. And you’ll dig into key questions on politics and power, exploring different political systems. 

  We’ll explore pressing global topics, including

  • international migration patterns
  • the formation of ethnic minorities
  • religion in modern society
  • the challenges of climate change

  You’ll explore a wide range of social issues, taking place all over the world. And you’ll develop a strong understanding of how these issues impact individuals and groups.

• Political Socialisation and Ideology

  Why do we vote the way we do? What affects our actions, and our political decisions? In this module, we’ll investigate politics through human behaviour. You’ll explore political culture, and how we participate in a democratic society. We’ll also look at how humans are socialised to hold various political views. You’ll gain a key insight into how ideas and ideologies affect our behaviour individually and as a group.

Optional modules

• Politics in Comparative Perspective

  In this module, you’ll investigate politics - and the struggle for power - across the nations. You’ll gain a clear introduction to how and why political systems differ in our world today. You’ll examine case studies from a wide range of states, and gain a strong insight into how different regimes function – from the democratic to the totalitarian.

• Understanding Culture

  What do we mean when we talk about ‘culture’? How do human ideas, customs and behaviours become a way of life? In this module, we’ll investigate the key theories and concepts of culture. You’ll gain invaluable critical skills as you reflect on different aspects of culture. And you’ll explore the impact of modern culture on individuals and society today. 

  You’ll explore cultural artefacts and activities. And you’ll look at how culture relates to identity, power and representation.

  This module is the foundation of the culture pathway through the Communication, Media and Culture programme. This will be fantastic preparation for many of your level 5 modules.

• Criminal Justice in Action

  In this module, you’ll explore some key concerns around crime. You’ll examine the current problems and policies in:

  • criminal justice
  • law enforcement
  • punishment.

  You’ll gain core critical skills, as you dive into debates on the control and management of crime. You’ll examine the relationship between the theory of crime and criminal behaviour. And you’ll explore the practical workings of the criminal justice system.

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Researching Oxford and Beyond

  In this module, you'll be introduced to the development, application and realities of different research methods in the social sciences. You'll be equipped with both the understanding and skills required to analyse research methods, design, processes and research outcomes. You'll study the methods that social scientists use to gather and analyse 'data' and evidence. You'll experiment with applying research methods by investigating existing examples of research in social sciences. You'll also get the opportunity to design your own project, in preparation for your third-year extended project work.

• Professional Development in Practice

  You'll step into the second stage of our core experiential learning series, where you'll turn theory into action by tackling complex, real-world problems that stretch beyond any single discipline. Through interactive, supportive-yet-challenging projects, you will connect your chosen field directly to the future of work while discovering what you are truly capable of achieving. You'll build self-belief, resilience, and strong personal values—emerging as a confident, adaptable problem solver ready to navigate and succeed in an unpredictable world.

• Gender and Society

  In this module, you’ll look at gender and its central role in society. You’ll explore the social processes that affect the lives and roles of people in society. We’ll consider the centrality of gender in everyday life, and how society reflects and reproduces gender relations.

• 'Race', Ethnicity and Inequality

  Why do we exclude some ethnic groups from society? In this module, we’ll explore race, ethnicity and racism through:

  • employment
  • education
  • housing
  • migration
  • policing
  • the impact of anti-discrimination legislation.. 

  You’ll engage with pressing debates on race, ethnicity and racism. You’ll explore the experiences of minority ethnic groups and you’ll explore the factors which exclude them from mainstream society. We’ll focus on the UK, but also consider ethnic minorities in other cultures. We’ll highlight the complexities of social constructions of race and other social inequalities.

• Work, Employment and Society

  In this module, you’ll dive into the key issues of work, and its relationship with society. You’ll explore theories for understanding work, employment and the labour market and gain valuable critical skills as you consider how to define work, and its activities. You’ll explore:

  • production, technologies and skills in the workplace
  • power and conflict in the labour market
  • the changing face of work and employment 
  • social inequality, such as gender, ethnicity and social class. 

  You also examine different types of work, and how they impact the lives of individuals. 

• Youth and the Transition to Adulthood

  In this module you'll focus on young people whose lives, experiences and prospects for the future have been significantly transformed by economic and social changes over the last 40 years. You'll explore several theoretical perspectives, debates and concepts to develop a critical understanding of youth and young adulthood. You'll identify and analyse key areas in young people's lives that have been affected by local, national and global developments and the social policies implemented as a result of these developments.  You'll compare experiences of UK young people with those from continental Europe, Asia, Africa and elsewhere. This will enable you to draw out similarities and differences in how young people experience youthhood and evaluate the factors shaping them. With this approach, you'll discover how young people from different parts of the world navigate transitions to adulthood, their strategies for dealing with crises and their practices of civic engagement or disengagement.

Optional modules

• Independent Study

  This module gives you the chance to research a topic that fascinates you. With support from a supervisor, you’ll choose, plan and carry out your independent research, gaining in-depth knowledge of your subject. You’ll build great project management and research skills, which will help you in your future career.

• Sociology of Health and Illness

  How do we view health and illness in society today? In this module, you’ll dig into key debates on health and illness, focusing on theoretical perspectives and real-life experiences. You’ll gain key analytical skills as you engage with ethical debates around decision-making in health and illness.
  
  As you investigate health and illness, you’ll use both lay perspectives and medical knowledge to inform your understanding. You’ll also consider:

  • concepts of lifestyle and risk
  • the centrality of the body in modern debates
  • the medicalisation of everyday life, death and dying. 

  You’ll learn how our understanding of health and illness is affected by:

  • circumstances
  • gendered experiences
  • social class
  • culture
  • race
  • age.

• The Prison and Imprisonment

  Should we punish prisoners, or support them to re-enter society? In this module, you’ll dive into the key issues of prisons. You’ll consider modern prisons, globally and historically, and you’ll examine prisons through:

  • prisoners
  • prison staff
  • wider society. 

  You'll trace the evolution of the prison - from the rehabilitative ideal of the post-war period, to the greater focus on punishment today. You’ll look at how political parties use prison policies to win votes, rather than reduce crime. 
  
  You’ll dive into the inner workings of prisons, from governance to administration. You’ll look at the routines of prison life, and how prisoners cope with, and give meaning to them. You’ll consider sentence progression for different types of prisoners and you’ll explore how well prisons prepare inmates for life after release.

• Theorising Power and Society

  In this module, you’ll dive into key ideas within social and political theory. You’ll explore the key debates on themes such as: 

  • the State
  • gender
  • freedom
  • equality
  • power.

  By exploring texts, including Hobbes’ Leviathan and Rousseau's The Social Contract, as well as evaluating topics such as capitalism, progress and “the end of history”, you will develop your interpretation and analysis skills.

• UK Politics

  In this module, you will explore the history and details of British politics, covering the major events and themes of contemporary British politics. 
  
  Examine the complex institutions that make up the British political system and how these have changed over time, including the evolution of political parties and how policy is made by the executive and implemented by the civil service. 
  
  You’ll look at political and economic factors side-by-side in how the British state is constituted and how decisions are made. You’ll also cover topics like;

  • the changing nature of the British political system
  • conceptual approaches to British politics
  • the post-war consensus and its end in electoral politics
  • declinism
  • Britain’s foreign relations and its relationship with Europe.

  Equip yourself with the knowledge and critical analytical skills to understand contemporary British politics.

• Ritual and Society

  What are rituals, and why do we perform them? In this module, you’ll explore the key role of rituals in society. You’ll look at various human communities as you consider the origins of ritual, and its different definitions. You’ll gain valuable critical skills as you explore key anthropological concepts, including:

  • rites of passage
  • liminality
  • anti-structure
  • communities

  We often stereotype ritual as exotic, and about religion. However, you’ll enrich your perspective as you explore ritual in non-religious contexts. You’ll look at ritual within:

  • politics and power relations
  • social identities
  • social traditions

• Cities: Geographies of the Urban Experience

  In this module, you’ll examine the human relationships and layouts of the world’s great cities - from the nineteenth century to today. You’ll gain valuable critical skills as you analyse the trends likely to shape such cities in the future. And you’ll consider people and place as inseparable, exploring the relationship between human societies and the physical cities they live in.

• US Politics

  In this module, you'll analyse the governmental and political institutions in the United States, policymaking, the participatory process and contemporary issues in American politics.

• Work Based Learning in Sociology

  In this module, you’ll have the chance to carry out a work placement closely linked to your Sociology course.

  You’ll have help from your module leader to find a placement that meets your needs, and which will support your learning. With a carefully chosen placement, you’ll build on the skills and knowledge you’ve already gained in Year 1, and you’ll also gain vital skills for the workplace, like time management, communication and team-working.

  During and after your placement, you’ll:

  • create a placement portfolio, including a learning journal
  • craft a CV showing your experience
  • produce a policy brief or policy analysis paper.

Optional Year Abroad

Optional modules

• Year Abroad

  This module offers the opportunity to study abroad, experience a new culture, and apply your skills in different contexts to enhance your employability. It will help you develop self-management, cross-cultural communication, and interpersonal skills.

  You’ll receive support to secure a place at a partner institution abroad, where you can choose modules related to your degree or explore new areas that complement your studies.

  Studying at an international university will help you enhance your interpersonal skills through cross-cultural communication with students and tutors, allowing you to build lasting relationships. You'll also improve your study skills by focusing on your chosen areas of interest, gaining valuable international experience that will strengthen your CV.

  This year abroad module lasts for one academic year and is taken after the conclusion of your second year of study, once you’ve completed all your level 5 studies. Your year abroad is not credit-bearing.

Final Year

Compulsory modules

• Social Science Extended Project

  This module will enable you to develop and utilise your research skills and investigate in greater detail topics encountered in other elements of the programme through an extended project. You'll either work on a community project or research dissertation.

• Sociology Beyond the Classroom

  In your third and final Supportive Challenge module, you will step beyond the classroom to apply sociological concepts directly to the contemporary world and your future career. Building on your previous experiential learning, this interactive course sharpens your self-efficacy, transferable skills, and personal confidence as you prepare to graduate. You will evaluate your core strengths, craft a tailored action plan, and master the tools needed to seamlessly transition out of university and make a meaningful impact in whatever professional path you choose next.

Optional modules

• Freedom, Justice and Liberation

  In this module, you’ll explore understandings of freedom, justice and liberation in contemporary social and political thought. We’ll focus on a range of theoretical approaches, including:
  
  decolonial theory 
  feminist and queer theory 
  post-structuralism 
  crip theory
  the black radical tradition.
  
  These will be put in dialogue with classical theoretical discussions on freedom, justice and liberation. We will discuss questions like: 

  • Is it possible, and desirable, to make claims for justice and liberation based on group identity? 
  • Can past wrongs be addressed through reparations? 
  • Can justice be delivered via the criminal justice system? 

  As such, the module provides students with the theoretical tools to understand and navigate discussions on the meanings of justice, freedom and liberation in contemporary society, and to develop their own positions in relation to them.

• Knowing Society

  In this module, you'll be exploring questions such as:  What should the role of a social researcher be? How can we produce ethical research in Western Universities? How does social media change what counts as data? How do we deal with power relations in research? Rather than just exploring case studies, you will actively apply these insights by designing your own research project, equipping you with the practical skills, conceptual confidence, and sharp analytical tools needed to master your dissertation and beyond. Specialising in feminist, postcolonial, and decolonial frameworks, this module connects theoretical depth with hands-on practice—guiding you through diverse methodologies ranging from visual and archival analysis to participatory research.

• Migration Studies

  Why do people move across the world? In this module, you’ll use real examples to examine migration and its key concepts. You’ll explore political and economic issues, as well as climate change, to understand why millions of people move across nations. You’ll analyse the consequences of migration on migrants’ countries of origin, and the places they move to.
  
  You’ll focus mainly on migrants who move countries for work. You’ll look at the role of states in regulating labour migration, and other factors in the movement of people. You’ll gain critical knowledge of land-based and sea-based migrants, and the factors that drive migration. And you’ll understand international migration in terms of development, economic and cultural factors. You’ll also look at the rights of migrants in migration policy.

• Pathways out of Crime

  Much criminological literature has focused on theories concerning how/why people end up in the justice system to begin with. By contrast, this module explores key theories surrounding the process of how people with criminal histories cease offending (desistance). You'll be introduced to key theories and debates in desistance from crime, with a focus on critical perspectives. You'll explore new and alternative approaches to desistance. You'll begin by considering an overview of 'traditional' theories of desistance and their limitations. You'll then investigate more critical desistance literature, including feminist and intersectional theories, global perspectives of desistance, and indigenous and ethnic minority perspectives. Your learning will culminate in a discussion on how systems of prison and punishment may support or hinder desistance.

• Sex that offends

  This module introduces you to case studies, concepts, and debates, with a focus on sexual offences and other serious crimes. You will explore themes of consent and harm, drawing on critical criminology, feminist theory and socio-legal studies. 
  
  You will look at how the criminal law and cultural norms have constructed certain behaviours and identities as deviant. 
  
  From a criminological perspective, you will go beyond the headlines to examine the role of:

  • labelling
  • moral panics 
  • changing social attitudes towards sex.

  
  This will help you to develop your critical thinking skills.

• Racialised Identities in Super-Diverse Societies

  What shapes our racial identities? How do they play out in everyday life, alongside gender, class and age?

  In this module, you’ll gain a strong understanding of identities and differences in current western societies. You’ll explore postcolonial theories of Self and Otherness. And you’ll gain key analytical skills, as you investigate the relevance of these theories to diverse societies today.

• Technology and Social Media

  You'll start with an investigation of the classic texts from Critical Theory and Science and Technology Studies. You'll then consider the wider cultural and political implications of new digital technologies. 
  
  You'll engage with classical and contemporary sociological analyses of technology. You'll look at the new technologies that influence our daily lives and behaviours. You'll explore how these new technologies impact us as social beings.

• Gendering Intimate Relationships

  In this module, we’ll investigate intimacy today. We’ll explore:

  • gender
  • identities
  • relationships
  • family lives.

  Social changes have transformed our intimate relationships and arrangements in the home. However, tensions and contradictions still affect gender roles, and what we see as ‘appropriate’. In this module, you’ll gain key knowledge of the complexity and diversity of intimacy today. 

• Development and Humanitarianism

  In this module, you’ll explore the changing relationship between anthropology, and international development (the idea that different countries have different levels of development). You’ll gain a strong grounding in international development. You’ll gain key analytical skills as you dive into debates on the relationship between anthropology and development. You’ll explore key issues for anthropologists working in international development, including:

  • gender relations
  • environmental issues
  • health
  • youth
  • religion.

  You’ll compare ideas and practices in international development. You’ll look at approaches to social policy, inequality and well-being in the UK. And you disrupt the lines we draw between North and South, developed and underdeveloped, or advanced and emerging economies and societies.

• Independent Study

  This module gives you a great chance to do self-directed study on a topic in Sociology that fascinates you. You’ll have guidance from a tutor, but the direction you take is up to you. Your study could involve fieldwork investigations, or analysis of fieldwork investigations. If you’d like to gain work experience linked to the topic you’re interested in, you could try a work placement. Or you could carry out independent, library-based research.

  Whatever kind of study you choose, you’ll gain excellent project management skills from planning and setting goals to working independently and managing your time.