Sociology

Studying a Sociology degree will equip you with the essential theoretical foundation to understand people's behaviour as social beings, as well as the wider social, cultural, political and economic factors influencing our constantly changing society.

You will learn how to generate new knowledge and information using a variety of qualitative and quantitative social research tools, from large social surveys interpreted through statistics through to in-depth interviews with individuals and small groups.

Throughout the course, you will develop excellent research, communication and presentation skills, together with the ability to analyse and critically evaluate evidence and construct arguments around the complex societal issues that affect us all.

Why Sociology at Swansea University?
Based in the School of Social Sciences, you will be immersed in a dynamic research and learning environment with many opportunities to build links with students from related disciplines.

Our flexible degree structure with a wide range of specialist modules gives you the scope to tailor your course to your particular interests, career ambitions, or plans for further study.

Sociology at Swansea is ranked:

• Top 20 in the UK for Graduate Prospects (Complete University Guide 2025)

• Top 25 in the UK Overall (Complete University Guide 2025)

Your Sociology experience
You will be taught by an academic team who are research active and widely published, giving you the benefit of the most current social science debates in the UK and internationally. Many of our academics write your text books.

You will have the opportunity to take part in work placements to build on your skills, experience, and enhance your career prospects. These placements could include local authorities, businesses, healthcare settings, education settings and charities, depending on your interests and career goals.

In Year 1, you will typically study areas including: Individuals and Society; Sociology: The Classics; Discovering Sociology; Economics, Politics and Society; Sociology: Contemporary Controversies; and Foundations in Social Science Research.

In Year 2, you will typically study areas including: Interrogating Quantitative Social Science Methods; Social Problems I; Interrogating Qualitative Social Science Methods; Investigating Gender; Devolution, Policy Making and Social Change; Poverty and Social Justice; Education, Policy and Society; Contemporary Moral Controversies; Social Problems II: Media, Myths and Moral Panics; and Culture as Deviance.

In Year 3, you will typically study areas including: Gender, Crime and Criminal Justice; The Voluntary Sector and Social Justice; Philosophy, Mental Health and Illness; Capitalism and Justice; Dissertation; Society, Science and Technology; Risk in Modern Society; Understanding the sex industry: Theory, policy and practice; Social and Environmental Harms; Global Sociology; Social Movements, Social Policy and Social Change; Illegal Economies; Bodies in Society; and Race and Nation.

We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Apart from a small number of online-only courses, most of our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students.

Practical skills sessions, lab work seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations. We also operate virtual labs and Simulated Learning Environments which will facilitate greater access to training opportunities in the future. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching.

Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with the lecturer and other students and to ask questions. Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in Canvas, such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study.

This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.