Undergraduate Study
Course Information
study sociology and social policy and graduate with a university degree
Top 3 in Scotland for Social Policy (The Times Good University Guide, 2010, and The Independent University Guide, 2010)
2nd in Scotland for Social Policy and Administration (in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise in 2008)
Sociology concentrates on analysing and understanding the way in which society works; Social Policy is concerned with the analysis of the purposes, processes and outcomes of social welfare.
Stirling’s international and comparative approach means that you will encounter topics that analyse society and welfare issues in a range of countries. The Department offers particular expertise on Scotland, the UK, the European Union, Western and Central Europe, Australasia, North America and Latin America. Sociology and Social Policy lend themselves particularly well to study by students returning to education.
BA (Hons) Sociology and Social Policy
UCAS Code L431Entrance Requirements
Year 1
Highers BBBC.
A-levels CCC or a combination of A2 and AS levels, VCE and VDA.
IB Diploma with a total of 28 points.
HNC or HND with Bs in Graded Units.
Access courses and other UK/EU and international qualifications are also welcomed.
Examinations taken over two sittings are acceptable but if there are repeats/upgrades asking grades may be raised by one grade
Year 2
A-levels or Advanced Highers BBB to include Sociology.
Scottish HNC in Social Sciences to include four units in Sociology with Bs in Graded Units.
Year 3
Articulation programmes allow HND in Social Sciences, Bs in Graded Units in Year 2 subjects.
General Entrance Requirements apply.
International students can study our Undergraduate Certificate if they do not possess the necessary entrance requirements to be admitted directly to the first year of an undergraduate degree programme.
Required Subjects
English Standard Grade (2), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent. Applicants with English Standard Grade (3) will also be considered, although alternative entry conditions may be made in this case.
Mathematics Standard Grade (3), GCSE (C) or equivalent.
Modes of Study
Full-time (3 modules per semester).
Part-time (1 or 2 modules per semester).
February entry also available.
Related Degrees
Criminology; European Social Policy; Social Work.
Rating
Teaching provision in Sociology has been assessed by the Scottish Funding Council and rated as ‘excellent’.
Social Policy was ranked 2nd in Scotland in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) in 2008.
| contact us > > > |
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Dr Ian McIntosh |
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Tel: + 44 (0) 1786 467699 |
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Email: ian.mcintosh@stir.ac.uk |
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Web: www.dass.stir.ac.uk |
Degree Programme
Students take Sociology plus two other subjects in the first year.
Semesters 1 - 3
Students take core modules in:
- Social Differentiation: the effects of differences in gender, age, ethnicity, class and disability on the way in which people are valued and treated in different societies
- Social Problems: contemporary social issues and policy responses
- Understanding Social Policy: historical and theoretical perspectives on welfare; comparative social policy analysis
Semesters 4 - 8
You must take core advanced modules in:
- Development of Social Theory
- The Research Process: Introduction to methods of social research and analysis, including practical and project work
Optional modules currently include:
- Ageing, Society and Social Policy
- Contemporary Social Issues in Practice
- Co-operation and Society
- Disability and Society
- Drugs, Crime and Society
- Gender, Work and Welfare
- Health and Society
- Housing Policy
- Information Technology in Society
- Poverty, Income and Wealth
- Scottish Society
- Social Stratification
- Sociology of the Body
- Sociology of Childhood
- Sociology of Development
- Sociology of Youth
- Urban Society
- Work, Class and Society
Final-year Honours students are also required to undertake a dissertation and Honours seminar.
Teaching and Assessment
Teaching for each programme in Sociology and/or Social Policy usually consists of two lectures plus one workshop per week. Assessment in each programme is normally based on a combination of coursework and examinations for example, one essay (30 percent) and an examination (70 percent).
Study Abroad Opportunities
You can spend a semester (usually Semester 6) at another university in Europe, USA, Canada or Australia.
Career Opportunities
Stirling Sociology and Social Policy graduates have a higher than average (in the UK) employment rate in degree relevant careers. Our graduates work in the private, public and voluntary sectors.
Degree Programmes
| Programme | UCAS Code |
|---|---|
| Sociology (three-year degree) | L300 |
| Social Policy (three-year degree) | L400 |
Combined Honours Degrees
| Programme | UCAS Code |
|---|---|
| Business Studies | NL14 |
| Economics | L422 |
| Film & Media | PL34 |
| History | LV41 |
| Human Resource Management | NLP4 |
| Law | ML14 |
| Management Science | LN42 |
| Marketing | LN45 |
| Mathematics | GL14 |
| Philosophy | LV45 |
| Politics | LL24 |
| Psychology | CL84 |
| Religion | LV46 |
| Scottish History | LV42 |
| Sports Studies | CL64 |
| Programme | UCAS Code |
|---|---|
| Business Studies | NL13 |
| Computing Science | GL43 |
| Criminology | LM39 |
| Economics | LL13 |
| English Studies | LQ33 |
| Film & Media | LP33 |
| French | LR31 |
| History | LV31 |
| Human Resource Management | NLP3 |
| Law | ML13 |
| Management Science | LN32 |
| Marketing | LN35 |
| Mathematics | GL13 |
| Philosophy | LV35 |
| Politics | LL23 |
| Psychology | CL83 |
| Religion | LV36 |
| Scottish History | LV32 |
| Spanish | LR34 |
| Sports Studies | CL63 |
| European Social Policy | LR49 |
(For a Combined Honours degree the higher entrance requirements of the subjects usually apply.)
