The development of a ‘sociological imagination’ is increasingly important to help understand the real problems and experiences found within contemporary living. With this in mind, Sociology Combined Hohnours at the University of Chester provides emphasis on theory and practice and the significance of applying sociological knowledge to contemporary social issues. The Combined Honours Sociology programme encourages students to adopt a critical and reflective attitude towards claims to understanding the social world and human behaviour. Indeed some of our popular Sociology combinations are with Counselling Skills, Criminology or Politics- subjects that share this critical and reflective approach. Students are especially encouraged to relate the themes and issues of the programme to their own everyday experiences and understandings of the world. Perhaps even more important is the potential that exists for sociological knowledge to contribute towards social change for the better. Our approach blends into our wider Departmental Philosophy of enriching and enhancing the student experience. As a team of dedicated researchers and educational practitioners we are committed to: * Helping students to become confident independent learners. * Creating the best university experience by offering personalised support. * Encouraging a vibrant and engaged student community * Clearly stating expectations of staff through a Partnership Agreement * Working closely with library and online services * Challenging students through innovative and inclusive assessments The Sociology programme offers a range of opportunities to enhance and further develop written and communication skills that are valuable in and transferable to the workplace. Study skills alongside key academic skills (retrieval, evaluation and analysis) are taught through a variety of teaching methods and varied assessments enabling you to become an independent learner. Opportunities to learn from academic conferences (as part of the conference module), debates, the wider social world and workshops are offered alongside the traditional lectures and seminars. The Work-Based Learning module in the second year further provides the opportunity to gain appropriate work experience in an area relevant to the subject and individual student. We also understand that many students may need more general support and guidance alongside academic advice. Each student is given a Personal Academic Tutor who is able to provide guidance and support. In addition to timetabled sessions, each tutor offers drop-in sessions and appointments every week and our academic staff are noted for their friendly, approachable nature and various activities are planned throughout the year such as the Social Screen, and social events. The Sociology programme at Chester endeavours above all to promote excellence in research and teaching. All our staff are active researchers and publish in their area of expertise but are also committed to enhancing the student experience. The departmental Partnership Agreement illustrates this commitment as well as providing guidance to students on what they can expect from their studies within our department. The University’s library has recently undergone major refurbishment creating new learning ‘pods’ and additional IT resources. Subject specific library specialists are available to help students proficiently locate necessary literature located either online or within our three main libraries. Our library is well stocked and students benefit from a large range of original sociological works and contemporary pieces of scholarship. Students on the Sociology programme are assessed in a number of innovative ways to ensure that students graduate with a set of skills that are over and above that of others. Oral presentations alongside a variety of written assessments are utilised across different modules including reports, research proposals, critical reviews, poster presentations as well as the more traditional seen, unseen exams and essays. Please take the time to explore our department, programme pages and staff profiles, and take advantage of our open days to find out more about Sociology Single Honours and Sociology Combined Honours

* Why study Sociology at Chester? The development of a ‘sociological imagination’ is increasingly important to help understand the real problems and experiences found within contemporary living. With this in mind, Sociology Combined Hohnours at the University of Chester provides emphasis on theory and practice and the significance of applying sociological knowledge to contemporary social issues. The Combined Honours Sociology programme encourages students to adopt a critical and reflective attitude towards claims to understanding the social world and human behaviour. Indeed some of our popular Sociology combinations are with Counselling Skills, Criminology or Politics- subjects that share this critical and reflective approach. Students are especially encouraged to relate the themes and issues of the programme to their own everyday experiences and understandings of the world. Perhaps even more important is the potential that exists for sociological knowledge to contribute towards social change for the better. Our approach blends into our wider Departmental Philosophy of enriching and enhancing the student experience. As a team of dedicated researchers and educational practitioners we are committed to: * Helping students to become confident independent learners. * Creating the best university experience by offering personalised support. * Encouraging a vibrant and engaged student community * Clearly stating expectations of staff through a Partnership Agreement * Working closely with library and online services * Challenging students through innovative and inclusive assessments The Sociology programme offers a range of opportunities to enhance and further develop written and communication skills that are valuable in and transferable to the workplace. Study skills alongside key academic skills (retrieval, evaluation and analysis) are taught through a variety of teaching methods and varied assessments enabling you to become an independent learner. Opportunities to learn from academic conferences (as part of the conference module), debates, the wider social world and workshops are offered alongside the traditional lectures and seminars. The Work-Based Learning module in the second year further provides the opportunity to gain appropriate work experience in an area relevant to the subject and individual student. We also understand that many students may need more general support and guidance alongside academic advice. Each student is given a Personal Academic Tutor who is able to provide guidance and support. In addition to timetabled sessions, each tutor offers drop-in sessions and appointments every week and our academic staff are noted for their friendly, approachable nature and various activities are planned throughout the year such as the Social Screen, and social events. The Sociology programme at Chester endeavours above all to promote excellence in research and teaching. All our staff are active researchers and publish in their area of expertise but are also committed to enhancing the student experience. The departmental Partnership Agreement illustrates this commitment as well as providing guidance to students on what they can expect from their studies within our department. The University’s library has recently undergone major refurbishment creating new learning ‘pods’ and additional IT resources. Subject specific library specialists are available to help students proficiently locate necessary literature located either online or within our three main libraries. Our library is well stocked and students benefit from a large range of original sociological works and contemporary pieces of scholarship. Students on the Sociology programme are assessed in a number of innovative ways to ensure that students graduate with a set of skills that are over and above that of others. Oral presentations alongside a variety of written assessments are utilised across different modules including reports, research proposals, critical reviews, poster presentations as well as the more traditional seen, unseen exams and essays. Please take the time to explore our department, programme pages and staff profiles, and take advantage of our open days to find out more about Sociology Single Honours and Sociology Combined Honours Modules: Programme Structure Modules are subject to change. Year 1 (Level 4) introduces a range of core theories and themes integral to the programme. In The Sociological Imagination the work of the key founders of Sociology (including Marx, Durkheim and Weber) is explored alongside other key contributions such as feminism, symbolic interactionism and queer theory. Self and Society explores the relationship between the individual and society thematically through topics such as the family, education, the body and health. Welfare Politics affords the opportunity to understand the historical context of welfare and further applying this knowledge to contemporary debates surrounding ‘welfare scroungers’ and poverty. Year 2 (Level 5) encourages the student to develop their understanding of power and ideology in the core theory module The Shaping of Society. Year 2 also brings in a distinctly applied emphasis that allows for the development of ideas already introduced. The Conference module offers a refreshing and academically stimulating environment for learning. Each year the students help to organise a three day conference with invited guest speakers from across the UK. Research Methods is an optional module that allows students to gain practical skills through exploring how different sociologists carry out empirical research. Students will also complete a five-week work-based placement of their choice through Work Based Learning. Year 3 (Level 6) continues with its theoretical focus in Advanced Social Theory which examines the contributions of new sociologists to understanding the ever changing, fluid society. Modules at this level develop perspectives that engage the student with areas of academic challenge and uncertainty. Students may choose to critically interrogate new forms of communication and social networking in Con_txts of Communication, whilst the socio-political nature of old and ‘new’ social action and protest are the focus of Social Change and Social Movements. Debates in Sociology charts a range of current ‘hot topics’ and examines the unresolved debates surrounding these (e.g. the ‘right to die’, the sexualisation of children). There is also the opportunity to conduct a Dissertation on a chosen sociological topic whilst benefitting from one-to-one supervision with an appropriate lecturer from the department. Next: Assessment A range of assessment methods are utilised by the programme to ensure that a range of academic and practical skills can be assessed effectively. Coursework essays and both seen and unseen examinations are the most popular forms of assessment but we also balance these more formal methods of assessment with group presentations, critical reading exercises, a research proposal, written reports and multiple choice exam papers. Next: Careers The course will prepare you for a wide range of jobs including: Jobs directly related to your degree: * Social researcher * Counsellor * Community development worker * Advice worker * Further education lecturer * Social worker Jobs where your degree would be useful: * Probation officer * Charity fundraiser * Housing manager/officer * Primary school teacher * Secondary school teacher * Human resources officer * Youth worker You will be equipped with transferable skills which are valued by employers such as: * researching, judging and evaluating complex information; * making reasoned arguments orally and in written work; * strong IT skills gained through the presentation of projects and dissertations; * knowledge and understanding of research methods, analysis and statistical techniques; * developing opinions and new ideas; * working collaboratively with others; * using effective methods to communicate your ideas and conclusions; * statistical and other quantitative techniques; * organising your work and meeting deadlines. If you are studying this course on a combined basis you should look at options with both subjects. For further information please visit: www.chester.ac.uk/careers