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The Scottish four-year MA allows students to undertake two foundation years before entering a two-year Honours programme. In the first two years, students complete four foundation courses, which introduce them to basic elements of micro-sociology (the study of small-scale human interactions and groups) and macro-sociology (the study of large-scale social processes, institutions and changes).
After completing the foundation courses, students can choose between single and joint Honours programmes in Sociology. In the third year, single Honours students take courses on sociological theory, research methods, and one substantive topic. In their final year, they complete an independent research project and three option modules. Many of the Department’s courses may also be taken by students from other disciplines.
All students taking a level one or a level two Sociology course must attend their course tutorials. Students can sign up for first and second year Sociology tutorials tutorials on-line.
The Department offers four foundation courses in sociology, one being offered each half-session of the first two years of study. The first-year courses introduce students to basic elements of micro- and macro-sociology. There are no pre-requisites for these courses.
The second-year courses also deal with micro- and macro-sociology, but they are taught at a more advanced level and cover different substantive issues than the first-year courses. Normally, students must successfully complete the first-year courses before undertaking the second-year courses. However, if a student has some comparable qualification (such as a Sociology A Level at grade A) or has taken only one first-year course but done very well, then the pre-requisites can be waived.
A basic principle of our degree structure is that students take 120 credits worth of courses per year (normally with 60 credits in each semester).
Foundation courses for Sociology are listed in the University Course Catalogue at:
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/courses/display.php?Subject=SO
Students wishing to proceed to Honours Sociology must successfully complete all four Sociology Foundation courses. The School of Social Science also requires that they obtain an average score of 12 at the first sitting in their second-year courses. The Honours programme’s core courses are concentrated in the third year. These courses are listed in the University Course Catalogue: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/courses/display.php?Subject=SO#level3
In the fourth year, Honours students undertake an independent research project and choose three substantive courses from a range of courses that varies each year. This year's options course can be found in the University Course Catalogue: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/courses/display.php?Subject=SO#level4
Taking Outside Courses - Single Honours students can take up to 30 credits worth of courses from outside the Sociology programme in their final honours year. Students should check with the providing department that there is space in the course they wish to take. Additionally, they should inform their Advisor of Studies as well, but formal permission to take outside options is not require. Joint Honours students cannot take courses from outside the Department.
The Department offers a joint Honours programme in Sociology. Here students take the theoretical and substantive parts of the junior honours year. The degree can be taken with most other subjects in the College of Arts and Social Sciences. A full listing of these subjects can found here: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/prospectus/ugrad/study/subject.php?code=sociology&prog=arts
The Department offers a three-year designated degree in sociology. This degree requires students to take all four foundation courses, and during their third year, 90 more credits in sociology by taking the following courses: SO3017 Sociology of Religion, SO3066 Thinking Sociologically, SO3523 Modern Social Theory, and SO3522 Social Research Methods.
All students should note that the first semester of the designated degree programme is the same as the single honours degree programme. This allows a convenient 'early exit point' for students who at the end of the first semester of honours studies decide they wish to conclude their studies with only one further semester. Students should consult their Adviser to discuss this option. Students who enrol for the designated degree may, with the permission of the Head of Department, change to the honours programme at this time as well.
Each year the department awards prizes to level 4 students who have performed exceptionally well in the Honours programme.
The Best Performance Award goes to the student with the best overall grades at the end of their Honours degree (either single or joint).
The Mike Hepworth Prize is awarded to the student who produces the best sociology research project.
Click here for further course information for current undergraduate students
This page was last updated on 27-Feb-2012 11:07:52 GMT
