Sociology and Social Policy - MSc

The MSc Sociology and Social Policy is designed to equip postgraduate students with advanced knowledge in the disciplines of sociology and social policy. It allows for greater flexibility than either the MSc Sociology and Social Research or the MSc Social Policy and Social Research by enabling you to specialise in quantitative or qualitative methods.

This programme explores contemporary issues in sociology and social policy, such as social inequality and diversity, migration and terrorism, and can be used as a stepping stone for those who wish to pursue careers in the public, private or voluntary sector.

Introducing your course

This programme offers you advanced-level training in sociology and social policy. You will study sociological concepts, such as gender, class, inequality, interest, modernity, globalisation, and link them to social policy concepts, such as health, well-being, social welfare, social risk and the welfare state. Throughout, our perspective on these topics will be global; we use social theory and concepts to understand societies around the globe, comparing richer and poorer regions. All students will receive a thorough methods education, and if you want to specialise in methods you can choose our research methods pathway.

Overview

The aims of this programme are to provide you with:

• an in-depth understanding of classical and contemporary themes and debates in sociology and (dependent on your choice of options in semester two) their application in the analysis of selected social issues
• an in-depth understanding of key conceptual debates in social policy, the capacity to evaluate competing explanatory frameworks and (dependent on your choice of options in semester two) the role of cross-national and comparative perspectives
• a knowledge of key issues in the philosophy of social science and the ability to apply this knowledge in the design and practice of social research
• a knowledge of the principal methods of qualitative or quantitative research utilised in the social sciences and an understanding of their application in different contexts, and (dependent on your choice of options in semester two) a knowledge of the techniques of data analysis utilised in the social sciences and their applications
• the ability to design and conduct independent research in the field of sociology and/or social policy, utilising appropriate research metholodogies, and grounded in an understanding of the process of research management and ethical and legal issues associated with the conduct of social research
• the capacity to present ideas, arguments and research findings through different means of communication

View the programme specification document for this course

Visit the Sociology and Social Policy - MSc page on the University of Southampton website for more details!