Undergraduate Courses

Sociology

Sociology has been taught at Durham University for over 50 years. Our Sociology degree programmes are wide ranging, focusing on applying knowledge and theory to real life situations, such as health and medicine, and welfare issues. We encourage you to develop a ‘sociological imagination’ in order to develop an in-depth understanding of the social world. Studying Sociology at Durham is about sharing a common enthusiasm for exploring how human beings behave, think and feel within social settings. Sociology contributes in crucial ways to shaping social change, such as in highlighting contemporary and future social trends, advising on social policy, and tackling forms of discrimination.

We encourage students to take a questioning approach and with Research based workshops this allows the students to gain hands-on experience of research in the subject area and to develop practical skills in the method of social research in the context of small group discussion and team working.

In studying Sociology (single, joint or taking them as elective modules), you will acquire a wider range of transferable skills that are crucial for broader personal and professional development. These skills include the capacity to assemble and evaluate evidence, to think quickly and to write efficiently, and to construct persuasive arguments. Studying at Durham will enable you to work with recognised international and national experts within specific fields of Sociology.

• BA Sociology
• BA Anthropology and Sociology
• BA Education Studies - Sociology
• BA Combined Honours in Social Sciences

Criminology

The BA Criminology degree programme involves studying crime, deviance and criminal justice in relation to wider society and focuses on both national and international topics. There is a strong emphasis on contemporary issues, such as youth justice and cybercrime, as well as on providing students with an understanding of theories of crime and justice.

We encourage students to take a questioning approach to these issues. Criminology is strongly engaged with the real world and criminologists contribute to shaping the knowledge and practice of criminal justice agencies and relevant voluntary organisations, as well as to criminal justice policy. Criminology at Durham involves considering urgent and important questions such as ‘what should count as a crime?’, and ‘how those convicted of crimes should be punished?’

In studying Criminology, you will acquire a wider range of transferable skills that are crucial for broader personal and professional development. These skills include the capacity to assemble and evaluate evidence, to think quickly and to write efficiently, and to construct persuasive arguments. Studying at Durham also enables you to work with recognised international and national experts within specific fields of Criminology.

BA Criminology

It is also possible to study Criminology as part of the BA Combined Honours in Social Sciences