Master of Arts in Sociology

at University of Warwick United Kingdom

Our challenging degrees will harness your strong mathematical ability and commitment, enabling you to explore your passion for mathematics.

You will be taught by world-leading researchers in a supportive environment, where learning spaces – including breakout areas and common spaces – are all geared towards you sharing, collaborating and exploring your academic curiosity.

Pure Mathematics modules combine the work of some of the world’s greatest thinkers, while Applied Mathematics addresses real-world problems in biology, data science, climate science and finance. Many third and fourth year (fourth year for MMath only) modules offer glimpses of the latest research.

Study abroad

We encourage students to consider spending Year Three at one of 23 European partner universities in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland.

Sociology – the study of humans in society – is at the heart of the roadmap towards a sustainable future. Each of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has a sociological aspect, and understanding the social implications of world trade, economic growth, and climate change has never been more critical.

Since the birth of the neoliberal era, major global transformations have redefined societies across the world. Sociologists are now focusing on why the current organisation of society might itself be unsustainable, researching innovative solutions to develop social-environmental relationships that are less environmentally harmful.

On this course, you will combine sociological concepts, including race, identity, ethnicity, and gender, and apply these to global issues such as wealth inequality, elite power, and food security. Our transdisciplinary approach also gives you the freedom to research the topics that most interest you.

Our students are aspiring global citizens with social consciences. They’re flexible, adaptable and broad-minded.

By studying GSD, you’ll take a transdisciplinary approach and confront issues from a diverse array of perspectives. You will need to be ready to think creatively and embrace new opinions from your peers from across the world. We will challenge you to become an active participant in your own learning.

You can enhance your skills and studies through optional work placements, study abroad, and certificates.

Study abroad

We encourage you to take the opportunity to study abroad during your course at Warwick.

• Enjoy the freedom to take chances with your module choices.
• Push yourself outside of your comfort zone with your learning.
• You may have the opportunity to learn a new language and immerse yourself in a new learning context.
• You may choose to apply for an intercalated year spent either studying abroad or on a work placement (subject to you meeting departmental academic requirements). This will mean extending your course to four years.

If you want to extend your learning and broaden your perspective by studying abroad for a year, Warwick has partnerships with universities across the world. You will spend your first and second years at Warwick, studying abroad in your third year. You will then return to Warwick for your final year.

By branching into medicinal chemistry you will apply your chemical knowledge to the discovery, design and synthesis of new drugs for clinical use. This degree provides a solid foundation in chemistry coupled with specialist knowledge in advanced medicinal chemistry/biochemistry.

Specialist modules will explore the process of medicinal drug discovery, starting from the initial concept of a new product, to the discovery stage, clinical trials, scale-up, and production. You can explore the biochemistry of these processes, and how this leads to medical breakthroughs. In addition to research-led teaching from top academics in their field, you will benefit from external lectures given by pharmaceutical industry leaders.

By studying linguistics together with French, you will explore the fascinating human capacity for language, while also building your fluency in French. As a linguist, you will learn about the structure and function of language, and about relationships between language and society.

You will also study and practice written and oral communication in French, and learn broadly about communicating across languages and cultures. Your skills in linguistic analysis will support your language learning, and your knowledge of French will complement your work as a linguist. This course opens many career opportunities that require the knowledge and skills of both a modern language and a deep understanding of language, culture and communication.

(75% linguistics, 25% French).

Study abroad

If you wish to spend a year abroad (which we thoroughly recommend), this will take place in your third year, meaning that you will complete your degree in four years instead of three. All students have the opportunity to apply for an intercalated year abroad at one of our partner universities. The Student Mobility Team offers support for these activities, and the Department's dedicated Study Abroad Co-ordinator can provide more specific information and assistance.

This degree will equip you with the techniques to manage the strategic development of e-business based organisations and appropriate e-business technologies. You will develop the skills and knowledge to evaluate, manage, and improve the operational functions of an organisation and to apply the concepts of systems integration to the design and development of products and services through market analysis.

With the exponential growth in e-Business activity worldwide, there is great demand for e-Business professionals who bring particular specialised knowledge and skills. This MSc therefore allows you to select from one of four specialisms, providing you with a deeper understanding of one of the key areas of e-Business deployments and tailoring your modules in line with your future career path.

We encourage you to link theoretical and practical understanding of issues in education, while developing knowledge, skills and understanding of the questions involved in conceptualising and designing educational research.

You will engage with and critically analyse the role of education, considering the aims and values which inform education systems and how these influence and shape both societies and individuals. You will receive a grounding in research methods and a core module which explores current debates and issues in education, both domestically and internationally. This course will help you to better understand the theories, practicalities and significance of educational issues, whilst also enabling you to develop an appreciation for the role that research plays in illuminating these.

By the end of the course, you will be excellently positioned to take the knowledge you have learned and the academically critical skills you will have developed into many aspects of your working life.

Skills from this degree

• Develop and evidence a systematic understanding and critical awareness of current issues within an educational context
• Comprehensive understanding of research strategies and techniques appropriate for use in educational research
• Independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development
• Deepen insights into the dynamic interaction that exists between education research, theory, policy and practice
• Engage critically with current research related to the field of education

This exciting new course is built on the strength of existing research connections between the four departments that will contribute to it: the departments of Economics, Psychology, and Philosophy, and Warwick Business School (specifically the Behavioural Science Group).

The current attention that this interdisciplinary field of research, particularly the area of Behavioural Science and Behavioural Economics, receives across academia, government and the private sector also makes this course an excellent preparation for a wide range of careers within local government, public health, media, charities and NGOs, marketing and finance.

You will have a choice of interesting potential specialisms and pathways through your course so that you can explore the issues that interest you the most, to graduate with either a BA or a BSc.

Students on all pathways take a course-specific co-taught core capstone module in the final year, which is designed to set the disciplines in interdisciplinary dialogue with each other.

Study abroad

You have the opportunity to apply for an intercalated study abroad year at one of our many partner institutions, extending your degree to four years.

As well as offering an opportunity to experience an alternative university system, studying abroad can also provide the chance to improve language skills and to gain an understanding of a country that can only be gained by living and working in it.

Explore the extraordinary breadth and depth of French and Francophone language and culture, and the rich tradition of French-language cinema at Warwick.

Our French with Film degree lets you collaborate with expert academics to develop your language skills. Together, we will examine the historical, cultural, geographical, and political contexts in which French is spoken across the world. By spending a quarter of your time on Film Studies, you will also acquire a specialist knowledge of French cinema, Hollywood cinema, and other European film cultures.

You will normally spend your second or third year abroad in France or a French speaking country. This is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the language and culture, and perfect your language skills.

Study abroad

We strongly recommend that you take a year abroad as part of your modern languages degree, if they are able to. If you are unable to take a year abroad you will move to a three-year degree. You will be required to complete further language reinforcement work. You will also be encouraged to spend time abroad in other ways, during vacation times.

You will usually spend your year abroad doing one of three things:

• Working as a language assistant teaching English in a primary or secondary school
• Studying full-time at a partner university in your chosen country
• On a work placement

This course arms you, as an educational professional, with the knowledge and skills to identify problems of practice in educational settings and within the education system as a whole. To do this you will evaluate research and development within education, understanding the validity and applicability of these ideas by investigating them from a variety of perspectives.

The flexible nature of this MA means you can choose optional modules which suit your current and future needs, expanding your understanding of the scope and nature of Education as a discipline. You will have the opportunity to engage with ideas, debates and research, developing your academic and research skills.

You will develop your knowledge and understanding of research in education through reflective and innovative means, and apply this to your own practice. You will have the opportunity to debate with your peers on a host of important innovation in education issues, and develop a sceptical and inquisitive stance in relation to educational developments and ideas.

Skills from this degree

• Evaluate theory, practice and research in education
• Plan, undertake and evaluate a small scale activity involving an element of innovation
• Apply knowledge and understanding of research methods critically in planning, undertaking and evaluating a research project
• Evaluate existing methodologies and develop new hypotheses which provide fresh insights into education and professional practice
• Deepen insights into the dynamic interaction that exists between education research, theory, policy and practice

This MA offers you an in-depth knowledge and overview of how the world in which we live has been formed over the course of the modern age. You will investigate economic, cultural, social and religious change from 1800 onwards. And you will be introduced to key thinkers and theoretical models that have been used to make sense of modern societies. Most modules are taught by a team of experts, ensuring that you are exposed to as many different viewpoints and approaches as possible.

In the first term, you will study two core modules. ‘Theory, Skills and Methods’ provides a foundation in historical methods and theoretical frameworks used to study society and culture from the early modern period to the contemporary world. ‘Themes in Modern History’ interrogates the concept of ‘modernity’ across the world, giving you the opportunity to focus the writings of some of the most influential thinkers, historians and political figures of the modern age.

In the second term, you will select two optional modules in which you can explore themes and approaches to the historical study of religious cultures; gender and sexuality; science and technology; empire; consumption and the medical humanities.

The final key element is the dissertation - here you have a large amount of freedom to develop a project of your own choice with help and guidance from your supervisor who will meet with you throughout the third term. Throughout the year, you will be able to take advantage of the Department’s six research centres, including participating in the lively schedule of academic research seminars, lectures and conferences.

The programme will appeal equally to those wishing to undertake further postgraduate study and those pursuing a career outside of the University, equipping you with research, writing and critical thinking skills vital in a range of professions.