Sociology

NFQ Level 8 major Award Honours Bachelor Degree

Entry route(s):

Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences
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Duration
4 Years
Fees
See what fees may apply to students
Subject area
Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Course Director
Department of Sociology
Email
Sociology@ul.ie
Admissions:
Tel
+353 (0)61 233755
Queries
Contact the Academic Registry
Apply Now for September

Sociology can be taken on both LM002 Bachelor of Arts & LM019 Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences. Subject combinations & course structures can be reviewed on the appropriate programme page.

About you

Students who do sociology need to be inquisitive, and curious about the social world and how it works. You also need to be open to reconsidering all the notions and common sense views of society that we usually take for granted. Sociology shakes us up intellectually, it forces us to reconsider many of our assumptions and see the world through a lens that is often critical and challenging. Doing Sociology will empower you to re-examine the familiar with fresh eyes and provide you with the skillset to see afresh and to document the complexity of the social world.

Why study Sociology at UL?

Sociology describes and explains social structures and processes. The Sociology programme at UL will enable you to develop critical and analytical skills to look more objectively at our societies. It directs attention to how the constituent parts of society fit together and change, and the consequences of that social change. By focusing on the external forces that affect our values, attitudes and behaviours, it helps us better understand ourselves and the motivations of others around us. In addition to core modules, you can choose Sociology electives which match your own study and research interests.

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What you will study

Reflecting the extensive teaching and research expertise in the department, Sociology at UL focuses on a number of key themes which run throughout the four years of the programme:

  • Classical and Contemporary Social theory.
  • Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods
  • Sociology of Inequality (focusing, for example, on Gender, Stratification & Social Mobility, Political Economy, Urban Sociology, Youth, Migration, and Hate Crimes)
  • Sociology of Media (focusing, for example on media, media audiences and popular culture)
  • Sociology of health and illness
  • Sociology of family (covering children, marriage and partnership, domestic and market labour, inter alia)
  • Sociology of crime, victimization, and criminal justice

Modules are offered on both Bachelor of Arts (LM002) and BSc. Social Sciences (LM019) - Both are subject to change.

 

Year 1 Semester 1   Semester 2
SO4001

Introduction to Sociology

 SO4032

Introduction to Sociology 2
Year 2 Semester 3   Semester 4
  Core modules   Cooperative Education Work Placement
SO4073

Classic Sociological Theory

    
SO4037

Qualitative Methods for Sociological Research

    
 

Select 2

    
SO4073 Classic Sociological Theory    
SO4037 Qualitative Methods for Sociological Research    
SO4063 Introduction to Social Research Methods    
SO4047 Sociology of The Welfare State    
SO4118 Sociology of Gender and Popular Culture    
SO4033 Sociology of Media    
SO4052 Sociology of Race and Racisms    
SO4083 Introduction to Economic Sociology    
Year 3 Semester 5   Semester 6
  Erasmus/Exchange placement with a partner institution abroad  

Core modules
    SO4036 Contemporary Sociological Theory
    SO4046

Quantitative Methods for Sociological Research
     

Select 2
    SO4036 Contemporary Sociological Theory
    SO4046 Quantitative Methods for Sociological Research
    SO4006 The Sociology of Crime, Deviance and Social Control
    SO4088 Sociology of Globalisation
    SO4078 Inequality and Social Exclusion
    SO4077 Sociology of Youth
    SO4002 Gender: Sociological Perspectives
    SO4066 Sociology of Indegenous Mincéirì/Pavee (Irish Travellers)
    SO4076 Perceptions of Economic and Gender Inequality
Year 4 Semester 7   Semester 8
 

Select 4

  

Select 4
SO4057 Sociology of Health and Illness SO4208 Sociology of Love and it’s Dark Side
SO4178 Sociology of The Body SO4082 Political Sociology
SO4067 Sociology of Work SO4108 Sociological Approaches to Gender and Multiculturalism
SO4168 The Sociology of Mental Health and Illness SO4218 Sociological Perspectives Seminar Series
SO4004 Consuming crime: Crime and Popular Culture in 24/7 Society SO4168 The Sociology of Mental Health and Illness
SO4128 Sociology of the Internet SO4132 Comparative European Migration, Theory, Practice and Policy
SO4047 Sociology of the Welfare State SO4128 Sociology of the Internet
SO8505 Theoretical approaches to the Sociology of Racism SO4238 Sociological perspectives on Criminal Justice
SO4087 Social Trends and Sociological Research SO4087 Social Trends and Sociological Research
    SO8493 Urban Sociology - Critically reflecting on the city
Year 1 Semester 1   Semester 2
SO4001

Introduction to Sociology

 SO4032

Introduction to Sociology 2
Year 2 Semester 3   Semester 4
  Select 1   Cooperative Education Work Placement
SO4073

Classic Sociological Theory

    
SO4037

Qualitative Methods for Sociological Research

    
 

Select 1

    
SO4073 Classic Sociological Theory    
SO4037 Qualitative Methods for Sociological Research    
SO4063 Introduction to Social Research Methods    
SO4047 Sociology of The Welfare State    
SO4118 Sociology of Gender and Popular Culture    
SO4033 Sociology of Media    
SO4052 Sociology of Race and Racisms    
SO4083 Introduction to Economic Sociology    
Year 3 Semester 5   Semester 6
  Erasmus/Exchange placement with a partner institution abroad  

Select 1
    SO4036 Contemporary Sociological Theory
    SO4046

Quantitative Methods for Sociological Research
     

Select 1
    SO4036 Contemporary Sociological Theory
    SO4046 Quantitative Methods for Sociological Research
    SO4006 The Sociology of Crime, Deviance and Social Control
    SO4088 Sociology of Globalisation
    SO4078 Inequality and Social Exclusion
    SO4077 Sociology of Youth
    SO4002 Gender: Sociological Perspectives
    SO4066 Sociology of Indegenous Mincéirì/Pavee (Irish Travellers)
    SO4076 Perceptions of Economic and Gender Inequality
Year 4 Semester 7   Semester 8
 

Select 2

  

Select 2
SO4057 Sociology of Health and Illness SO4208 Sociology of Love and it’s Dark Side
SO4178 Sociology of The Body SO4082 Political Sociology
SO4067 Sociology of Work SO4108 Sociological Approaches to Gender and Multiculturalism
SO4168 The Sociology of Mental Health and Illness SO4218 Sociological Perspectives Seminar Series
SO4004 Consuming crime: Crime and Popular Culture in 24/7 Society SO4168 The Sociology of Mental Health and Illness
SO4128 Sociology of the Internet SO4132 Comparative European Migration, Theory, Practice and Policy
SO4047 Sociology of the Welfare State SO4128 Sociology of the Internet
SO8505 Theoretical approaches to the Sociology of Racism SO4238 Sociological perspectives on Criminal Justice
SO4087 Social Trends and Sociological Research SO4087 Social Trends and Sociological Research
    SO8493 Urban Sociology - Critically reflecting on the city
Year 1 Semester 1   Semester 2
SO4001

Introduction to Sociology

 SO4032

Introduction to Sociology 2
Year 2 Semester 3   Semester 4
  Core module   Cooperative Education Work Placement
SO4036

Contemporary Sociological Theory

    
 

Select 1

    
SO4037 Qualitative Methods for Sociological Research    
SO4063 Introduction to Social Research Methods    
SO4047 Sociology of The Welfare State    
SO4118 Sociology of Gender and Popular Culture    
SO4052 Sociology of Race and Racisms    
SO4083 Introduction to Economic Sociology    
Year 3 Semester 5   Semester 6
  Erasmus/Exchange placement with a partner institution abroad  

Core module
    SO4046

Quantitative Methods for Sociological Research
     

Select 1 if choosing Sociology as a major
    SO4006 The Sociology of Crime, Deviance and Social Control
    SO4088 Sociology of Globalisation
    SO4077 Sociology of Youth
    SO4002 Gender: Sociological Perspectives
    SO4066 Sociology of Indegenous Mincéirì/Pavee (Irish Travellers)
    SO4076 Perceptions of Economic and Gender Inequality
Year 4 Semester 7   Semester 8
  Core module   Core module
SO4033 Sociology of Media SO4078 Inequality and Social Exclusion
 

Select 1 if choosing Sociology as major

  

Select 1 if choosing sociology as major
SO4057 Sociology of Health and Illness SO4208 Sociology of Love and it’s Dark Side
SO4178 Sociology of The Body SO4082 Political Sociology
SO4067 Sociology of Work SO4108 Sociological Approaches to Gender and Multiculturalism
S04047  Sociology of the Welfare State SO4218 Sociological Perspectives Seminar Series
SO8505 Theoretical approaches to the Sociology of Racism SO4168 The Sociology of Mental Health and Illness
SO4087 Social Trends and Sociological Research SO4132 Comparative European Migration, Theory, Practice and Policy
    SO4128 Sociology of the Internet
    SO4148 Sociology of Power: The Relational and Practice
    SO4087 Social Trends and Sociological Research
    SO8493 Urban Sociology - Critically reflecting on the city

How to apply

Where are you applying from? How to Apply
Ireland Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found here. 
The UK  Students who have completed their A-Levels can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website. 
The EU EU Students can apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the Academic Registry website.
Non-EU country

If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this subject through the Bachelor of Arts degree

or

If you are outside of the EU, you can apply for this subject through the Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences degree.

 

Fees and funding

Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy and Tuition Fees.

A number of illustrative examples of fees for this course based on the current fee levels have been set out in the tables below.

An explanation of the components, how to determine status and the criteria involved is provided below the examples as is a list of possible scholarships and funding available.

EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €2,558
SUSI pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€5,658

EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant

HEA pays Tuition Fees €2,558
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€5,658

Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant

Student pays Tuition Fees €2,558
Student pays Student contribution €3,000
Student pays Student Levy €100
€5,658

Non-EU Students

Student pays Tuition Fees €15,262
Student pays Student Levy €100
€15,362

Student course fees are comprised of the following components:

Student Contribution

Annual charge set by the government for all full-time third level students. All students are liable unless they have been approved for a grant by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Please refer to https://www.studentfinance.ie to determine your eligibility for a grant and for instructions on how to apply. The current student contribution is set at €3000.

Student Levy

All students are liable to pay the Student Levy of €100. Please note the Student Levy is not covered by the SUSI Grant.

Tuition Fees

These are based on Residency, Citizenship, Course requirements.

Review the three groups of criteria to determine your fee status as follows

  1. Residency
    • You must have been living in an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland for at least 3 of the 5 years before starting your course
  2. Citizenship
    • You must be a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland or have official refugee status
  3. Course Requirements (all must be met)
    • You must be a first time full-time undergraduate (Exceptions are provided for students who hold a Level 6 or Level 7 qualification and are progressing to a Level 8 course in the same general area of study).
    • You must be undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 year’s duration
    • You cannot be undertaking a repeat year of study at the same level unless evidence of exceptional circumstances eg serious illness is provided (in which case this condition may be waived)

Depending on how you meet these criteria your status will be one of the following -

  • Free Fee Status: You satisfy all three categories (1, 2 and 3) and therefore are eligible for the Higher Education Authority’s Free Fees scheme.
  • EU Fee Status: You satisfy both the citizenship and residency criteria but fail to satisfy the course requirements and are liable to EU fees.
  • Non EU Fee Status: You do not meet either the citizenship or residency criteria and are therefore liable to Non EU fees.

More information about fees can be found on the Finance website

These scholarships are available for this course

Title Award Scholarships Available
Johnson and Johnson WiSTEM2D Programme

These scholarships are available for all courses

Your future career

A wide range of career opportunities are open to you from this programme, in the public, private and non-profit/NGO sectors: UL Sociology graduates have found careers in a diverse range of areas including:

  • Journalism, media, communications and public relations
  • Teaching at Second Level
  • Social, marketing and media research
  • Social policy analysis
  • Urban planning
  • Research consultancy
  • Postgraduate Training to either Masters or PhD Levels
  • Social work, youth and community work
  • Prison and probation services
  • Community Development
  • Voluntary organisations, national and international NGOs
  • Statistician, demographer

Follow-on study:

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Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology

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