Sociology on Arts

Sociology is the study of the society around us; it recognises that there are patterns and regularities to society, that common beliefs and attitudes shape our sense of who we are, and that therefore, we must look beyond individual choices and circumstances to understand the world. Sociologists can study almost anything, from capitalism to celebrity culture, national identity to the internet.  

The truth about our world is not simply a matter of opinion; sociologists formulate a hypothesis about society and investigate it rigorously. They can use statistics or surveys to measure widespread changes. They use in‐depth interviews and focus groups to analyse people’s beliefs. Through participant observation, they document actual behaviour. Sociologists study documents from history, the media and popular culture to understand the world around them. 

How modern society is governed and organised is strongly influenced by sociology and related disciplines. For example, the CSO and the ESRI use sociological methods. Sociological theories are used by political parties, managers and even advertisers!  

Graduates in Sociology are highly valued in all sorts of areas, from journalism to the civil service and many companies value the clear thinking and hands‐on research approach that are the foundation of a Sociologist’s education. 

Sociology at SETU is made up of core sociological modules on theory and method – these provide the students with a theoretical grounding and a familiarity with applied research skills. There is also more detailed study of topics such as Media, Crime, Sport, Ethnicity and other areas that broaden students’ horizons and introduce them to new perspectives.  

In their final year, students can choose to design their own research project on a topic of their own choosing, in close collaboration with a supervisor. This independent study is deeply enriching for students and no longer available in Sociology degrees at most Irish universities. Our students have also worked alongside staff in collaborative research projects on unemployment and festivals, making Sociology at SETU a unique opportunity to get involved in real applied research. 

Students undertaking Sociology can apply to participate in Study Abroad, adding an additional year to their degree and graduating with a BA (Hons) International. All students are supported by a SETU Academic Advisor to ensure the study abroad experience will complement their degree subjects and enrich their professional and personal experiences. 

Students of Sociology also take other subjects as part of their degree. This exposes students to other disciplines and ways of thinking and there is a strong emphasis in SETU on encouraging dialogue between subject areas. Students are supported in developing study, writing, critical and creative thinking and research skills; these skills form the foundation for future years and are highly valued by employers.  

For more information, contact [email protected] 

*Electives will be decided in advance of academic year; subject to Department guidelines.

^Students undertaking the subject combination of Religious Studies and Sociology will only complete one Dissertation in one subject area, taking an additional elective in the other subject to complete their credits.

*Electives will be decided in advance of academic year; subject to Department guidelines.

Transferable Skills 

Studying sociology develops a number of important transferable skills which students can utilise in many careers and across diverse industries. Skills such as research skills, critical thinking skills, and communication skills are invaluable. Sociology graduates are valued in any career where the above skills are in demand. For this reason, sociology is viewed as a subject that provides a broad employability. Sociology graduates have the skills and knowledge to work in a variety of industries: 

• Social Research 
• Social Policy  
• Education, including teaching Politics and Society and CSPE at Second-Level 
• Media and Creative Industries 
• Community or Social Work 
• Charitable and Advocacy Work 
• Planning 
• Civil Service 
• Journalism 

Postgraduate Progression 

We are aware that increasingly, students will go on to further postgraduate study after their undergraduate degree. This is often to gain further specialisation in areas of interest. Many graduates consider either a taught or a research MA in WIT or in other universities in areas such as Social Work, Journalism, Social Policy, or Education. As a Level 8 degree, sociology graduates will be well placed to consider progressing to Level 9 and Level 10 MA or PhD programmes in many social sciences and humanities disciplines. In SETU, we are proud to run the MA in Social Justice and Public Policy in conjunction with Social Justice Ireland which is suitable for any sociology graduate interested in furthering their knowledge in social justice, social policy, and advocacy. Sociology students may also be interested in our MA in Applied Spirituality . Those interested in research have the opportunity to join our Analysing Social Change Research Group, where staff and postgraduates conduct research, disseminate findings, and collaborate and network with aligned groups nationally and internationally. 

Teaching as a Career 

In recent years, the subject of Politics and Society has been introduced to the Leaving Certificate curriculum and as a result students are often interested in how they can leverage their sociology degree for a career in second-level teaching. Many students are choosing to take sociology as part of their undergraduate degree, so that they can then go on to undertake a postgraduate teaching qualification after they graduate. Taking sociology as part of Arts at SETU means that you will meet the subject knowledge criteria as set down by the Teaching Council to be eligible to teach Politics and Society. The Teaching Council Curricular criteria for 2023 onwards is available here. In addition, CSPE has been a subject at Junior Cert level for many years. The Teaching Council has a set of topics that teachers should have covered during their degree so as to be able to teach CSPE. 

Opt-in BA (Hons) International: Study Abroad/ Year 3