Sociology and Social Justice

Location:: Stoke-on-Trent campus
Location:: Stoke-on-Trent campus
Study option:: Full-time, blended learning
Study option:: Part-time, blended learning; Choose another study option
Duration:: 13 Months
Duration:: 3 Years
Start date:: 14 September 2020; 14 September 2020; Twitter Facebook Instagram

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Do you want to make a positive impact on society? On this course you’ll understand a range of contemporary social problems and inequalities. This qualification can be a route to career progression or further academic research.

You’ll examine how socio-cultural, political and historical conditions, relations with others and material circumstances shape our careers, family life, gender and/or sexuality and later life choices.You may already be working within the community, voluntary or public sectors: tackling poverty, health education or social research.

The Sociology and Social Justice MA will give you the insight and skills to tackle injustices and make an impact in society. We have connections with a range of local organisations, providing dissertation opportunities. You’ll be encouraged to focus on your specific area of interest or work. Our robust training in research methods will support those wanting to pursue further doctoral research.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: MA Sociology and Social Justice

Part-time study

This course can be taken part-time over three years. You’ll take one module per semester and a final year dissertation.

Blended learning

We offer face-to-face teaching with virtual learning, allowing you to fit your studies around work and personal commitments.

Employability is embedded throughout the course and you’ll have the opportunity to undertake a dissertation project within your place of work or volunteer within an organisation, business or government department relating to the issues covered on the MA course.

Course content

You’ll receive hands-on training in research methods and how to use software to analyse data.

Through popular culture, you’ll explore how gender and sexuality affect everyday lives. ‘Stories from the Later Life’ explores the transitions and ‘age’ related phases as people move through their life-courses in Britain and how these are influenced by socio-cultural and historical climates.

You’ll be introduced to theoretical and conceptual models to appreciate the ways in which prejudicial attitudes, power and discrimination can impact people’s everyday lives and how effectively society is tackling and responding to these issues.

Alongside active sociological and criminological researchers, you will be encouraged to study topics of personal and professional interest through the dissertation.

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module.

Standard route

Year 1 compulsory modules
Mastering Project Design And Research Practice	30 credits
Postgraduate Dissertation	60 credits
Researching Crime And Society: Research Design And Data Collection	30 credits
Societal Problems: Classic Debates And Archival Research	30 credits

Show 3 optional modules

Year 1 optional modules
Gender Sexuality And Society	30 credits
Stories From The Later Life Course	30 credits
Tackling Contemporary Social And Health Inequalities	30 credits

Show 4 compulsory modules

Standard route

Year 1 compulsory modules
Societal Problems: Classic Debates And Archival Research	30 credits

Show 3 optional modules

Year 1 optional modules
Gender Sexuality And Society	30 credits
Stories From The Later Life Course	30 credits
Tackling Contemporary Social And Health Inequalities	30 credits

Show 1 compulsory module

Year 2 compulsory modules
Mastering Project Design And Research Practice	30 credits
Researching Crime And Society: Research Design And Data Collection	30 credits

Year 3 compulsory modules
Postgraduate Dissertation	60 credits

Entry requirements

UK qualifications

International qualifications

You’ll normally be expected to hold a relevant honours degree with at least a 2:1 from a recognised university or body.

A 2:2 degree, or professional qualifications and/or appropriate experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

If you have an undergraduate degree in Sociology, Criminology or a related discipline you will be eligible to apply for this course.

For equivalent entry requirements in your home country, please see the information on our country pages.

Choose your country

Check our entry and English language requirements for your country

Facilities

Libraries

We have Libraries and Service desks on all our sites in Stoke, Stafford and Shrewsbury. All have experienced and friendly staff who can answer your IT queries, help you to access resources, show you how to research for your assignments and even help with referencing.

Some libraries are open 24/7 at key times in the academic year and we have a 24 hour help line too.

Mock Courtrooms

Put legal theory into practice in our purpose-built mock courtrooms

Careers

On completion of the Sociology and Social Justice MA, you’ll be equipped to work in a wide range of roles with a central purpose to make a positive impact upon society. You may undergo further training in some professions. The types of roles include:

Social work
Welfare work
Probation service
Teaching
Journalism
Local and national government
Charity/ voluntary sector
Campaigning
NGOs

Eager for more knowledge? Upon completion, you’ll be ideally placed for further academic study at PhD level.

Teaching and assessment

Overview

Study time

Teaching

Teaching will be delivered on one day per week, on campus, giving you the flexibility to combine work or volunteering in the workplace with postgraduate study.

We also use problem-based learning to help you apply your skills.

For this course, you'll:

Get hands-on training in research methods
Use software to analyse data
Be expected to study independently

Our teaching is supported through our Virtual Learning Environment called Blackboard. This means you can access a range of materials to support your lectures wherever you are.

Working with our active sociological and criminological researchers, you’ll be supported in topics of personal and professional interest.

Assessment

There are two types of assessments: practice (also called formative) or formal (also called summative).

Practice assessments do not count towards your final mark. These are your chance to test your understanding – and learn how to improve for the real thing.

You’ll have formal assessments at the end of each module. These could include essays, reports, e-posters, e presentation, a problem-based assignment or portfolios.

Learning support

Your course tutors will provide lots of support. But you can also take advantage of our Academic Skills team, who can help you with:

Study skills (including reading, note-taking, presentation skills)
Written English (including punctuation, grammar)
Academic writing (including how to reference)
Research skills
Critical thinking
Assessment skills (including time management)

If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our Student Enabling Centre is here to help sure nothing stands in your way.

Additional support

If you have additional needs like dyslexia or a sensory impairment, then our AccessAbility Services are here to help make sure nothing stands in your way.

Feedback

We know that it’s important for you to be able to gauge your progress. So, your tutor will give you feedback on any practice assessments you do.

We usually give you feedback on formal assessments within 20 working days, but the format will vary for each module.

Your study time will include scheduled classes, independent learning and assessments. It will vary depending on your module choices, but could look like:

Independent learning

As well as timetabled sessions, we know it’s important for you to discover things on your own terms. This could involve:

Reading journals, articles and books
Working on projects, alone or in a group
Researching in the library
Preparing coursework

We’ve invested in state-of-the-art facilities to help you make the most of your private study time. Whether you need a library or a computer, you’ll find it at Staffordshire University.

Staff

You will be taught be dedicated and research active lecturers, whose expertise and knowledge closely match the content of the course. Each of our team has a PhD, or is working towards one, and all are members of the Higher Education Authority. Each of our team has extensive contacts within the Criminal Justice System and/or local community partnerships.

Dr Em Temple-MaltCourse Leader – PG Sociology

I am the course leader for Terrorism, Crime and Global Security, Transnational Organised Crime and for Sociology and Social Justice Masters Degrees.

Read full profile

Fees

Overview

Additional costs

Financial support

For the course starting on 14 September 2020 the tuition fees are:

Study option
Full time

UK / EU / Channel Islands
£7,850 per course

International (Non-EU)
£14,500 per course

Study option
Part time

UK / EU / Channel Islands
£2,610 per year of study

If you would like to know more about the fees listed and what this means to you then please get in touch with our Enquiries Team.

Alumni discount

If you have previously completed an undergraduate degree with us, you may be entitled to a discount off your course fee for any subsequent postgraduate taught course. For further information please contact Graduate Relations.

Not included in the fees:
Your travel, rent and living costs aren’t included in your tuition fees. To find out more, explore the accommodation pages on our website Your travel, rent and living costs aren’t included in your tuition fees. To find out more, explore the accommodation pages on our website

Accommodation and living costs
Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees. For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Accommodation and living costs

Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.

For more information on accommodation and living costs, please see: Accommodation

Sources of financial support

Providing you are studying towards a full Masters qualification you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £10,609 to help with tuition fees, maintenance and other associated costs. Student loans are available for many of our postgraduate degrees and are provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The loan can cover a wide range of postgraduate study options - part-time, full-time and distance learning.

For more information and how to apply visit postgraduate loans.

Bursaries and scholarships

Student loans are available for many of our postgraduate degrees and are provided by the Student Loans Company (SLC). The loan can cover a wide range of postgraduate study options - part-time, full-time and distance learning. However, postgraduate certificates (PgCerts), postgraduate diplomas (PgDips) and PhD courses are excluded if you live in England or Wales.

You can apply for a postgraduate loan if you are:

Studying a taught or research Masters course such as an MA, MSc or MBA
Under 60 years old at the start of your course
Ordinarily resident in England or Wales, or an EU national

Apply

Location:

Award:

Study option:

Start date:

Apply link

Location:

Stoke-on-Trent campus

Award:

MA

Study option:

Full-time, blended learning

Start date:

14 September 2020

Apply now

Rules and regulations

If you’re offered a place at Staffordshire University, there’s a few rules, regulations, and conditions you’ll need to know.

When you join us as a student, you’re entering into a contract. The terms of this contract might change from time to time. You can read the University Policies and Regulations for up-to-date information.

Part-time study

Blended learning

Part-time study

Blended learning

Course content

Modules

Standard route

Modules

Standard route

Entry requirements

Facilities

Libraries

Mock Courtrooms

Careers

Postgraduate Open Event

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

Assessment

Learning support

Additional support

Feedback

Staff

Fees

Alumni discount

Alumni discount

Apply

Rules and regulations

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