Sociology and Social Research: University of Southampton

Course Description

The MSc Sociology and Social Research, which is recognised by the ESRC as a Research Training course, is designed to equip postgraduate students with advanced knowledge of both issues and applied methods in sociological analysis.

This ESRC-accredited programme offers advanced conceptual and methodological training in sociological analysis. In addition to providing you with the skills to conduct research in a variety of professional contexts, it also provides an excellent basis for PhD studies.

Programme Structure

Semester 1 and semester 2 modules

• Philosophy, methodology and research design
• Project 1 and Project 2 (to be chosen from a range of options)
• Qualitative methods
• The design and statistical analysis of surveys
• Understanding modernity
• Understanding social change

Semester 3

Once you have successfully completed your taught modules, you carry out a piece of independent research to be written up as a 15,000-word dissertation. Full-time students submit the dissertation by the end of September of that year; part-time students normally submit the dissertation by the end of the following December.

Entry requirements

• Lower second-class honours degree or equivalent