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BA

Education Studies - Sociology BA (Hons)

Education Studies is a broad multidisciplinary degree, designed for the intellectually and practically curious. If you are particularly fascinated by the social and sociological aspects of education, this is the course for you.

How to apply Apply via UCAS

Course details

Start date

Degree Type

BA

UCAS Code

XL33

Course length

3 years full-time

Typical offer

AAB

Tuition Fees

  • Home (Full-time): £ per year
  • Overseas (Full-time): £ per year

Overview

Are you interested in why people learn in different ways? Do you want to find out more about barriers to learning and how learning supports childhood development? Maybe you’d like to know more about the impact of society and social policy on the education experience.  The BA Education Studies – Sociology is an ideal qualification if you are fascinated by the learning process from a sociological perspective and want to keep your career options open. From the philosophical foundations of schooling to the political implications of policy, education is a vast field that has multiple avenues to approach a seemingly straightforward subject. Our degree goes far beyond any classroom and considers education, people and their relationship to the ever-changing world.  This BA will prepare you for a career in many different areas, both in the education sector and further afield. It can provide the first step towards a career as a teacher or researcher, and supports roles in publishing, policy making, the voluntary and public sectors, as well as many more.

Course details

Start date

Degree Type

BA

UCAS Code

XL33

Course length

3 years full-time

Typical offer

AAB

Tuition Fees

  • Home (Full-time): £ per year
  • Overseas (Full-time): £ per year

What you'll study

The curriculum draws on research carried out in the Department to keep the course content relevant and up to date. The breadth of modules allows you to create your own pathway through the course. As well as the sociology pathway, we offer pathways in psychology and geography, or you can choose to focus purely on education studies.

Core modules

  • Classical Sociological Theory

    introduces sociological concepts and theorising, using individual thinkers and particular topics to illustrate changing understandings of the relationship between structure and agency in sociological thinking, both across time and in relation to current debates.

  • Contemporary Issues and Evidence in Education

    examines a range of contemporary issues in education and the nature and scope of the supporting evidence. With a range of guest speakers from across the Department you will gain a grounding in a variety of issues at stake.

  • Historical and Philosophical Ideas of Education

    will introduce you to some of the major educational theorists and the foundational ideas informing education practice today. This will help you to develop a personal perspective on the longstanding debate about the purpose and value of education.

  • Societies in Transition

    is the study of contemporary societies and aspects of social life and change, focusing on local communities, families and relationships, economies and consumerism, and patterns relating to health, social class, gender race/ethnicity and religion.

Optional modules

  • In recent years optional modules have included: Disability and Educational Needs: What’s so ‘Special’ about SEND?International and Comparative EducationFoundations of Psychology in Education

Core modules

  • Educational Research Methods

    helps you to understand the purposes and implications of educational research. You will develop a critical appreciation of the different ways in which research can be carried out in education, and how to assess the quality of educational research.

  • Modern and Contemporary Sociological Theory

    explores the key theoretical perspectives within sociological inquiry. You will develop the skills to assess and compare different theoretical perspectives in terms of consistency, logic and explanatory power.

Optional modules

  • In recent years optional modules have included: Cultural Identity, Interculturality and EducationLearning and Development in ChildhoodHigher Education: Issues of Exclusion and InclusionConstructing Childhood and YouthAssessing EducationDisability and Education Needs: Impairment, Empowerment and EducationSelf, Identity and SocietySociology of EducationViolence and Abuse in SocietyCommunities and Social JusticeCrime, Power and Social InequalitiesSociology of Health and Medicine

Core modules

  • Dissertation

    For your dissertation you will undertake an extended, independent piece of research with an appropriate educational focus. You will engage critically with the relevant research relating to your chosen topic.

Optional modules

  • Education:

    In recent years optional modules have included: Education in a Global AgeDigital Society Theory and PracticeScience of LearningEducation, Mental Health and WellbeingUnderstanding the Arts in EducationThe Social Life of EducationDigital Society Theory and PracticeEvidence and Educational Policy

  • Sociology

    : In recent years optional modules have included: Issues in Criminal Justice (Inside-Out)Youth in Crisis: Young People, Crime and JusticeSociology of Mental Health and IllnessCyberculture and CybercrimeRace, Racism and Social Justice in BritainSociology of WorkThe Body as Data: Technology, Power and Human RightsSocial Theory and the Politics of Knowledge

Learning

The course is mainly delivered through lectures and seminars. Lectures often present, explain and critically analyse theories and relevant issues, whereas smaller group seminars normally focus upon peer-assisted interaction for debate and discussion. There may be some opportunity for study visits and/or fieldwork within specific modules. A large amount of time is spent on independent study and reading around topics, developing your capacity for critical analysis, reflection and evaluation.

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Assessment

We promote diverse and creative forms of assessment so whilst many modules are assessed by essays, other modules may include portfolios, blogs, presentations or posters. The 12,000-word dissertation is worth one-third of your final-year marks.

Entry requirements

Fees & Funding

Choose which fees you want to see:

Home / Island students

£ per year

International / EU Students

£ per year

Home / Island students

Part Time - £ per year

International / EU Students

Part Time - £ per year

The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).

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Department Information

  • Embark on an Education degree at Durham and experience our innovative research informed teaching and exceptional support. We offer courses for people who want to teach and for those with an interest in education in its broadest sense through academic studies in education. The School of Education, Durham University offers a suite of undergraduate degrees linked to academic studies in Education. These include a single honours Bachelors degree in Education Studies and joint honours options. These allow students to develop specialism in Education studies with a partner subject. Current joint honours degree specialisms on offer are Education Studies - Geography; Education Studies - Sociology and Education Studies - Psychology (with the option of BPS accreditation). Students in our Education Studies suite of programmes can also tailor their degree by selecting optional modules from across the wider university. Our undergraduate Bachelors degree in Primary Education (with QTS) combines an academic programme of study with practical preparation to become a teacher. The programme provides the tools and support you need to become an inspiring and outstanding teacher who will make a difference to the lives of pupils, both now and in the future. For more information see our department pages.

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    Facilities

    Located on the main campus at Lower Mountjoy, we are conveniently located near the main Bill Bryson library, the Teaching and Learning Centre and lots of other departments and University services.

    • Partnerships

      Central to our teaching qualifications is the partnership between the University and schools in the area. We work with a diverse network of schools covering a wide geographical area, and if you choose a teaching qualification you will spend some of your time based in a school developing your professional skills to inspire the next generation.

    • Community

      The School of Education is a diverse, inclusive and vibrant community of almost 100 staff and more than 900 students

    • Research led

      Our world leading researchers contribute to all of our programmes in teaching and course content.

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Career Opportunities

Of those UK/EU students who graduated in 2022/23:

89%

in work or further study.

100%

in high or medium skilled employment.

£31,033

is the average salary.

HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey. The survey asks leavers from higher education what they are doing 15 months after graduation. Further information about the Graduate Outcomes survey can be found here www.graduateoutcomes.ac.uk

Employability

Our BA in Primary Education offers the opportunity to gain Qualified Teacher Status with most graduates progressing directly into teaching. Graduates of the BA Education Studies suite of degrees move into a diverse range of roles including the wider children's workforce in welfare and social care related roles, education administration and business. The commercial and digital education sectors are growing internationally and our graduates are also attracted into these areas of activity. Some of our graduates undertake postgraduate teacher training courses (e.g. PGCE). Our Education Studies- Psychology graduates often move into teaching and psychology allied professions with the longer term intention of becoming educational psychologists. Some of our students choose further study, progressing to Masters or doctoral programmes and research.

More Information

Students who join us for undergraduate study participate in a first-class educational experience which combines the outcomes of world class research with innovative teaching and exceptional support.

Learn more about why the School of Education is a great place to study

Your next steps

Apply via UCAS

  • Institution code: D86

  • UCAS code: XL33

Apply now

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