BA (Hons) Education and Sociology Bachelor's degree at Keele University

This module will introduce you to the history of education and how it has developed since Victorian times. Not only will you explore important policies and the impact they had in shaping our education system, but you will also see how many of the debates we have around education today have their origins in the past. By exploring the educational experiences of people from different periods of time, including undertaking an interview of someone from a different generation, you will be able to see

How can we mobilise our sociological imagination to make sense of the social divisions and inequalities that persist across time and are reproduced in different cultures and societies? This module introduces the theoretical foundations of sociological thinking, tracing its origins as a 'science of society' to its contemporary applications in understanding inequality. You will learn to recognise how classical theories illuminate social divisions around race, class, gender, sexuality, and ability,

This module transitions you to university scholarship and introduces the employability and professional skills that a social science degree provides through a range of action-focused activities. You will learn vital academic and professional skills and competencies that will allow you to thrive in the first year of your undergraduate studies and throughout your degree.

This module explores the ways in which children and learners are portrayed and understood within wider society. By looking at a range of films, television programmes, newspapers, and social media platforms you will examine the assumptions we as adults hold about children and learners and their role and place in the world around us. This will then be compared to other countries around the globe to offer comparative analysis.

Imagining Social Order and Deviance explores societal norms, values, and the construction of deviance through a series of real-life case studies. You are invited to engage with diverse perspectives on what constitutes social order and deviant behaviour and consider the complexities of social control mechanisms, the stigmatisation of marginalised groups, and the dynamics of power in shaping perceptions of deviance. By fostering a deep understanding of the intricacies of social order and deviance,

This module explores the theories and methods used by sociologists for analysing culture and society. You will learn how global and local processes interact through a consideration of North Staffordshire, which becomes the backdrop for thinking about contemporary social concerns such as the housing crisis, generational conflict, and the effects of deindustrialisation. Beyond examining local expressions of wider global problems, we also speak to people working in frontline community organisations

This module explores what it means to 'be' a teacher or someone working with learners in the 21st century and what the biggest challenges are currently facing the profession. Alongside this, you will have the opportunity to explore different places and spaces where education and learning take place, many of which are outside of the formal school environment. Your learning will be facilitated by field trips and visiting guest speakers and there will be opportunity to reflect on your ambitions as

How can we know the world and the societies around us? This module introduces you to the core social science principles of designing, implementing, and analysing social phenomena with a focus upon education. You will learn to identify and analyse data sources that might be used by social scientists in real world situations. From quantitative surveys to qualitative interviews and ethnographic studies, you will explore methodological approaches to understanding education and society and develop pr

How can we mobilise our sociological imagination to understand the complexities and challenges of the modern world and our place within it? This module rethinks classic sociological theories for the global digital world, considering poststructural, intersectional and non-Western perspectives. You will gain a critical appreciation of how competing sociologies have emerged as our understanding of positionality and difference has developed, and look to the ways in which the sociological project has

Our society is now more diverse than ever before and this module explores approaches to teaching which seek to support children from marginalized communities whether as a result of their gender, ethnicity, where they live, or for those with Special Educational Needs (SEN). You will be encouraged to develop your own classroom-based interventions, based on academic theory, to tackle these issues and to develop a questioning and critical mindset. Delivery of this module is supported by visiting int

This module introduces you to possible careers for social scientists and links to the work you are doing in your subject core and option modules asking the question 'how can we mobilize academic study into the real world?' You will also be encouraged to prepare for placement work that you may pursue, alongside reflecting on your social media footprint; developing your personal/professional brand, and digital networking platforms.

With nearly 50% of 18-year-olds going on to university this module explores the big questions relating to higher education. In particular, what is the purpose of university? Who is it for? How should it be funded? You will also be encouraged to reflect critically on your own experiences to date of being a student, what you feel you have gained, and what you feel you need to develop to achieve your career goals.

This module gives students studying subjects in the School of Social Sciences the opportunity to contribute to the world beyond the University, in any workplace where the specialist knowledge, research, analytical, and communication skills developed as part of your Social Science degree can be used and can make a difference. Education students will have the opportunity to undertake their work placement in a local school however, should you wish, other options are available which may include char

Social Design is an interdisciplinary module exploring the interplay between societal structures, human behaviour, and crime, that equips you with the knowledge and skills to critically analyse, design, and implement interventions that foster safer and more inclusive communities. You will explore how social factors influence crime patterns and the efficacy of preventive measures. Depending on your subject interest you may explore the role of social policies in shaping community dynamics or desig

Moving on from the previous skills modules, you will further consider how your degree can link to a range of life skills and careers through engagement with community groups, activists and people working in public and private sectors. You will be supported in your next steps either through transition to the workplace or postgraduate study.

What are the biggest challenges facing education globally today and what will these look like in the future? More importantly, how will today's students look to solve them? This module encourages you to reflect on how the world will change in your lifetime and encourages you to design educational solutions to some the problems that will emerge. These issues include the rise of A.I., the increasing need for 'technological literacy', the impact of mass migration, and climate change.

This module gives students the chance to devise and carry out their own small-scale (8000 word) research project. Working with a supervisor, projects can be on an educational topic (broadly defined) and will include a review of literature in your chosen field, a discussion of methods involved in your data collection and analysis, as well as a write up of your findings. This module consists of workshops organized around thesis writing as well as dedicated one-on-one support from your supervisor.

The Independent Study Project, or dissertation, is the culmination of your sociological journey. You will work with a supervisor to design and produce an original sociological study on a topic of your choice. The dissertation allows you to apply your theoretical and methodological understandings of sociology to a research problem in either sociological literature or the social field. You can also choose to collaborate with an external organisation, conducting research that provides valuable insi

Politics makes a huge difference to people's lives and nowhere is this truer than in education. Understanding how political ideas and ideologies shape policy and how this in turn changes the lives of children is one of the central features of this module which aims to prepare you to think critically about education practice. You will act as the role of 'change-maker' in this module, devising your own educational policy or manifesto and presenting it to external audiences.

This module explores the cultural construction of gender and sexuality norms. Through diverse case studies, we deconstruct how femininities, masculinities, and sexualities are shaped by societal expectations and power dynamics. You will analyse how gender and sexuality intersect with other syste