Sociology - Undergraduate Study

Qualifications Available

Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc) | Degree Planner (pdf)
Certificate (Cert(SocSc))
Diploma (Dip(SocSc))

Sociology involves the analysis of society: that is, how people organise and participate in groups and larger social structures, and how societies change. Sociologists ask questions about society, challenging what is normally taken for granted. Students who major in Sociology develop not only a good undestanding of social structures, social issues and policies and social change but also strong research and information literacy skills that prepare them well for employment in many fields.

Sociology can be taken as a first major, second major or supporting subject for the BSocSc degree, a second major or supporting subject for the BA degree, or as elective papers toward any qualification at the University of Waikato (assuming any required prerequisites have been met).

Students studying Sociology can take a general Sociology major or can include focused electives from one of the seven optional streams that are available at Waikato:

Education, inequality and society
Popular culture
Sociology of health and illness
Sociology of family
Social issues, social policy and social change
Social science research
Work and employment

Subject Regulations

To complete a major in Sociology, students must gain at least 120 points above 100 level in the Sociology subject, including at least 60 points above 200 level. These must include the compulsory papers listed below.

Compulsory papers:
     SOCY204 History of Sociological Thought
     SSRP202 The Practice of Social Science Research
     SOCY301* Modern Social Theory
     * note - SOCY301 is a prerequisite for graduate study in Sociology.

Strongly recommended in programme of study:
     SOCY101* Introduction to Sociology
     SOCY150* Sociology in Practice
     * note these papers are required to meet 200 level prerequisites
     and at least one of:
     LBST303 Sociology of Work
     SOCP302 Social Policy
     SOCY304 Sociology of Health and Illness
     SOCY311 Deviance and Crime
     SOCY390 Directed Study

To complete a supporting subject in Sociology, students must gain 70 points in the Sociology subject, of which at least 40 points must be above 100 level. These must include the compulsory papers listed below.

Compulsory papers:
     one of:
     SOCY101 Introduction to Sociology
     SOCY150 Sociology in Practice
     and both of:
     SOCY204 History of Sociological Thought
     SSRP202 The Practice of Social Science Research

Note: Candidates must gain at least 60 points at 100 level in any subject(s) before enrolling in Sociology papers above 100 level, and at least 90 points at 100 and 200 level before enrolling in Sociology papers above 200 level.

Papers

Expectations & Further Information

Undergraduate Sociology Papers (Catalogue of Papers)