At Newcastle, we are committed to providing students with a truly global learning experience. Students on this programme have access to a range of exciting opportunities to travel and study abroad during their degree.

The Political Science and Sociology joint honours degree at Newcastle provides an excellent opportunity for you to explore the social changes reshaping the world today.

This degree provides the knowledge and skills to critically engage with key issues facing contemporary societies including globalisation; the changing nature of work and the family; gender roles and sexuality; multiculturalism; the impact of the media and information technologies; and new forms of politics. In addition to these ‘big picture’ social theories we place a strong emphasis on developing social science research skills – so valued by employers – with research methods training in each year.

These degree programmes help you acquire important analytical skills. You learn to find your way among different arguments, rival theories and alternative explanations. You also learn about campaigns, elections, protest movements, policy issues and political ideals.

Politics is not only what political scientists study, but also an activity in which professional politicians, civil servants and ordinary citizens take part. The politics course at Newcastle enables all students to profit from a culture of learning that is aligned with our research ethos – based on critical enquiry, debate and self-motivation.

Sociology seeks to understand how social relations and structures influence all aspects of our lives. Join us and explore the dynamic, unprecedented social changes reshaping the world today.

We pride ourselves on the quality of our teaching. Our staff are active researchers who want to share their enthusiasm for sociology and political science with you. We believe teaching and learning should be both rigorous and enjoyable, and seek to involve students in continually developing our activities. The Sociology and Political Science degree at Newcastle presents a balanced view of the subject. You will be given a broad grounding in the major approaches to both disciplines, with emphasis on the cultivation of research skills. Your degree will culminate in a dissertation on a topic of your choice.

This programme provides the knowledge and skills to critically engage with key issues facing contemporary societies including:

  • Globalisation
  • The changing nature of work and the family
  • Gender roles and sexuality
  • Multiculturalism
  • The impact of the media and information technologies and new forms of politics

In addition to these ‘big picture’ social theories we place a strong emphasis on developing social science research skills – so valued by employers – with research methods training in each year. This culminates in a final year dissertation where you research and write an extended piece on a topic of your own choice, with the support of an expert supervisor.

If you want to take advantage of a unique opportunity to be supported with a work placement opportunity as part of your final year, this course includes the opportunity to undertake a ‘Professional Development’ module as part of your optional module choices.

   

Student Research Internships

Each year on this International Relations degree we offer up to 10 research internships to undergraduates in POLSIS. These are open on a competitive basis to all second year students. These are fully supported, paid internships that give students the opportunity to work on a one-to-one basis with a member of academic staff in POLSIS on a research project.

  

Year Abroad

Even if you haven’t applied for our 4-Year Study Abroad International Relations degree you can transfer onto this track during your time at Newcastle (grades depending) and benefit from the increased confidence and different academic perspective gained by studying in a foreign country. We have exchange partners across Europe, as well as in Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, Ghana, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, USA, Vietnam and Uruguay.

Institutional Accreditation 

University of Newcastle is accredited by the DETC Higher Learning Commission (DETC), www.detc.org.uk Since , University of Newcastle has been continually accredited by the DETC Higher Learning Commission and its predecessor.

BA Political Science and Sociology

Course Level:

Undergraduate,joint Honours combined

Credits 

120

Course

CODE U544

How long it takes:

Undergraduate (3 Years)

Study Mode:

Distance learning/ Campus

Course cost

Price: US$20,220

Entry requirements

Find out more about

Department:

Newcastle Law School

Modules in the first year

Compulsory modules

  • Understanding Politics
  • Introduction to Social Divisions
  • The Sociological Imagination
  • Introduction to Political Theory
  • Pathways to Political Research 1 and 2
  • Social Problems and Social Policy: Social Science in Action I and II

   

Modules in the second year

Compulsory modules

  • Analysing Political Worlds
  • Global Societies
  • Modern Sociological Theory

Optional modules

Your second year of study will also provide you with the opportunity to undertake more specialised study in areas of the subject that interest you. You will be able to choose three optional modules from the extensive list of modules that we offer. These modules will build on the knowledge and skills you have acquired thus far on your degree and allow you to tailor your studies in a way that best fits with your interests and future plans. 

Optional modules in the second year
 Public Choice Theory  Gender and Sexuality  International Political Economy
 Diplomatic History post 1945  British Politics  International Relations Theory
 International Security  International Politics & Security in Russia & Eurasia  `Sociology of Race’ and Ethnicity – A Global Perspective
 Global Governance  Islam and Politics in Europe  Comparative Politics
 Exploring Europe: Politics, Economics and Culture  European Union Politics  Introduction to US Domestic Politics
International Politics of East Asia Understanding Foreign Policy  

Modules in the final year

Compulsory module

  • Contemporary Social Theory

Pathway one

On this pathway you will write a 10,000 word dissertation in either DETC or Sociology on a topic of your choice. You will be guided and supported by a supervisor who is an expert in your area of interest. In addition to writing the dissertation you will be able to take three optional modules.

   

Pathway two

On the second pathway you take the module Problems in World Politics. This module is designed to allow students to apply the knowledge they have acquired on their degree to real world policy problems in politics. In addition to this independent study module you will be able to take four optional modules.

  

Optional modules in the final year
 Power in Britain  Left Parties and Protest Movements  Technology & Society
 Issues in US Domestic Politics  Sociology of Film  Sociology of Personal Life
 Political Sociology  Sociology of Success and Fame  Democracy and Authoritarianism in Contemporary Europe
 Politics in Russia  The EU in a Globalised World  Parliamentary Studies

Entry requirements

 

Applicants should normally have one of the following:

  • A non-law bachelor’s degree (from a US university or recognised by the BSB if you wish to study the BPTC), or
  • A ‘stale’ law degree, where five or more years have elapsed since graduation, or
  • An academic or professional qualification at degree equivalent level

If English is not your first language, you will also need to demonstrate your English Language proficiency. For example, you should have IELTS 7.5 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all components.

If you intend to become a Solicitor

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has reduced its requirements for pre-authorisation this year. For details of the current arrangements,. You should pay special attention to the Character and Suitability section. 

 

USA,UK & EU students, 2019/20 (per year)

£8,500

International students starting 2019/20 (per year)

£13,100

 

Assessment

You’ll show your progress through a combination of written essays, problem-solving assignments and presentations.

All students take our core modules, but please note that the availability of optional modules is subject to demand.

Throughout your time on the Political Science and Sociology BA course, employability is a key area of focus. We help to make sure that you are employable through a range of department led and university wide initiatives which include:

   

Input from Professional Careers Advisers in your Curriculum

During the first year of your studies Careers Advisers from the University Careers Network team attend lectures in your course to support you with career planning from an early stage. The lectures will cover career planning, researching career and internship opportunities, developing the skills that graduate employers are looking for, and presenting yourself with impact to a potential employer.

  

Professional development module

You will have the unique opportunity to take advantage of a work placement as part of your final year by undertaking the Professional Development Module as part of your optional module choices.

   

Careers Events

In addition to the extensive careers support that Newcastle University offers all of its students, we offer bespoke employability and careers workshops to all students on our Political Science and Sociology degree. These workshops run in each year of your programme and are tailored to support you with the information you need to plan should you wish to pursue employment or postgraduate study.

  

Your Newcastle degree

Employers target Newcastle students for their drive, diversity, communication and problem-solving skills, their team-working abilities and cultural awareness, and our graduate employment statistics have continued to climb at a rate well above national trends. If you make the most of the wide range of services you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.