BA Sociology and French / Course details

Sociology and languages are inherently tied. 

No study of society can ignore language, and no study of language can be removed from its specific social context. 

You will be challenged to think about the nature of the social worlds in which we live and about how language and culture build and inform such worlds. 

You will study social life and social change, from the reproduction of inequalities in relation to social categories (such as race, class or gender), to the way that wider cultural contexts shape intimate relationships. 

You will develop advanced language skills and learn about the cultures and histories related to that language. 

In the third year of this four-year course, you will undertake a period of residence abroad, studying or working in a country that speaks your language of study. 

Our aim is to help you develop analytical, investigative and linguistic skills, training you to become independent thinkers and researchers with the confidence to work in both English and another language.

• To offer a coherent curriculum in sociology that is strongly informed by leading contemporary research. 
• To impart knowledge and understanding in sociological theory and methods allowing them to progress to further study. 
• To develop advanced communicative skills in French based on a sound understanding of the structures of the language. 
• To build knowledge and understanding of several contemporary or historical aspects of the cultures or societies where French is spoken.

Residence abroad

You can study and/or work for up to a year in a country or countries relevant to your chosen language to improve your communicative language skills in a native-speaker environment.

Collaborations and partnerships

The University has links with language and cultural institutions across the city, including:

• HOME - international and contemporary art, theatre and film;
• Alliance Française - home of French language and culture.

Societies

The University is home to over 30 international and language-related student societies offering a breadth of cultural activities and experiences.

Sociology and French is taught through a mixture of formal lectures, seminars and tutorials, and language classes. You will be expected to study independently outside the classroom. Assessment varies according to the course units studied but will typically include:

• written and oral examinations;
• presentations;
• coursework (which may include library research, linguistic fieldwork and data collection, or web-based research);
• and, in your final year, the option of writing a dissertation based on a research topic of your choice.

The University of Manchester Library is one of only five National Research Libraries and one of the best-resourced academic libraries in the country. It includes: 

• more than 4 million printed books and manuscripts; 
• more than 41,000 electronic journals; 
• 500,000 electronic books; 
• several hundred databases. 

The Alan Gilbert Learning Commons is a state-of-the-art study and learning centre in the heart of the Oxford Road campus featuring: 

• exclusive group learning rooms; 
• flexible break out and workspaces with multimedia facilities; 
• 400 fixed workstations with live update availability information so you don't have to wait; 
• printing, scanning and photocopying; 
• Wi-Fi access throughout the building, including outdoor café areas; 
• charging stations to charge laptops, tablets and smart phones; 
• online and group workshops on library and information literacy, academic and study skills workshops, and career and employability skills clinics. 

The University Language Centre  is home to language resources including: 

• a new interpreting suite; 
• purpose-built recording rooms and resources for over 70 languages; 
• multilingual word processing, language learning software; 
• and extensive support and advice for learners. 

Learn more on the Facilities  page.